I have a 17-year-old daughter who is finishing up a year in Vitoria, Brazil. She's been having the time of her life in a gorgeous coastal city with the beaches of her dreams and the cute guys to match. What's not to like?
Tara told us that we could buy a beautiful home ("All marble floors!") on a spectacular beach ("White sand!") in a number of lovely cities ("Amazing architecture!") with friendly neighbors ("Dancing all night with people who don't know you but love you anyway!")
In fact, she helpfully suggested that we could snag one of these properties for a mere $100,000...less than half of the median price for a typical house in our area.
She went on to say that we could buy a house on the coast in Brazil and retire there, with a delightful lifestyle, plenty of great friends, outstanding and inexpensive medical care, and zero chance of boredom or loneliness.
We weren't surprised that she suggested this. After all, she has an ulterior motive--why, SHE could be the one to manage the property until we decide to retire! She would, of course, have to live in beautiful, coastal, hunk-heavy, dance-crazed Brazil in order to do this, but she was willing to make this supreme sacrifice to support our perfect retirement.
How thoughtful. No, really. It sounds fantastic. I'm turning 45 in June, and that's not too early to think about how I want to spend the next few phases of my life. I truly appreciate the suggestion.
The people I admire most are those who continue to reinvent themselves about every decade, and who laugh out loud at the notion of retirement. They're on their fifth or sixth "career" and fully expect to have a couple more, just for fun.
What we really long for in retirement is time to play, and what we don't recognize is that we should be playing on a daily basis. We need to live our lives in a way that connects us to our creativity and joy. Think of it as the Brazilian plan.
How do you picture yourself at age 65? 75? 85? You've got a decent shot at living to be 100.
Howard and Marika Stone have been inspiring people to reinvent themselves as they get older. On their website, 2Young2Retire.com, they share dozens of stories of folks who have done just that. Their intention is to help others "navigate the uncharted waters of longevity" and they do so with great passion and humor.
Whether we're 20 or 70, we can use mindfulness to help us see who we want to be next. The first step? Pay attention to what we consider to be FUN. Focus on what we do that feels like we're playing instead of working. Notice our "guilty pleasures"--those things we do when we think we should be working on something else.
Here's the good news: You can get paid for having fun. You can help your community while you're doing what you can only describe as goofing off. You can learn new skills and demonstrate overlooked talents in a way that helps others while making you laugh. And it's not too early to start thinking about what that might look like.
Retire your idea of retirement and embrace the concept of reinvention. Look at what you're dreaming about doing, and be mindful of how you can start "investing" in your opportunities for greater fun. That's my personal prescription for the not-enough-Social-Security blues.
That, and perhaps finding a lovely house on the coast in Brazil, where I can become fluent in Portuguese and become a painter, or a novelist, or start a school, or build a playground, or design a community garden, or write songs, or dance til dawn, or be the happiest grandmother alive. Or all of the above.
I'll tell my daughter to start looking.
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe, please visit http://www.massageyourmind.com
Highland Park shuttle to O'Hare .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareMost of the time, when an individual is planning a... Read More
A trip to the Bahamas does not have to also... Read More
Maui is one of the islands found in Hawaii. It... Read More
Aquitaine with its 5 departments; Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, Pyr?n?es-Atlantiques.Weather:... Read More
Work-rate, health and even personal relationships may be affected if... Read More
There are a few patterns to consider when looking for... Read More
Punta Cana Beaches are among the most beautiful in the... Read More
So you decided on Orlando Florida for your family vacation... Read More
Are you thinking of travelling Abroad?You will surely want to... Read More
Made famous by Revolutionary events, infamous by cold winters, and... Read More
This article is meant to be a guide for those... Read More
If you're thinking about planning a great winter vacation, think... Read More
How to find a Town Houses that will make your... Read More
Condo hotels, also known as condotels, are a relatively new... Read More
Bahamas vacation villas are the way to go if you... Read More
How many of you have seen the classic Chevy Chase... Read More
At the heart of Central Florida lies one of the... Read More
Within Volusia County, Florida, the small community of Ormond Beach... Read More
Have you ever wanted to travel to far away places... Read More
Punta Cana is an affordable destination in a magnificent tropical... Read More
Italy is a popular vacation destination for families because it... Read More
Everybody knows someone who has been on one and an... Read More
For many decades Gatlinburg has been a favorite resort getaway... Read More
Sea Pines Plantation ? The Pearl of Hilton Head IslandHilton... Read More
The rental market and Vacation Home sale market is unsustainable.... Read More
limo O'Hare Glen Ellyn ..The largest barrier island on the Atlantic coast between New... Read More
Visiting the best Orlando timeshare resorts: a report on my... Read More
Rooms for rent! No, not the kind where you are... Read More
Each year, over two million people find their way to... Read More
Many vacation spots purport to offer true relaxation, but upon... Read More
Families have flocked to Hilton Head, South Carolina as long... Read More
Punta Cana is an affordable destination in a magnificent tropical... Read More
Hotels are a large component of Pigeon Forge lodging. As... Read More
Planning a family beach vacation? Looking for destinations with family... Read More
When vacation time rolls around, some people choose to stay... Read More
Lake Tahoe cabin complexes rangein size from small, six-unit, luxury... Read More
Cheap vacations can still be relaxing, fun and whatever else... Read More
I had always been told that if you wanted to... Read More
Pigeon Forge is rapidly becoming one of the major tourist... Read More
Three major cascades at Havasu Creek create a landscape that... Read More
The home away from home but a little bit more... Read More
Whether you've saved up for years for a fun family... Read More
Just drive out to one of these delightful wine estates... Read More
For many people, the Bahamas is a dream vacation site,... Read More
Love the outdoors, looking for adventure, a romantic getaway, or... Read More
RV rental vacations aren't cheap, but they do contain loads... Read More
India has always been an irresistible tourist destination for people... Read More
Hilton Head Island is a vacation destination for over two... Read More
Lake Havasu, Arizona has become a treasured destination for tourists,... Read More
Vacation Home Exchange V Renting Trade and save, or do... Read More
Vacation Rental |