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
Kalamazoo taxi o'hare .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareDisney Area Lodging DealsThe Orlando area communities of Lake Buena... Read More
Bahamas vacation resorts are great places to look into if... Read More
Traveling for business or vacationing always has one thing in... Read More
The Amazonat Jungle Lodge is offering in addition to her... Read More
For most of us, the basis of a car rental... Read More
What is a villa? Come to Orlando, Florida to find... Read More
The demand for a stay in an ice hotel has... Read More
Lodging Hotels in Davenport, FLThere are numerous choices for lodging... Read More
Seasoned travelers often tire of the standard routine of airplane,... Read More
Families have flocked to Hilton Head, South Carolina as long... Read More
How to find a Town Houses that will make your... Read More
Vancouver will receive a lot of attention as the 2010... Read More
Real estate in Gatlinburg is thriving. While the 2000 census... Read More
Three major cascades at Havasu Creek create a landscape that... Read More
An Award Winning Vacation, Golf, Tennis and Beach ResortIf you... Read More
Cheap vacations can still be relaxing, fun and whatever else... Read More
Welcome to Washington, DC - The nation's capital is a... Read More
Are you thinking of travelling Abroad?You will surely want to... Read More
As beautiful and modern as Cozumel is, visitors must remember... Read More
It has been said that in real estate there are... Read More
Lake Havasu, Arizona has become a treasured destination for tourists,... Read More
Disneyland became the very definition of a theme park and... Read More
We are planning a family trip for just a few... Read More
What makes certain styles of pants so popular? One reason... Read More
A beautiful and inexpensive place without a tourist in sight.... Read More
Chicago charter limousine service Hickory Hills ..If you're planning a visit to Australia, then you'll be... Read More
Those looking to invest in real estate should not overlook... Read More
Because many people want to live in or near Lake... Read More
You have your tickets, your hotel or vacation rental reservations,... Read More
Are you thinking of travelling Abroad?You will surely want to... Read More
Three major cascades at Havasu Creek create a landscape that... Read More
So you may be asking yourself, why would I want... Read More
Hilton Head Island is a vacation destination for over two... Read More
Florida beachfront rentals are a great way to enjoy a... Read More
The demand for a stay in an ice hotel has... Read More
Many vacationers on Hilton Head Island have discovered a simple... Read More
A beautiful and inexpensive place without a tourist in sight.... Read More
Vacation packages are a great way for travelers to book... Read More
Whether you've saved up for years for a fun family... Read More
As a family, we have been visiting Orlando since 1998,... Read More
If you are thinking about renting a condo in the... Read More
Just drive out to one of these delightful wine estates... Read More
I love Sussex County Delaware. I am native born, multigenerational... Read More
Disneyland became the very definition of a theme park and... Read More
The Costa del Sol has long been one of the... Read More
There are a few patterns to consider when looking for... Read More
What are your chances of getting the vacation of a... Read More
The rental market and Vacation Home sale market is unsustainable.... Read More
Cabin rental in Pigeon Forge are one of the city's... Read More
Scam artists pose as potential renters everyday on many different... Read More
Vacation Rental |