The Retire USA blog has moved ..

This is an archived version of the old Retire USA blog.

Check out our current Retirement blog at www.Retireusa.net/blog/   

There, we feature articles from retirement experts in many fields, all working to help you plan a successful retirement.

Silvers Summit at CES 2012 - Where retirement and technology merge

Tomorrow we'll be reporting live from the Silvers Summit and other venues at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.  The Silvers Summit is a growing movement of technology companies working to provide seniors with helpful information and technologies in the areas of health, entertainment, home management, and more.   We'll have reports coming this week live from Las Vegas.  Check out the Silvers Summit official website for more: Silverssummit.com

Hoarding and Seniors

I have mentioned that when it was time for my 99 year old aunt Ruth to face moving to Portland, well, just let me say the hoarding personality came out loud and strong! I admit that it was a challenging process to let go of things that had been in my life for many years. And so when I got so much resistance from my auntie, I tried to be sensitive about it and let her stay in charge as much as possible.

Of course if you are one of those people who get to live to this ripe old age of 99, you can imagine the the amount of "collectibles" you would accumulate. One of my aunts hobbies is photography and creating albums and scrapbooks. A very honorable hobby, and one that all of her family has benefited from. But, she will tell you that she started taking photos when she was thirteen years old and had a little Brownie box camera. Well, she has saved every single photo, and negative from that day on! Plus, she has created many albums of her travels and the family, enough for a room of their own.

She is also a very sentimental person and if you gave her a plant from the florist in 1963, you can be sure she has saved the vase it came in.............because "you" gave it to her. so, when it was time to pack, we talked about priorities and our goal in moving and the great benefit of getting to live closer to all the people we love. So, I will say she got very brave and gave away her couch (a huge thing) and she felt very proud of that. She realized that going to an assisted living facility, she wouldn't be needing many kitchen things so she gave those to my cousin who could use them. But, really that is where it stopped and all I could say to her is "we will get what we can in the POD (more about PODS later) and when it is full, then that will be that. We cant afford another POD." Well fortunately, our movers were brilliant and able to get everything in the POD. If you are moving to or from Ashland, Oregon , Siskiyou Movers are fantastic!

I have read about the hoarding personality and I do know that it is more prevalent with seniors, but there is help available. Two organizations that can assist you are; National Association of Professional Organizers www.napo.net and Nation Association of Senior Move Managers www.nasmm.org One thing I believe has helped my family keep my aunt's hoarding in control is that we hired a very competent house keeper to come in weekly to clean and clear her house.

I have many more tales of moving in retirement years, so tune in later.

Karen

Dogs and Their Retired People

One of the things I have enjoyed since retiring, is observing what goes on in my neighborhood during the week days. In the past 5 delicious years of retirement, I have watched people walking on my street with their dogs. I live in a neighborhood that has wonderful hiking trails, and quiet streets that makes it feel rural, even though it is 3 minutes to the Ashland Plaza. Consequently, this makes my Strawberry Lane neighborhood a favorite for dog walkers. What I have noticed is that over this 5 year period, some of the older dogs have passed on to pooch heaven and then for a time, the grieving person has walked alone. But, not much time passed before a new dog is on the walk. As I thought about this, I realized the importance of having a dog in ones life, and how these "walkers" were mostly retired people and they must feel the same way.

I am not the only one who believes in the benefit of canine companionship. A study in the Journal of The American Geriatrics Society (May 1999) says that seniors that have a pet have better physical health and mental well being than those who don't. They are more active, (dogs need a walk), and they cope with stress better (physical contact with a dog lowers blood pressure). There are many other benefits as well.

Some people may prefer another pet to a dog, but for me, there is nothing like the love and companionship of a pooch. So, I will close now, as my buddy Max, who is a combo of Corgi, Jack Russel, Beagle, and who knows what else, is reminding me that it is time to go for a walk!

Later I will give you some good ideas about adopting dogs, or having contact with them if adoption is not timely for you.

Selling My Home of 40 Years

Talk about change! Well let me tell you that getting into the whole huge process of selling a home that you have had for nearly 40 years is no small thing! It has required many different steps that I have started and have many steps to go as it has not sold yet. As I have mentioned previously, my retirement plans changed over night. I really thought I would live the rest of my life in this wonderful house, nurturing the gardens every year to become more and more fruitful. But change is upon me, so I got on the real estate bandwagon to move onward. First thing I realized is that I wanted to list my home with a real estate agent. In years past it has been easy to buy and sell as an owner for investment or other needs. However, I think the role of agents has become more important in that they really protect us as the laws seem to expand and change and become more and more complicated. So, if you are in this place of buying or selling, it is a good idea to interview some agents until you find the one that you are in sync with. I talked to three different brokers, all very qualified and people I actually had known for years. but I finally chose one of the owner/principle brokers of Ashland Homes. Their website is www.ashland_homes.com and if you go to our site www.oregonretirement.info there are many other real estate companies listed in Ashland Oregon, my home town.

This is just the beginning of this experience, and believe me when I say that the emotions that come up, the frustration, financial concerns, and physical exhaustion are all part of the pie. I will explore more of these things with you in days to come, but right now I need to mop my kitchen floor, because when your house is listed, it must be ready to show it's best at any given moment! Not what I thought I would be doing as a retiree!

Dealing With Change Continued

Yesterday I told the beginning of my story about how retirement plans can change in a heart beat. As you saw in yesterday's blog, my daughter had a near death accident. This made look my priorities square in the face and see clearly what I wanted to do. What I wanted, needed in fact, was to spend this last one third of my life living much closer to my daughter and the rest of my family. When this was decided, I realized there was just one barrier that I would have to figure out. You see, I have a 98 year old aunt who lives here in Ashland, Oregon too. She lives independently, and for the most part does really well. However, she still needs my assistance in many ways. So, I realized I could not move to Portland, Oregon where my daughter lives, without taking my aunt with me. So, that is what I decided to do. I was not sure how she would take my invitation to pull up stakes here and move North, however, in her usual positive, enthusiastic way, she said "I think that is a wonderful idea!". Now here is a senior, who even at her advanced age, is full of life and adventure and willing to change. I have to admit, that her willingness to do this, helped me see how change is not so difficult after all. I stepped back from myself and saw how easy it had been in the 4 years I had been retired, to become very complacent and so comfortable that I was not challenging myself in many ways. Leave it to my 98 year old Aunt Ruth to show me the error of my ways.
So the next step was to list my house for sale. I also wanted to see what was available in Portland. I have gone to www.oregonretirement.info to get information on real estate and many other things that I need to research for my big adventure. There is a lot more to share with you as this whole process unfolds. Every day a new feeling, worry, question, or doubt shows up. It is not just a slam dunk and all is well. But, I am learning and I will share my lessons with you as the days go on.

Retirement Plans Can Change

I have been retired for 4 years now, and when that final day of my career ended, I thought I had a plan set in stone! Well, things change, and how we deal with those changes can make or break us. I had what I considered a perfect retirement set up. I own a sweet little farm house on a half acre and I couldn't wait to be more than a weekend gardener. I had built a green house, had raised beds full of compost thanks to my chickens, flower beds full of perennials, and all setting in the idyllic town of Ashland, Oregon. I saw myself doing all those things in my community and home that I never had time for when I worked as a social worker at a large hospital. I wanted to join a committee that was working on water issues in our town, become more involved with the local food bank, maybe even teach a few classes as I sharpened my gardening skills. Some of this plan was just getting under way, when this retiree had a real wake up call. I saw my priorities change nearly over night. The defining incident happened this last Christmas holiday. My adult daughter, her boy friend and their two dogs were visiting me from Portland, Oregon where they make their home. After a few days here in Ashland, snowshoeing, eating, enjoying all the beauty of the mountains and lakes, they took off to visit friends in Bend, Oregon. On the way there, they hit black ice and lost control of the car. It was a terrible accident, but gratefully they all survived which was a true miracle. So, what you ask does this have to do with my retirement plans changing? Well log in later this week and I will tell you more about the changes that come in life and how we, who are of a certain age, deal with unexpected change.

Quality of life in retirement

Boomers are living 30 years longer than people did in the last century. So what are we doing with these extra years after we retire? Some of us are busier than ever with hobbies, grandchildren, travel, and other projects. I often hear my retired friends say, "I don't know how I ever had time to work!" Others find vegetating on a golf course less stimulating than the high-powered careers they have retired from.
How to live well, not just simply live longer?

A very interesting book that was recently reviewed in Costco's magazine (www.costcoconnection.com) deals with this subject. It's called "The Longevity Prescription" by noted author Dr. Robert Butler. He suggests that four strategies are extremely important: Getting enough solid sleep, managing stress, nurturing social connectivity, and having a sense of purpose. How each individual incorporates these elements into their lives is a challenge that will pay dividends in terms of the quality of life in retirement.

I find that by setting a goal that involves a lot of effort to achieve can help me kill all four birds with one stone. I frequently sign up to participate in a big event, Cycle Oregon, which is a week-long, 420-mile bike ride. First of all, when I ride my bike 30-50 miles in a day, I have no trouble sleeping well at night! Vigorous physical activity definitely helps manage stress; you can't be worried about anything when you are huffing and puffing and focusing on your cycling technique. Riding solo all the time gets boring, so I have joined a couple of cycling clubs and make arrangements to ride with friends, thus meeting new people and nurturing these relationships. Having a goal like Cycle Oregon gives me a sense of purpose, and adds an interesting dimension to my regular routine of cycling for fitness.

So make your retirement the best time of your life! Check out our web site, www.oregonretirement.info for some ideas. If you're a cyclist, visit www.cycleoregon.com

Exercise in Retirement

As we reach retirement age, many of us have discovered that along with wisdom, the years also bring extra pounds! But retirement also brings extra time in which we can address this issue, and turn to more active pursuits that will help us lose some of that extra baggage.

Golf is my husband's favorite sport, and while not exactly a hard core aerobic event, you can certainly count a game of golf (WITHOUT using a motorized cart!) as a nice long walk if nothing else. Swinging that club and bending over to pick up the ball also work the core muscles, and certainly helps maintain range of motion and some upper body strength.

I always like to see how many calories I have burned at the end of a day, and have found a web site for a handy reference that is very easy to use: http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc
Just plug in your weight and the number of minutes you spend at a specific activity, and it will give you the number of calories burned. After all, weight loss is simple math: Calories in, minus calories burned, and you have a net gain or loss. It takes 3500 calories to equal one pound of body weight. So even a small amount of activity, like walking at 2 miles per hour (very leisurely pace) for 30 minutes can burn almost 100 calories. If you don't increase your food intake, in a month you will have lost almost one pound by only adding 1/2 hour of pleasant exercise to your daily routine. That adds up to 12 pounds over the course of a year.

The main point is to find something you like to do, and do it regularly. You can check out the many golf courses in your area by using our directory web site www.oregonretirement.info. Soon to come we will have a national directory called RetireUSA.net. Please write and tell us about your favorite golf course, and we will be happy to include it on our site at no cost.

Cycling in retirement

As we age our joints don't seem to function quite as smoothly as they used to! Many of us retirees have been physically active our whole lives, and it's frustrating not to be able to run marathons or play several vigorous sets of tennis or make first tracks on the ski slope and be the last one in line at the end of the day.

How to get that endorphin rush, burn lots of calories, and be able to enjoy the great out of doors? One answer is bicycling! Whether you cruise around on local bike paths, or take your gear and ride across the country, cycling is a wonderful activity for mind and body alike. Retirement offers more free time, which is a requirement for long distance cycling. It also saves the planet from fossil fuel emissions if you can run errands on two wheels instead of four.

Oregon is blessed with many beautiful wineries, which make logical locations for cycling destinations. Yesterday my cycling group, The Rogue Recyclers, had a lovely ride in the Applegate Valley near Grants Pass. Check out our post-ride libations at Schmidt Family Winery www.sfvineyards.com, and watch us on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk7E1RSDF5k

For more wineries, please visit www.Oregonretirement.info
(P. S. I didn't really fall into the pool!)

Fitness in Retirement

One really exciting thing about retirement is the option to spend time in a kinder, gentler climate. With the onset of warm sunny spring days comes the realization that we feel so much better than we did in winter. Anecdotally, many people report that their joints ache in the cold and damp, and that the sun "warms" their bones. There is evidence that suggests people gain weight during the winter because they are depressed by the cold and dark, and actually consume an additional 200 to a whopping 1500 calories per day in the form of starchy comfort foods (and probably more alcohol as well).

The snowbird lifestyle has long been a popular choice, and speaking as one who is nearing retirement, it is looking better and better! I like to browse the retirement options on www.Retireusa.net which outlines the various towns and cities in the Sun Belt. It is nice to know about housing, especially retirement communities, in these warmer climates. Granted, I'll never leave Oregon forever (see why at www.oregonretirement.info), but an escape to the sun in those cold, dark winter months will be better for my waistline!

Retirement information on Twitter

The rumors are true! Retire USA is now on Twitter as @RetireUSA and we have a growing list of Twitter's best Retirement Resources at our Twitter Retirement list.

Join us on Twitter where we'll help you find the growing number of retirement communities, investment houses, financial services, and other businesses of key interest to your retirement goals.

Twitter is a free resource and it only takes minutes to join. Simply click to any of the following links, join, and then click "follow" on the @RetireUSA icon.

Walk away the pounds

Retirees face a never ending battle of the bulge as our metabolisms get more sluggish and our activity levels decrease. Retirement means more time to play tennis or ski or run marathons for some lucky folks who still have healthy joints. For others whose joints have been damaged over the years by overuse or arthritis, those vigorous activities are no longer tolerated. So we have to find other ways to exercise and maintain fitness in retirement.

In an earlier post, I mentioned how my sedentary husband Mark has started a walking program in a last ditch attempt to lose some weight. He proudly announced to me yesterday that he has lost 8 pounds in the past 7 weeks! And this with very little effort in terms of dieting. Basically the only thing that has changed about his daily routine is the inclusion of a moderately paced 30-minute walk.

There is research to back this up, but somehow anecdotal reports are even more convincing! Mark is certainly a believer now.

An interesting bit of research suggests that three 10-minute mini walks are even more effective than a 30-minute walk. This has something to do with waking up your metabolism and encouraging the body to burn fat more efficiently.

Sounds simple, and indeed it is! And here is a great idea: Use walking poles to help support your body weight, decrease the stress on your joints, and improve balance and stability on uneven surfaces. Using poles makes you feel more secure, and therefore makes walking feel easier.

But here’s a very exciting finding from some new research out of the Cooper Institute in Dallas: Using poles actually boosts the number of calories burned by 40%! Your body has to recruit muscles from your core, abdominal muscles, upper body, arms and back when you use the poles. This is such an easy and inexpensive way to add more oomph to your workout! You can just use a pair of old ski poles (there are usually some lurking somewhere in your garage or your neighbor’s), or make a modest investment in a pair of poles that are specific for hiking. These are adjustable in length, which is a useful feature for hiking up a long incline – you can shorten the poles for the ascent, and lengthen them for the descent. They can also be used as a weapon to fend off unfriendly dogs!
It is always important to consult your Primary Care Physician before beginning any new exercise program to make sure it is safe for you.

Snowbirds

Even with the price of fuel, a very popular retirement option is to fly away south in the winter to escape the cold and gloom of northern climates. Many folks do this in their RV’s which allows them the freedom to sample different areas. It’s as simple as hooking up and heading on down the road when you feel you have explored a region to your heart’s content. In fact, for some, the call of the open road is irresistible, and they just can’t wait to see what’s around the next corner! Others like to return to the same RV park year after year, and look forward to joyous reunions with friends who come back each winter from all over the U.S.

So, what is an RV (recreational vehicle)? If you can answer this question, then you are already out there having fun in the sun! For those who are not familiar with the various options, I will give you a little background information.

RV’s come in all sizes and shapes! That is a gross understatement, but important to realize. Here are a few of the most popular types of RV’s.

A motor home is a self-contained unit, with the engine included. These can be huge “diesel pushers” which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Rock stars travel in these things! They could have fireplaces, washers and dryers, and elegant furnishings. The really big ones are called “Class A” motor homes. Driving them is similar to a Greyhound bus. Smaller motor homes which sit on a regular pickup truck chassis are called “Class C”. They usually run on regular gas, and drive like an oversized pickup. Motor homes usually have generators, so you can “dry camp” (without having to hook up to electricity) for several days at a time, and have all the comforts of home (TV, hair dryer, microwave). The disadvantage is if you want to run down to the corner store for a quart of milk, you need another vehicle unless you want to drive your rig. So often you see these units towing another car.

Then there is a 5th Wheel. This is a unit that is towed by a pickup truck, with part of the RV extending over the bed of the truck. Many retirees like the way these units tow and find them easy to park and maneuver. The bedroom and bathroom are usually in the front of the rig in the part that extends over the back of the pickup, so you have to walk up a couple of steps to get there and sometimes “crawl to your bed” in the smaller units. Again, these can be large and magnificently appointed, or smaller and more affordable. You must have a pickup to tow them, but the advantage is that you can unhook the unit and now you have a regular vehicle to drive around.

Another more traditional type of RV is the travel trailer. Remember the Airstream? They still make them, and they are very luxurious! These can be towed with a regular full-sized SUV (with a large enough engine and towing package), or a pickup. These also come in all sizes, even tiny ones that can be towed with a regular car! The advantage of the trailer over the 5th Wheel (in my opinion) is that they are all on one level, and you don’t have to climb up steps to get to your bathroom and bedroom. They are also more aerodynamic than the big 5th Wheels which can loom over the top of your pickup and be rather scary to drive if there are severe crosswinds. As with a 5th Wheel, you have the advantage of being able to unhook and drive your car for shopping or exploring. Again, these come in all sizes and price ranges.

For camping (vs. actually living in your rig), there is the cab-over camper which sits in the bed of your pickup. These are not readily detached from the pickup, but they have the advantage of being compact and easy to drive. As with all RV’s, there are many price ranges and styles.

One feature of all the above RV’s that makes a huge difference in how you can enjoy your space is the slideout. Some of the big 5th Wheels and motor homes have up to three of these room extensions. But even small trailers and cab-over campers are now being made with at least one slideout. It’s really amazing how a little extra room can make such a difference.

There are many decisions to be made, but hopefully this gives you some vocabulary to begin your search. You can read many articles on-line about RV'ing in retirement, and I would encourage a lot of shopping and talking to RV owners, in addition to RV sales people, before you even consider buying one. As with any vehicle, there is a huge depreciation factor the moment you drive it off the lot if you buy a new RV and then decide to trade. Once you know what you want, you can buy used RV’s for significant savings, especially in this down economy.

Enjoy the freedom of the open road, and saying goodbye to winter!

Mental Exercise

Who says retirement has to be boring? Just because you no longer “work” for a living, there are so many exciting things to do now that you have extra time. Actually, some people feel busier in retirement than they were when they worked!

We all understand how important physical exercise is, but not to be overlooked is the importance of mental exercise. One very interesting program that we are fortunate to have in Ashland, Oregon is called OLLI. http://www.sou.edu/olli/ Now that’s a funny name, but it stands for:

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Here’s a quote from their web site:

“Eager to continue learning? Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Southern Oregon University offers intellectually stimulating classes and social functions for adults who want to know more about the world and the people who inhabit it. Volunteer instructors, most often OLLI members, share their expertise and passions in areas such as literature, art, history, science, natural history, politics, games, health, music, writing, film, theatre, dance, technology and travel. All this at a very modest cost of only $100 per academic year to members. Classes are noncredit - that means no tests and no grades!”

There are also OLLI’s at the following colleges and universities, so I hope you’re lucky enough to live near one:

Aquinas College
Auburn University
American University (D.C.)*
Arizona State University*
Berkshire Community College (MA)
Boise State University (ID)
Bradley University
Brandeis University (MA)*
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo (CA)*
Carnegie Mellon (PA)*
Casper College (WY)
Clemson University (SC)*
Coastal Carolina University
Colorado State University
CSU Bakersfield
CSU Channel Islands*
CSU Chico*
CSU Dominguez Hills
CSU East Bay*
CSU Fresno
CSU Fullerton*
CSU Long Beach*
CSU Los Angeles
CSU Monterey Bay
CSU San Bernardino*
CSU San Marcos*
Dominican University (CA)*
Duke University (NC) *
Eckerd College (FL)*
Emory University (GA)*
Florida International University
Florida State University
Furman University*
George Mason University (VA)*
Granite State College (NH)*
Hampton University (VA)
Humboldt State University
Indiana State University
Iowa State University
Johns Hopkins University
Kennesaw State University (GA)*
Louisiana State University
New York University
Northwestern University (IL)*
Oklahoma State University
Pennsylvania State University
Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)*
Rutgers University (NJ)*
Saginaw Valley State University (MI)*
San Francisco State University (CA)*
San Diego State University (CA)
San Jose State University (CA)
Santa Clara University (CA)*
Sierra College (CA)*
Sonoma State University (CA)*
Southern Oregon University*
Stony Brook State Univ. of New York
Temple University
Texas Tech University*
Towson University (MD)
Tufts University (MA)*
UC Berkeley
UC Davis*
UC Irvine*
UC Los Angeles*
UC Riverside*
UC San Diego*
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Cruz
University of Alabama in Huntsville*
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
University of Alaska at Fairbanks*
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas
University of Cincinnati
University of Connecticut
University of Dayton (OH)*
University of Denver (CO)*
University of Georgia
University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Manoa*
University of Illinois
University of Iowa
University of Kansas*
University of Kentucky*
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts – Boston*
University of Miami
University of Michigan*
University of Minnesota*
University of Missouri – Columbia*
University of Montana
University of Nebraska*
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Reno
University of New Mexico
University of North Carolina Wilmington*
University of North Dakota
University of North Florida
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon*
University of Pittsburgh (PA)*
University of Rhode Island
University of Richmond (VA)*
University of South Carolina Beaufort*
University of South Dakota
University of South Florida*
University of Southern Maine*
University of Southern Mississippi*
University of Texas at Austin*
University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
University of the Pacific (CA)
University of Utah*
University of Vermont*
University of Virginia*
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin, Madison
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Vanderbilt University (TN)
West Virginia University
Widener University (PA)
Yavapai College (AZ)

Walk On!

Retirement hard on your waist line? Spending a little too much time at your computer or in front of the TV? Walk away those retirement blues! And enjoy the benefits of a regular exercise program that is easy and inexpensive, and can be performed in almost any kind of weather.

Your first and only serious investment is a good pair of walking shoes. Here in Ashland, Oregon, we are fortunate to have a great shoe store called Rogue Valley Runners. http://www.roguevalleyrunners.com Despite the name, they also are a great resource for walkers. Here’s a quote from their web site:

“Here at Rogue Valley Runners, we are committed to properly fitting each foot that walks or runs through our doors. Every employee is trained to talk with you about your specific needs, concerns, or goals ensuring you that the shoe that you are fitted for is the right shoe for your foot. We also offer a free video camera/stride analysis service at the store to help with your footwear selection.”

Don’t be afraid to spend around $100 for a good pair of shoes. They will last you at least 6 months to a year. You can also add orthotics, either the over-the-counter kind, or custom ones that a physical therapist can fabricate for you.

Your second investment might be an inexpensive pedometer. I got one for my couch potato husband a few months ago, and he loves the challenge of trying to meet or exceed his goal each week by counting those steps. If that’s the kind of motivation that gets you out there walking every day, then you can buy a pedometer at any department or discount store that has athletic equipment. I bought one at BiMart http://www.bimart.com/ for under $4.00.

Of course it’s a good idea to consult your physician or physical therapist before initiating any kind of exercise program to make sure you don’t have any medical condition or disorder of your joints or muscles that would make walking contraindicated.

One way to insure your continued participation in a walking program is to enlist a fellow walking buddy, or join a group of walkers. The Rogue Valley Mall http://www.roguevalleymall.com has a dedicated group of walkers that stride out in all kinds of weather (it’s nice to have air conditioning in the hot Medford summers as well as shelter from winter rain and snow), and enjoy a cup of coffee together afterward. It’s a great way to meet new friends, and stay in touch with old ones.

So far Mark has lost 6 pounds of holiday flab, doing very little else in terms of changing his eating and drinking habits, just by walking every day. He figures he burns approx. 100 calories in a 30-minute walk, so with everything else being equal, that would amount to almost one pound a month, or 12 pounds in a year. And Mikey the Border Collie is ecstatic to have regular walks to look forward to!

Retire USA full site launching .... soon.

Here at Retire USA we are hoping to launch our full website soon. The site will eventually have over 7500 listings featuring Retirement Communities all over the country as well as Real Estate, Financial and Health services information for most of the major communities in the USA.

Best Places to Retire Version XXIV

US News and World Report has profiles of 1000 places for retirement, and lists the following "Best Places to Retire" in a feature from 2007:

• Bozeman, Mont.
• Concord, N.H.
• Fayetteville, Ark.
• Hillsboro, Ore.
• Lawrence, Kan.
• Peachtree City, Ga.
• Prescott, Ariz.
• San Francisco, Calif.
• Smyrna, Tenn.
• Venice, Fla.

Of course you need to use great caution when interpreting these "best lists" because your personal retirement priorities are likely to differ from those of the magazine editor, but lists ofter a good "starting point" from which you can jump off to more information about areas and cities.

CNN Asks: Can You Retire by 55?

Early retirement - usually with a target age of 50 or 55 - is considered something of a holy grail by Americans. Although some folks are so happy with work they'll keep on plugging away to 65, 70, or beyond, most prefer the flexibility and opportunities that come from casting off the chains of employment obligations in favor of travel and a leisure or volunteer lifestyle where they can pursue what they want to do on their own terms.

CNN helps you decide if you are or will be ready for early retirement here with some case studies and a retirement calculator.

Elder care websites

CNN has listed some good resources for you to find services and communities for ailing parents with special needs:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/03/20/ep.family.care/index.html