How to Discover the Proper Retirement Communitiy

Those searching for senior apartments should take into account a certain arranged of recommendations in pinpointing a prospective location to reside. Items these kinds of as style, universal style, and power performance are areas in which prospective people ought to consider, beyond the fundamental regions that apply for all ages and backgrounds. According to the suggestions of the Livable Communities Awards, we see these locations in effect, which are crucial considerations for those people seeking for a Colorado Springs retirement community.

For the third straight year the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has held the Livable Communities Awards. The AARP collaborates with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to award architects, developers, and builders who accommodate individuals of all backgrounds comfortably and well.

Individuals who are searching for an appropriate local community to reside must stick to the guidelines set forth by the AARP. As these recommendations are examined, the common arranged forth by the AARP 2009 Specific Recognition Award for a developer of more than 250 models, Golden Spike Estates, is of specific mention. Their attributes and standards are an example of what potential residents must seem for in a neighborhood.

Type

Design is rather essential, despite the fact that this can vary in terms of essential and definitely in regards to taste. Nevertheless, you ought to identify and look for communities that have a type that can fit perfectly within your way of life. Several communities are enhanced by the development’s attributes for every person to enjoy.

In the illustration of the AARP 2009 Livable Communities Unique Recognition Award winner Golden Spikes Estates, the development takes advantage of the numerous accommodations obtainable to all of its residents. These are examples from a recipient of the award, in order to offer helpful examples of what you could look for in a development:

Outdoor Amenities: Golden Spikes has a 9 flag golf chip course that spins above 6 acres. There is an outdoor gazebo location with a fire pit, and a barbeque picnic area that can serve more than 200 folks. Additionally, there is Free of charge RV parking space accessible to residents and a pet park next door.

Amusement: A 12,000 square foot clubhouse provides a huge banquet facility with a full kitchen, with a capacity of over 200 people. A dance floor, fireplace, and two big-screen televisions can also be found for leisure pleasure. Rooms this sort of as a beauty salon, movie room, and library are also obtainable in Golden Spike Estates’ clubhouse.

Physical exercise: An workout room and indoor pool can also be identified inside the clubhouse. There is also a sauna, Jacuzzi, and sun deck for relaxing following one’s exercise.

It is important to gauge which regions are much more crucial for you. This sort of as individuals observed in the case in point of an award winner, these places and far more can be measured when you are searching for an active adult online community.

Universal Style

This judged area looks at developers that are driven to provide useful characteristics to all of its residents. Rather than it being a group of normal and similar seeking units, higher-good quality universal design is essential for prospective buyers to appear at, to gauge regardless of whether all residents are offered helpful attributes. Golden Spikes Estates represents this in a number of regions, with the following functions offered on models in the development:

Security Functions: No steps on properties, and low step shower designs for the retirement local community. Garage door opener and heated driveways represent other protection functions that can be discovered at Golden Spikes Estates, in addition to others.

Customization and Other Functions: Endless alternatives for flooring, lighting, appliance, and landscape styles, which are quoted in the allotment cost upfront. A gas fireplace and fan come regular as nicely, for example.

Make sure you are aware to the normal characteristics of all models. In the instance of Golden Spikes Estates, it is easy to see the quality that all units have.

Energy Productivity

Unpredictable electricity bills are a concern for all segments of the population, and definitely for individuals in the retirement online community, like people on fixed or retirement incomes, for instance. With the recipient of the award discussed previously, Golden Spikes Estates offers a great deal of protection to one’s electricity bills:

Air Conditioning: Golden Spikes Estates uses HVCA systems, which are recognized for their capacity to save vitality-related expenses.

Insulation: Power heeled roof truss system are utilized on all models; Golden Spikes is the only builder to use this sort of roof on all models, which helps in saving money in the winter and the summer. Included on models are higher level low “E” glass vinyl windows and siding. Furthermore, ice dams and lost heat are prevented with the follow insulation levels: ceiling (R49), walls (R21), and floors (R30).

Ensure that the online community utilizes a variety of power-efficient standards, this sort of as seen with Golden Spikes Estates, as they are recognized by the suggestions set forth by the AARP. If you would like more information about Colorado Springs Senior Apartments, check out Windsong Living.

Re-work Your Life for a More Joyful Second Half!

What contribution do you want to make?

What exactly do you want to contribute to most now? What issues concern you the most? Where do you feel your natural gifts and talents can make the most difference in the world? Do you want to help children learn, feed the elderly, or help others with their financial problems?

The choice is yours. There are countless opportunities and choices to make in how we’ll spend our time during the second half of our lives.

Each choice we make will bring change and energy into our lives, while attracting what we are seeking. Examine for a moment how easy it has been thus far, to work only at thankless and unfulfilling jobs. Each new lackluster job just leads to the next, and so on.

This is your time to shine, and share your natural gifts with the world. Contributing in the areas of your life that interest you most is the best way to live an authentic second half. Where exactly do you want to contribute now?

What is most important to you?

What does your list of “most important” look like? Family, health, developing products, painting, helping families in need, travel?

You need to make an honest reassessment of what is most important in your life now. If you are like most people, before 40 this list was driven largely by external expectations. Now this needs to be an internal list driven by what you are most passionate about. What does your list look like?

Can you think of how you might align your life’s work around what is most important to you right now?

Notice, I said your life’s work. This is the difference between JUST a job and a vocation. When your work reflects what is most important to you, you never need to re-tire (get ready to be tired) — your life’s work stays with you until you stop breathing.

What could you do in your second half of life for as long as you are breathing? Answering this question will change the way you think about your life and your work.

How do you feel about you?

Notice your feelings about you. Take a step back, and in your mind’s eye, re-examine yourself from a distance. What do you notice? What do you love most about you? What areas would you like to change, and why? If you know the why, you can always figure out the “how” part later. The way you feel about yourself will have an impact on your emotions, which will impact on your thoughts, and on your body, right down to your individual cells. Those around you will feel the impact as well. Continue to focus on the areas you are most proud of, and make a commitment to change the areas that cause you some concern.

The better you feel about yourself, the better everyone else around you will look as well. As a result, you will attract more of what you seek in your life.

Have better brain synapses

Have you noticed that when you think a thought, you immediately start to think other, similar thoughts? Most of the time, we think a negative thought and then, before we know it, we start thinking more, similar negative thoughts. This is how the brain works.

Remember: you are the person running your wonderful brain. Start now to think of new possibilities for your work and your life. Do you want now, after 40, to become a brain surgeon, build boats, open a deli, or teach 4th grade? Why not? It only takes new possibilities, and new possibilities can happen with new thinking.

What work best fits you now?

In your second half of life, this is a much better question to ask.
Those silly job descriptions you used to try to conform to don’t work after 40. Now, it is much better to ask yourself what work best fits you. What work feels just right to you? Can you think of work that will be challenging to accomplish, and for which you also have the abilities and interests?

What kind of work makes you feel alive and joyful?

Sometimes, just like trying on new clothes, you have to start to try on new kinds of work. After all, after 40, just as your body has changed, your skills and priorities are a little different than they were when you were 25!

What are you most passionate about now!!

What are you most passionate about? What things or activities give you the most energy and excitement, and leave you breathless for more?

This is a great place to start. For example, does yoga make you feel so great, you just wish it would never end? Well, write down all the ideas you can come up with, around yoga as your work.

I get this question all the time — many people seem to think this will stump me: “What if I am passionate about sex?”

Well, great. Think of all the people in the world who have similar passions and interests around sex. You could be an educator, a healer, a facilitator, and there are countless products to sell in this area.

The point is that no subject you are passionate about should be off-limits, as long as it is legal, and doesn’t harm others or the environment.

Start with a short list of your passions. Walk around all day with this list, and just reflect and look around you — you will get many ideas

What would your perfect day be like?

This is a great exercise to try. Make a list, and imagine you could create a new typical day for yourself — one that you would be excited to repeat over and over again for the rest of your life. Start with when you wake, and plan it right through to when you go to sleep. How will your day go, and what will you do? Who will you be with?

Be careful, as the mind doesn’t know the difference between what is real and imagined when you think about your future. Whatever perfect day you write down, you will start to move towards it!

What can I do today?

Take small steps. Ensure that you are emotionally strong for this journey. You will need to stop caring what others think. Make sure those people close to you are supportive. If they are not, you will have to build up a better support team around you.

Think about money. How much money do you actually need vs. how much you want? There is a difference. Do you have a big retirement fund? I have great news!!! Now that you have decided to find your life’s work, you will never need to retire. Cash in that retirement fund now and use it!!! You will disappoint your financial advisors, but you will enhance your sense of control by deciding how you will use your money now.

Give yourself permission

Sometimes this is all it takes. Have you ever made a personal decision and immediately felt better? Well, this is exactly what you can do now with your work. Give yourself permission now to not settle for anything less than a joyful, passionate, authentic second half of life.

You will never look back, as you will start to create a more joyful second half of life that is just right for you.

I’ll be cheering you on as you go!

Craig Nathanson is the author of P Is For Perfect: Your Perfect Vocational Day and a coaching expert who works with people over forty. Craig’s new E-book, Discover and live your passion 365 days a year is a workshop in a box designed to help busy adults go insane with their work. Craig’s systematic approach, the trademark “Ten P” process,’’ helps people break free and move toward the work they love. Visit Craig’s online community at http://www.thevocationalcoach.com where you can take a class, get more ideas through Craig Nathanson’s books and CD’s, get some private coaching over the phone or read other stories of mid-life change and renewal.

Craig lives in Fairfax, California. His office is located at 6 School Street, suite 220, Fairfax, Ca 94930. You can reach him at 415-457-0550 or at craig@thevocationalcoach.com.

The 10 Steps to be Happy Now!

Have you been wondering if happiness is even possible?

Yes, it is!

Deep inside, we all want to be happy, especially in the middle part of our lives. We also seek a simple process, and a new secret to reach this lifelong goal.

Well, I have a simple answer and, of course, a longer answer.

The simple answer is: choose to be happy! It is that easy, and that hard.
If you find this difficult, you might seek this path through your work. What we do determines who we are and who we become. Since work takes up the majority of our waking time, this is a good place to start. So here is what you have been searching for all your life — a ten step proven method to happiness.
Yes, it’s that easy (and that hard!)

Step One: Describe the parts of your life you are NOT happy with

Sometimes it takes defining and writing down the things in your life that are not making you happy. Only you can define this. Be honest with yourself. This is your private list. Examine all elements of your life. Think deeply about this. Reflect deeply on your relationships, your finances, your work, your health, and most importantly, your emotional state. Are there elements in this list that you are not happy with? Identify them, and write them down.

Step Two: What needs to change now?

From the list you made in Step 1, what must change now to bring you greater happiness? What’s keeping you from moving towards what you want in your life? What is bringing you more pain than pleasure right now?
There is a difference between what should change and what must change. Changing something that is not bringing you happiness is not easy. Usually people will only consider change when the pain of NOT changing is greater than the pain of changing.
What kind of trigger would make you say enough is enough? Has this trigger already occurred? Write down what must change in your life NOW.

Step Three: What work could you do for a lifetime?

I have found the best approach to achieving happiness is through our work.
Your work can give you a sense of pride, self esteem, fulfillment, and meaning. Loving your work can improve your quality of life, relationships, and emotional state. Loving your work also leads to a better financial state — once you do work you love, you will suddenly find creativity you never knew you had.

Jobs only lead to careers, which lead to retirement, and then death. Vocation is work you can do for a lifetime.
Write down the work you would love to do, and that could last your lifetime.

Step Four: Envision your perfect day

Envision right now what it would be like to live each day the rest of your life doing the work you love. Don’t just think lightly about this. Think deeply about your entire day, and include every detail. When would you get up in the morning? What would you do? Think about the pattern of your entire day and evening, centered on the work you most want to do.

This isn’t JUST a motivational exercise. You are imprinting on your mind’s eye exactly what you want, and what activities would make you happy. Be careful what you imprint, as you WILL start to move towards it.

Step Five: What are the next steps to take now?

What actions could you take today to start these new habits? Research has suggested it takes doing something seven times in a row to develop new habits. What can you do each day for the next seven days to move forward?
For example, perhaps starting today, you can set aside a half hour each day.
On day one, write down your new goals, and what must change in your life.
On day two, perhaps you decide to tell someone else your decisions.
On day three, you do a little reading and research.
On day four, you make a phone call.
On day five, you make a plan to get closer to your goals.
On day six, you practice doing what you love.
On day seven, you talk to someone who is doing the work you most want to do — this gives you new ideas.

Suddenly, you find you have developed a new habit as well!

Step Six: Give yourself some advice

In mid-life, the best advice can come from within yourself. Imagine having a meeting with the inner you: describe your unhappiness, and more importantly, discuss what you most want to change right now. Hear yourself describing the challenge. Listen carefully to the advice the inner you gives. Some of you might call this intuition; others gut-feeling. Write down the advice you receive.
Read it, think about it, cherish it — follow it now.

Step Seven: Make a money plan

If you lost your job today, how long could you go without making any money? What resources could you tap into to extend this time?
How about your retirement fund? After all, you won’t need this because the only people who retire are people who don’t love what they do. In mid-life, when you’re going through major changes, you need free time more than you need money.
Once you start to work at what you love, how much do you need to make before taxes? Remember, there is a difference between “need” and “want.” There is always some downscaling needed for the first few years when you make a major transition from “just a job” to your lifetime vocation.

Step Eight: Tell your loved ones what you are doing

Notice I said “tell”: don’t ask permission. If the relationship is on solid ground, your second half will respect the fact that you have given your life some deeper thought, and have decided to change. They know this will make you happier, and your happiness will make your relationship even better.
On the other hand, if you have asked for permission and not received it, then you have a different challenge. This stops many people.
You can benefit greatly from supportive loved ones, but you can die inside if you are living with people who only cheer you on when you are sticking with the status quo. If this is the case for you, you MUST change your team sooner or later

Step Nine: Celebrate

Reward yourself with every step you take. This will reinforce your path towards greater happiness in your life. Make sure your rewards are healthy for you, and for those around you.

Step Ten: Keep the momentum — keep moving forward

Don’t let a day go by when you are not working on your OWN happiness. This is not selfish. In fact, it is the most unselfish thing you can do for yourself at this stage of your life. As you create more happiness for yourself, you will find that your life just works better at all levels. Those around will also notice and appreciate the difference.

You could just choose to be happy now — that’s the easiest course — but if you need a little jump start, try these ten steps NOW.

As always, I’ll be cheering you on as you go – Craig Nathanson

Craig Nathanson is the author of P Is For Perfect: Your Perfect Vocational Day and a coaching expert who works with people over forty. Craig’s new E-book, Discover and live your passion 365 days a year is a workshop in a box designed to help busy adults go insane with their work. Craig’s systematic approach, the trademark “Ten P” process,’’ helps people break free and move toward the work they love. Visit Craig’s online community at http://www.thevocationalcoach.com where you can take a class, get more ideas through Craig Nathanson’s books and CD’s, get some private coaching over the phone or read other stories of mid-life change and renewal.

Caring for Aging Parents

Who typically cares for mom and dad as they age?  Research studies indicate that it’s mostly women, usually daughters that become the care-givers for aging parents. Recent estimates report that 34 million Americans serve as unpaid caregivers for other adults, usually elderly relatives, and that they spend an average of 21 hours a week helping out.  One of the most important things you can do to help yourself and your family through this transitions is to plan ahead.  So let’s take a look at some the issues you might be facing.

Increased Financial Burden

AARP estimates that unpaid caregivers spend an average of $2,400 a year on care for their elderly.  Those who put in more than 40 hours a week spend as much as $3,888 of their own money each year. You will need to prepare for this either individually or as a family.  One of the best ways is to have a conversation early on with your parents about what monies they have designed for retirement and how it can be accessed when needed.

The Emotional Consequences

Caregivers typically experience significantly increased levels of stress and restricted social activities.  They report having one or more chronic condition such as high blood pressure at nearly twice the rate of all Americans.  91% report being depressed.

This is easy to understand if only one person is responsible for all of the caregiving.  It’s important to manage these duties between several members of the family and/or friends if possible.  If money permits, hire outside caregivers that have been carefully screened.

This is also a time of life when your parents aging can be the cause that unlocks your family’s hidden (or ignored) dysfunctions.  Tempers may flare over seemingly inane situations – often about money.  If need be, hire a third-party to come in and mediate family meetings.  Someone has to remain objective with the eye on the primary goal of taking care of your elderly parents.

What becomes extremely important is how the caregiver communicates to his/her elderly. Getting old is hard enough and when children have to tell their parents that they are worried about them living alone, it can be uncomfortable for everyone involved. Where will your parents live as they age?  How do you tell them that they can’t drive any more?  No one prepares us for these kinds of conversations.  Again, planning for the future is key to easing this process.

Talking to Older Parents About Independence

Unfortunately the issues won’t go away if you ignore them.  So the best way to deal with these inevitable changes is to plan in advance – before any problems arise.  A study done by AARP magazine found that most parents feel better about having this kind of discussion when things are going well. 

When talking to your parents it’s ok to be direct just not confrontational.  Always remember to notice how they are feeling (vs. how you are thinking or feeling or how you think they feel).  For example, say to your dad, “My friend Paul’s father is giving up driving.  How would you like to get around when you can no longer drive?”  Or, “Mom, you seem unsteady on your feet.  How can we protect you from falling and hurting yourself?”

Don’t be afraid to share your feelings about the life changes your parents are going through.  Say to Mom, “You have always been so independent and I can only imagine how hard it is for you to ask for help.  I just want you to know that I’m here for you whatever you need.”

If your parents are resistant to talking about their loss of independence, be assured that this is normal.  They may tell you to mind your own business, so be patient and respect their feelings.  You have to remember to keep treating them like equals.  Make conversation another time unless the issue of their health or safety is at immediate risk.
  
You might need to hold a family meeting where everyone can discuss their concerns jointly and develop a plan that is agreeable for all.  But make sure that your parents feel a sense of involvement and that they still have some control over their own lives.  Listen to their opinions and recognize their right to help make decisions.  Sometimes your parents will make decisions that you don’t agree with.  You have to deal with that yourself.  Make a list of the key issues you need to cover including money, living arrangements, activities such as yard work, doctor visits, and taking prescription medication.

Always remember to be kind.  Not just to your elderly, but also to yourself if you are the caregiver.  This can be a challenging period of life, but with acceptance and planning, it can go a lot smoother.

Additional Resources
  
Ideas for simple home modifications that can help parents remain at home http://www.aarp.org/families/home_design/

Resources for caregivers developed by the Administration on Aging
http://www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/caregiver/caregiver.asp

A free searchable database of a wide variety of community services for older adults http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/Public/Home.asp 

An online directory of adult day centers
http://www.nadsa.org/

Books You Can Read

American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving
American Medical Association, Angela Perry (Editor); Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated, 2001. http://www.amazon.com/American-Medical-Association-Guide-Caregiving/dp/0471414093/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207873318&sr=1-1 
 
And Thou Shalt Honor: A Caregiver’s Companion
Beth Witrogen McLeod (Editor), Bob Condor, Rodale press, 2002
Written for the caregiver with advice from experts and experienced caregivers on all aspects of providing care
http://www.amazon.com/Thou-Shalt-Honor-Caregivers-Companion/dp/B000GYI1VA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207873353&sr=1-1

For more information go to http://www.fishing-yellowstone.com 

Realizing Success in a Dying town: Out with the Old.

During a recent visit to the once thriving southwestern town of Tucumcari, New Mexico, located in Quay County on “Historic Route 66,” I wondered how businesses were surviving there during this floundering economy, especially since the town had been sputtering towards failure for more than a decade. The universe answered my mindful inquiry by presenting this example of how one businesswoman was making it, while an elder businessman was not.

Once named “Six Shooter Siding,” Tucumcari was founded in 1901 as a railroad construction camp. The 2000 census was 11 people short of reporting a population of 6000, but the count has since declined. The town occupies 7.5 square miles. Businesses in Tucumcari that exude a level of success are rare; they are few whose windows aren’t barred or boarded up. The prominent ones are banks like Wells Fargo and Everyone’s Federal Credit Union. (Yes, that is the credit union’s actual name). Set apart, with its clean, almost modern architecture, Mesalands Community College seems as though extraterrestrials had plopped it down one late evening unbeknownst to the local inhabitants. [But I could only logically equate such an event with Roswell, New Mexico, far to the south.]

On Main Street of Tucumcari’s “downtown,” the only business front that said, “successful” was Pajarito Interiors, owned and operated by Ruth Nelson, an interior decorator who (according to local news articles) earned her degree from the University of Hawaii and moved to New Mexico from Oregon several years ago. Pajarito Interiors’ Santa Fe adobe-style facade was clean, its paint fresh and stucco walls free of cracks. It had obviously been recently redesigned and updated compared to the buildings, up, down and across the street that sat in sad shape, windows boarded from vandal attacks, and having been long abandoned. An emaciated, feathery carcass of some now unidentifiable medium-sized bird-of-prey lay, splayed out in a display window where the raptor had accidentally flown in and failed in its escape. There it remained, in memoriam to its long suffering; for how long was anyone’s guess. The building adjacent to Pajarito Interiors, connected by a shared wall was Sands-Dosey Drugstore. It had burned a year ago. Its partially scorched-black walls remained half standing, reminiscent of a bombed-out structure from a recent war no one had heard about. Its long history destroyed in what must have been a matter of hours.

Ruth Nelson’s store is stocked with high-end home furnishing and decorator items. The interior walls hold a neutral hue that complements every other color found on unique, seemingly one-of-a-kind tables, sofas, chairs, and objects de arte . The ceiling lights softly light partitions that showcase special furnishings like a fashionably high table with a pair of plush-upholstered, matching chairs. In Tucumcari, with an estimated 80% of its population living on public assistance, it was an immediate mystery as to who among the locals could afford such exquisite items.

In an interview, Ruth Nelson said she moved to Tucumcari when she found a man with whom she thought she could spend the rest of her life; that being Donald Schutte, an attorney and now former state district judge. (Having been originally appointed by the governor, Schutte had lost last November’s election with his opponent winning nearly 2 votes to 1.) In local news articles, Nelson and Schutte have expressed plans to greatly improve downtown Tucumcari as they have filled key roles in the “Main Street” initiative with its mission to “bring back Tucumcari.” Nelson said her business was doing okay, but there was a time when she was realizing $7,000 to $10,000 in sales per week. That number sounded suspiciously exaggerated so I investigated further to find out the secret of how a businesswoman could be so successful in what appears to be a dying town. The answer came as a surprise.

In July, 2006, Ruth bought a home furnishings business from businessman Stanley Jennings. Stanley was 81 years old and thought it a good time to consider retiring. A veteran, and retired serviceman, Stanley was born in 1925 in his family’s ranch house home in Quay, New Mexico, about 17 miles south of Tucumcari. He grew up there. Stan (as his friends call him) remembers as a child having just one shirt which his mother would quickly wash every night when he got home from school. She would iron it in the morning right before he left to attend a one room school house that was located on an adjacent ranch a couple of miles away. He would walk or ride a horse to get there. As a teenager, Stan was a “soda jerk” at Sands-Dorsey Drugstore whose abandoned business location was the bombed out building, previously noted. He served in the Army Air Corp as a P-51 fighter pilot in Alaska, and was once state President of New Mexico Young Democrats, a time he was being groomed to run for a higher, future office. He attended pharmacy school in Albuquerque but quit when he got a C in one class believing that it disqualified him to graduate. He didn’t understand that is was a Grade Point Average (GPA) of a C or less that would have disqualified him. Unexpectedly, Stan’s father died far too young, and left Stan’s mother to cope with running a cattle ranch that was on the small side, as cattle ranches go. The ranch was encumbered with a large tax debt, as well. Stan accepted the responsibility, supporting his mother, wife and child.

Stan gave up pursuing ambitions outside of Tucumcari: the new, flourishing airline industry needed pilots, pharmacies were short-handed, and state level politics continued to beckon, but he kept busy on the home front. He was elected to the office of Quay County Assessor for several terms, continued on as a 4th generation rancher and founded a business in Tucumcari that he maintained for over 30 years. Tucumcari became home. He had married there; his only child had been born there. Janie, his wife, a school teacher who had taught for 26 years in Tucumcari, died there just short of their 50th wedding anniversary. Although now remarried, Stan has a burial place reserved beside Janie’s “place of rest.” He was an active member and held offices in the Kiwanis Club and currently holds the position of Chaplain in the local Masonic Lodge. Bottomline: Stan is a long-standing member of Tucumcari’s history. A dedicated community leader, he did everything expected of, above and beyond, many of his friends and peers who have passed away over the years. Since selling his business at the age of 81, what has happened to Stan in his golden years, within this small community he’s loved and served all his life ?

Now a jolly-round man with a quirky little smile, and friendly disposition, Stan owns and operates Fort Bascom Trading Post, where he is a seller of used odds and ends. At a glance, one would describe it as a southwest curio and junk store with a few interesting “pieces” scattered here and there. A private 45 rpm record “juke box” rumored to have belonged to movie star Grear Garson, a Bally’s nickel slot machine, and a coin-operated orchestrian that plays a tune for a quarter. There are the numerous Model As in various states of disrepair (rebuild); a couple look pretty complete. The business is housed in an old building whose interior is lighted by parallel rows of garish florescent lights that burn (a couple flicker) all day since the building’s large picture windows were permanently boarded up after being broken out by vandals.

Who’s buying this stuff? Nobody. “Economy’s bad,” Stan explains, “And I could sure use some sales, right now.” Since he used to offer financing (credit) to his customers, a lot of people still owe him money from the former business, and most of them aren’t paying. Stan has to file a claim (to garnish wages) against them, but can only do that if he has the extra $40 it costs to do so. Why don’t they pay? “People are hurtin’ here. They’ve been hurtin’ for as long as I can remember, and can’t afford to pay much for anything.” Most of Stan’s customers can’t qualify for a credit card, don’t have checking accounts, and “most live from paycheck to paycheck, if they’re lucky enough to get a paycheck,” he adds.

In 2006, Stan was approached by Ruth Nelson who wanted to buy his home furnishings business and transform it into her own decorator studio and interior design business. The deal was struck and Nelson’s live-in male companion (then district judge Donald Schutte) bought the building from Stan with no hitches. Schutte apparently gave the building to Nelson as she is singularly listed as the owner of record at the Quay County Tax Assessor’s Office. Nelson produced and presented a contract to Stan stating the terms under which she would purchase his business and inventory (valued at approximately $118,000 which Stan was discounting to her for approximately $63,000). Nelson was buying only the new merchandise from Stan and she understood that Stan would retain the used items to sell as used merchandise. Nelson was to pay for the inventory over time… or at least that’s what Stan believes one of the contracts stated. You see, Nelson presented a number of versions of the contract to Stan over several days. Trusting, and in good faith, Stan signed each version of the contract that Nelson presented to him, but Stan was never given a copy of the final contract. Stan repeatedly asked Nelson for a copy, but those requests were ignored.

In 2007, Stan spent 30 full days in hospital battling and overcoming a case of pneumonia from which most people his age would have died. While Stan was still recovering at home, Nelson wrote a letter charging Stan with breach of contract, citing that she had seen a (free, courtesy) phone listing (not an advertisement) for his business in a telephone directory, and that Nelson had been told by a customer (hearsay) that Stan’s staff had offered to order new items for them. For Nelson, these two events justified charging Stan with breach of a non-compete clause that was allegedly part of their terms of sale. This alleged breach therefore justified why she had the right to (abruptly) discontinue making payments to Stan for the inventory. Stan wasn’t offered an opportunity to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, Stan was slowly recovering from his illness and gradually returning to work. Stan continued to struggle to make payments on the original business loan he had obtained to buy the inventory that Nelson had bought, but now refused to pay for. Nelson was selling that inventory for pure profit and was realizing huge success in a faltering economy. This may explain how there were times when Nelson was able to sell $7,000 to $10,000 worth of merchandise each week… for a while.

Now comes the rub. Stan’s family attorney (and CPA) refused to involve himself with a lawsuit against Nelson, not unlike five other attorneys across the state of New Mexico who, likewise, cited “conflicts of interest.” Apparently, Nelson’s live-in male companion (Schutte), the former New Mexico district judge and attorney also holds a seat on the New Mexico Bar Association Review Board, a position that could be politically dangerous for an opposing attorney to twiddle with.

Stan met with the sixth attorney in Albuquerque, a specialist in elder abuse law, who requested a $2000 retainer which he had borrowed from family members. To begin, the attorney requested a copy of the contract three times from Nelson who ignored the requests. The attorney wrote a letter of demand for payment to Ruth Nelson and Don Schutte. Schutte responded that he had nothing to do with the contract between Stanley Jennings and Ruth Nelson, and that Nelson would probably respond through her own legal counsel. (Keep in mind Nelson was living with Schutte, an attorney and former district judge capable of advising her in matters regarding business ethics, best practices, and taking appropriate legal actions.) Nelson did not respond to the letter.

The attorney told Stan that she would initiate a lawsuit against Nelson (and Nelson’s attorney-judge-pro-bono-legal-counsel boyfriend for his role) if Stan provides a $10,000 retainer… which will only pay for “discovery” and filing initial paperwork. A subsequent trial or further legal action would be at an additional expense to Stan. With what Stan owes already on the business loan for the inventory, and borrowing the initial attorney fees, the old man would be looking at $100,000 of debt at age 83. This level of debt he’d never experienced in his life. The attorney voiced concern that Stan might not be able to physically weather the depositions, inquiries, interrogation, investigation, trial, or trials to come. [In the event that Stan died, he wouldn’t be alive to pay for services rendered by the attorney, which probably explained the reason for such a large, up-front retainer.]

So now this elderly cornerstone of the community is caught in a no-win situation. Why? The attorney outlined Stan’s options and possible options of outcome:

1). If Stan initiates a lawsuit against Nelson (along with her attorney-judge-pro-bono-legal-counsel boyfriend), and wins, it may be ruled that Nelson must pay Stan’s legal fees, court costs, intangible and tangible damages that could total in excess of $100,000. Could (or would) Nelson pay this? Not if she demonstrates the inability to pay, and that might be pretty easy for her to do. Game over. Stan loses… and he would still owe court and legal costs… and would have to continue to pay on the business loan for the inventory.

2). If Stan initiates a lawsuit, odds are, Nelson (and her attorney-judge-pro-bono-legal-counsel boyfriend) would counter-sue Stan with the pointed strategy of elongating the legal process, thereby financially breaking and/or out-living the old man Stan. Game over. Stan loses with his debts being transferred to his estate, or to his elderly widow who also loses… along with his children and grandchildren (who may have had some sort of inheritance prior to such a lawsuit).

3). If Nelson counter-sues Stan and wins, Stan would probably be required to pay Nelson’s court costs, tangible and intangible damages, as well as legal costs to her now exorbitantly expensive attorney-judge-NOT pro-bono-legal-counsel boyfriend who will have suddenly transformed into the most expensive legal counsel on earth. Stan loses absolutely everything because the attorney-judge-legal-counsel boyfriend would probably file a lien against every asset Stan has.

New Mexico Attorney General, Gary King advocates a strong stance on the protection of elders against abuse, both physical and financial. Yet a representative from the New Mexico Adult Protective Services Division stated that Stan’s situation isn’t really a case of financial elder abuse and that his case should be handled by law, through the legal system. If you review the options that the legal system offers (stated above), it is fairly easy to see that it offers little, if any, hope or opportunity for Stan to prevail in this situation.

Stan’s retirement “plan” was simple. He wanted to spend his last days restoring Model A Fords, the kind he admired as a young man, but could never afford. Stan owns more than one shirt now, but his eyes tear up when he reflects about the moment when he had saved up enough money to buy two new shirts to have at one time. He gets up every morning, showers and shaves, checks his blood sugar, takes his insulin and other prescribed medications. He eats a little breakfast and feeds a group of cats before “going to work” at Fort Bascom Trading Post as a seller of used odds and ends, in an effort to make ends meet. For him, the weight of the world seems far heavier than it had 30, 40, 50 or 60 years ago. And he realizes he lacks strength. It seemed that Stan was headed on the same doomed path as the burn-gutted drugstore where he had once worked as a young man, only his suffering is lasting quite a bit longer. Stan is fast becoming the sun-dried hawk that fought for its life in the store display window until it could fight no longer, when no one either noticed or cared or tried to help it survive.

This is one of those little stories about the unknown underdog featured on television’s 60 Minutes, 20/20, 48 Hours or Nightline. How can an elderly, almost gone, and nearly forgotten man get noticed by those globally viewed and respected programs? Who can help him, and who cares for guys like this anyway? If you’re reading this article and have the answer, please let me know, before Stan claims his place beside his wife Janie who died almost 20 years ago.

How Do You Want The Last Third Of Your Life To Be?

Have you heard the old saying? “If you don’t do it now it will catch up with you later”. But truer words were never been spoken about our lack of proper exercise and its impact on our life. It is really a life or death situation – do it or die some might say.

It seems strange that we are all so concerned about saving enough money and investing wisely during our working years to ensure financial security when we cease our working life. But what happens if we fail to maintain our body throughout the years and just when we have the time to do all the things we have looked forward to if breaks down?

What if you cannot take that trip you have dreamed about, or what if you cannot play tennis or golf like you have always wanted? Or what about your plans to knock the garden into shape or the hobby you are keen to get started with?

You may not plan on being very active after you retire but how do you think your life would be affected if you have a chronic disease or back or hip pain, or some other nagging ailment or disability that demands much of your time and attention? How would life be if it revolved around doctor’s rooms, tests, specialists and hospitals?

You might be years or even decades away from the end of your working life and retirement but it is useful to ask the question: ” Am I doing what I need to be doing to ensure a well and functional future for myself?” Just as we should prepare for our financial future we should prepare of our muscle, joint, health and wellness future.

It is not down to ‘Lady Luck” but down to what we do and don’t do on a daily basis. Are you confident you are doing enough to ensure your health span equals your life span?

What we would all like to have as long as possible is a strong well functioning body that is disease free and doesn’t hurt. It should allow us to all of the physical activities and things we enjoy. But this is a high goal and doesn’t happen without proper exercise to keep our muscles and joints strong as well as entire body and its systems.

We are aware now that what we used to believe was a natural part of the aging process is nothing more than a lack of enough muscle building and maintaining activity throughout our adult years. Like it or not the older you are the more you need a regular proper exercise program.

If you don’t you will lose physical functioning slowly (or not so slowly) over time, become weaker, your body composition (muscle/fat ratio) will change unfavorably, your energy will decrease and you will fall headlong down the spiral of accelerated aging. Not exactly a good scenario for a healthy and ‘fun’ retirement.

Think of your exercise program that contains mostly strength training exercise as better than ‘money in the bank’ as it will reduce medical costs, minimize the need for long term care and protect family, friends and society from the burden of having to take care of you.

The vitality and vigor that your active strong life will give you represents the very best investment you can make. An extended life with higher quality active living is something no amount of money can buy you. The human body does not wear out it rusts out. You will determine if you spend the final years of your life in a nursing home, or independently, enjoying a full active life. The choice is yours and yours alone.

Seniors Learn To Clear Clutter And Downsize The Easy Way

Are you thinking about downsizing to move to a smaller home? You can downsize even if you don’t plan on moving. Reducing the amount of possessions on a regular basis will help avoid the physical exertion and emotional trauma of doing it all at once.

Are you living in a home that has become too large for you and it is harder to go up and down the stairs? Are you afraid of getting rid of things because you are afraid you’ll be getting rid of your memories?

Clearing the clutter from a house you’ve lived in for years can seem like an impossible or overwhelming task.

Sometimes it is our adult children that interfere with our moving plans as they don’t want us to leave the home where they have fond memories of growing up. Or it could be that they want us to move but are afraid of suggesting it to us.

Emma was concerned about her elderly parents staying alone in their family home as they were getting older and she worried about them. Her father would forget to take his medications and when encouraged to take them he would become angry and accuse her mother of treating him like a child.

They had been taken advantage of by a man who had come to their home and telling them their roof needed repairing. Being trusting people they gave him several thousand dollars for repairs and never saw him again.

Her mother didn’t see as well as she used to and when she spilt some water on the floor she slipped and fell. She bruised her leg and was sore for several days.

The laundry room is in the basement and it is hard for her parents to go up and down the stairs to do their laundry. Her mother never complained but to wore her out to do the laundry.

Her mother drove her father to his doctor’s appointments but this made Emma uneasy as she was worried that her mother might cause an accident as her reflexes weren’t as good as they used to be.

Emma could see that socially they were isolated as their friends and family had moved away from the neighborhood. They would talk about how they wanted to go out and have fun doing activities but didn’t have anyone to go with and her mother couldn’t drive at night.

Emma thought it would be hard for her parents to leave the home they had lived in for 30 years. She was also concerned about clearing the clutter accumulated over a lifetime. She decided to talk to them about downsizing and preparing for a move to a retirement home. She expected resistance when she talked to her parents about moving and she was prepared to let the idea of downsizing and moving to a smaller home sit with them for a while to get used to the idea.

She was surprised when they were eager to move to a smaller place. They wanted a place with less up keep and where they could be around others their own age.  They also wanted a house that was all on one level.

They had actually wanted to move for some time but were afraid Emma and their other children would not want them to leave this house where they had been reared.

If any of this sounds familiar and you do want to clear clutter whether you are moving or staying in your home here are six easy to follow tips to make downsizing easier.

· Evaluate each room one at a time and decide what you plan to keep and what you want to give away.

· Discuss with your family that you are clearing clutter to prepare for a move. Have them come to your home and give them colored stickers. Tell them to walk around and put a sticker on items they want. If there are duplicates on an item they can negotiate as to who gets it.

· Make a plan to get rid of what you don’t use, love or that you no longer want to keep.

· Take photos of things you want to get rid of but are having a hard time parting with and put them in a photo album.

· If you are storing your adult children’s possessions give them a date they need to have them removed. If they don’t come and get their things donate them.

·Remember what you put in storage is just delaying making a decision.

Consider the wonderful opportunities that will be opening up to you such as easier and better living after moving from a house that has out grown you.

There are comfortable condominiums, gated communities, retirement centers, assisted care centers or perhaps a “mother-in-law apartment” that would better meet your needs. When moving it is easier to clear the clutter that somehow has accumulated over the years. And it gives you such a sense of freedom and a lot fewer things to have to dust.

Marilyn, a professional organizer and author is passionate about organizing for women and seniors in clearing clutter from their lives. Her book “Go Organize!” is now in major bookstores. Visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com

Work Choices For Retirees

Isabel Moras, senior and co-author of “Income Ideas for
Seniors”, announced today the release of the second edition of
this book. According to the co-author: “We help and guide
seniors with this publication, making retirees feel better about
their future”. The book is a guide for seniors and baby-boomers
thinking about retirement; this resource supplies the reader
with listings and details of a wide variety of paid activities
plus inspiring anecdotes from ordinary citizens so those seniors
can take advantage of opportunities right away. “Income Ideas
for Seniors” is intended to help retirees take steps to feel
useful and be rewarded for what they want and can do. “Income
Ideas for Seniors” has millions of retired men and women in mind
and baby boomers that want to age actively, specially as medical
advances allow them to live longer and healthier lives. A senior
looking to retire soon said:” I may be looking for a quiet time
after I leave my job at 65, but other folks, like my wife, do
not want to do so, she is looking to continue with her present
employer or explore other possibilities.” To this end, “Income
Ideas for Seniors” has a self assessment section to focus
seniors on their interests and capabilities. As medical advances
have effectively extended life expectance letting seniors live
healthier and more active lives, a significant number of
retirees become restless months, even years after leaving their
adult life jobs. A large number of seniors are looking for
activities that permit interaction, use of their skills and
expertise, with the added bonus of some extra cash. A portion of
the book proceeds will be donated to the Arthritis Foundation,
an agency increasing the awareness of what sometimes can be a
very debilitating disease for seniors. For more information
contact: SeniorsCanWork P.O. Box 690 Upton, MA 01568
www.seniorscanwork.co

Pensions Guide: State Pensions

The most important financial decisions you’re likely to make in your life are those concerning your retirement. To have a secure future with a comfortable standard of living after you’ve stopped working, you’ll need to plan your finances carefully.

Pensions are becoming more and more important as people now live longer into their retirement. Lifestyles have also changed – people often take out mortgages later in life than they used to, meaning that they may still have a mortgage to repay when they stop working. And as people are experiencing better health and longer retirements, they want to have a reasonable disposable income in order to enjoy more leisure activities in their later years.

This is the first of two guides outlining the fundamentals of pensions. It’ll help you understand more about state pensions and how they are calculated. The second guide focuses on private pension schemes. These articles do not constitute financial advice and should only be used as an introductory informational guide to pensions. For advice on how to plan your finances for your future, seek professional advice from an independent financial advisor.

Definition

First, back to basics – what is a pension? It’s a regular source of tax-free income for you to live on when you retire. As contributions towards your pension fund during your working life also receive tax relief, it’s a more tax-efficient than other methods of saving.

The government department responsible for managing and administering state pensions and other pensions related benefits is The Pension Service, which is part of the Department of Work and Pensions.

State pension

The government provides a state pension, which can be claimed by men over the age of 65 and women over the age of 60 (although this will increase to 65 in line with the male pension age by 2020).

Not everyone qualifies for a state pension, and even those who do will receive different incomes depending on their working history. Entitlement is calculated according to the number of national insurance contributions (NICs) you (or your partner/spouse) have paid, which are converted into ‘qualifying years’. You’ll need to have worked and paid contributions for around 90% of your adult working life in order to receive the full state pension. If you’ve been out of work for long periods in order to bring up a family or look after someone, you’ll be compensated for missing NICs through ‘Home Responsibilities Protection’. If you’ve been out of work for other reasons and have been claiming benefits such as jobseeker’s allowance, or income support, the government will have paid your NICs on your behalf for the period(s) in which you claimed benefit. The minimum you need to get the basic state pension is 25% of the qualifying years. If you have anywhere between the minimum and maximum amount of qualifying years, the amount you receive in your state pension will be adjusted in relation to how many qualifying years you have, so the more you have, the better. Those who have less than 25% of qualifying years won’t be able to claim any state pension at all, although there are other government pension benefits to assist those on low incomes in retirement, such as pension credits or the Over 80 pension.

Additional state pension schemes

In addition to the basic state pension, the government has a top-up scheme to enable people to increase the amount of pension income they receive.

SERPS (State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme)

Until April 2002, SERPS was the government’s second pension scheme, which allowed anyone earning more than £75 per week to make additional NICs. The level of NICs paid was earnings-related. However, the government deemed SERPS unfair on people with low incomes and those with big gaps in their employment history, so it was crapped and replaced with the Second State Pension in 2002 with the aim of allowing everyone to save more for their retirement.

SERPS gave the option of ‘contracting out’, which could be done for one of two reasons: in order not to pay the additional NICs, or to put the additional NICs towards a private pension fund.

Second State Pension

People who were paying into SERPS will now be paying into the second state pension and may therefore receive their additional state pension from two different sources when they retire.

The Second State Pension is still linked to earnings. However, it’s calculated in a way that provides better support to those on low incomes, or people who don’t have constant work because of illness or disability. In these cases, the government tops up their credits to a flat rate of £12,100, so they will receive NICs as if they had earned an annual salary up to this amount.

As with SERPS, it’s possible to ‘contract out’ of the Second State Pension, either to stop paying the additional NICs or to put them towards your own pension fund.

Finding out how much your state benefits are worth

To help you plan your savings towards your retirement, the government offers state pension forecasts to let you see how much you’ll be likely to receive as retirement income. Visit the Government Pensions Service website for more information (www.thepensionservice.gov.uk).

Baby Boomers Back to School

Get Motivated for a Positive Career Transformation

In this day and age, it’s not uncommon to see more and more seasoned adults returning to college to acquire essential skills and training to gain an edge in the competitive job market. Despite the fact that baby boomers are at retirement age, the age group (55-64) is the fastest growing segment of the adult population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of individuals 65 and older in the year 2050 is projected to be nearly 87 million. That means one in five people will be a minimum age of 65 or older by the year 2030.

Today, retirement-age baby boomers aren’t necessarily in the market for a retirement home in Florida. The older generation of thinkers and doers is breaking ground with continuing education and post-secondary education to stay active and knowledgeable, thus remaining a critical element in shaping the ever-evolving future of this nation.

Baby boomers aren’t yesterday’s generation, and they’re demonstrating that older persons can be a vital part of society. Instead of high school-age students awaiting happy returns from prospective colleges, it’s the baby boomer generation anticipating acceptance letters into the school or university of choice.

Today’s boomers are settling for nothing less than a meaningful and enriching lifestyle, which often includes going back to school to re-train for new and exciting careers that benefit society.

Some rewarding career-training programs are attracting baby boomers to post-secondary education in the field in which they’ve worked most of their lives. For example, if you’ve worked in computer technology your entire life, you could pursue education from a local tech school or college to become a computer educator in elementary schools or in senior citizen centers. Other popular academic options include natural healthcare courses for those who’ve served as medical health practitioners.

Of course, there are multitudes of career-training opportunities for those undecided about how they wish to spend their golden years. Whether you choose to pursue a new career in beauty, health, education, or alternative medicine, rest assured that baby boomers aren’t throwing in the towel for retirement. Now, more than ever is the right time to rethink your future plans. Transform your tomorrows into personally and professionally-rewarding fields today.

Baby Boomers back to School

Get Motivated for a Positive Career Transformation

Copyright 2008

The CollegeBound Network

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