Rock Your Retirement Show

How to survive retirement as a couple? Let’s find out in today’s episode. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/retirement-as-a-couple-episode-30 Miriam Goodman is the author of “Too much Togetherness:  Surviving Retirement as a couple”. This book teaches us how to survive retirement as a couple.  I asked her to come on the show because I’ve seen marriages break up after retirement she shared her insights on how to prevent that.  As you know, Retirement is not just about money.  Retirement includes all the other things that your financial advisor never told you about.  Miriam can help us stay together after we retire. To prepare for the book, Miriam interviewed couples with different situations, but many situations included the husband being retired, but the women weren’t ready to retire. One thing to watch for when one member of a couple retires is that a job gives you structure, community and purpose. In order to survive retirement as a couple, you need to replace that structure, community and purpose, or your relationship may take a hit. Neither the wife nor the husband is apt to say, “I don’t want to be with you for 24 hours a day”, so have a plan. Miriam suggests that to survive retirement as a couple you need to schedule time to be together.  You also need to schedule time to be apart and to do your own thing.  It is usually the role of the women to schedule these activities.  It’s also usually the role of women to make sure that the husband is still feeling vibrant after retirement.  Baby Boomer men still have their identity wrapped around what they do for a living.  Retirement can cause men of this age to have a self-image problem.  Once he is no longer the “big cheese” it can also be reflected in the sexual relationship. Also remember that if something new doesn’t work out you can always try something else. Before you Retire: Make sure that you have a plan.  Taking long walks is not a plan!  Cleaning out the garage is not a plan! If you are stuck: For some it might mean therapy. She told a story of how one wife went to the first session with her husband because she wanted to make sure that the therapist was aware of his behaviors. For others it can simply mean a new activity such as dance, tennis or golf.  You can also join a book club, read a book together, or simply get out of the house.   Additionally, its important to keep your appearances up and not just let yourself go. Miriam’s Books: * Too Much Togetherness: Surviving Retirement as a Couple * Reinventing Retirement: 389 Bright Ideas about Family, Friends, Health, What to Do, and Where to Live Miriam’s contact information: email: yourprexpert@aol.com  website: www.toomuchtogetherness.com http://traffic.libsyn.com/rockyourretirement/030_Miriam_Goodman_060415_IFinal.mp3

Why do people need YOU? Tweet is our today’s guest and she will talk about why people need you. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/people-need-you-episode-23 Tweet was born and raised in Illinois and moved to California in 1988 where she lives with her husband and cat. Even then she said that People Need YOU.  She managed an RV park in El Cajon for 17 years and had one of the top rated parks in the state. They even won an award for one of the best parks in the nation. Tweet retired from the RV park and then worked with her husband who was a construction claims consultant and expert witness. FAMILY Tweet and her sweetheart have been together for 30 years. She says the key to a happy marriage is to have your own interests, love each other, but give each other some time to do activities on their own with their own friends. ADVENTURE AND TRAVEL Although she’s the first one to tell you that people need you, sometimes you just need to get away from it all.  Tweet and her husband love to travel, whether it’s exploring San Diego or taking trips to the Desert. They visit Palm Springs and Palm Desert frequently and they love it there!! Johnny Mathis performed at Aqua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage on 2/13/16. The couple they were with and they all got to go back stage and not only did she get to meet him she got a hug and kiss!   Her age group grew up with Johnny Mathis. Tweet says that Johnny Mathis was with her for her first date, first dance, and first kiss. She’s flying to Illinois to see a lifelong friend in May and will be seeing…. You guessed it Johnny Mathis! She loves the following businesses in Palm Springs: Tylers for hamburgers Kitchen-Kitchen for kitchen items Serena’s for jewelry VOLUNTEER AND PHILANTHROPY She walks her talk.  She says that people need you and she does what she can to help.  Look at all the volunteer work that she does! * Volunteers for The Lake church helping with the monthly coffees and also the Newsletter * Secretary of her HOA and she also organizes a luncheon for the HOA members each month, in addition she helps with landscaping and works with Arbor Well to help preserve the trees. * She is also active with Mom’s warehouse which gives supplies to Active Duty junior enlisted military family on camp Pendleton. * Belongs to a group called the Questers which is a group concerned with the preservation and restoration and education about collectibles. * Every year Tweet and her husband host several Marines every Thanksgiving. Tweet bakes dozens of cookies and cooks pounds of bacon, and Mark Country Club is kind enough to freeze these for her.  Tweet said that she’s not very good at making gravy (even though she collects gravy boats) so Mariahs has donated gallons of gravy for her Marines. Then when the Marines come, they can have a home cooked meal.  Some of them have never had a Thanksgiving meal before.  She said that this has been a tradition that she and her husband have enjoyed for many years. What do you think people should know BEFORE they retire? People need YOU Tweet says to volunteer somewhere:  People need YOU.  Libraries, Schools, Military,

Jim Sweeney is our guest for today’s podcast and he will talk about his successful company and what he is doing now. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/jim-sweeney-mike-rafone-episode-28 Jim Sweeney:  Mike Rafone Cartoon Character Jim Sweeney sold his successful company, Sweeney Sales, in May 2005. So what is he doing now?  He has created his Trademarked MIKE cartoon sports character to become the first universal animated brand in sports. Besides penning 800 blogs, Jim has published 38 MIKE Sports Comic Books. All of the eBooks contain clever sports comics and light-hearted commentaries on unique observations about sports. The 58 year-old Sweeney still participates in sports (slowly!) as a masters athlete and serves as Head of USA for FIMBA – the governing body for masters basketball tournaments around the world.  ADVENTURE AND TRAVEL Jim Sweeney was a 1980 recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the United States’ top collegiate basketball player under 6’0″ tall. He was the captain of the Boston College Eagles. He was nominated by Boston College as a Rhodes Scholar candidate. Raised in Trenton, New Jersey, he attended the Lawrenceville School before receiving an athletic scholarship to Boston College. Following his 1980 graduation from BC, Jim Sweeney played basketball briefly in Sweden. He returned to the States, got married to his sweetheart, and spent the following years as a manufacturer’s rep in the computer industry. While still in his forties, Sweeney and his wife Maura closed their computer firm to launch New Vision Entertainment, a Florida-based LLC focused on the development and promotion of entertainment properties that positively impact culture. Jim Sweeney: Mike Rafone: Jim wanted to do something totally different of a creative nature that would be fun and exciting and had the potential to positively impact others.  He created an animated cartoon character named Mike Rafone.. SPIRIT & SOUL  Yes, this is the same Jim Sweeney that was involved in a scandal about 35 years ago. He tells us how he got through that scandal (it still comes up even today) and how with the help of his friends, his family, and his faith, the scandal made him a better man. He had testified as a witness in the 1978–79 Boston College basketball point shaving scandal in which members of organized crime schemed to control the outcomes of several games. Jim was neither charged nor offered immunity in exchange for his testimony. Jim says that everyone makes mistakes. The best way to get through something is to move forward, and not dwell on the past.  Good advice Jim. HEALTH & SEX At age 58 Jim still wakes up with the sun.  He plays basketball several times a week and travels to other countries to play in masters level tournaments, Jim inspires and motivates others and lets them know that they, too, can do something totally outside-the-box. What should retirees know before they retire?   Retirement is an exciting new chapter in life. Life doesn’t stop. Seize the opportunity that retirement and all your new-found time present. How can retirees get “unstuck”, or motivated?

Enjoy your life to the fullest. Listen to this podcast as Stella says her motto is “Go Do Enjoy!”.  You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/go-do-enjoy-ep-27 Stella Kanterakis says her motto is Go Do Enjoy! How did Stella get the motto Go Do Enjoy?  Stella was originally from Michigan. She was married for 35 years and is now divorced. She has 2 great sons with 2 wonderful daughter-in laws, and 1 beautiful granddaughter. She taught 3rd grade for 10 years and then retired to raise her son’s. (Which was her 2nd career). Then, she took a job at Bullocks (now Macy’s) for a short term position which turned into a 3rd career of 19 years. Stella was so ready for retirement she even made a big production on her last day of work including music, props, audience & video made for posterity, and that’s why her motto is Go Do Enjoy! SOCIAL AND FAMILY Stella just recently attended her son’s wedding which was on a yacht. She said you could feel the whole room was full of love. One of the highlights for her was the Mother Son Dance.  She rocked the mother son dance, and you can say that she lives by her motto, Go Do Enjoy! Her parents lived with her the last 5 years of their lives. After they passed, (within 6 months of each other) Stella hit a wall but was able to move forward from it.  Learn how she did it by listening to today’s episode. Go Do Enjoy! She enjoys a variety of activities including: * Dancing * Being on the back of a Harley Davidson Motorcycle * Attending Free concerts * Hosting parties at her house including her “Big Fat Greek Happy Hour” and a 50 Shades of Grey Party. If YOU put your mind to it, you can think of things that can help YOU Go Do and Enjoy as well! VOLUNTEER AND PHILANTHROPY Stella also lives her motto of Go Do Enjoy by being a Volunteer: * She is an usher for live theater.  This is how she is able to go do enjoy without having to spend a lot of money! She gets to see the show and helps the theater out at the same time. * Brother Benno’s at Christmas time to serve free meals * Dove Library * Encinitas Kiwanis Club: She is able to live her motto of Go Do Enjoy by spending her time volunteering with the Kiwanis, and through the club, she helps with Captain Book by visiting schools to put on programs and give away free books SPIRIT / SOUL / HEALTH Stella believes in always trying to look your best, and to embrace the aging process. She takes care of herself by eating healthy and takes a body conditioning class at her local senior center. Something people should know before they retire:  Life is not over when you retire, it’s just the beginning of a new & wonderful chapter!! Go…Do…Enjoy! How to get “unstuck” in your retirement:  Go to a Meetup group or church or anywhere this a group of people to meet new people and make friends. Stella says you are the only one who can cure your own boredom. http://traffic.libsyn.com/rockyourretirement/028_Stella_Kanterakis_060422_IFinal_m.mp3

We all heard that Laughing is the best Medicine. Vikki is with us today to teach us how we can laugh away our problems. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/laughing-with-parkinsons-episode-26 Vikki is an international best-selling author, humor blogger, and inspirational public speaker. She wrote the book, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll with It – Living and Laughing with Parkinson’s”.  Of course since my father has Parkinson’s Disease, I had to get her on the show!  She did not disappoint!  We talked about her book, her life, and our ailments, including my own dystonia. Shake, Rattle, and Roll with It- Living and Laughing with Parkinson’s: A few weeks after her first book, “Shake, Rattle, & Roll With It, Living & Laughing with Parkinson’s”’ came out, she received an email from a woman who said, “My mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s ten years ago. Since then, no one in the house has ever been allowed to talk about it, or even mention the word ‘Parkinson’s.” This created a lot of stress for the family as we all tried to pretend she wasn’t shaking or stumbling. Any reference to her condition was immediately shut down. I bought her your book and set it on her nightstand. She read the whole thing in one sitting that night. The next morning, she came down for breakfast and began talking about her Parkinson’s like it was the weather. She now talks about it, and even laughs about it, easily. The elephant in the room is gone. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” We wanted to bring Vikki’s award winning humor to our audience, considering that many of us have parents and loved once with Parkinson’s Disease (including myself).  I wanted to find out how she is laughing with Parkinson’s, and she sure let us know! After all, her name has “laugh” in it! Vikki gives us a glimpse into what it’s like to have the disease, and how anyone can kick their troubles in the butt by continuing to laugh, regardless of your circumstances. Vikki lives in Hood River, OR, where she writes the award-winning humor blog Laugh Lines: Humorous thoughts and advice on how to live young when you’re…well…not, where she doles out irreverent advice on marriage, offers humorous how-to lists galore, and shares her most embarrassing midlife moments. She talks about mastering midlife with a little common sense and a lot of laughter. She has been featured on the Michael J. Fox Foundation website, Erma Bombeck’s Writer’s Workshop, The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, Generation Fabulous, Midlife Boulevard, Better After 50, and Funny Times Magazine. She also received a BlogHer14 “Voices of the Year” Humor award. Vikki’s first book, Shake, Rattle & Roll With It: Living & Laughing with Parkinson’s chronicles her hilarious, and sometimes poignant journey, about living with Parkinson’s disease. Her newly released book, Who Left the Cork Out of My Lunch? Middle Age, Modern Marriage & Other Complications is available now on amazon.com. You can find more of Vikki’s writing at http://laugh-lines.net Vikki’s Books: Shake, Rattle & Roll With It: Living & Laughing with Parkinson’s Chronicles Who Left the Cork Out of My Lunch?

Have you heard of ElderHelp? Carrie is with us today to explain how she is helping seniors through ElderHelp. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/stop-this-elderhelp-of-sd-info-could-change-your-life-ep-26 Carrie McClellan is helping seniors through ElderHelp of San Diego. Elderhelp is a non-profit organization that helps seniors live independently and with dignity. Carrie started her career as a Social Services Director in a Skilled Nursing Facility. She worked with many older adults and their families to develop a safe discharge plan when they were ready to return home again. This was an eye opener for her as she realized that  many older adults were going home with little to no support from family or friends. If someone was on a fixed income, it was even more difficult. This is when she learned about ElderHelp of San Diego and she’s been the Outreach Manager for nearly 5 years now. She works in the community to ensure those in need are aware of all of the programs and services that ElderHelp of San Diego has to offer.  She also recruits the volunteers who help provide many of these services.  They are always looking for volunteers! We talked about Mary who has been member for 10 years. She is in her 80’s and has several health conditions that have impacted her life. Throughout the years, Mary has added different services that ElderHelp of San Diego offers. Her family does not live close.  They appreciate and take comfort knowing that there is someone looking out for her. Learn about some of the services and programs they offer such as: * Seniors A Go Go provides escorted transportation. * Concierge Club offers help with the basic necessities of life such as Grocery Shopping, Friendly Visits, Minor Home Repairs, and more. * Home Share matches seniors who want to rent a room in their home with adults of all ages who are in need of housing. * RUOK makes phone calls to people Monday through Friday to check in on them and make sure everything is OK. For more information or to learn how to volunteer: For information about programs: (619) 284-9281 or info@elderhelpofsandiego.org To volunteer, call Carrie directly at: (858) 380-5245 or email her at: cmcclellan@elderhelpofsandiego.org Their website is: http://www.elderhelpofsandiego.org http://traffic.libsyn.com/rockyourretirement/026_V_Carrie_McClellan_160511_IFinal.mp3

Jonna is with us today to talk about helping seniors stay safely in their homes. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/helping-seniors-stay-safely-in-their-homes-ep-24 Helping Seniors Stay Safely in their Homes: Jonna Overson is the founder of Green Tree Homecare. She discovered her passion for helping seniors stay safely in their homes several years ago. She worked to develop a strong understanding of the home care environment and resources that are available to clients and their families. She takes an educational approach to home care advisement and loves giving clients the tools that they need to create a home care plan that is best for them. Jonna considers the day a success when they can help a family feel secure that their loved one is comfortable and cared for in the security of their own home.   She helps seniors stay safely in their homes.  Their own homes.  Often retirees are torn between their own retirement needs and the needs of their parents. We discuss Enduring Care which offers reduced rates for people on a fixed income. We also discuss the full range of services Green Tree Home Care can provide. These can range from having someone for just a few hours a day to shop with groceries or just provide companionship all the way to or full time care for your loved one.  All of these services deal with helping seniors stay safely in their own hones, One of the things I found most interesting is that they provide specific activities to improve or sustain memory.  Not all home care agencies do this.  Jonna also discusses the difference between using a licensed agency and hiring an independent home care giver and what you need to look out for. What do you think people should know BEFORE they retire? Smart planning and dialogue early with family members regarding your long term care as you age. We have a lot of listeners who are new retirees or maybe feel stuck in their lives at the moment.  If you were sitting across the table from a new retiree, what’s the one piece of advice that you would give to have a successful retirement? Find something that interests you and get involved. Find ways to help your community. Contact information for Jonna Overson:  www.Greentreehc.com  Phone: 858-231-7676 http://traffic.libsyn.com/rockyourretirement/V_Jonna_Overson_060324_IFinals.mp3

What are the benefits of a Veteran? Tony Bevin educates us about this in today’s podcast episode. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/veterans-benefits-for-memorial-day-ep-23 Memorial Day Special on Veterans Benefits: Tony Bevin joined us for our Memorial Day Episode to teach people what benefits veterans can get.  Many people are not aware of Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Pension Plan. He helps veterans understand how to obtain long-term care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Most veterans are not aware of the benefits available through these programs. Tony has specialized in benefits and planning for families, spouses, and heirs for over 15 years. His knowledge, experience, and depth of understanding of the process and paperwork required is exceptional.  He says that he enjoys the environment and working with the elderly. He helps take the burden off of Baby Boomer children by helping to determine the resources available for their parent’s situation.   Tony gives great information on how to qualify for Veteran’s Aid and Attendance, along with California’s state Medi-Cal program to help pay for Long Term Care.  Sometimes it’s better to go for Medi-Cal benefits,and sometimes it’s better to go for Veteran’s benefits.  Tony can assist your parents with either, since he’s been working with both programs for a very long time. What do you think people should know BEFORE they retire? Most people think that because they have a trust they are covered, but they are often wrong because the language in the trust does not meet the requirements needed to obtain benefits. We have a lot of listeners who are new retirees or maybe feel stuck in their lives at the moment.  If you were sitting across the table from a new retiree, what’s the one piece of advice that you would give to have a successful retirement? Be sure to pre-plan for long-term care needs so that you aren’t caught off guard. Tony’s Contact information:   Phone: 858-673-8448  Email: Fsdmedical@aol.com  Website:  http://www.vabenefitsonline.com http://traffic.libsyn.com/rockyourretirement/Tony_Bevin_160525_IFinal2.mp3

Michael is our guest for today’s podcast and he will talk about Acupuncture and it’s use. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/acupuncture-to-keep-healthy Have you thought of acupuncture to keep healthy? Micheal Julien provides acupuncture for pain and injuries. He specializes in the treatment of orthopedic pain and disorders as well as sports injuries. He helps active people and athletes of all levels.  This includes retirees, weekend warriors to professional athletes. He has had regular success for 10 years healing injuries associated with golf, tennis, running, surfing, swimming and more. A Certified Sports Medicine Acupuncturist, he employs a specific assessment protocol to identify the underlying cause of the issue and heal the patient quickly. Michael’s personal experience as an aging athlete and his experience recovering from chronic pain helps him in his daily practice. In addition to operating his private practice Michael has been an Intern Supervisor and UCSDs Athletic Training Facility. Micheal became an acupuncturist because of his own pain.  In the 90’s he ended up with an un-diagnosable condition and had a long period of chronic knee pain. Someone introduced him to acupuncture. After 3 treatments the pain went away and never came back. He wanted to share that with people, and his love for his work translates into a thorough, calm and caring approach to patient treatment. HEALTH & SEX Can Acupuncture help erectile dysfunction?  You’ll need to listen to the episode to find out! * Even if you have a phobia of needles, Michael is able to work around that, in fact, most people find acupuncture to be a pleasant and relaxing experience. * Learn the science behind acupuncture and how it began * Acupuncture is used for a wide array of things including pain relief, depression, and drug addiction. * Acupuncture in combination with Chinese herbs, has helped people with hormonal imbalances, digestive problems, menopause, and even infertility What do you think people should know BEFORE they retire? Don’t throw in the towel. There are health issues that come up in life that are limiting but don’t stop activities that bring you joy. Seek thinks outside of your comfort zone, get empowered and stay active. We have a lot of listeners who are new retirees or maybe feel stuck in their lives at the moment.  If you were sitting across the table from a new retiree, what’s the one piece of advice that you would give to have a successful retirement? Figure out what success means to you. Figure out what makes you happy and gives you a sense of well-being. Contact information: Phone Number : 858-216-4419  Email : michael@cypressacupuncture.com  Website: www.cypressacupuncture.com http://traffic.libsyn.com/rockyourretirement/022_V_Michael_Julian_160301_IFinals.mp3

Podcasting in retirement? Let’s take a look at how Frances ended up doing podcasts after retirement. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/podcasting-in-retirement Would podcasting in retirement be a good way for you to Rock your Retirement? Frances McGrogan was born in Ottawa, Ontario Canada and moved to England for 4 years in her early 20’s. She got married to a Brit and then returned to Canada.  After a number of service industry jobs, in 1985, she joined the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and worked there for 30 years. She learned to speak French when she was around 48 years old, and became bilingual.  Frances was a senior HQ manager until she retired in January 2016 at age 55. She loves computers and she tells us the story about how she became involved in that, but also has other activities that help her Rock her Retirement. SOCIAL AND FAMILY She enjoys playing darts with friends and even created a website for their dart games to keep track of players and stats. VOLUNTEER AND PHILANTHROPY Frances was fascinated when she saw her first computer in her office in 1986. She would start pushing buttons to see what would happen. Once someone told her to type in “DIR” (the DOS command for Directory) she was hooked! She loves photography and is a contributing photographer on iStock photo.  Frances has been podcasting in retirement: In fact, she and Kathe met at Dave Jackson’s School of Podcasting. and Frances has her own podcast called Stand Curious where she discusses people’s hobbies and interests with them with a goal to discovering new or unconventional things. She says she has interviewed some fascinating guests on her podcast, and she loves to learn new things about people. Have you considered creating a podcast in your retirement?  This could be one way that you Rock your Retirement! If you are stuck in retirement: Frances says to look for new ideas and Learning something new. Contact information:  http://www.standcurious.com/ Today’s Sponsor:   http://lightheartedfitness.com/Rock http://traffic.libsyn.com/rockyourretirement/R_Francis_McGrogan_160325_IFinals2.mp3

What’s a Senior Real Estate Specialist? Patti Phillips talks about being a Senior Real Estate Specialist. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/the-senior-real-estate-specialist What does a Senior Real Estate Specialist do? Patti Phillips never thought she would become a Senior Real Estate Specialist.   When Patti was younger she always thought she would be a mom and a housewife.  That didn’t work out the way she planned, and she decided to become a real estate agent in the year 2000. She was one of the first agents in San Diego to obtain the Senior Real Estate Specialist Designation. She prides herself in taking care of seniors in what can be an overwhelming and complicated process. It’s a different process to work mainly with seniors than Millennials because seniors typically want a face to face process. Seniors don’t necessarily go online and look at the house before they go to see it.  They want a more personalized approach.  That’s where a Senior Real Estate Specialist can come in. Its also different when helping a senior sell a home that they’ve been living in for 40 years.  Selling a home after living in it for so long can be a difficult and emotional decision. Many of her clients are widows who have never had to sign documents alone. Patti Phillips is very involved in the senior community. Not only does she specialize in working with seniors in her business, but every month she brings people who work with seniors together in her networking group called Serving Seniors Networking Breakfast. And if she wasn’t busy enough, she is also a standup comedian and President of the Encinitas Kiwanis Club SOCIAL AND FAMILY: A Senior Real Estate Specialist such as Patti helps many families by helping their parents sell their homes when they live out of state.   She lives in an upscale senior mobile home park, and does a lot of business in her own park.  She says that she markets these mobile homes the same way she would a two million dollar home.   This helps bring in more money for the family when the senior can no longer live alone (or no longer wants to live alone), and move into an independent or assisted living facility. She becomes friends with many of her clients, especially when they move into her community, especially since many senior communities also have lots of events that people can participate in, and being social is one of the things that can help keep you healthy.  ADVENTURE AND TRAVEL: Patti is not only a Senior Real Estate Specialist, but she is also a comedienne.  That’s adventurous in itself! VOLUNTEER AND PHILANTHROPY: Patti volunteers at the Encinitas Kiwanis Club.   She’s very involved in her community.  When she retires she’ll be ready to Rock her own Retirement with all the outside activities she’s doing. SANDWICH GENERATION ISSUES: Think about your parents.  Are they living in the home that they can stay in?   Are there stairs that they will need to climb?  Can they “age in place” in their current home?  Do they want to plan ahead or do they want to wait until their is a crisis that forces them to leave? Patti’s Advice to Pre-Retirees:  Be passionate about something.  She sees 83 and 84 year old people that are still dancing.

Bobby Erdrich talks about Acting in retirement. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/acting-in-retirement-episode-019 Have you ever thought about acting in Retirement?  Bobby Erdrich and I met at The Hearing Experience’s symposium and I was very impressed with how outgoing and friendly she was.  She was born in New York in 1925 and started acting when she was four years old.  She was “discovered” on a subway. Ever since then she’s been acting, writing, directing and producing, and is acting in retirement in her one woman show. She loves her Senior Apartment at Woodland Village and said that there is so much to do there that no one could ever be bored if they wanted to get out and meet people.  She loves putting on shows and displaying her acting in retirement skills at the Woodland Village. SOCIAL AND FAMILY When her husband retired as a fire fighter, they moved to Oregon and started a farm raising sheep.  She learned to buck hay, birth babies and shovel, well, you know….  They lived on the farm for 20 years before his back made it impossible to work there. They lived in Washington State, where her husband passed away. About 9 years later, she finally settled in the San Diego area. She doesn’t believe in following her children when they move, she says that they can come visit her where she lives! One of the most interesting things that I found about Bobbie is that she does not have a computer, nor does she have a smart phone.  If she wants to listen to the interview, she’s going to need to go to a Senior Center (we did the interview at the San Marcos Senior Center) or listen to it on one of her children’s smartphones HEALTH She does have a love interest, whom she met after she moved to the community, so it goes to show that one can find love at any age! VOLUNTEER work-honing her Acting in Retirement Skills She was a mentor at a grade school in Washington State where she told stories about Hinkle and Pinkle’s Rainbow Trip among other stories that she made up for them.  The children loved her for her stories and sense of humor. Something people should know before they retire: Don’t take things too seriously.  Greet each new day as something exciting, and have lots of laughter. How to get “unstuck” in your retirement: It was difficult for Bobby to come up with something because she’s having such a great retirement.  However, I asked her to put her acting skills to work and she said that if she was stuck in her retirement, she would try to find some people who were not stuck, and do what they do. Bobby will be appearing in a one-woman play called “Madam, she’s an off key” on May 31st at Woodland Village.  For more information on the play and showing dates, you can contact Woodland Village at 760-975-0000. http://traffic.libsyn.com/rockyourretirement/R_Bobbie_Erdrick_060422_IFinal.mp3

Death of a friend or a loved one of the toughest things we have to face in the future. Samantha Betten is our guest in today’s episode to talk about the gift of grief. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/the-gift-of-grief The Gift of Grief You can give a gift to your family, the gift of grief.  We cannot escape death but we can embrace the process. Samantha Betten helps people give one of the greatest gifts they can give to their family, the gift of grief, or pre-planned funerals. When someone has pre-planned their funeral, they give the gift of grief to their family members. If the funeral is not pre-planned, then instead of being able to grieve, someone has to make all of the arrangements and not everyone is able to do that. Her motto is as follows: * Protecting the people you love, the businesses you build, and the causes you care about. * When life hits those lows, use that opportunity to convert sadness into strength. At speaking engagements her goals are to: “Rock the talks, engage the audience, speak with purpose, and make a wonderful warm impression even if it’s not a happy, palatable topic”. Taking care of families and helping folks in difficult times takes integrity, ethics and trust. She has over 20 years’ experience in community outreach, marketing, insurance and finance. Her specialties are: Community Outreach, Pre-planning: Life and Death, and a Licensed Funeral Director. She also speaks both English and Spanish SPIRIT / SOUL / HEALTH Samantha has been helping people with their life choices since 1988. It all began with life insurance choices and progressed into end of life full circle options. Samantha’s father was her first influence to catapult her into this path.  She helps families with the passing of their loved ones in large part, because of her experience with her father.  Her family was paralyzed with grief and so she had to do all the planning.  She wasn’t allowed to grieve on her own because she had to be the strong one for her mother and the rest of her family.  She knows that family ties are key.  She also assists the family of veterans to help get them the resources they need. Samantha helps people plan the funerals that they want based on their own religious convictions, if any. She has also helped with funerals where there was more than one faith involved. It’s usually one person in the family that has to take charge of the funeral.   Many times they have to do this while they are grieving.  It’s a gift to do some pre-planning so that your family can focus on comforting each other instead of trying to make arrangements.  You are giving the gift of grief. Something people should know before they retire: Most people plan their retirement, their money, long term care, their housing but they don’t plan for the inevitable. They need to plan their funeral the way that they want it. How to get “unstuck” in your retirement: Successful retirement to me is when your dreams and plans come together and your worries minimize.  Retirement should be a wonderful time when cares and worried are minimized. Do whatever you can do so that you have minimum worries so that you can enjoy life to the fullest. Contact information: Phone: 619-913-3834 or 619-280-0101 Email: preplanwithsam@gmail.com Website:  http://sandiegofuneralservice.com http://traffic.libsyn.com/rockyourretirement/018_V_Samantha_Bettin_060327_IFinals.mp3

What to do after retirement? Tom McGurn will talk to us about finding our passion. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/what-do-you-do-after-a-career-at-bmw What do you do after a career at BMW? Tom McGurn earned his first paycheck as a journalist writing sports for a daily newspaper while still in High School. He continued to work as a part time journalist during college and then pursued a career in public relations after graduation. In 1975, at age 28, and with about 5 years of experience, he got a huge break. He was hired as part of the start-up management team at BMW of North America. The sales and marketing arm for Bavarian Motor Works. He didn’t leave until he retired at the end of 2007. During his career, Tom was responsible for public relations, industry affairs, dealer relations, and a host of communication responsibilities including; speech writing, corporate meetings and training.   When he retired he had to ask himself the question, “What do you do after a career at BMW”? VOLUNTEER AND PHILANTHROPY Tom discovered early on in his retirement that one of the things he wanted to do was Volunteer as he did during his career. Tom is a seasoned corporate communications professional and writer. He uses his experience to offer clients fresh perspectives on their communications needs and customer focused writing.   That’s how he was able to answer the question, “What do you do after a career at BMW”? * He volunteered on the board at MiraCosta college * He is an active volunteer with SCORE, offering free business counseling for people who are thinking about starting a small business and those who want to increase the performance of an existing business. * He is a member of the Cal State San Marcos Foundation Board serving on the marketing committee and is a member of the Athletic Director’s Council. What do you think people should know BEFORE they retire? How much fun it will be and how you will have control of your life to do what you want, when you want. We have a lot of listeners who are new retirees or maybe feel stuck in their lives at the moment.  If you were sitting across the table from a new retiree, what’s the one piece of advice that you would give to have a successful retirement? What is your passion? Follow your passion whether its volunteerism, tutoring, a hobby, recreation, or self-improvement. Do something with and for others If you would like more information on either volunteering or using the services SCORE offers you can go to: https://sandiego.score.org/ or for the National SCORE the website is https://www.score.org/ If you would like to visit the Cal State San Marcos website and learn more about the foundation board you can go to: http://www.csusm.edu/giving/csusm-foundation/ http://traffic.libsyn.com/rockyourretirement/017_R_Tom_McGurn_160303_IFinalcs2.mp3

Yes! Sex is not just for young people. Dr. Susan Writer is going to talk to us about how we can have a vibrant exciting sex life. You can listen to the show at http://rockyourretirement.libsyn.com/sex-isnt-just-for-young-people-episode-016 Sex is not just for young people! Dr. Susan Writer has her Ph.D. in clinical psychology and has been working in the field for over 15 years in the San Diego area.  She works full time for Aurora Behavioral Health Care, doing community outreach and clinical education; and part time for HELP seeing individuals, couples and families in her therapy practice.  Dr. Writer sees a wide range of individuals, but has specialized training in sexuality and gender and expertise working with Older Adults. HEALTH & SEX Susan is passionate about making sure that people have vibrant exciting sex lives throughout the entirety of their lives. In this episode we discuss the following: * Learn what a sex therapist does and how it differs from a sex surrogate. * The health and mental benefits of sex and intimacy and how it can improve the quality of your life as you age. * Learn how Susan works with hospice or end-of-life patients who have long-term partners and how she helps them to recreate a sexual, sensual or intimate connection before they pass so that they may rekindle a part of their relationship that may have been lost. * You aren’t the only person who may not know how to use a penis pump! What do you think people should know BEFORE they retire? Life is going to change and that it may not be exactly as they had anticipated.  Many people look at retirement as an opportunity to just sit back and relax.  But the problem is that all too often, the excess of this can lead to isolation, depression and dissatisfaction with life – or even the deterioration of physical (and mental) health.  Retirement really needs to be framed as a new chapter of activity in someone’s life.  That activity doesn’t have to be “work”, it can be fun and exciting – the key is that it is active and it continues to provide stimulation for growth (mentally, emotionally, physically and sexually).  Retirement is about creating an opportunity to explore everything that we have to offer ourselves in life – as opposed for waiting for life to offer things to us. We have a lot of listeners who are new retirees or maybe feel stuck in their lives at the moment.  If you were sitting across the table from a new retiree, what’s the one piece of advice that you would give to have a successful retirement? Get out, be social, be active, and re-create yourself…and don’t put your sexual self on a shelf to get dusty, or if you have – dust it off and get cracking! Contact information:  Email: drsusanwriter@gmail.com http://traffic.libsyn.com/rockyourretirement/016_V_Susan_Writer_160211_IFinalcs2.mp3