Month: August 2019

Living Life Retired website turns three

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Friendship is really not a noun but a verb. Relationships of any kind require attention, energy, and time. If they are not nourished, they lose their value. When we are with our friends, we are always ‘friendshipping.’ That is, we are listening, sharing our own experiences, laughing, comforting each other, and enjoying the present moment. We are telling our friends we love and appreciate them.

–Mary Pipher, Author of Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing as We Age

Thank you for your readership, support, and caring comments over the past three years. I hope and pray you have been “nourished” and inspired. I consider you as friends. The website turns three today and the founder turns 60!

Since this website provides information and inspiration, I want to tell you about a book I just finished reading. It is Mary Pipher’s new book, Women Rowing North and I highly recommend it. Like the quote above, she tells it like it is and provides much food for thought. The Library Journal’s states, “This is bound to become the bible of baby boomer women.” I agree and the book will make a great retirement gift for yourself or someone you know. Or maybe even a nice birthday gift.

The Table of Contents of Women Rowing North includes these major categories:

  1. Challenges of the Journey
  2. Travel Skills
  3. The People on the Boat
  4. The Northern Lights

This next year I encourage you to share your retirement experiences. If you have a unique story, please email me at LivingLifeRetired16@gmail.com for possible posting on this website. Remember, this site is primarily focused on those of us who are solo retirees.

I love and appreciate you. HAPPY “FRIENDSHIPPING!” and thanks for three great years.

Cabin update – waiting

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It’s been awhile since I have written a cabin update on my mountain property. The reason is heartbreaking really. A year ago my son-in-law and I removed the tongue and groove pine and the rodent infested insulation from the cabin’s interior. We stripped it down to the studs. I signed a contract with a structural engineer to begin work on improving the cabin and adding a septic system. I also got a bid on refurbishing the original 1938 stone fireplace. Everything was working according to plan until I received an email from my ex-husband.

It read, “I am retiring in January.  40 years. Per previous communications, I will be filing to terminate maintenance. I am traveling for the next week.  If we can not come to an agreement, I anticipate we will file for maintenance termination in September with a January effective date.”

It could not have been worse timing. I made an appointment with an attorney to discuss options. His advice was to put off improvements until I knew what my income was going to be and whether I would be able to keep the property. So, I cancelled the contract with the structural engineer and put the fireplace work on hold. I was heartbroken. My childhood dream was possibly going to be taken from me. A dream possibly unfilled. I waited to be served court papers.

And waited.

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