Contemporary Retirement Coaching Blog

SASSIES - Single, sixty and having more fun than ever before...

First there were SWOFTIES (Single Women Over Fifty) and now there are SASSIES (Single, Sixty and having more fun than ever before). Check out this article about glam, adventurous and resolutely single women over 60 and then let me know if you agree with some of the the comments left by readers such as:

"It's less to do with age and more to do with money. I am 60 working as a legal secretary, renting a flat. If I won the lottery, I'd be globe trotting and having adventures like these women. I have a slim and sexy figure, pretty face and lots of energy. Just no cash! "

and

"this type of article always feature people with plenty of money. If you're in a dead-end low paid job, struggling to survive, life is no fun regardless of your age!"

Are these SASSIES out of touch with reality? Does money make all the difference?  Or is attitude more important?  Do real women over 60 have more pressing things to worry about?  Would love to hear your views...

Pesticides - The best and worst vegetables to eat

Most people know by now that it's recommended that we try to eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables each day.  And most people believe that organic fruit and vegetables are a better option for us than conventionally-farmed fruit and veggies. 

In an ideal world, we'd probably all buy organic if we could afford it.  But if your budget won't stretch to all-organic, there are some fruits and veggies that have a higher pesticide load than others - which means that some are more important to buy organic than others (if you can). 

In this article, Dr Mercola looks at tests carried out by the Environmental Working Group to help guide you to the best choices when it comes to lowering your overall pesticide exposure.

Marquis of Bath sacks all staff aged over 65

A year before laws come into force which make it illegal to force older workers out of employment, the Marguis of Bath is 'letting go' all staff aged over 65 at Longleat Estate and Safari Park - the popular tourist attraction in Wiltshire.

The 27 members of staff include tour guides, cashiers, cleaners, telephone operators and ticket booth attendants and they all have been 'let go' during the past two weeks.  18 of these staff members were aged 70-75, seven were aged 75-80 and two who were still working in their 80s.  Read more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers in the U.S.  Here's something to ponder:

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep... you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, spare change in a dish someplace... you are among the top 8% of the wealthy.

If you woke up with more health than illness... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death... you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold your head up high, with a smile on your face and are truly thankful... you are truly blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can, hold someone's hand, hug them, or even touch them on the shoulder... because you can offer a healing touch.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

As you read this and are reminded how life is in the rest of the world, remember just how blessed you really are!

Author unknown

Great Quotes - On 'I don't have time to...'

Waking up early can solve 90% of your problems. Try it for a week and tell me if I’m right.

Peter Shankman

Blogging Boomers Carnival #185

Blogging Boomers is hosted by 'the glam gals' at Fabulous After 40 this week.  Here's the link you need.  Enjoy! 

A little bit of T(ea) .L.C.

Do you worry about becoming lonely and isolated as you get older?  It certainly crosses my mind from time to time! However, a UK charity called Contact the Elderly (CTE) is doing its best to make sure that people aged 75 plus and living alone with little or no support, get occasional respite from their loneliness by arranging for seniors to be driven to the homes of volunteer hosts, where they can enjoy a few hours around a tea table in the company of others.

CTE was the brainchild of Trevor Lyttleton, who, as a 27-year-old lawyer (back in 1965), noticed a lot of elderly people living on their own near his flat and decided to organise a social event for them.  CTE was born and there are currently 3,000 tea-party guests and 4,800 volunteers across the UK.  Three years ago, Trevor was awarded the MBE for his charity work and says that: ‘The most poignant response we ever had was a letter from a lady who said, “With your tea parties, I’ve got something to live for.”

CTE is a great idea and if you live in the UK and would like to find out more about the service, you can read about it here or check out their website at contact-the-elderly.org.uk.  They're always looking for volunteer drivers and hosts!

Quick Links

From Mail Online: British stroke victim has stem cells injected into brain in 'world first' procedure to repair damage

Blogging Boomers Carnival #184

It's my great pleasure to host the Blogging Boomers Carnival this week.  If this is your first visit, the Blogging Boomers are a group of bloggers with a wide range of interests but one thing in common - they all write for baby boomer readers.  So, if that sounds like you, get yourself a cup of coffee, sit down, put your feet up and spend a few minutes with us.

First up... Do you buy silly, energy-wasting devices? The Boomer Chronicles explores the world of waste.

The 44 million Baby Boomers are maturing rapidly, and represent the richest generational cohort in history.  Yet, SoBabyBoomer tells us that something’s wrong with the way marketers are trying to reach people over 65. 

The Midlife Crisis Queen says:  I LOVE the idea of an "It gets better" campaign for LGBT youth, but we also need one for boomers who are suffering depression and killing themselves at an alarming rate!

Many middle-aged men go through midlife crises but is the trigger less about their age and more how old their wives are? LifeTwo.com points to a thought-provoking Psychology Today article explaining why some men go through midlife crises while others do not.

How much more local and fresh can it get than picking fruit from trees in your backyard? The Accidental Locavore was just in Palm Springs picking grapefruit and lemons. See her recipe for fillet of sole meuniere using some local lemons.

Want to be stylish but be casual too? Find out how to wear one of the hottest boomer fashion trends – the long belted cardigan. Visit the Glam Gals at Fabulous after 40.

Over at Gen Plus, Janet shares her tongue-in-cheek thought for the day.

Nancy at Vaboomer asks: Have you noticed a reddish golden moon in the sky?

And finally, if you like the idea of living a simpler life, check out my post offering 10 key downshifting questions.

Quick Links

From Mail Online: An instant test at 40 to predict Alzheimer's: Routine screening could be here in two years