Expiry Date, Can we Predict Our Own?

June 10, 2022February 24, 2023 ~ Loreeebee ~ 1 Comment

On what would have been my mother’s ninety-third birthday, I am pondering whether or not we can predict our own expiry date. Sounds morbid, I know, but this thought has crossed my mind many times since my mom passed away suddenly and much too early at the age of sixty-five.

How Much Does Genetics Count for our Expiry Date?

As mentioned, my mother died at the age of sixty-five. My father was seventy-eight although I believe he would have lived longer if my mother had. He was devastated upon her early demise and never really recovered. His broken heart gave out twelve years later.

So, is my own expiry date closer to sixty-five or seventy-eight, or somewhere in between? I realize there are many other factors involved, but I admit these thoughts have affected many choices I have made recently as I approach the dreaded sixty-five year marker.

Is Sixty the new Forty?

I certainly hope so. I think I am healthier and fitter than my parents were in their sixties. If this holds true, maybe my expiry date will be extended for good health. Although each decade seems to bring its own health issues, mine have been relatively minor, especially since I have the wheat thing figured out.

Early Retirement

One of the decisions made due to a potential early expiry date was to retire early, at the age of fifty-two. Well sort of. I accepted a severance package to leave my position within a hospital laboratory at that age but started a landscaping business the very next day. That was ten years ago already. Time does indeed fly when you’re having fun! This season I have cut back on my gardening services to spend more time with my recently retired husband.

Retirement Plans

With both of us retired, we are hoping to kickstart the cottage renovations we have been considering for several years now. Unfortunately, these renovation plans always seem to find a way to get postponed, with one delay after another. The latest delay was due to the recent storm and the ensuing and extensive cleanup here in Ontario.

Travel, something many of us have missed over the past few years during the pandemic, is also in our retirement plans. We may need more months and years to fit all the plans in.

Enjoying the Fruits of our Labour

Thinking about expiry dates only increases the urgency to accomplish items on our to-do list, including renovations. After all, it is important to enjoy the fruits of our labour!

photo credit

Retirement Woes: Is it Tuesday or Wednesday?

April 24, 2022February 24, 2023 ~ Loreeebee ~ 6 Comments

This quote is from a post written nine years ago already; wow, time does fly. At the time I was describing the changes in my lifestyle since my retirement from the healthcare industry:

Since retiring last April, it seems I never know what day of the week it is. I rely on my fifteen-year-old son’s school and hockey schedule to keep me somewhat on track. My other two sons are older, can drive themselves around and so keep track of their own schedules. The rest of the side effects of retirement are all positive…

To start, I spent a lot more time doing the things I had previously called hobbies…

I have read more books in the past year (since retirement) than I did in the previous 25 years combined. My favorite was the Millenium trilogy from Stieg Larsson; the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the Girl that Played with Fire, and the Girl that Stepped on the Hornet’s Nest. I had a hard time putting these books down once I started reading them, the suspenseful storyline and believable characters were gripping, from the beginning of the first book to the last pages of the third book. Yes, I did read the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, but it didn’t rate nearly as high in my books (pun intended!), and by the third one, I found the plot to be quite predictable and boring.

My other (pre-retirement) hobby was gardening, which currently moved to the front burner in the form of a new business called Gardens4u. This was a no-brainer for me as I had spent many previous gardening seasons volunteering my green thumbs to friends, family and neighbours. I now do gardening on a full-time basis from April to October, depending only on Mother Nature for restrictions.

I was also able to spend more time at our family cottage, and what a summer it was for living lakeside. The water temperature was the warmest it has ever been; I’m sure I spent more time in the lake than I have in the previous 10 years combined.

In the last half of 2011 and throughout 2012 I discovered firsthand the health benefits of a wheat-free diet. Just recently I began to share my knowledge with friends and family concerned about the same health issues. Please share your knowledge on this important subject by visiting my blog…

Retirement takes getting used to, but I am game!

Retirement Update:

Fast forward to 2022. My interests are still the same, just evolved over time. My husband has now joined the retirement club. This means neither of us knows what day of the week or month it is. His work schedule kept me (somewhat) organized chronologically since my retirement.

Compromises

Hubby’s retirement also means lots of adjustments and learning to choose my battles. Compromise is key. For example, I have learned to find the positive aspects in his need to re-organize the kitchen cupboards after almost forty years. As long as they are decluttered, something he is not known for, I am happy. Another example? Loading the dishwasher, something I have (predominantly) done over the same forty years. Knock yourself out, dear, I have other things to accomplish.

Extended Family

We are now empty nesters. Our three sons are grown up and long gone, graduated from post-secondary schools, and doing well in the workforce. Two have purchased homes of their own and the same two are parents themselves. The third son (almost 25) is finding it harder to break into the homeowners market with the current real estate conditions, rising inflation, and a struggling economy. But that’s a whole other post, and fortunately, he has time on his side.

We are currently blessed with six (!!) healthy, adorable grandchildren. I must admit that my life revolves around them. I figure in a few years when they are all registered in school and extracurricular activities, Grandma days will be few and far between.

Gardens4U

My beloved gardening business is winding down this year, with my current focus on design instead of maintenance. I’m okay with that as garden design was my original business dream. Several of my garden designs can be viewed on my YouTube channel in a time-lapsed format. Modern technology is wonderful!

Cottage Renovations

Cottage renovations have been in our conversations for several years now but unfortunately, we have not accomplished much. My father-in-law’s declining health and subsequent passing created the first delay, then Covid and the resulting pandemic extended the delay. Hopefully this season we can get our renovation plans back on track instead of spinning our wheels. Follow the process here.

Health Issues

My health issues from the last decade have been resolved, mainly by eliminating wheat from my diet. Of course, new ones have developed this decade, as I am not getting any younger. I am finding though that regular exercise and clean eating keep me relatively healthy.

Travel Plans

Something else that moved to the back burner thanks to the pandemic was our travel plans. We did squeak in a trip to Mexico last November between covid travel restrictions. My brother’s destination wedding was a great excuse to find a way to plan the (much-needed) getaway. Hopefully, more travel is in our future.

We are counting on the next decade (at least) to be full of adventure and compromise.

photo credit

Investing for Retirement

December 9, 2014December 7, 2014 ~ Loreeebee ~ Leave a comment

Savvy people plan ahead so they are financially stable enough to retire in comfort and yet still young and healthy enough to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Purchasing property or real estate can be a lucrative and exciting way to invest in that retirement plan. There are companies out there available, eager and ready to help initiate and secure an investment in real estate to get a retirement plan underway and maximize the earning potential essential for a healthy, successful, long-lasting retirement portfolio.

Dealing directly with tenants and landlords to ensure that both sides of the real estate deal are equally satisfied, these companies are committed to serving clients with experience and the utmost dedication. One of the many experienced property managers within the company will start the process by identifying the unique criteria and conditions of each and every client, ensuring their individual needs are met, whether they are a first time investor or a seasoned and well experienced investor looking to increase their already extensive real estate portfolio.

A property management company can also provide a fast and simple tenant eviction service for landlords if rent is not being paid, the property has been damaged, illegal and criminal activities are taking place within the property, or the property is to be sold or renovated. This can be a stressful, distasteful, expensive, time-consuming and even potentially dangerous experience for property owners, one that is best left to the professionals of a property management company. Tenant eviction rules must be followed explicitly to avoid complications and prevent the waste of valuable time and money for both the property owner and the property management company.

Whether the goal is to increase the value of a real estate portfolio for retirement income, start a new investment portfolio in real estate, get help evicting undesirable tenants, become part of the landlord referral program to benefit from an exclusive contact list of qualified general contractors, or to view and choose a home from the extensive list of available properties including rentals, contact a property management company for more information or to set up an appointment to take advantage of their incredible array of services.