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Retirement Lifestyle Design
Ralph Carlson Blog is all about retirement lifestyle design but its not about financial plans, retirement funds and retirement homes. You can find that stuff elsewhere and if that is what you need, then go for it. Whether you have enough money or have found the right retirement community, there still remains what do you do with the twenty plus years you have left on earth. Society doesn’t expect much from you. Nobody expects you to do anything. You can coast to the finish line – or you can finish strong. It is about a retirement lifestyle mission and requires a retirement lifestyle manifesto.
Finishing Strong?
When I started this blog, I used finishing strong as the caption because I wanted to add some idea about who Ralph Carlson is- or wants to be. It meant something to me but didn’t mean anything to my readers. I fleshed out the meaning in my retirement lifestyle manifesto and later with a definition of finishing strong. Still, the concept hasn’t gone viral. Maybe that’s a good thing because a horde of baby boomers finishing strong just might be the final straw for civilization as we know it.
Still , I’m willing to take that risk because I know that most people will live conventional lives doing what they are expected to do, go down with a whimper. I may go down with a whimper too, but after I lose the ability to shout.
Be the fool, if necessary.
In this last chapter of life, I’m willing to learn something new, to tilt after windmills that I ignored earlier and make a damn fool of myself. Long time readers will surely confirm the foolish part.
Recently my wife and I re-watched Man of La Mancha, the movie about Don Quixote. He was a man who literally tilted at windmills, saw beauty and purity where it didn’t exist, and refused to give up without a fight.He was also more than a little unbalanced.
Maybe the type of retirement you are writing about, Ralph, is like that: full of quests and impossible dreams that may be judged odd, but lead to great adventures.
Satisfyingretirement’s last Blog Post ..It is Time to Retire When
I’m fed up with ordinary. If only I could get my wheels out of the rut.
To get your wheels out of the rut, change direction.
Satisfyingretirement’s last Blog Post ..It is Time to Retire When
You know it’s hard to turn that wheel. But I take your point.
Ralph, one day…sooner than you might think…you are gonna look down and find a gauntlet laying at your feet, courtesy of FedEx from Georgia.
It’ll be interesting to watch your response…LOL
Bob…semi-retired dumb redneck boiled peanut salesman,and one willing to look foolish…to those who walk through life with their eyes closed.
Bob@JuicyMaters’s last Blog Post ..My son claims to love me Sometimes I wonder though…
Bob, I’m not worried. Fed Ex doesn’t have a box big enough for you.
I don’t fear no stinkin’ gauntlet.
Not me Ralph…just a gauntlet.
Bob@JuicyMaters’s last Blog Post ..My son claims to love me Sometimes I wonder though…
Having plenty of varied interests is my way of finishing strong Ralph, in fact I don’t know how I found time to go to work.
I love this retirement lifestyle and should have done it earlier.
Bill
Ashton-under-Lyne, UK
Bill Murney’s last Blog Post ..Thieves Charter
Good for you Bill.
Ralph….You are ever the inspiration and role model for me. I’ve found great joy learning about the blogOshere and making a fool of myself. But seriously, blogging has given me a reason to get up in the morning, aside from having to pee, and provides an outlet for creativity. I’m loving life in retirement.
Hansi’s last Blog Post ..Struwwelpeter
Hansi,
I understand. You have to get up before your wife to use the computer
Hi Ralph,
I like the “be a fool if nessecary” part. I think we take ourselves way too seriously most of the time. If you are not willing to make a fool of yourself once in a while, you get stuck in a rut so easily.
Anne @ Coupon Codes’s last Blog Post ..epc Belfast
Anne,
That is my biggest hurdle. I so want to look good and it limits my options and opportunities.
Tell me about it! I have to constantly remind myself that I will never impress everyone I meet. Find two or three people who’s opinion you value and use that as a yardstick. But in the end, if YOU are not comfortable in and with yourself, you are fighting a losing battle!
Anne Sales’s last Blog Post ..epc Belfast
Anne,
It’s not easy to do but anything else is missing out on life’s richness and opportunity.