Category: Adventurous retirement
By Bill Carito:
April 13, 2023 -- I wrote in January about our experience driving an all-electric Volkswagen Id.4 from Portland, Maine to Key West, Florida (see Snowbirding Electrically - Part 1). Thought I should provide an update about our trip home. The verdict? Totally uneventful, which is what you want from a long drive home.
Bill getting a charge
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Published on April 13, 2023
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Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
April 12, 2023 -- There are a whole lot of people who want to retire on or near a beach. The sea breezes, sandy beaches, open waters, and laid back little towns certainly have their appeal. Here are 10 great undiscovered beach towns that might be ideal for your retirement. Obviously with so many people interested in that lifestyle, there are relatively few bargains available. But here we have tried to avoid the most expensive places. A few are household names, others are definitely not.
10 undiscovered beach towns for retirement
Westerly, RI. Near the Connecticut border the town of Westerly includes Watch Hill, a watering hole for New York's elite. Misquamicut State Beach is one of the finest public beaches anywhere in the country, and there is great surfing here. The downtown is especially beautiful with classic buildings, churches, and library.
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Published on April 12, 2023
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Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
North Carolina Best Walkable Places April 6, 2023 — Earlier this year we wrote about the best walkable towns in South Carolina. Not to be outdone, here are some great towns with good walkability in its northerly neighbor, North Carolina. Downtown New Bern New Bern, NC. We really liked…
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Published on April 5, 2023
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Category: Social Security
April 5, 2023 — The Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds report on the current and projected financial status of the two programs each year. This summarizes the findings of the 2023 Trustee reports. As in prior years, it found that the Social Security and Medicare programs…
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Published on April 5, 2023
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Category: Uncategorized
April 3, 2023 — The new Topretirements website will launch on April 3. We are aiming for much greater simplicity in our page design and navigation throughout the site. For example, the Home page will have a much simpler and inviting look. A large, clickable state map will help members…
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Published on April 2, 2023
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Category: Financial and taxes in retirement
Updated Feb. 2025 — (March 30, 2023) — It might come as an unpleasant surprise to many people that Social Security benefits can be taxed on both the federal and the state level. But which states tax social security income? While there is no escaping the federal tax if your…
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Published on March 29, 2023
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Category: International Retirement
March 29, 2023 — If you have seen the ads from International Living and other companies you would think paradise awaits you in a sun-soaked tropical paradise. According to the claims, all you need is a Social Security check to find a nice rental, hire domestic help, eat out at…
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Published on March 27, 2023
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
March 23, 2023 -- If you haven't figured it out already, money and possessions are no guarantee of personal happiness. There are oh so many examples of very wealthy, perfectly miserable individuals. Sure, not having to worry about money is great, but that alone won't lead to personal fulfillment.
The New York Times came up with a 7 day happiness challenge that makes a lot of sense. But before you even start that - a question. What do you think is the greatest single ingredient in making for a happy person? (Answer at end).
Personal relationships
People weren't made to be alone. Researchers in the long-running Harvard Study of Adult Development agree; people who have the most meaningful relationships with other folks are the ones who are the happiest. Those relationships are far more powerful than social class, IQ, or wealth.
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Published on March 22, 2023
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Category: Active adult communities
March 20, 2023 -- Every time we poll the Topretirements community, finding a walkable retirement community is always one of the top things that people want. In fact, in our 2020 survey (link at bottom below), walking trails were the number one preferred active adult community amenity. But beyond walking trails, many people are also looking for a place to retire where they can walk or bike to stores, doctors offices, restaurants, and activities. This article will take a look at some active communities that do a great job of putting people's homes where they can walk to these destinations instead of driving. Although there are some great towns where it easy to walk for everyday living, in this article we will concentrate on planned developments - some 55+, and many others open to people of all ages.
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Published on March 19, 2023
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Category: Retirement Planning
March 15, 2023 -- It seems like a person shouldn't be allowed to start retirement until they went through a course. There are so many important decisions - when to take Social Security, where to live, what to do all day, how to budget for the long haul, etc. To help with those as well as items that go well beyond those usually recognized issues, I've prepared a list of some of the top observations that I wish someone had shared with me long before my retirement began 16 years ago. Your suggestions are welcomed in the Comments section at the end.
11 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Retired.
Recognize that retirement has many phases. The best approach is to have a long range plan that will work for each period of retirement. That means considering what your first place to retire might be like if you lived there as an old person. Will the healthcare situation be right as your needs change? Are there assisted living or CCRC facilities in the area, so you don’t have to move far away and start over again with friends, doctors, church, etc. Is there public transportation when you can't drive anymore?
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Published on March 14, 2023
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