The question I’m asked most often in retirement is, “What do you do all day?” Sometimes, the person asking is just curious. Sometimes, they are comparing their possible retirement activities to mine in order to gauge whether or not they have enough in the way of hobbies, volunteer work and other passions to replace their …more

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Even by the mildest standards, I would not describe myself as adventurous, but on vacations I seem to be willing to try things I wouldn’t normally do at home. Maybe it is the idea of broadening my horizons or maybe it is the idea that I can make an absolute fool of myself in front …more

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‘Sometimes it’s important to work for that pot of gold. Sometimes its important to recognize when its time to finally retire – a period in life when the most imperative decision you shall be left to make, shall consist of choosing which color of the rainbow to slide down’ Douglas Pagels. I embarked on a …more

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Known as portmanteau words confunderant (con-fun’-der-ant)– a person who claims to be a consultant but only gives you confusing advice slitheriner (slith-er-in’-er– (rhymes with shiner) a person who sneaks in line ahead of you overacheater (o-ver-a-chee’-tor– a person who gets A’s but only by copying from others mortoperator (mor-top’-er-a-tor)– a guy who goes to funerals …more

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So what do you want done with your body when you have finally drunk your last gin and tonic? Yes, I know that this is not the cheeriest subject to read, but it has to be said and the issue has to be faced. This is an area that few expats consider, and recent personal …more

Growing up during the cold war wasn’t all that bad. That’s because the cold war wasn’t exactly cold and it wasn’t exactly war. The cold war was really more of a squabble between two little-girl super powers arguing over whether Barbie should live in Barbie’s Dream House or on Barbie’s Soviet Union Collective Farm — …more

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I think it’s discourteous to answer your phone and talk to someone else while you and I are having coffee. I even think it’s discourteous to look at your phone while you and I are having coffee. I think it’s discourteous to be looking across the room while you’re being introduced to me and you’re …more

For some years I watched my little grandchildren with their smart-phones. They played games, even while I was talking to them, they texted each other, while I was teaching them and they were taking photographs while I was trying to show them something. Once or twice I asked them to show me and they did, …more