Known as “the golden years” – this is the time when we are supposed to finally live life to the fullest and, most certainly, fulfill our dreams! If not then….then, when? As it turns out, I am living my “azure years” on the French Riviera – not a bad place to call home, with my …more

I have recently been putting the finishing touches to my latest book for expats. Whilst reading it through for one last time before it is sent to the publishers, I realized that it was not written in quite the same buoyant tones as my earlier publications. It was written during a year of relative turmoil …more

The power of attorney law in New York has been in effect since September 2009 (check your State’s POA law for provisions relating to monitoring). Through the legislation, many provisions were added to protect the financial well-being and safety of the individual granting the powers (the “principal”). There was significant concern that under the former …more

Four days after my 60th birthday, my employer of 17 years laid me off. Unfortunately with the economy of the past several years, my experience is hardly unique. However, I was fortunate to be in a position to retire and pursue what had been a part-time activity, writing, into a brand new career. In 1999 …more

I’ve thought about it for a few years, even looked forward to it. But, now that the time has come, how will I cope with my life in retirement. My work as a manager in a call center kept me busy. The usual data crunching and report writing was only a small part of my …more

Surfing the television the other night, I came across a quite entertaining program — one of those behind-the-scenes pieces on the making of a hit movie. I snuggled in my over-sized chair and listened as cast and crew glowed about the setting, the camaraderie, and the overwhelming feeling of family that pervaded the movie set …more

The time has finally arrived. After weeks of waiting your vacation is here! Whether you’ve planned out every detail or you’re just going with the flow, one thing you should never overlook is your health. In fact, nothing can ruin a trip faster than feeling run down or ill. But don’t fear… You can travel …more

This problem began when we moved into our new home in the Canary Islands. It was a new build property, and like most new builds it came as a shell, meaning that there was no fitted kitchen, shower, bathroom or any of the modern fixtures that I initially expected to see. Unlike new properties in …more