Retirement Planning Checklist

My research on retirement has certainly uncoverd a lot of information on the importance of pre planning. 
Based on my research I started a list of what I need to do before I retire.  It is in no particular order.  It is a dynamic document - definitely not final but hopefully I will be removing things at a rate faster than adding them!   Everyone's list will be different, here's mine..... Do you have a list?
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1. Attend pension retirement seminar
2. Schedule an appointment to review pension options and process
3. Review pension options by year - ages 55 - 60
4. Research and comparative shopping for  benefits in early retirement
5. List of annual expenses
6. Explore alternative to satellite expenses 
7. Develop a post retirement budget and live on it for three months
8. Reorganize basement
9. Make a list of home improvements to tackle before retirement
10. New roof
11. New central air conditioning
12. Renovate main floor powder room
13. New area rug dining room
14. New area rug living room
15. Redesign front including driveway, porch and sidewalk
16. Landscape plan for house front
17. Purchase and plant new landscape design
18. Dig up plantings at side of house
19. New plantings for side of house
20. Landscape plan for backyard
21. Purchase and plant new backyard landscape design
22. Redo photos in front hall stairway
23. Renovate main washroom second floor
24. Kitchen renovation
25. New patio doors for basement
26. New interior doors upstairs
27. New windows
28. Murals in each staircase 
29. Take down basketball hoop
30. Research  two organizations to volunteer my time 
31. New laptop
32. Gain experience in social media
33. Research about long stay winter vacations
34. Research tax implications of retirement
35. Reinvent what work may look like for me - explore options - do I really not want to work at all
36. Research on protecting  assets
37. Research on dividends
38. Start taking Advantage of Age Discounts
39. List of new things to do - " I might want to try"
40. Pick and Prioritize Dream trips
41. Plan retirement celebration trip
42. Recalibrate Fitness Routine
43. Comprehensive Medical Check up
44. Comprehensive Dental check up 
45. Research on complementary business for market space
46. Name for new business
47. Renovation of space for new business
48. Inventory for business
49. Transformation of inventory to sell
50. Online set up of business
51. Launch business
52. New blog related to new business
53. Research on Canada Pension plan options
54. Update estate planning
55. Develop a list of retirement projects (don't start them before retirement)
56. Assessment by naturopath
57. Assessment by acupuncturist

Happy Retirement Sue and Dave

We had dinner this week with friends - Sue and Dave from North Bay. They are both school teachers (I guess former school teachers) and have just retired. Happy Retirement. They are so cool about it.... Making a list of things to do but really just enjoying the moment right now and the freedom from someplace to be - from something that must be done. Enjoy every moment.

Love how this retirement photo especially how the guy is carrying the bag!

Retirement: pros and cons

There is so much to consider as I plan for retirement. In theory, my retirement planning began decades ago with pension contributions, RRSPs, etc. Truthfully, I didn't give it much thought. Real planning for me didn't begin until much much later.... When kids are raised - left the nest.... when you are eligible to collect a pension...when the idea of a slower pace for the first time in your life seems somewhat attractive.... I think retirement like other major phases of life - parenthood; adolescence - is something that evolves within you - emerges. Almost naturally you begin to weigh options... think about timing. I am a pros and cons type of person. I approach planning and decisions that way. This was demonstrated to me in spades last week when I went shopping for a computer. My son and his girlfriend came along with me. There were so many choices - I think I was a bit bewildered. Suddenly, in the middle of the store, my son turns to me and says "Well, let's consider the pros and cons of each" Words that I know that I have said to him on countless occasions. Suddenly I was grounded and could see a path to a decision. Lesson Learned - my son really manages me well! .

Emerging senior?????....

Okay... so I have a blog.... What do I call it?... What should I write about? ....Here is where the "generational" issue begins to emerge. I can't imagine how anyone would find what I have to say compelling...But as I learn more, I don't think that blogging is really about that. I think it is about what I want to say ...my observations...stuff I would share if I was sitting with you having a coffee. I don't have a single focus in my life but I do have interests like gardening, baking, movies, hockey, pop culture - so how do I come up a theme for this blog??? or even a name??? If there is a common thread in my life right now it is thinking about retirement- I am getting older..... I turned 55 this year and now qualify by some definitions as a senior!!! Shocking to me. I feel that I am moving through an important stage. It is a transformative time.The entire concept of "senior years" is being redefined by society - okay really...by the boomers ( we always make everything about us) There is a group in my hometown that was formed for 20/30 year olds called Emerging Leaders. A network to help them through those beginning years of your career, support each other, make connections. I think there should be the same thing for those approaching retirement... Okay... so Emerging Senior it is!