Positive, Productive, Profitable
Retirement News
Make Your Life More Interesting the Longer You Live.

"You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster."

Ah! The joy of growing old - it's mandatory, not a damn thing you can do about - so you have to make the best of it.. During my chaotic period of readjustment from working life to retirement life I soon realized that everything becomes a lot easier if you maintain a good sense of humor - take time to laugh at yourself and what is happening to you as you grow older. Actually, with a laugh and a smile, you grow younger - at least in spirit.
As Mark Twain noted - "Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place."

That's the reason I have donated a chapter on my host website to
Retirement Humor.

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Just received this in my Email Inbox this morning -

WHAT DO RETIRED PEOPLE DO ALL DAY?

Working people frequently ask retired people what they do to make their days interesting.
Well for example, the other day I went into town and went into a shop. I was only in there for about 5 minutes, when I came out there was a cop writing out a parking ticket.
I went up to him and said, "Come on man, how about giving a senior citizen a break?" He ignored me and continued writing the ticket.
I called him a Nazi storm trooper. He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn tires.
So I called him a dickhead. He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first. Then he started writing a third ticket - This went on for about 20 minutes.
The more I abused him, the more tickets he wrote.

Personally, I didn't care. I came into town by bus - I try to have a little fun each day now that I'm retired. It's important at my age.

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I have added new contributions to retirement humor chapter three - for women only.
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February 2, 2006 - When considering retirement - What are the odds?

A recent survey indicated that many North Americans are hoping that they can win a lottery to get them through retirement. The odds of winning Canada's national lottery are listed at 14 million to one.

Try to figure out the odds for this true story - A woman in Alabama decided to visit her sister who, on the same day, left home to visit her. They hit each other head-on while driving down a rural road - they both died - they both drove Jeeps.

You may have seen the television commercial that shows an office worker who feels he's doing hard jail time while working his nine-to-five job and dreams of creating a business on what interests him - he moves on to build a fortune five hundred company - Ok, possible, but for most of us highly unlikely.

However, the odds of building your own internet home-based business centered on what interests you swing in your favor IF, you follow the basic rule of the four P's - Plan - Performance - Persistence - Prosperity.

Author Tim O'Brien offers this formula for success by noting that you have to start with a Plan- "a detailed, logical, flexible and workable description of the goal."

For my first website, I took more than two months just studying what Ecommerce was all about and remember, as noted in my Retirement Journal I was computer clueless and internet ignorant. If you're not handicapped by this lack of talent this opening assignment will take less time. However, I do urge you to start were I started, by looking into a free service offering a number of ideas for a home-based business and helps you better understand not only how the Ecommerce works, but also to help you select your market niche and how to make money.

As for Process O'Brien suggests that "the completion of one part should lead into the next step."

For anyone getting involved in building a home-based internet business here's the "big P" - Persistence:I can't count the number of times I have mentioned this throughout my host website this is not a get-rich-quick proposition - far from it. O'Brien puts it this way - "persistence keeps going when your body and mind want to quit." - trust me there will be many times you'll want to throw in the towel. Don't - take a deep breath and get back in there. If your plan is sound, build it and they will come - the search engines will lead the way eventually.

Finally, Prosperity; O'Brien points out that sometimes when people start making money over their goal, they want to slow down and enjoy themselves instead of building on their success - keep it going.

Remember, this internet possibility for additional revenue and independence also offers a vital addition to your retirement planning - a creative challenge to keep you young, alert and active. For more on the importance of creative thinking check this (Go to URL)

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February 3, 2006 - The Retirement of the Golden Bear and his Creative Challenge

One of the major "personal experience" themes running through my Retirement Jobs website is the importance of not only planning for your retirement financially, but also to include some serious Creative Thinking planning - I didn't and paid the price. You must have a creative challenge to keep you involved in some worthwhile and rewarding undertaking that will have you leaping from the bed in the morning.

With that in mind, there was a story in yesterdays sports section of my morning paper about Jack Nicklaus. Apparently the Golden Bear has played only five rounds of golf since the British Open more than six months ago.

Since his retirement, Jack has been immersing himself in golf course design and loving every minute of it.

"Most people work all their life to be able to play golf" he said, "I played golf all my life to retire and go to work."

I list a couple of other examples on the Creative Thinking page - here's another. A friend of mine from years past - I'll call him Max - not his real name, but he looked like a Max - a mountain of a man who loved golf and couldn't wait for retirement. Every working day during his last year on the job, the first thing he would do when he entered his office would be to mark an X in red crayon over that days date on his retirement calendar.

During the first eight months of his retirement he was on the glory road. Up bright and early and burning rubber as he sped-off to the golf course. He was a six and six retiree - six warm months in Canada - six warmer months in Florida - everything he had dreamed retirement should be.

Now I'm sure there are those who would take that kind of retirement in a heartbeat, but many others like Max soon discovered, as I did, something was missing. As explained on my Retirement Jobs website there has to be a creative challenge somewhere in the retirement mix - something that makes your life more interesting the longer it lasts.

For those still years away from retirement, now is the time to plan your creative strategy and if your creative challenge provides another source of revenue - that's just icing on the cake. Here's some ideas - (Go to URL)

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February 4, 2006 - Fascinating Numbers

According to China Internet Network Information Centre the number of Internet users in China is more than 103,000,000 in 2005 - more than half that number are below 25 years of age. Out of the total, 32 per cent are students, 12 per cent are professionals and nine per cent are from business and service sectors.

Online shopping spending in China in 2005 was around RMB 9 billions, and will rise to RMB 30 billions in 2007. You can expect there will be a doubled growth in the subsequent years.

I received a retirement newsletter this morning that claimed that in North America there is an estimated 25 million people who run a home based business today, and every 11 seconds someone starts a new home based business.

However, even in this crowed community there's still plenty of room on the web for an entrepreneur who wants to build a revenue producing creative challenge to take him/her into and through retirement - but the more congested the web gets, the bigger the challenge.

That's why, be you ignorant of the workings of the web as I was, or web-informed, the odds of you being successful turn in your favor if you use the services of Site Build It and yes, this is an unqualified endorsement - you are guided every step of the way - everything and I mean everything you need to succeed is laid out for you to follow. Plus, and again from personal experience, the other SBI entrepreneurs are there to help you through the SBI Forum. I've cashed in on that benefit a number of times - It's like asking a family member for help.

However, you can check all this out yourself if your willing to take the time and study. Here's a web page that is actually a track record backing up this recommendation. (Go to URL)

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February 5, 2006 - SIDEBAR - Random Retirement Notes

To clear my notepad, here's a few random notes I jotted down while completing a recent research assignment.

Admire this man's mojo - former President George Bush while visiting in Orlando Florida this week made this comment about growing old - "Just because you're old doesn't mean you have to stay back there locked up and drooling"
Bush at 81 said he even goes skydiving occasionally because - "It sends a signal that old guys can still do stuff"
Right-on - OK, he left me behind with the skydiving thing but old guys can still do stuff especially if they have a creative challenge to stoke the fire.

You can find a link to a valuable search outlet I discovered on my web site's links of interest page,
Fact Bites operates differently with it's dictionary-like format and I now have it in my top four search utilities. If your planning to build an info website as your revenue making creative challenge Fact Bites will be a valuable research tool.

The St. Petersburg Times reports online shopping jumped a whopping 24% to 6.96 billion at the start of the past holiday season and this is interesting - the majority of consumers shopped online at office rather than at home, 58% of all online shopping originated at the shopper's work place.

A few days ago, I had a retirement news entry - What are the odds - some of the material came from the new book - Beyond Coincidence by Martin Plimmer and Brian King. Here's a couple of leftovers - Mrs. Willard Lowell of Berkley California, who discovered that she had locked herself out of her house when the postman arrived with a letter, In the letter was her spare front-door key, returned by her brother, who had taken it home with him by mistake during a recent visit,
There is a Canadian farmer named McDonald who has the postal code -EIEIO.

More stats - according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, two-thirds of US households have pension income that, combined with Social Security, will provide enough to replace 63% for couples, 70% for singles - of their pre-retirement income. However, they also caution: "The landscape is changing for the coming wave of baby boom retirees, who will see lower replacement rates from Social Security and less certain income from employer pensions." Give it a thought - could what you know make up the difference check here - (Go to URL)

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February 6, 2006 - Windmill Nudes

I confess to being an addict - a movie addict. I was hooked at seven years of age when my older brother Richard allowed me to tag along with him and his buddies to the Uptown Theatre in Toronto to see Cecil B. DeMille's The Crusades starring Loretta Young and Harry Wilcoxon - since then I've been in constant need of a regular flick fix. Today my dealers work out Cineplex theatres and Blockbuster outlets with booster shots from the Turner Classic Movies channel.

Currently, the DVD rentals have been so-so but I'm riding a four star streak with the likes of Capote, Munich, Walk the Line and The Producers. (I was tempted to put King Kong in with that group, but for me, it was too long and the slow start took the edge off.)

Yesterday, another four star winner - Mrs. Henderson Presents starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins. Based on the true life story of mischievous widow Laura Henderson (Dench) who, the late 1930's buys an old London theater and opens it up as the Windmill, a performance hall which goes down in history for, among other things, its nude revues - (Mrs. Henderson, persuades the Lord Chamberlain to allow her actresses to pose nude - he agrees, but only if they don't move.) Even Bob Hoskins does the full monty.

As the Germans bomb London, the Windmill is the only theatre that never closes during the blitz. This comedy-drama is a must see - Dench has been nominated for an Oscar and rightly so.

Harvey Weinstein, who's new company is distributing the movie claims Dench, on tour to promote the movie, was snubbed by the three major networks early morning talk shows because of her age. "She didn't fit their target demographics" he said, adding, "I mean, what do they think, 25 year old people can't watch 70 year old people? The insanity of youth. It also assumes none of us like our families"

Yesterday Sunday afternoon matinee was three empty seats short of a full house and it did look like a retirement home assembly hall but tell the younger members of your family to give it a shot - if nothing else it will give them a humorous look at "how times have changed."
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February 7, 2006 - Florida Numbers and something to think about

If you are a Canadian retired six and sixer living half the year in Florida here's some interesting numbers from Marcy Grossman, Canadian Consul General in Miami -

As Canada and the U.S. continue to share the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world - with a two-way trade close to US$500 billion in 2004 - the Canada-Florida relationship has emerged as a vital component; culminating in Canada being named as the state's number one overall trading partner as well as export destination. The Canada-Florida trading relationship boasted an exchange of over $5.4 billion worth of merchandise goods in 2004, establishing Florida's trading relationship with Canada as one of the largest within the United States.

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I exchanged a series of Emails with a visitor to my host website who was asking for some more information on deciding what topic to use for the center point of an information website and how to make money from the site. Because I can only speak from personal experience, I obviously pointed him to my starting point the SBI Action Guide - Your Personal Guide to Online Success.

However, I warned him that this is not a quick read. This manual is loaded with valuable information that will take you, step-by-step through the entire process - I was a newbie and this manual got me off and running months ahead of when I would have started if I had to do all the research myself. Read and reread - take notes - follow-up - take the time to study every aspect of how to build a positive, productive and profitable website that will offer you a creative challenge and extra revenue to take you into and through retirement.

I would like to add, again from personal experience, a couple of add-on's -

• Think big - it costs you nothing during the planning stages.
• Be sure your topic or "niche" is challenging and exciting - something that will keep you involved even on days of disappointment and you will have those kind of days.
• Be patient - this is not a get-rich-quick undertaking.
  As a matter of fact, in the beginning keep the revenue possibilities in the background. Sometimes it can be a huge distraction that will lure you away from the most important task of publishing more and more informative content - the kind of content the search engines like. The money side of your creative adventure should act as a motivator.

You will succeed and enjoy the rewards with commitment and patience - that's why it's so important you're working on a project you're passionate about - a topic or product you truly believe in - (Go to URL)

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February 8, 2006 - Time to change your mind's tape player

A group of us were discussing what, if anything, we would change if we were given the opportunity to go back and relive our lives. When it was my turn, the only thing I could think of would be to take the time and make a determined effort to develop better mind control at a younger age. That led us to the topic of positive thinking and one of group told us about a film with the captivating title - "What the Bleep Do We Know" that features an interview with a motivational researcher who claims he starts off each day by imagining how he wants his day to unfold - that people can program their day if they visualize and believe.

Now, I'm a true believer in the benefits of visualization as an important part of developing a positive attitude and have donated several pages to the topic on the home web site including my own Self Help Journal but visualizing how you want your day to go - intriguing, but possible?

I spent a couple of hours researching the idea and found an article that quotes Bruce Lipton, a renowned cell biologist as saying yes, it's possible. Lipton, a former professor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and the Stanford School of Medicine, was a lifelong atheist until the mid-'80s, when his discoveries about the way cells function convinced him that God does exist -- a conversion he likens to a mystical transformation

Lipton outlines in his book "The Biology of belief" (Elite Books, 2005) that over 40 years of research he believes that genes do not control our behavior but are turned on and off by other influences such as out thoughts and beliefs and that in turn can shape our DNA

Lipton, when asked about the implications to this discovery, said, "The implication is that this basic idea we have that we are controlled by our genes is false. It's an idea that turns us into victims. I'm saying we are the creators of our situation. The genes are merely the blueprints. We are the contractors, and we can adjust those blueprints. And we can even rewrite them".

Lipton added, " Our thoughts are mainly controlled by our subconscious, which is largely formed before the age of 6, and you cannot change the subconscious mind by just thinking about it. That's why the power of positive thinking will not work for most people. The subconscious mind is like a tape player. Until you change the tape it will not change." (Go to URL)

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February 9, 2006 - A Phased Retirement

January 1, 2006 - The first of millions North American baby boomers qualified for retirement - surveys indicate that the majority, because of the money, love of working, camaraderie, or fear of not working want a "phased retirement" through some sort of retirement job, preferably a home based business - (Read Article)

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February 10, 2006 - You Must Have Attitude

When I first starting researching the idea of building a info website as my creative retirement challenge an Ecommerce expert offered up what I now consider to be a golden rule to follow - "treat your business like a business whether you are working part-time or full time on your internet project. If you are working part-time, OK, but maintain a full-time attitude. If you have a hobby attitude you'll have hobby income - if you have a business attitude, you'll have a business income"

Attitude comes from strong motivation. Note this quote from Psychology Online report on a study looking into the difference between internal and external motivation - "Although our society is largely extrinsically-motivated by external rewards such as money, fame and power, research has indicated those who are intrinsically-motivated by inner desires for creativity, fulfillment and inner satisfaction are psychologically healthier and happier."

I offer this up as further evidence that some kind of creative assignment has to be part of one's overall retirement plan. Obviously, such a creative challenge can take many forms. It's up to you to build creatively for and during retirement based on what interests you. I promote the advantages of working the internet because if was a perfect creative fit for me and perhaps it can be for you

Here's how my Funk and Wagnall lists the word Retire: To go away and withdraw oneself from business, public like or active service.
Retired: Withdrawn from active service.

That kind of withdrawal is exactly what you want to avoid. You must have a creative challenge to keep living worth while - take the time to research, especially those of you who are still years away from retirement. Research and plan now - start building your creative assignment and you will be in full development just before and during retirement.

Again, maybe the internet is for you - it's worth a look - (Go to URL)

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February 11, 2006 - The Benefits of Compromise and Olympic Hockey Schedule

For today's entry, a break from the retirement theme for a sidebar two items I was working on for the Connect2Canada chapter of my host web site.

There was a major news story this past week that in my opinion, did not receive the media attention it deserved. The story centers on several groups who, for decades, have been loudly criticizing and damning each other and on several occasions even engaged in hand to hand combat.
Now, with little fanfare, the bright light of understanding and compromise has broken through the fog of hatred and mistrust.

Environmentalists, the lumber industry, Indian tribes and the Provincial and Federal governments, in what has been described as an "unprecedented" collaboration, have created a Canadian Rainforest along 250 miles of British Columbia's Pacific coastline - 4.4 million acres - more than seven times the size of Yellowstone Park - homeland to grizzly bears, wolves, moose and hundreds of other animal species. The Great Bear Rainforest will be protected from all logging and managed as parkland.

But there's more to this magnificent compromise - another 11.6 million acres will be managed under an ecosystem plan for minimal impact, but will be available for sustainable forestry.

After all these angry, name calling years, people with different viewpoints and interests finally sat down together, took the time to listen and understand the other person's opinion, needs and ideas then created this immense new preserve.

It's frustrating and indeed sad that although they deal with more complex issues, the leaders of warring countries and religions in another part of the world can't see through the thick fog of hatred and mistrust that blankets their region. If only the bright light of compromise from the big-tree land of grizzly bears, wolves and moose could reach that far.

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For Canadians, working or holidaying in the United States - be of good cheer - You will be able to follow the Canadian Olympic Hockey teams on American TV - Here is the preliminary round schedule:

• Saturday 11: Women - Canada vs. Italy (CNBC) 2:30 PM (E) 1:30 PM (C) 11:30 AM (P)
• Sunday 12: Women - Russia vs. Canada (CNBC) 10:30 AM (E) 9:30 AM (C) 7:30 AM (P)
• Tuesday 14: Women - Canada vs. Sweden (MSNBC) 9:30 AM (E) 8:30 AM (C) 6:30 AM (P)
• Wednesday 15: Men - Italy vs. Canada (MSNBC) 7:00 AM (E) 6:00 AM (C) 4:00 AM (P)
• Thursday 16: Men - Canada vs. Germany (MSNBC) 2:00 PM (E) 1:00 PM (C) 11:00 AM (P)
• Saturday 18: Men - Canada vs. Switzerland (CNBC) 9:30 AM (E) 8:30 AM (C) 6:30 AM (P)
• Sunday 19 Men - Finland vs. Canada (CNBC) 3:00 PM (E) 2:00 PM (C) Noon (P)
• Tuesday 21 Men - Canada vs. Czech Republic (MSNBC) 10:30 AM (E) 9:30 AM (C) 7:30 AM (P)

Now back to retirement stuff - (Go to URL)

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February 12, 2006 - When your working the positive, don't forget the Negative

As noted on my website's home page, I'm a believer in taking time to patiently work on developing a positive approach - not always an easy task. An important part of the overall strategy is creative visualization - aimed at zeroing in on the positive via imagery. I've found this approach to be a mighty powerful weapon in the continuing battle for control of your life.

But what about using the power of NEGATIVE VISUALIZATION?

In a recent article, Barry Maher, President, Barry Maher and Associates of Helendale California, suggests that we also tap into the power of negative visualization before we tackle any kind of assignment - in other words, what's the worst thing that can happen and how can I plan for it if it happens?

Maher offers this advice - "Prepare as well as possible, then seize every opportunity. Gain experience. Practice, learn, prepare some more, and advance yourself in the process - "Life is a challenge. Revel in it."

Good advice - now carry that through with the idea of taking on a creative challenge to move you into and through retirement - a retirement job that grabs you out of bed in the morning, eager to put forth new ideas and concepts.

The internet offers you this opportunity. There are thousands of creative opportunities for you to explore - opportunities based on your work or hobby experiences - something you love to do or build. So what is the worst thing that can happen? Nothing much - perhaps a few bucks depending how far you advance your idea.
Assuming you have access to a computer, there's no expense for the first phase which is studying the possibilities and warming-up your creative engines - click here for a FREE thought starter.

As I write from personal experience, there has been no downside. Building my creative retirement job has been a life saver - it has made my life more interesting the longer I live and that's the basic idea. (Go to URL)

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February 13, 2006 - Retirement recipes - Betty's Hotpot

First, Audrey, my patient and loving wife of 53 years left this notation near my computer - I pass it on for those who, like myself, use the computer and the internet for their retirement "creative" challenges.
" Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach a person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks."
I'm still trying to figure out if that makes her happy or ticked-off.
Now to the business at hand.

One of the retirement jobs chapters on the host web site - PPP Retirement Jobs takes a look at the possibilities of building a website or publishing an E-book in the cooking and recipe category - I'm currently in the planning stages for an E-book featuring some interesting and unusual Victorian recipes I purchased at an estate sale.

However, I'm using this retirement job possibility as a lead-in to pass on the recipe of a food feature on the one and only TV soap I'm addicted to - British TV's Coronation Street. Corrie is a prime time hit in Canada and hundreds of other countries around the world. The exception, unfortunately, is the United States so my Corrie-fix comes via VHS thanks to my granddaughter Alex..

Coronation Street debuted on the ITV network on Friday December 9,1960. It's center point is the Rovers Return pub. Betty Turpin, played by former music hall star, Betty Driver, has been a barmaid at the pub since June 1969 and is now, like the actress who plays her, in her eighties.

Over the years I've watched the series, Betty's hotpot has continued to be the main source of nourishment at the Rovers and while doing research for the cooking and recipe pages I came across a site that claims this is Betty's secret Hotpot recipe

• 1½ lbs. Lamb neck meat- cubed
• 1½ lbs. potatoes, leave skin on and slice thinly
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1¼ cup stock or water
• 3 oz butter or cooking oil or bacon fat - or 1 ½ oz each butter and oil
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper to taste

1. pre-heat the oven to 325. Seal meat on all sides over high heat in butter, oil or butter/oil combination, reduce heat to medium and cook until evenly browned. When browned put meat in deep oven proof casserole.
2. In same pan sauté onions in pan juices adding more butter, oil, fat if needed. When they begin to turn brown sprinkle with flour.
3. Stir until roux begins to brown, stir in a little stock or water - stir quickly to avoid lumps.
4. Stirring constantly add remaining liquid and bring to a simmer. Add Worchestershire and season to taste.
5. Pour onions and liquid over meat, mix well and add bay leave.
6. Layer potatoes over meat, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper.
7. Cover and cook in oven for 2 hours, 1/2 hour uncovered.
8. If potatoes haven't browned place under grill.
9. Note, - brush potatoes with butter or oil if they appear dry

Love Cooking? Have a collection of original family recipes? Take a look at the possibilities for a creative challenge that could take you into and through retirement - (Go to URL)

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February 14, 2006 - Rachel and Allison Start Early

The motto of this Blog and website is - make your life more interesting the longer you live - with the idea of building a revenue-producing creative challenge that will take you into and through retirement. It's obvious, the sooner you start the more advanced your project will be when you retire.

Here's a perfect example - two young entrepreneurs - Rachel and Allison in Victoria, British Columbia - just in their early thirties who are building their creative challenge via the internet.
Both are involved in office administration but their goal is to be self-employed with a series of revenue producing websites - two are up and running with the third in the design stage and several others on the drawing board.

First, they researched for a market niche that allowed them to be involved with products they're interested in and knowledgeable about.
But what makes their approach interesting is they "drop ship" their product - that is, they found a manufacturer who produces a product that meets their standards, and who also ships the item under their name - no supply or warehouse costs - check out their main site Oodles of Jewels.

An important part of their market strategy is something I should undertake with my eBay site - Rachael and Allison also have an eBay store and cross promote the two sites to build traffic. The eBay store with its feedback helps establish their creditability with potential customers. We eBay sellers cherish positive feedback like those on Rachael and Allison's eBay site - "Excellent ebayer,A+ transaction,good packaging,fast delivery,thank you - GREAT PRODUCT LIKE PROMISED! A++++++ SELLER!"
Nothing like customer endorsements to tell others about the quality of your product and service.

Could this drop-shipping business plan start you on the way to building a home based business that will carry you into and through retirement? It's never too early and for those of you already retired - it's never too late - (Go to URL)

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February 15, 2006 - Make your past your future

If you're retired or near retirement - Sell your knowledge - There are millions of people out there who are searching for information via the internet - information they're willing to pay for and you may be able to give them the information they seek.

Just look at the latest statistics - according to Nielson/NetRatings, in the US alone, the internet is the number one research source. According the market researcher, there was a whopping 55% surge in online searches in the month of December, zooming to nearly 5.1 billion searches, up from 3.3 billion a year earlier. Again, that's just in the United States - imagine the world-wide stats

It would be well worth your while to take the time, just as I did, to research the possibility of building a home based retirement job by selling your knowledge and make the past your future

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Last night I finished my latest paperback - my wife was watching Olympic figure skating - skull-numbing boredom - what to do - so I flipped through Audrey's latest edition of the Ladies Home Journal and noticed a small ad asking the question -Got what it takes to work from home? Test your savvyAfter you close the annoying pop-up that got past my pop-up stopper software, you answer ten questions then you get your evaluation on whether or not you have the stuff to be a home business entrepreneur.

I gave it a shot and received the following evaluation - "You may not be a natural for at-home work, but if you dedicate yourself to success, and discipline yourself with home office routines, you can probably pull it off.

I think I have and they are correct - only through dedication and discipline - but that wasn't all that tough because the entire exercise is a joy to an old man who was put out to pasture some 12 years ago. Most of my initial goals have been met in less than a year - I'm creatively back in action making each day interesting and productive and me young in mind and spirit - made a host of new friends and contacts around the world - and the extra income allows me to spend on vices not allowed for in the retirement budget. Now new goals have been set and the challenge continues.

Another interesting addition to the LHJ quiz is an article by Karin Price Mueller aimed at work-at-home-moms, or as noted on my website as WHAM'S the determining factors for success with a home based business is

• perseverance, drive, and determination
• motivation, being a self-starter
• good organizational skills
• the ability to manage your time
• a willingness to learn
• the ability to multitask
• a passion for what you are doing
• ability to work, even when other things are calling you.

May I add two more -

• willing to take time for in-depth research
• patience - it takes time to climb the search engines ranking ladder.

  One more time - If you're retired or near retirement - Sell your knowledge - (Go to URL)

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February 16, 2006 - Retirement Job - Mystery Shopper?

If you are a male who is retired or near retirement, you know from years of experience, that in order to keep the relationship with your partner on a secure footing, you must always adhere to one of the top ten relationship rules - never go shopping with your partner.

Women are shoppers - men are snatch-and-grabbers.

A huge part of a woman's life is wasted poking, prodding, picking-up and examining things they have no intention in buying and when they finally reach the item they went shopping for in the first place, more time is spent poking, prodding, picking-up and examining before a final decision is made - if a final decision is made.

Men on the other hand treat shopping with the military precision of a commando raid - attack with speed -go directly to target - snatch the target - get out as fast as possible.

Men who shop with their partners are a miserable lot. I'm sure you've seen them in the malls - zombie-like creatures muttering to themselves - their glazed-over eyes pleading with you - "get me the hell out of here" - but there's nothing you can do but turn your back, run to your car and return home in time for the opening kick-off.

That's why I was surprised to learn that men make up a large portion of a group of retail reporters known as Mystery Shoppers - a possible retirement job you might be interested in. I followed through with some research and found that although it's unlikely you can make a full-time salary, some folks are taking home a tidy supplement income plus additional perks that might be of interest to you.

You'll find the article here - (Go to URL)

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February 17, 2006 - This is Your Life, Him and Her Jokes and a Prayer for Guidance

Age Gauge

This will really make you feel old.......Put your birth date in the pop up window after you click on the upcoming link. What happens is pretty interesting. It's also amazing how quickly it computes!! Very cool. Send it on to all you think might like a bit of trivia!! Click here (opens new window)

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His and Her Sense of Humor

According to a new study from Stanford University, there's another area in human behavior that men and women differ - sense of humor. By using MIR scans of people looking at cartoons, men and women's brains process jokes differently.

"The region of the brain that's associated with analytical thinking and language decoding was activated more for women than it was for men," explains Eiman Abdel-Azim, doctoral candidate at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, and lead author of the study. In other words, we men are less analytical that women - we'll guffaw long and loud at a guy getting a pie in the face or any other kind of slapstick while the ladies go more for the verbal, narrative kind of humor.

Anyway, you had better finely tune your sense of humor as you grow older. The ability to laugh at yourself is a vital part of managing the growing old stage of life - that's why I have added an ever growing Retirement Humor chapter to my host website.

Thanks to Bernie D for this contribution -
(Go to URL)

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February 18, 2006 - Growing Old and Retirement - a Creative Opportunity

I'd bet the farm that the majority of you visiting this site who, like me, are retired and living well into the fourth quarter, can identify with the following article featured on the Canadian Senior Years Website - I could easily change the names in this article with those from my circle of friends and acquaintances and still have a lengthy list of substitute players.
I offer up this piece as further evidence that you can make your life more interesting the longer you live, if you have a creative challenge to keep you alert and young in mind and spirit.
By the way, this is not my work - the editor of Senior years believes it was written by Art Linkletter back in 89.

I have always dreaded old age. I cannot imagine anything worse than being old... How awful it must be to have nothing to do all day long but stare at the walls or watch TV.

So last week, when the mayor suggested we all celebrate Senior Citizen Week by cheering up a senior citizen, I determined to do just that. I would call on my new neighbor, an elderly retired gentleman, recently widowed, who, I presumed, had moved in with his married daughter because he was too old to take care of himself.

I baked a batch of brownies, and, without bothering to call (some old people cannot hear the phone), I went off to brighten this old guy's day.
When I rang the doorbell this "old guy" came to the door dressed in tennis shorts and a polo shirt, looking about as ancient and decrepit as Donny Osmond.

"I'm sorry I can't invite you in," he said when I introduced myself, "but I'm due at the Racquet Club at two. I'm playing in the semi-finals today."
"Oh, that's all right," I said. "I baked you some brownies...."
"Great!" he interrupted, snatching the box. "Just what I need for bridge club tomorrow! Thanks so much!"
"...and just thought we'd visit a while. But that's okay! I'll just run across the street and call on Granny Grady...."
"Don't bother," he said. "Gran's not home; I know. I just called to remind her of our date to go dancing tonight. She may be at the beauty shop. She mentioned at breakfast that she had an appointment for a tint job."

I called my mother's cousin (age 83); she was in the hospital... working in the gift shop. I called my aunt (age 74); she was on vacation in China. I called my husband's uncle (age 79). I forgot; he was on his honeymoon.

I still dread old age, now more than ever. I just don't think I'm up to it.

So the question is - could your creative challenge also be profitable? (Go to URL)

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February 19, 2006 - Have an eBay retirement

Even though we haven't worked our eBay site for several months now because of other E-commerce interests, years back I started my first retirement job with the creative challenges offered by working eBay. The tips and tricks I offer on the eBay summary page are gained from personal experience and I hope will make it easier for newcomers to take advantage of what eBay has to offer.

ebay for retirees is a natural fit - Kim Komando, in her column in USA Today noted -

"Many retirees have written me about their eBay experiences. They claim several advantages over younger sellers. Retirees can go to the shipping offices when lines are short. They can hit yard sales any day of the week to find hidden gems. And they have more time to address customer questions."

Right on, but there's other advantages to using eBay to build a positive, productive and profitable retirement job -

• It's a mutual interest booster for retired couples who are together 24-7.
• There's the get-out-of-the-house travel that takes you to various locations to take part in auctions and estate sales or just around the neighborhood to rummage around garage sales looking for bargains to post on your eBay site.
• The joy of discovery and knowledge gained as you research for product information that adds marketing value to your product description.
• Communicating with fellow eBayers around the world - we've met dozens of interesting and caring people through the eBay forums and our eBay site, where, when we're selling, we shows the maps of our buyers home countries.
• Then the satisfaction that comes with the money being forwarded into your bank account - the gauge of your success.

But as I point out in the eBay summary page working eBay is not easy - as Kim Komando writes- "it's not as easy as it looks. An auction business takes time, research and know-how.

Take the time to research eBay - Here's eBay's education pagethe best place to start - then check out the community forums - read and learn before you start building a site. It cost you nothing to register and research the possibilities of eBay - but I can assure you - it can be time well spent.

One more note - just want to be a buyer but never tried working eBay? Here's their page that gives you a chance to try bidding on a fictional item
(Go to URL)

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February 20, 2006 - Retirement Motivators

Robert Schuller once said that,

"It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts."

No matter what your age - but especially during your retirement years - there are days when you need some help to jump-start your motivation engine.

To help me "survive and thrive" each day, I rely on carefully chosen affirmations - scripted motivators I call them - straight-to-the-point statements of fact that can power-up positive thoughts to erase any unwanted and unneeded feelings.

The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get the old ones out. Every mind is a building filled with archaic furniture. Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it. - Dee Hock

This is especially true first thing in the morning.

Think about it - how many mornings do you literally jump out of bed, smile on your face, looking forward to all the things you have to do while predicting what a great day it will be?
OK - truth be told - in the real world, few people are that utopian - but many successful people can claim that on most mornings, once their up and moving, they find a reason to smile and view the prospects of the forthcoming day as promising. These are the folks who read and reread motivators posted at various positions they must pass by during their daily get-up-and-get-moving routine. The main motivator is usually scotched-taped to the shaving/hair curling mirror.
They will also post motivators in their cars and in their work place.

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind. - William James

This is an exercise that will help your mind get into gear by changing its thinking - burning away negative thoughts with the laser beam of positive thinking.
One last note - this mental work out is not a one-off. - it's an every day program - repetition is the key to success.
Do your own research for the motivators that work best for you - print - post - read - reread - remember.

A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug. - Patricia Neal.

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February 21, 2006 - The Retirement gang comes to my rescue

I'm part of a group of retired friends who exchange fun stuff via email - we all follow the rule - Never take life seriously; NOBODY gets out alive. - over the years we have been joined by a number of pre-pre-pre retirement contributors who keep us young in mind and spirit
I never get upset when my inbox is loaded with fun material because, as one member noted - it means I have friends who are thinking of me.

Anyway, my better half has suggested that I get moving on her "things that need to be done around the house" list and as I have nothing edited for today's entry, and Audrey is standing in the doorway, I'm taking the easy way out by offering a few inserts taken from this mornings over-stuffed in-box - and in case some of my friends panic on hearing this - carefully edited for a general audience retirement Blog,

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I have a question

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly thingies there, and drink whatever comes out?"
Also, Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken over there? I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta its butt?"

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Think about it - The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

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CANADIAN TEMPERATURE GUIDE

50° Fahrenheit (10° C) Californians shiver uncontrollably, Canadians plant gardens.

35° Fahrenheit (1.6° C) Italian cars won't start; Canadians drive with the windows down.
32° Fahrenheit (0° C) American water freezes, Canadian water gets thicker.
0° Fahrenheit (-17.9° C) New York City landlords finally turn on the heat; Canadians have the last barbecue of the season.
-60° Fahrenheit (-51° C) Mt. St. Helens freezes, Ottawa's Rideau Canal (the world's longest skating rink) opens for skating.
-100° Fahrenheit (-73° C) Santa Claus abandons the North Pole, Canadian Girl Guides sell cookies door to door.
-173° Fahrenheit (-114° C) Ethyl alcohol freezes, Canadians get frustrated when they can't thaw the keg of beer.
-460° Fahrenheit (-273° C) Absolute zero; all atomic motion stops, Canadians start saying "cold eh?"
-500° Fahrenheit (-295° C) Hell freezes over, Toronto Maple Leafs win Stanley Cup.

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Oil Change instructions for Ladies

• Pull up to Jiffy Lube when the mileage reaches 3000 miles since the last oil change.
• Drink a cup of coffee.
• 15 minutes later, write a check and leave with a properly maintained vehicle.

Money spent:
Oil Change $20.00 - Coffee $1.00 - Total $21.00

Oil Change instructions for Men:

• Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree, write a check for $50.00.
• Stop by 7 - 11 and buy a case of beer, write a check for $20, drive home.
• Open a beer and drink it - Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands - Find jack stands under kid's pedal car - In frustration, open another beer and drink it.
• Place drain pan under engine - Look for 9/16 box end wrench - Give up and use crescent wrench. - Unscrew drain plug - Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil: splash hot oil on you in process - cuss.
• Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off of face and arms - throw kitty litter on spilled oil - have another beer while watching oil drain - spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench - give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.
• Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. Cleverly hide old oil filter among trash in trash can to avoid environmental penalties - drink a beer - buddy shows up; finish case of beer with him - decide to finish oil change tomorrow so you can go see his new garage door opener.
• Sunday: Skip church because "I gotta finish the oil change." - drag pan full of old oil out from underneath car - cleverly dump oil in hole in back yard instead of taking it back to Kragen to recycle - throw kitty litter on oil spilled during step 18 - beer? No, drank it all yesterday - walk to 7-11; buy beer.
• Install new oil filter! making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface - dump first quart of fresh oil into engine - remember drain plug from step 11 - hurry to find drain plug in drain pan - remember that the used oil is buried in a hole in the back yard, along with drain plug - drink beer - shovel out hole and sift oily mud for drain plug - re-shovel oily dirt into hole - steal sand from kids sandbox to cleverly cover oily patch of ground and avoid environmental penalties - wash drain plug in lawnmower gas.
• Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor - throw kitty litter on oil spill - drink beer - crawl under car getting kitty litter into eyes - wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean drain plug - slip with stupid crescent wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame - begin cussing fit - drink beer - clean up hands and forehead and bandage as required to stop blood flow.
• Beer - beer - dump in five fresh quarts of oil - beer - lower car from jack stands - accidentally crush remaining case of new motor oil - beer.
• Test drive car - get pulled over: arrested for driving under the influence - car gets impounded - call loving wife, make bail - 12 hours later, get car from impound yard.
  

  Money spent:

  Parts $50.00 - DUI $2500.00 - Impound fee $75.00 - Bail $1500.00 - Beer $40.00
  Total - - $4,165.00
  But you know the job was done right! (Go to URL)

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February 22, 2006 - Beach wedding success

The retirement news subject today is beach weddings - let me explain.

Because of my personal experience in finding a positive, productive and profitable retirement job via the internet with my website/Blog - even with limited computer skills - I find it fascinating so many other ordinary folks have followed a similar path and built a revenue producing website with little or no computer or Ecommerce expertise.

I've lost count of the number of live, telephone and email interviews I've conducted during my research and there's an obvious common thread that ties us together - the majority of us were intrigued with the possibility - had no idea of how to
go about it - and as a result, lost a pile of hard earned money we paid out to the scammers who promised much but delivered little - and that, dear reader, is why I, and a legion of others, personally recommend Dr Ken Evoy's Site Build It.

If you want to build a revenue producing website, but have little or no expertise, don't walk - run to SBI and download Dr. Envoy's FREE SBI Action guide

And here's another example - the success story of Cindy English, a young woman who, after many costly mistakes, followed the SBI step by step blueprint, and with patience, dedication and research, has achieved an online income that's building every day - not only from her initial website but also from two other sites she now has up and running.
Cindy told me -

" I have 'dabbled' in all of the wrong 'make money' schemes for a long time. I always figured there was a way to make money on the net but never had any luck finding out how. Everyone just wanted to sell you something and then...sell you something more! I can't even remember HOW I stumbled upon SBI! but I am ever so grateful that I did. It took me a while to commit to the $299 expense as I am ashamed to admit how much money I have lost over time trying to do things the 'wrong way'! I didn't want to lose anymore! I have always been willing to 'pay my dues' and do the work if someone would just show me how. Well, SBI! promised to do just that so...on New Years Day of 2005, I closed my eyes and hit the SBI! 'order button'!"

With her expanding online empire, Cindy's out-of-house working years are about to end - thanks to a creative challenge that will take her into and through retirement.

To visit Cindy's website and get the rest of her story - (Go to URL)

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February 23, 2006 - If you are of retirement age, you might say - "right on"