Years ago I came across some happiness advice that has never failed me. I liked it because it worked for me and I loved the name of the originator, Baruch de Espinosa: or, Spinoza. "Spinoza knowza", I used to tell my philosophy students.

877 Look Around

11 days ago 8m 25s

I knew that if I stayed there just a bit longer I would become the evening meal of some carnivore. Considering the absurdity of life I thought about it. Then I moved on. Hope is something else that is in our genes. All of our ancestors possesse

876 As We Age

18 days ago 6m 9s

Health issues become more and more personal as we move into and through retirement. Our interest and attention become very relevant individually. They have a way of grabbing our attention.

875 The List

25 days ago 8m 1s

Retirement is a time when a list might be as important as ever. As we enter the latter stages of life our time becomes more important. That is why we have a tendency to slow down. We don't want to rush life.

874 Continue Dreaming

Mar 24th, 2024 7m 55s

Maybe retirement is the time to become a magician. Or whatever else you dreamed of when you were a child. Or whatever you dream about now that you are retired. I'll bet with just a few years of practice most of us could learn to pull rabbits ou

873 Pick A Fight

Mar 17th, 2024 8m 54s

"Picking a Fight" is not something our parents told us was a good thing to do. Perhaps we need to rethink this advice. Retirement might be the perfect time to look around and pick a fight with some bully.

872 Vacations

Mar 10th, 2024 7m 24s

A good thing about vacations is that it shines a new light on the life we now live and the life we may want to lead. We can lay out plans, read travel logs, browse book stores and magazine racks, and have something to dream about when we take o

871 How Much Is Enough

Mar 3rd, 2024 8m 1s

The bottom line remains firm. You just have to spend a bit less than you earn. You might be surprised by how much pleasure can come from a walk in the woods compared to a cruise in the Aegean.

870 When Should I Retire

Feb 25th, 2024 8m 12s

How great are your needs? Do they expand with every paycheck or salary raise? Were we kidding ourselves about how much we loved our job and really were working for the money? I mean if we quit working and receiving a check do you suppose we wou

869 Winter Road Trip

Feb 18th, 2024 9m 6s

I feel like I must relate a few lessons learned on this winter trip. They might help you think about ramifications if you may someday consider taking off during the cold season.

868 Deciding to be Happy

Feb 11th, 2024 7m 2s

"I Like Being Old", is the title of a book I recently came across. It is written by k. Eileen Allen. She is a 90 year old woman who is blind. She says she likes being old and I believe her.

867 FOMO

Feb 4th, 2024 5m 9s

Some of us want to know what is around the bend. We want to move on. Perhaps it is just a simple case of the grass always being greener; the longing for that which we don’t have. It might pertain to our geographical location or our tasks or wor

866 Take a Risk

Jan 28th, 2024 6m 49s

Nietzsche advised us to step out on the edge and take a chance. He urged us to do something different with our lives. "We need to break ourselves in two," he said. And then create an even greater self.

865 No One Listens

Jan 21st, 2024 7m 41s

I recently read of a Barbie Doll who is connected to the Internet via wi-fi. It hears your voice and responds similar to Seri but it remembers everything and can thus personalize each response instantly. Imagine something similar to this in the

864 Looking Forward - Looking Backward

Jan 14th, 2024 6m 33s

When retired we're allowed more time to choose different paths; to explore new roads. All we have to do is make up our mind as to which direction we want to go. We don't want to just sit in the middle of the highway and let life wiz on by.

863 Weather

Jan 7th, 2024 8m 27s

"You never want to let the weather dictate what you do with your life". That is a line I used to recite to the kids whenever we wanted to go hiking, biking, or skiing.

862 Aging & Expectations

Dec 31st, 2023 8m 45s

It only seems reasonable that we should indeed do some preparation for a period of perhaps 30 or 40 years of living. We need to develop some expectations. I’m not sure they need to be "Great Expectations", but at least some might be wise.

861 Keeping Busy Plan (KBP)

Dec 24th, 2023 8m 6s

"In my early 40s I decided to develop a spreadsheet of activities and interests I had (or was interested in learning) that would keep me physically fit, keep my brain active and provide me with the much needed social connections."

860 Changing Our Ways

Dec 17th, 2023 9m 59s

Sometimes we wish we could change. Change our life. Change our habits. But change just doesn't come easy for some of us. These stories illustrate the power of habits and any attempt to change them.

859 Elders & Environment

Dec 10th, 2023 6m 43s

Our experiences in life can become a treasure chest from which we can share. We can keep alive the bond between Elders, wisdom and nature.

858 Screen Apnea

Dec 3rd, 2023 8m 2s

Ever had a breathing problem? I have. Now I find that a new cause of the problem may lie with electronic screens: phones, tablets, television, or gaming screens of any sort.

857 Chop Wood, Carry Water

Nov 26th, 2023 7m 19s

"As I lie idly drifting on Walden Pond I cease to think and begin to be". When does that happen? Trouble is; we wake up. We look at the front page of the paper, we talk to our kids or our grandchildren, we know that even though our days might b

856 Who Made That Rule

Nov 19th, 2023 8m 6s

"Who made the rule, anyway?" We retired folks need to ask that question about a lot of things. We have a lifetime of experiences to guide us in decision making.

855 Flat Earthers

Nov 12th, 2023 7m 46s

Staying informed isn't easy. Our forefathers had to rely on word of mouth or the slim pamphlet that might circulate among the masses at the speed of a slow horse. Today it’s instantaneous. Electronics flash news across the screen as it is happe

854 Venturing Into Politics

Nov 4th, 2023 6m 7s

This podcast has tried to avoid the topic of politics. It has not been easy. Politics is a topic that retired people have plenty of time to discuss. From this time on politics will be fair game. It is a big part of retirement.