Retirement - Five reasons to do it now!

Each day in the US 10,000 baby boomers turn 50 and more than
ever, these boomers are finding that life starts at 50 and
beyond.

This isn't your mother's retirement, in fact more and more
retirees are bucking tradition and reinventing themselves and
often their careers, after many are called "past their prime."

"Traditional retirement is for sissies!" says Carol White,
co-author of Live Your Road Trip Dream, "Employers are finding
ways to send their senior troops packing prior to traditional
retirement timeframes. Many of us are leaving the structure of
the full-time, all encompassing work life and finding lives for
ourselves that are more productive, more creative and executed
on our own terms and time tables. But it does take initiative
and the ability to see opportunities and seize the moment."

Carol continues, "When Phil and I first retired, we decided to
live our long held dream of just taking off and seeing our great
country. In so doing, we've traveled over 50,000 miles, started
our own publishing company, written an award winning book and
now fill our days doing the radio and TV circuit and talking to
others who desire the freedom of the open road - or some other
travel journey. Retirement hasn't slowed us down, in fact it's
invigorated us. I can't wait to see what's next!"

Matt Hutcheson, America's Retirement Coach and moderator of "The
Retirement Hour" radio show, emphasizes that "there is more to
retirement than just gathering your financial resources. You
have to figure out what that next phase of your life will mean.
And for many, that is more challenging and scary than all the
financial preparedness."

So why may NOW be the best time to venture forth into the
exciting "second life" of retirement?

• If your employer offers you an incentive, there
  probably is a reason. "I have personally watched co-workers pass
  up great 'golden parachute' packages, only to find out they
  should have gone." confides White. Staying is often harder on
  those left behind.
• Good health and vigor aren't
  guaranteed. Even though boomers are living longer than their
  parents, both men and women have risk factors not experienced by
  their parents. Obesity, lack of physical activity and job stress
  are but a few examples. Give yourself the opportunity to find
  fulfillment on your o wn terms, whether in community activities,
  volunteer service, travel, a second career, or something you've
  always dreamed of doing.
• The future is uncertain, seize
  today. Many people wait for that "perfect time" to try something
  new. The truth is like most things, there is no perfect time. We
  never know when we will be called upon to assist a family
  member, lose our health, or have some other unforeseen
  circumstance prevent our visi on from becoming reality.


• The joy of exploration and creativity are waiting. "Phil
  and I had no conception of what the simple act of living our
  travel dream would bring to our lives - but we had our minds
  open to new ideas and experiences, and were ready to try
  something to help others," Carol enthuses. "Don't wait to see
  what the second half of life holds for you."
• There is
  no perfect time. Retirement is scary. It is a little like
  stepping off a cliff into the unknown. Leaving that eight to
  five routine that we've known for so many years, for something
  that is indeterminate leaves us uneasy, but the truth of the
  matter is that will be true regardless of when you make the
  leap, so why not leap now while you have enthusiasm and energy
  to find a new life of your choosing and satisfaction.

Whether you decide to just golf and play with the grandkids, or
embark on a whole new "second life" of your choosing, the choice
is exciting and the choice is yours to make. Why not "invest" in
your future life sooner rather than later?

About the author:


Carol White is the co-author of the award-winning book, "Live
Your Road Trip Dream" (href="http://www.roadtripdream.com">www.roadtripdream.com) -
the ultimate road trip planning guide for extended road trips.
Carol and her husband Phil have traveled over 50,000 road miles
in the past several years, visiting all forty-eight of the
contiguous states and having visited all of the National Parks
in t

Take a Wedding Cruise and Create Memories

The wedding is to be the happiest time of your life and the most
important event that you will ever attend. You will find that
there is so much to do when planning a weeding. You will
invitations, menus, venues, and more. You will want to make sure
that you are creating a wonderful and blissful scene. You will
find that there is a lot of things that you will need to do,
such as, organizing, budgeting, hiring, and arranging. You will
find that the wedding planning can be very stressful.

Have you ever thought about an extraordinary idea like a cruise
ship? This can be very convenient. You will find that the cruise
line will take the time to organize the wedding so that you can
have everything done for you. They will take care of the
ceremony, reception, and even the honeymoon. They will make sure
that your wedding is everything that you would ever want from
the beginning to end. You will find that there are lot of crusie
lines that have had weddings on board. You will be able to allow
them to take care of everything. If you think about it, a
wedding planner is going to cost you a couple thousand. And they
will take care of everything so that you can have a wonderful
and impressive wedding on a ship for way less than what you
would pay for a traditional wedding. You will also want to take
in consideration that the prices will also include your
honeymoon.

You should also not expect that all your guests will get a
ticket and sail around the world with you, celebrating your
wedding. Most cruise lines will allow you to have your guests on
board for the wedding, but then they may leave before the ship
sets out for its destination. They will allow the guests to have
the ability to enjoy the wedding and the reception and then they
will allow them to get off so that your guests don't have to pay
for the cruise or you don't have to pay for the cruise. There
are lot of ships that will stay in port or they will go out in
the water during the wedding. Some people will find difficulties
because you need to stay in the country's territory or on
international waters so that you don't run in any legal problems
with your marriage.

The cruise lines will do everything in their capabilities to get
the wedding going smoothly. Most cruise lines offer wedding
packages at very reasonable prices. You will want to do some
research on the following lines: Carnival Cruises, Princess
Cruises, and Disney cruise. With the Princess cruises you will
be able to get a package that will allow you to feel like a
Princess and your groom a prince before and after the wedding.
They will have romance in the air by getting a string of
instruments, decorate with flowers, and add candles for added
romance. This is a wedding that you'll never forget and none of
your guests will forget.

About the author:
Kurt Schefken's articles can be encountered on plenty of online
sites with information about Alicante. His comments on href="http://www.alicante-spain.com/denia.html">Denia can be
encountered on href="http://www.alicante-spain.com/denia.html">http://www.alican
te-spain.com/denia.html.

Take Your Pet On Vacation

Did you know that Americans are more carrying about their pets
than any other country in the world? They would actually prefer
to travel with their pets. You will find that there are
thousands of people who would rather travel with their pets then
live them at home. They will want to take their pets to hotels,
parks, and even travel with their companion animals. You will
want to do some research before you decide to take your pet with
you during your trip. You will want to make sure that your pet
is allowed to travel with you. There are many instances where
dogs will be able to go for car rides and most cats are not. You
will find that you can take dogs to places where you can't
normally take a cat. That is why dogs are considered to be the
number one travel companion. You will want to make sure that
your pets are allowed to be with you so that you don't get the
bill for the kennel. You will want to make sure that the dog or
cat is able to travel with you publicly; you don't want to take
a pet that is afraid of the outside world or has panic attacks.
Here are some tips on how you can make traveling with your pet
safe and possible.

First, you will want to take the cat to a veterinarian. You will
want to get a certificate of health. You can prove that the pet
is current on all of the shots and you may want to get a
micro-chip installed below their skin so that you can track them
if they get lose. The chip is very important if you are
traveling out of the state. In addition, you can bring your pets
medication with you when you take it to the vet. They will give
you enough meds for you to get through the entire trip. In
addition, you might want to have more just incase they are lost
of stolen.

You will also want to make sure that your pet is socialized. If
your pet does not like others, you may want to travel in a
kennel or cage so that they feel safe while on the trip. Again,
you will only want to take your pet somewhere if they are well
behaved. You do not want to take your dog if they love to bark
or have bitten anyone in the past. You will want to make sure
that you also bring the kennel so that the dog or cat does not
ruin the hotel by going on the carpet or chewing things up.
Remember, you will have to pay for the damage.

You will also want to make sure that you make the reservations
at the hotel in advance and you will want to ask them if pets
are allowed. There are many people, who just assume that the
hotel is pet friendly, but you will want to find out before hand
or you may need to rush out and find a place for the hand. Your
pet should also put a collar with tags on the animal at all
times. You will also want to place your rabies tag and other
tags like the dogs name and your information. In addition, you
will want to travel with your pet by car. You will find that an
airline travel is very stressful.

About the author:
Concentrating on latest developments in Benidorm, Peter Wilson
pens mainly for http://www.alicante-spain.com . You might
discover his comments on href="http://www.alicante-spain.com/costa-blanca.html">Costa
Blanca and Benidorm on his site.

Why Do You Need Travel Insurance for Vacation Rentals

There are many different reasons that could force a family or an
individual to cancel a vacation, return home early or cause them
to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling. These
things are not always immediately available when you travel to a
place you are unfamiliar with. Travel insurance is for anyone
who is willing to invest a small percentage more to insure their
own safely and the safety of their loved ones along with their
investment. While things like safety and monetary protection may
be the most important thing that you would think to protect,
there are many more common inconveniences that could befall even
the most careful traveler.

If you were to book a nice place with href="http://www.cabogetaways.com">Cabo San Lucas vacation
rentals, but at the last minute, you are unable to go
because of weather changes, work related issues, sudden illness
within the family, or perhaps countless other unfortunate
circumstances, you would lose most, or all of your investment.
With travel insurance, the insurance covers any reason you would
have to cancel your vacation. If you were to twist your ankle or
perhaps incur a more serious injury that needed emergency
medical attention, but your vacation spot doesn't have the
necessary facilities, your travel insurance will transport you
to adequate medical facilities wherever you plan to be.

Vacation rentals insurance will support you in many other ways
as well. It covers anything and everything from lost luggage to
identity theft while you're in a different country. If you lose
your passport or wallet, they will offer emergency cash to get
you home. If you do have to cut your vacation short because of
any reason, your insurance will cover any expenses that that
would incur. If your travel agency or airline goes bankrupt,
they will pay for your non-refundable expenses. If you were
planning on living in the href="http://www.cabogetaways.com">Cabo San Lucas
condominiums and they are suddenly flooded, you're money
will be protected. In the rare instance that there is a
terrorist attack and you have to abandon all your possessions
and evacuate, many travel insurances will cover that cost as
well.

href="http://www.travelgenre.info/category/vacation-rentals/">Vac
ation rental travel insurance can and will give you peace of
mind and allow you to really relax during your hard earned
vacation. Knowing that you and your family will be protected
while having fun will make all the difference.

About the author:
Natalie Aranda writes about travel.

Tips you should know before driving down Mexico

INSURANCE

If you're going to do any driving in Mexico, there are several things
that you should know about auto insurance requirements and driving
safety before you go to ensure a hassle-free trip.

€ ¦’µ Mexican auto insurance requirements

Though U.S. drivers licenses are valid in Mexico, your American auto
insurance is not. Mexican authorities do not recognize American
insurance company's property damage and bodily injury liability
coverages. Most collision and comprehensive coverages issued by
American auto insurance companies are also considered invalid. Thus,
the Mexican government requires Mexican auto insurance for all
vehicles driven into Mexico and for all vehicles rented in Mexico.

€ ¦’µ Buying Mexican auto insurance

If you're crossing the U.S.-Mexican border in your own car, you can
easily purchase Mexican auto insurance on the U.S. side before
traveling into Mexico, You can also buy this coverage in most Mexican
border cities and towns.

If you need to buy Mexican auto insurance, Esurance recommends
visiting the International Insurance Group to get an instant quote
online. The International Insurance Group is the only insurance
company to offer Mexican Tourist auto insurance from five of Mexico's
top insurance companies -- so you'll be sure you're getting the best
price around.

You should purchase auto insurance coverage roughly equivalent to the
auto insurance coverage you carry in the United States. At the very
least, you should buy Mexican liability insurance with liability
limits comparable to what you carry on your auto insurance policy at
home.

€ ¦’µ Off to jail you go

If you're held responsible for an accident in Mexico and don't have
Mexican liability insurance, there's a strong likelihood that you
will have to spend some time in jail until the authorities are
satisfied that you can pay for damages. You may also face criminal
charges if you are held responsible for an accident resulting in
serious damages or injuries.

Regardless of whether you have Mexican auto insurance, if you are
involved in an accident you will likely be taken into police custody
until responsibility for the accident is determined and until the
ability to pay for damages is ascertained.

As in any country, never drive while under the influence. In Mexico,
auto insurance is considered invalid if a driver is found to be under
the influence of alcohol or drugs.

€ ¦’µ Rental cars and auto insurance

If you rent a car in Mexico, insurance is included in most Mexican
car rental contracts. However, it typically offers extremely low
liability coverage. If you are held responsible for an accident, this
auto insurance coverage may not be enough to help you pay for damages
and injuries.

Since Mexican law requires drivers who caused accidents to be jailed
until they have met financial obligations to injured parties plus the
rental car company, most car renters should purchase additional
liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages in order to meet
these costs. Be sure to read your rental contract carefully to
determine how much additional auto insurance coverage you may need.

€ ¦’µ Driving pointers

If you're planning to drive in areas with few roadside services,
prepare your car by having it tuned up before you leave the United
States and pack an extra fan belt or any other spare parts you feel
you need. If you do bring spare parts into Mexico, be sure to declare
them when you enter the country. On leaving, show that you are taking
the unused parts with you or that you had the parts installed in
Mexico by providing Mexican Customs with your repair receipts.

In more remote areas, it's also useful to bring a flexible funnel to
help fill your gas tank, since some gas pumps have nozzles that are
too large to fit into unleaded tanks. Packing a basic first-aid kit
and an emergency water supply is also a good idea.

No matter where you are in Mexico, if you have a driving emergency,
you can always call the Green Angels. The Green Angels are bilingual
crews who drive radio-dispatched trucks and give roadside assistance.
They provide basic supplies, first aid, automotive help and
protection. The Green Angels' services are generally free, except for
the cost of parts, gas and oil.

€ ¦’µ Beyond border areas

If you're planning to drive in Mexico beyond the Border Zone and Free
Trade Zone (which includes the Baja California Peninsula and the
Sonora Free Trade Zone), you may need to obtain a temporary
importation permit for your vehicle. Check with your nearest Mexican
consulate for specific details concerning the requirements for this
permit.

€ ¦’µ More information

If you have any questions concerning driving or auto insurance
regulations in Mexico, contact the nearest Mexican consulate. Mexican
consular offices are located in many large American cities.

The Mexico Government Tourist Organization can also answer driving
safety and auto insurance-related questions.

Janie Basile works for the insurance company Esurance.
www.esurance.com.