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