Retirement is Hard Work

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Its Hard Being Retired

I thought retirement would be boring. My to do list just keeps getting longer and longer. You’d think once Redfin kicked me out that life would get easier but it hasn’t. Everyday I get another email from them with instructions of things they want me to do to get my severance pay.  Sign this separation agreement, agree you won’t sue for age discrimination, send back the lap top and monitors, Health Insurance, Stock plan, 401K. The list goes on. I don’t know why they can’t just send me one email with everything in it and then go away. They aren’t paying me anymore so my time should be mine.

69 Funny Retirement Memes Guaranteed to Make You Smile

Unemployment

I’m waiting for my unemployment benefits to kick in. I have to have a list every week of places I’ve contacted for work.  That’s a full time job- looking  for work since I have to provide the name of the contact person and their phone number so Unemployment can check up on me. Most of the time I’ve been sending in applications via web sites so I don’t have a contact which means digging around on search engines to find out who the HR person is for each company I apply with.

We Need More Arts Workers in Arts Advocacy | SoundGirls.org

Old Friends

I have a list of former co workers I can reach out to but haven’t figured out how to approach them yet. How do you call someone that you haven’t seen in 8 years to ask for a job? It makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it.

Doctors Appointments

One of my retired friends told me that when you hit a certain age you have to retire to make time for all the doctor’s appointments. That seems about right. In the 2 weeks I’ve been unemployed I’ve spent an enormous amount of time with various doctors and have more appointments coming up. My health insurance ends Nov. 30 but I can opt for COBRA at Redfin’s expense for 3 months then I need add a  Medicare Advantage plan. Just to find that out has been hours on the phone. 

18 Memes That Will Make You Laugh After a Bad Doctor Appointment

 

 

Whew, So much to do. Good thing I don’t have to work anymore!

 

What’s in North Dakota?

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What about a trip to North Dakota?

In 2011 my sister and I spent an amazing week in South Dakota. When I was planning that vacation everyone asked me What’s in South Dakota? Truthfully, I had no idea except Mt. Rushmore but it turned out to be one of the best vacations we’ve taken. It had all my favorite things like wild animals, draw dropping scenery and even a dinosaur dig. So when I ask myself what’s in North Dakota, I hope I have a similar surprise! 

The Number 1 Attraction

The number 1 attraction in North Dakota is Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park lies in Western North Dakota where the Great Plains meet the Badlands. A scenic loop drive will take you through the south section’s colorful Painted Canyon. The badlands in South Dakota are breathtaking and I’ve been to the Painted Desert in Arizona so I will have to explore the Painted Canyon!

File:Painted Canyon overlook Theodore Roosevelt NP ND1.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Painted Canyon Overlook; Photo credit Wikmedia Commons

Wildlife

One of the best places to view wildlife is on the South Unit’s Scenic Drive. Bison, mule deer, prairie dogs, and horses are readily visible. Also be on the lookout for coyotes, pronghorn, bald and golden eagles, white-tailed deer, turkeys, and elk.

What's in North Dakota?

Prairie Dog with Flower – Photo Credit Deb Neumann 2011

Leaving the South Unit behind I’d like to head north for the North Unit’s scenic drive. A 14 mile Scenic Drive (28 miles round trip) is an out and back drive. The first half of the road traces the bottom of the badlands. Midway through, it crawls up out of the canyon to the North Unit’s most iconic view, River Bend Overlook.

20+ EPIC Things to Do Theodore Roosevelt National Park (+ Photos)

River Bend Overlook- Photo from Internet

 

From there, it’s an easy drive along the rim of the badlands to Oxbow Overlook at the road’s end. The road is almost entirely paved with only one stretch of gravel and is open to motor vehicles (including RVs) and cyclists.

Bison are common but careful observers may spot bighorn sheep on or near steep cliff edges. Since I missed the Big Horn Sheep in Colorado I’m still anxious to get a look at some. 

Aurora Borealis

Around here the Northern Lights ( Aurora Borealis) are a rare sight and often lost in the ambient light from the cities and towns but North Dakota is said to be prefect for viewing the lights that dance across the sky in vivid green, purple and blue. The aurora is most active in March and September. Still likely to have snow at that time of year!

Northern Lights Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures

Northern Lights Free Stock Photo – Public Domain Pictures

If I get to go…

I’m sure there are many more things to see and do in North Dakota. I must remember to have my passport in case I cross to Canada or get to the International Peace Garden that sits on the border of the US & Canada. 

 

 

 

Minnesota’s North Shore Scenic Drive

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Minnesota’s North Shore Scenic Drive

In my last post I mentioned Minnesota’s North Shore Scenic Dr.  I am still sorting out my new life in retirement but I am sure I won’t be able to keep my time share. It is just too far outside the budget. With that in mind I need to re-think how I approach my travels and explorations. 

One of the options that caught my eye was Minnesota’s North Shore Drive.  Once I heard about it I wanted to know what it was. I see Scenic drives on almost all of my trips but they are not always that scenic. This one does sound worthwhile. It runs 154 miles along Lake Superior to the Canadian Border.  I learned that it is also called North Shore All-American Scenic Dr. 

And We Begin in Duluth

The Scenic Drive starts in Cabal Park, Duluth where you can watch the huge ore boats and ocean bound ships enter the harbor by passing under the Aerial Lift Bridge.  I thought the bridge looked familiar.

Historic Bridges - Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge (Bridge L6116)

We have one too. Ours crosses the Cape Cod canal and is now the second longest lift bridge in the United States, the longest being the Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge between New Jersey and Staten Island, New York.

Cape Cod Lift Bridge- Photo credit Deb Neumann

The Pink Beach

Have you ever seen a pink beach? I saw one in Hawaii but they sure aren’t common. I would hate to have to search for it like we did the green sand beach in Hawaii but according to the guide books you can drive right up to this one. The beach is bordered by cliffs of rhyolite which breaks off and crumbles when Nor’easters sweep through. The rhyolite gives Iona’s Beach  it’s unusual pink color. 

iona's cobblestone beach lake superior

Split Rock Lighthouse

Are you a light house fan? Located on a 130-foot cliff on the rocky coast of Lake Superior, Split Rock Lighthouse is an intact 1910 light station that guided ships across the often stormy waters of western Lake Superior. You may have heard of the Edmund Fitzgerald .  Each year the light house is lit to commemorate the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and all the lives lost to the Great Lakes shipwrecks. 

Waterfalls and Hikes

Roadside waterfalls and trailheads abound along the drive. The guidebooks suggest allowing time for multiple side trips to enjoy these wonders of nature. And you don’t have to go to Hawaii to experience a black sand beach.  It’s easy to remember it’s name. They call it Black Beach! 

Grand Portage

You’ve made it. Grand Portage is almost the end of the drive. A mile down the road you’ll reach the Canadian Border. But getting back to Grand Portage,  Grand Portage National Monument tells the story of the North West Company fur trade. The monument includes a reconstructed depot and 8.5 mile portage (hiking trail) to Fort Charlotte that bypasses waterfalls and rapids on the Pigeon River. To see High Falls, make sure to visit Grand Portage State Park six miles north on Highway 61.

 

High Falls - Grand Portage State Park, MN | turn off your computer and go outside | Flickr

Retire? Me?

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Suddenly I’m Retired

It is with mixed feelings that I am writing this post. I’ve wanted to retire for some time now but I wanted to retire on my terms. I’ve been putting every spare penny toward paying down debt and investing in my nest egg. That’s not to say I planned to stop exploring. I have often said I work so that I can take vacations. Well, surprise. The decision was made for me. I was laid off! Oh I’ll look for work but I have no desire to stay in my current career.

Retirement - Granville Central School District

What does Retirement feel like to me?

After my initial shock wore off, I had to take a hard look at my finances. After all I wasn’t quite ready to give up a  paycheck. I seem to be struggling to remember that I don’t have to cram everything into the weekend. Old habits die hard. I have to let the various Real Estate boards know that I’m no longer with Redfin.

Then I have to figure out my health insurance. At my age I have Medicare but I need to get some part C coverage with Dental and Vision. COBRA is way too expensive but I may be stuck with that until I have finished the tooth implants  (2) I’m in the middle of getting.

I wouldn’t be so concerned if the stock market hadn’t tanked. (Thank you Fed Reserve) My investments are mostly in Redfin Stock and it has taken a nose dive with rising interest rates. From a high of almost $100/share it’s down to $5.00/share.  At least it went up a couple of dollars after the layoff. 

 

What are my plans

 What am I going to do, you ask. Basically hang in there until my retirement account recovers. ( At least 2 +years) I am looking for work and may get up my courage to try freelance writing. There are a lot of those jobs listed and I can do them on my own time, any place. I will certainly need to take a different look at my trips and explorations. I’ll have more time and freedom but less money.

Yesterday I found myself thinking about a road trip through Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana. There’s a scenic drive in Minnesota along Lake Superior that I’m interested in. Then Theodore Roosevelt National Park  in North Dakota.  From there drive to Close Encounters Mountain, real name Devil’s Tower and then off to  “Going to the Sun Road.” (I’ll get into more in additional posts) but after consideration I decided it was too long to be away from my kitties. Pet care is expensive.

 

I can assure you that with more time on my hands you’ll be exploring retirement right along with me.  I’ll keep you posted as plans develop.