Embracing Retirement-How to Enjoy Your Summer

Volume 20- I Hope You Are Having a Good Summer

Welcome back to my popular series about getting the most from your retirement. It’s the good ole summertime. Here in Central NY State, the weather has been really nice. It’s been warm, but hey, it is July. We wait all year for this. For much of the country, however, it’s been in the triple digits or at least the 90s for weeks on end. Nevertheless, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the summer. I will highlight some summer enjoyment ideas below. Here in the Northeast, we relish this time of the year as we know what is coming next winter.

I might sound like a broken record, but you should be able to enjoy your hard-earned retirement. There are many factors involved, including, first of all, adjusting to your new reality. I hope you have been able to take advantage of the articles I have written regarding this adjustment. The following is one example:

In addition to adjusting to not going to work, there are other factors. Who said life was simple? Health plays a big factor in this, as well as money. We’ve always heard that all we need is time and money. Well, when we retire, most likely the time element has been taken care of. The money aspect is always a challenge and as we age, health can be as well. Many retirees still need to work as money is always needed especially in these times of record inflation.

All this aside, here are some suggestions on how to enjoy your summer, some of which I have written about previously:

Take a Beach Vacation

If you love the sand and water, now is the time to go. July and August are the best months in the Northeast. If you live in the South, then you definitely have more time for this. There are so many options regarding beaches including the ocean, lakes, etc. Or even a destination with a pool. I wrote an article last summer about our trip to Ogunquit, Maine. We plan on going there again in a few weeks.

I highly recommend getting away for a vacation even when you are retired, if you are financially able to. You deserve to get away from the normal routine and it is good for the soul. I also realize that it is expensive to go away. Being retired also means (usually) that you are on a fixed income. In these times of inflation, money is tight.

Staycation Anyone?

So what can you do? You can always have a staycation. If you have a pool at home you can enjoy that. You can go out to eat a few times. Day trips are another possibility; there are many destinations you can visit during a day trip. The idea is to change your routine for a few days or a week. You will feel refreshed.

The Gift of Grandkids

If you have grandchildren you can spend time with them if they live close by. This summer my wife and I are enjoying our 4-year-old granddaughter every Thursday and Friday. It has been so much fun. I recently wrote an article about the wonderful benefits of grandchildren:

Are You a Homebody?

You can also just simply enjoy some of your favorite hobbies at home such as gardening. Perhaps expand your vegetable and/or flower garden, plant perennial flowers or bulbs, etc. The possibilities are endless.

There are many other things you can do to enjoy your summer. I hope this article helps. Until next time.