Our heritage benefits from guides in their bonus years career
Unabridged from my Bonus Years column in the Lifestyle section of The Sunday Capital, Annapolis, Maryland Not everyone remembers that Annapolis once served as the capital of the United States. But it did – for a short period, between November 1783 and August 1784. It was during this time that the Americans and the British ratified the Treaty…
Want to know about longevity? Try popcorn and the movies
Unabridged from my Bonus Years column in the Lifestyle section of The Sunday Capital, Annapolis, Maryland The near-doubling of longevity during the 20th century – from 41 years to 78 years between 1900 and 2000 – has been a major factor re-shaping America’s changing culture. Though much of the increase in life expectancy is accounted for at the…
Reaching down to lift up another is a good exercise
“Every day is Saturday.” So said Annapolitan Cynthia Palmer when I asked her how she liked retirement. Before retiring, Cynthia was a high-performing research manager at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). With degrees in biology and economics, she coordinated the work of more than 160 organizations engaged in research to develop…
There are many ways to make your mark, even in the bonus years
The psychologist Carl Jung wrote, “A human being would certainly not grow to be seventy or eighty years old if this longevity had no meaning for the species.” He goes on to say, “The afternoon of life must have a significance of its own and cannot be merely a pitiful appendage of life’s morning.” For…
What about a Caregivers Corps to help neighbors to age in place
Unabridged from my Bonus Years column in the Lifestyle section of The Sunday Capital, Annapolis, Maryland Remember the old cartoon showing the engineer proudly holding his diploma and flanked by his parents on graduation day? The caption says, “Five years ago I couldn’t spell engineer, but now I are one.” Well that same kind of thing happened to…
Creating age-friendly workplaces to retain later-life workers
Many of our stories focus on later-life Annapolitans who are continuing work into their bonus years – whether it’s paid, volunteer, Samaritan or enrichment kinds of work. We do this for two reasons. First, research shows that continued social engagement is the most important predictor of successful aging, and work is sure-fire channel for social…
Woodworking, water colors and a pick-up truck: How lifelong attitudes and practices shape encore careers
Unabridged from my Bonus Years column in the Lifestyle section of The Sunday Capital, Annapolis, Maryland History’s view of Calvin Coolidge, the conservative Republican who served as the 30th president of the US, is enjoying a renaissance. It began with the presidency of Ronald Reagan; it continues with biographer Amity Shlaes’ new book, “Coolidge,” published last month by…
It’s never too late to “refresh,” to be what you want to be
Unabridged from my Bonus Years column in the Lifestyle section of The Sunday Capital, Annapolis, Maryland During the past two weeks I’ve had conversations and email exchanges with several later-life readers who are embarking on new careers. One had worked 43 years for a large institution with mandatory retirement, and regretted having to step down. He said, “I’m…
High performance comes naturally to bonus years’ exemplar
Unabridged from my Bonus Years column in the Lifestyle section of The Sunday Capital, Annapolis, Maryland Some people are “early bloomers.” Mozart and Beethoven come to mind. Some people are “shooting stars” – like many athletes, most chess players and some business, political and military leaders – people who shine brightly in their 20s and 30s and then…
I love it when you’re close by, but not too close
Mary Sue and I are now headed back to Annapolis from Naples after a “long month” that began just before Christmas. I’ve been coming to Southwest Florida every year since 1947, when I was just eight years old. My parents had me in tow as they vacationed here, year after year. We continue to…