The Paranoid Retiree

If you're 63 or over, you NEED to listen to this podcast. Your financial and healthcare security may depend on knowing the facts—from our guest, Medicare expert Jay Pearl—about Medicare and how they relate to YOU.  The scary fact of the matter is, most people don't have a clue about how Medicare works, what it might cost, or even what the consequences of choosing a mismatched plan can be. We've heard a lot of our friends ansking questions about Medicare lately…both those who have an active plan and those who are just beginning to think about enrolling in a year or two or three.  To get the facts from a Medicare expert, join us as we welcome Jay Pearl of Carroll Harper & Associates, a firm in Bangor, Maine that works nationwide helping people choose Medicare and Long Term Care Plans that fit their individual situations. As of this recording date we have no affiliation with Medicare sponsors—Jay is here today strictly for educational purposes—so you get just the facts with no hype or persuasion in any direction. And all in plain, easy-to-understand, relatable language.  Where else can you get unbiased information about Medicare? Don't forget to subscribe! And we'd love to hear from you at theparanoidretiree@gmail.com. Drop us an email about what you'd like us to talk about in upcoming episodes!  

Let's face it. Your entire world changes when you retire…routine, perspective on discretionary time, priorities, spending, and lots of other things. In short, suddenly we're awash with time we never had before. And along with these changes in structure come changes in habits. Perhaps you now have the time to add good habits that fell by the wayside while working.  Or maybe you've  let things slide…a little too much? In this episode, we dive into the insidious world of habits that can form during retirement—both good and bad—when the structured demands of the working world are lifted…and what you can do to curb bad habits, and maybe replace them with good ones.  Don't forget to subscribe!  

Retirement shouldn't be a season of anxiety. Quite the opposite. It can be liberating, a time to throw anxiety under the bus and spread your wings. You've earned it! Aging isn't a reason to feel anxious, avoid doing what you're good at or what you love…maybe just revise those activities a little to make them less intimidating and more about what makes you—and others—feel good. In short, LET THAT SHIT GO, and live your best life! Don't forget to subscribe! Email us at theparanoidretiree@gmail.com with comments and suggestions!

In this episode we're taking a look at becoming your own "guilt exorcist;" vanquishing various types of guilt that can be a real buzz-kill in retirement. We're talking about guilt from either being too busy during retirement because you can't say no to kids, parents, volunteer organizations, friends, and neighbors—or the opposite—guilt from being “non-productive,” not meeting your potential, spending money you've saved, or guilt over your friends who are still working and stressed out while you're not. If you can identify with any of these, you've got to join us for 35 minutes of uplifting reasons to exorcize that guilt and "let that shit go!" Listen while you work (out), walk, drive, or anytime you could use some entertainment and irreverent humor. Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!  

Learn more about co-housing in this in-depth interview with Grace Kim, architect of co-housing concepts in America. Grace explains the spectrum of reasons why co-housing is an ideal solution for people who like the idea of shared spaces while enjoying the privacy of owning their own living environment. 

This episode of The Paranoid Retiree is about envisioning your ideal setting for retirement as you age. Is it Isolated or communal? Generational or peers? Rural or urban? Culture or nature? Is it close to your kids (or as far away as you can get ;). Is it beach and water, or a cabin on a mountain? Is your only criteria being close to a teaching hospital, or on a sailboat in the Virgin Islands? We discuss fears/anxieties, locations, culture, companionship, communal living, and nomading, including interviews with Grace Kim, an architect of Co-housing communities, president of Schemata Workshop in Seattle, WA and Bob and Mary Pugora who have adopted the nomad lifestyle in retirement. Listen now for an informative and entertaining perspective on Ideas for Your Ideal Habitat in Retirement.  Email us at theparanoidretiree@gmail.com with comments and suggestions!  

Why do some people continue to work at some level after they retire? Does retirement  mean you have to quit working altogether? Does it mean part-time work? Or does it mean redefining work entirely… thinking about work differently? Maybe a better term for retirement could be…rewirement.  In this episode, Jill, Ann, and Greg (aka "Frenchie") challenge the very definition of retirement. At about the 26-minute mark, we welcome our guest, financial adviser Bret Forsyth, who shares his insights on strategies for helping retirees transition from an accumulation mindset to a "decumulation" mindset—spending the money you earned— without paranoia.  Follow us on Facebook to tell us what you think and suggest new episode topics: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=the%20paranoid%20retiree

For the last few decades you've spent more time with the people at work than any others in your life. Even if you've been looking forward to that endless vacation of retirement, many people experience an unexpected sense of loss because they don't realize workmates are actually a big part of their social life.  How do you rewire your social life after retirement? This episode gives you a list of 1000 ways (ok, maybe 24 or so:) to recalibrate your social life during retirement.  Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast to get notifications when we drop new episodes.

What's on your bucket list? Stanford School of Medicine believes the bucket list is important enough to publish research on the topic. Is a bucket list a good thing, or a bad thing? What kinds of things do people put on their bucket list other than travel? You'd be surprised at the wide range of options you may be missing. Get some great insight and ideas in this episode from our hosts and their guest, Jen Donati, a group travel expert with loads of great info and some travel secrets for retired travelers. Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast. We'll be dropping new episodes every month!

Healthspan is the difference between your lifespan (how long you live) and how long you feel good before you check out. The average person can dramatically lessen the gap to live a fuller and more enjoyable retirement with a little work, and a change in perspective. Join us to find out more about this fascinating topic. It could easily be one of the most valuable 45 minutes you'll spend in your retirement. Don't forget to subscribe!

Finding a sense of purpose after leaving the workforce can be the key to enjoying your retirement to its fullest. Without a defined purpose, some people find retirement empty, boring, disorienting, which can lead to insecurity, anxiety, and depression. Join us in our first episode as we dive into different ways to find purpose in retirement. Unlike other podcasts for retirees, this podcast is made for retirees, by retirees. We're sure you'll learn something new, validate some inner feelings, and have a good time. Don't forget to subscribe!