Retire by Degrees

During a shakedown cruise, a new ship is put through simulations of real life working conditions. This allows the crew the opportunity to get familiar with the ship and to ensure the vessel is fully functional.  The term “shakedown cruise” is believed to have originated during the transition from sail to steam power. The early engines would cause so much…

It’s been a bit longer than usual since my last post. I blame these summer days – there’s so much to fit in with family time and reunions, friends, work, travel and other interests. That and I’ve been spending time looking at travel brochures (mostly online but some paper versions).  Time visualizing the Canadian Rockies, Portugal, and other interesting potential…

After I’d been writing this blog for a few months – sometime in early 2022 – I took a slight risk. I’d been an avid reader and fan of Jonathan Clements’ well-read blog, the Humble Dollar  (https://humbledollar.com/), and I had known of Jonathan even before that, when I was a fan of his writing on personal finance in the Wall…

I remember hearing about the Great Divide on road trips through the mountains in Montana when I was growing up.  Also known as the Continental Divide (of the Americas) it separates the watersheds that drain to the Pacific Ocean from those that drain into the Atlantic Ocean. My dad would say, “A raindrop that falls on the divide could split…

Planning for retirement is both exciting and challenging.  We weigh big changes in our lives and big decisions that shape those changes.  There are obvious financial considerations which get most of the attention.  There are discussions and decisions about where to live – both geographically and whether to downsize in the same area.  And, of course, there are big decisions…

As I’ve been writing and thinking about this different approach to retirement – a phased approach where there’s a blended time of working and more personal time – there are some books that have been very helpful.  Other resources like articles are helpful, as is talking with people and hearing their perspectives and insights.  But, there’s something about a full-length…