(Photo credit: FreeImages.com, photographer Jose Luis Navarro)

This page is to make things as easy as possible… sort of like “one-stop shopping” or one-click access to all of my past paulfox.blog and Music in a Minuet blog-posts, PMEA News articles, and other resources for promoting a happy, healthy, and meaningful transition to and realization of full retirement from music teaching.

My own passage to “living the dream” has been very successful, and although I am still very active in the profession (conducting a community/youth orchestra, presenting at conferences and college music education classes, and serving as State Retired Member Coordinator and Chair of the Council for Teacher Training, Recruitment, and Retention for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association), I now LOVE how retirement has changed my life… more personal reflection, retooling and self-reinvention of my skills/interests, creation of new bucket lists and short to long term goals, and spending more TIME doing what I like best… writing, making music, volunteering, and walking my dogs!

From time to time, this page will be updated to include the latest “finds” and new releases. If desired, a printer-friendly copy is available here. (Please let me know if any of the online links go inactive. Send an email message to paulkfox.usc@gmail.com.)

Feel free to share your own stories, readings, tips, or research on this life-changing passage of “Crossing the Rubicon” to retirement. Send to the above email. Thanks!

Happy Trails, Retirees! PKF

Blogs by Paul Fox at this site (alpha by subject; category = “retirement resources”)

• ADVICE from music teacher retirees to soon-to-be retirees
• APRIL FOOLS: Sharing a New Discovery for Band
• BALANCE: Maintaining a balance of good health, exercise, and happiness
• BOOKS: Three exit lanes to self-help retirement guides
• BOOKS AND MORE RESOURCES: Post-employment prep – new places to go
• CAREGIVING: Seniors helping seniors
• CHANGE: How retirement has changed me
• CHANGE: How retirement has changed me… revisited
• CONFERENCES: On the road again
• COUNTDOWN: T-minus three years… and counting
• COVID-19 COPING: One happy but solitary retiree
• DESTINATIONS: WHERE should you retire
• DREAMS/HORIZONS: Self-realization – the key to resolving retirement conundrums
• ENGAGEMENT: An engaged mind makes for a happy retiree
• ESTATE PLANNING: How to prepare your family for “the end”
• GIVING: Retirement = reflection + renewal + altruism
• GOALS: Now what?
• GOALS/NEW YEAR’S: Resolutions for retirees
• GOALS/PMEA: Happy trails, retirees! PMEA retired members rock-on
• GRATITUDE/THANKSGIVING: Giving thanks…
• MAKE MUSIC: It’s time to “dust off your chops”
• MAKE MUSIC: Sing your heart out, now and in retirement
• MAKE THEATER: Act well your part; there the honor lies
• MUSIC/LIFELONG LEARNING: Retired from what?
• MYTHS OF RETIREMENT: Dispelling common misconceptions
• NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS: Random acts and other resolutions
• NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS: SMART Goals and COVID-19
• ORGANIZATION: “Top 10” organizing tips for 2019
• PETS: In Defense of Dogs
• PETS: Pet ownership and retirement
• PETS: Pets and citizenship
• PETS: Unconditional love (dogs!)
• PETS: What I learned from my dogs… in retirement
• PRIVACY & PREPARATION: Retirement… It’s a private matter
• RESOURCES: Unique retiree resources
• REST: Sleep and Retirement
• SECURITY: Shun Away from Scams, Shams, and Spam
• SELF-REALIZATION: The key to resolving retirement “conundrums!”
• SENIORS HELPING SENIORS: Are You a Caregiver?
• STRESS: Retirees, It’s Not YOUR Sandbox
• STRESS: Tips for retirees on managing stress during the coming winter celebrations
• STRESS/TRANSITION: Downsized and out… coping with unexpected loss of a job
• STRESS/TRANSITION: Reflections on the glory days
• STRESS/TRANSITION: Retirement “against your will”
• STRESS/TRANSITION: Is it autumn?
• TECHNOLOGY: One retiree’s “tech rant”
• TECHNOLOGY: Social media – boon or nemesis?
• TIME: WHEN should you retire?
• TRANSITION: Tips on a smooth and well-prepared transition to retirement
• TRANSITION: Will you still need me when I retire?
• TRANSITIONING TERMS: Retiree concepts
• WHY MUSIC EDUCATION: Retirement = deferred gratification
• WHY PMEA: PMEA in retirement – what’s in it for me?

For Pennsylvania Music Educators Association members (and other state MEAs), especially people who will retire over the next three years:

How-To-Retire Video AND Prepping for Post-Employment

56th Biennial NAfME Eastern Division Conference/PMEA 2019 presentation

Design Your Ideal Retirement by Guest Clinician Dave Hughes

PMEA 2018 Summer Conference/Harrisburg presentation:

Retirement 101 – Retiree Stories and Strategies 071718

55th Biennial NAfME Eastern Division Conference/NJMEA 2017 presentation

NAfME-NJMEA Living the Dream – Survival and Celebration of Retirement 040617

Sample PMEA News articles (go to http://www.pmea.net for full access/membership)

• advice-from-the-retirees-pmea-news-030115
• retirement-now-what-in-pmea-news-fall-2013
• surviving-retirement-pmea-news-winter-2015

Gurus of Retirement Planning (multiple articles)

• Dave Bernard http://lovebeingretired.com/
• Emily Brandon http://www.businessinsider.com/author/emily-brandon
• Dave Hughes http://retirefabulously.com/
• Robert Delamontagne http://www.theretiringmind.com/
• Ken Dychtwald http://agewave.com/
• Joe Hearn http://intentionalretirement.com/
• Kathy Merlino https://kathysretirementblog.com/
• Jean Potuchek https://stepintofuture.wordpress.com/
• Barbara Torris http://www.retireinstyleblog.com/
• Marie Villeza http://elderimpact.org/
• Ernie Zelinski http://www.retirement-cafe.com/

Seniors and Drug Addiction

www.drugrehab.com/addiction/seniors/

Other Websites and Online Resources

FIRST STOP/MOST RELEVANT TO FORMER SCHOOL MUSIC EDUCATORS: Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Retired Members http://www.pmea.net/retired-members/

Atchley, Robert – Ted Carr on YouTube: “Six Stages of Retirement,” 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8GDlOj8cro

Backman, Maurice – The Motley Fool: “Bored in Retirement? Four Ways to Fill Your Days and Make Money at the Same Time,” 2018  https://www.fool.com/retirement/2018/09/28/bored-in-retirement-4-ways-to-fill-your-days-and-m.aspx

Bernard, Dave – U.S. News & World Report: “3 Ways to Successfully Transition into Retirement” http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/on-retirement/2012/12/07/3-ways-to-successfully-transition-into-retirement

Bernard, Dave – Retirement – Only the Beginning  http://lovebeingretired.com/

Brindle, Beth – HowStuffWorks: “10 Best Volunteer Activities in Retirement,” 2016 http://money.howstuffworks.com/economics/volunteer/retired-volunteer-programs/10-best-volunteer-activities-in-retirement.htm

Chua, Celestine – Personal Excellence – “What’s on Your Bucket List? 101 Things to Do Before You Die,” https://personalexcellence.co/blog/bucket-list/

Cussen, Mark P. – Investopedia: “Journey Through the Six Stages of Retirement” http://www.investopedia.com/articles/retirement/07/sixstages.asp

Dealnews – “The Complete Guide to Senior Discounts” https://www.dealnews.com/features/The-Best-Senior-Discounts-from-A-to-Z/987339.html

Dychtwald, Ken – Agewave on YouTube: “American Society on Aging,” 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEDW8hSuJio

Dychtwald, Ken – Agewave on YouTube: “Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit,” 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM5j86p1jBU

Eisenberg, Richard – Forbes: “The Nine Keys to Retirement,” 2016 https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2016/03/27/the-9-keys-to-a-happy-retirement/#7f56cfb640e8

ElderImpact: “Fraud Prevention Checklist” http://elderimpact.org/fraud-prevention-checklist/  

GoldRetiree.com – “The Top 55 Retirement Planning Websites to Help You Retire in Style,” http://goldretiree.com/retirement-planning

Guerrero, Yvette, Ph.D., University of California San Francisco – Psychological and Emotional Aspects of Retirement: Planning for a Successful Transition http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/files/Emotional_Aspects_of_Transitioning_to_Retirement.pdf

Hellmich, Nanci– USA Today: “How to Reinvent Yourself in Retirement,” 2014 http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2014/10/12/five-stages-of-retirement/16975707/

Lee, Ilchi – I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years, Best Life Media, 2017

Lucas, Jim – Birch Gold Group: “Scam Protection Resource Guide,” 2020 https://www.birchgold.com/scam-protection-resource-guide/

Johnson, Richard P. – “The New Retirement: Discovering Your Dream,” http://www.icoachidesign.com/info/retirement-book-intro.pdf

Knoll, Melissa A. Z. – Social Security Office of Retirement and Disability Policy: “Behavioral and Pschological Aspects of the Retirement Decision,” 2011 https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v71n4/v71n4p15.html

Lagier, Sydney – U.S. News and World Report: “7 Secrets to a Happy Retirement,” 2010 http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/on-retirement/2010/07/20/7-secrets-to-a-happy-retirement

Lewis, Mike – Forbes: “Life After Retirement – What Do I Do Now?” http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikelewis/2013/10/22/life-after-retirement/

Mattheus, Lesli – LinkedIn Pulse: “Teaching Music After Retirement,” 2015 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/teaching-music-after-retirement-lesli-mattheus

Morelli, Jim – CNN on YouTube: “Tips for Retirement,” 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyWPYUORmp0

The Motley Fool: “3 Tips on Surviving Your First Year of Retirement,” 2014 http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/09/27/3-tips-for-surviving-your-first-year-of-retirement.aspx

New Retirement: “Do You Have What It Takes? 8 Skills for a Fantastically Happy Best Retirement,” 2017 https://www.newretirement.com/retirement/8-skills-you-need-for-best-retirement/

NOLO: “Losing a Job – Ten Things You Can Do to Make It Less Painful” http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/losing-job-ten-things-that-help-29761.html

Potuchek, Jean – Stepping Into the Future: A Retirement Journal    https://stepintofuture.wordpress.com/

Pratt, Rebecca – SPARKPEOPLE: “Transition into a Healthy Retirement” http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=396

Quinn, Richard – MarketWatch: “10 Retirement Lessons from a Retired Retirement Pro” https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-lessons-from-retirement-2019-01-25

Rayne, Francis – LinkedIn Pulse: “When the Music Is Over,” 2015 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-music-over-francis-rayne?trk=hp-feed-article-title

Rehm, Diane – PBS/The Diane Rehm Show: “American’s Aging Population and Slowing Economic Growth,” 2016 https://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2016-08-25/how-americas-aging-population-may-be-slowing-economic-growth

Reichl, Lori Schwartz – NAfME Music in a Minuet: “Thinking Outside the Box When Making Career Changes” https://nafme.org/thinking-outside-box-when-making-career-changes/

RetirementAdvice.com: “Help You with Retirement and Pre-Retirement Planning…” http://retirementadvice.com/

Schlossberg, Nancy K, Ed. D – Thinking About Retirement? Time to Think About Your Psychological Portfolio, American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org/research/action/retire.aspx

Schlossberg, Nancy K, Dr. – Transitions Through Life http://www.transitionsthroughlife.com/

Smith, Melinda, M.A.; Segal, Robert, M.A. – HelpGuide: “Job Loss and Unemployment Stress” http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/job-loss-and-unemployment-stress.htm

Smith, Shannon – Lifehacker: “9 Things You Should and Shouldn’t Do  If You Lose Your Job” http://lifehacker.com/nine-things-you-should-and-shouldnt-do-if-you-lose-you-509536697

Spiers, Peter– Road Scholar: “Top 12 Hobbies for Retirement” https://discussion.roadscholar.org/b/blog/posts/top-12-hobbies-for-retirement

Taylor, Phil – U.S. News and World Report: “25 Things to Do When You Retire,” 2011  http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/on-retirement/2011/02/11/25-things-to-do-when-you-retire

Trattner, Esther – MoneyWise: “15 Trips You Need to Take After You Retire”                https://moneywise.com/a/trips-you-need-to-take-after-you-retire

Troyer, Angela K., Ph.D. – Psychology Today: “6 Ways to Engage Your Brain,” 2014, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/living-mild-cognitive-impairment/201408/6-ways-engage-your-brain

Vanguard Group – “Five Things to Think About on Your Journey to Retirement,” 2015 https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/article/5-things-journey-to-retirement-052015

Williams, Geoff – U.S. News and World Report: “Five Big League Mistakes of the Newly Retired,” 2016 http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2016-09-30/5-big-league-mistakes-of-the-newly-retired

Williams, Susan – Senior Care Helper recommended blog-sites http://seniorcarehelper.org/

• Making the Move to Assisted Living
• Senior Health Resources
• Moving Tips for Seniors
• Boomer’s Roadmap to Aging in Place
• Guide to Senior Nutrition
• Financial Resources for Seniors
• Guide to Medicare and Medicaid for Seniors
• Veterans Benefits for Seniors
• Legal Planning for Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Books/Publications

Anthony, Mitch  – The New Retirementality, Wiley, 2014

Baines, Barry – Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper, 2006

Birken, Emily Guy – The 5 Years Before You Retire: Retirement Planning When You Need It Most, F+W Media, Inc., 2014

Blanchard, Ken; Shaevitz, Morton – Refire! Don’t Retire, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2015

Borchard, David C. – The Joy of Retirement: Finding Happiness, Freedom, and the Life You’ve Always Wanted, AMACOM, 2008

Butler, Robert, M.D. –  The Longevity Revolution – The Benefits and Challenges of Living a Long Life, 2009

Byock, Ira, M.D. – The Four Things That Matter Most, Simon & Schuster, 2014

Cameron, Julie – It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again, New York: Penguin Random House, 2016

Carlsen, Mary Baird – Meaning-Making: Therapeutic Processes in Adult Development, New York: Norton, 1988

Chimsky, Mary Evan – 65 Things to Do When You Retire, Sellers Publishing, 2013

Collamer, Nancy – Second Act Careers, Ten Speed Press, 2013

Delmontagne, Robert P., Ph.D. – Honey, I’m Home: How to Prevent or Resolve Marriage Conflicts Caused by Retirement, Fairview Imprints, 2016

Delmontagne, Robert P., Ph.D. The Retiring Mind – How to Make the Psychological Transition to Retirement, Fairview Imprints, 2010

Downs, Hugh; Roll, Richard J – The Best Years Book: How to Plan for Fulfillment, Security, and Happiness in the Retirement Years, New York: Delacorte Press, 1981

Doyle, Lawrence – Adventures in Retirement: A Hilarious Journey into the Unknown World of Excess Time, Limited Responsibilities, and an Uncertain Future, 2017

Duckworth, Carolee; Langworthy, Marie – Shifting Gears to Your Life and Work After Retirement, New Cabady Press, 2013

Dychtwald, Ken, Ph.D. – Psychologist & Gerontologist, 2008

Dychtwald, Ken, Ph.D.; Kadlec, Daniel J. – The Power Years, 2005

Dychtwald, Ken, Ph.D.; Kadlec, Daniel J. – With Purpose: Going from Success to Significance in Work and Life, 2009

Eifrig, Jr., Dr. David – Big Book of Retirement Secrets, Stansberry Research, 2015

Eisenberg, Lee – The Number: A Completely Different Way to Think About the Rest of Your Life, Free Press, 2006

Foley, Patrick; Hillsley, Kristin – Winning at Retirement: A Guide to Health, Wealth and Purpose in the Best Years of Your Life, 2018

Freeman, Shanna – How Stuff Works: “Top 10 Tips for Adjusting to Retirement,” 2016

Gardner, John W – Excellence, New York: Harper & Row, 1961

Geisel, Theodor Seuss – You’re Only Old Once: A Book for Obsolete Children, 1986

Gilbert, Fritz – The Keys to a Successful Retirement, Rockridge Press, 2020

Gratton, Lynda; Scott, Andrew – The 100-Year Life, Bloomsbury, 2019

Greenwell, Olivia – Retirement: Everything You Need to Know About Planning for and Living the Retired Life You’ve Always Dreamed of (two-book bundle), 2018

Gullinane, Jan; Fitzgerald, Cathy – The New Retirement: Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life, Rodale, 2004

Hagerty, Barbara Bradley – Life Reimagined: The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife, Riverhead Books, 2016

Harary, Charlie – Unlocking Greatness, Rodale, 2018

Hogan, Chris – Retired Inspired, Ramsey Press, 2016

Hughes, Dave – Design Your Dream Retirement: How to Envision, Plan for, and Enjoy the Best Retirement Possible, 2015

Hughes, Dave – The Quest for Retirement Utopia: How to Find the Retirement Spot That’s Right for You, 2020

Hughes, Dave – Smooth Sailing into Retirement: Navigate the Transition from Work to Leisure, 2017

Hurme, Sally Balch – Get the Most Out of Retirement: Checklist for Happiness, Health, Purpose, and Financial Security, American Bar Association, 2017

Izzo, John B. – Five Thieves of Happiness, Berrett-Koehler, 2017

Jason, Julie – The AARP Retirement Survival Guide, 2009

Jenkins, Jo Ann – Disrupt Aging, Perseus Books Group, 2016

Kaplan, Max – Leisure: Lifestyle and Lifespan Perspectives for Gerontology, Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, 1979

Klaus, Carl H. – Taking Retirement: A Beginner’s Diary (Beacon Press, 1999)

Kuchler, Bonnie Louise – Retirement Is a Full-time Job: And You’re the Boss, 2009

Kuhn, Bonnie Marie Brockett – Dream It! Design It! Live It!, Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014

LaShan, Eda – Oh! To Be Fifty Again, New York: Time Books, 1986

Lee, Ilchi – I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years, Best Life Media, 2018

Levitin, Daniel – Successful Aging, Random House, 2020

Lloyd, Mary – Supercharged Retirement: Ditch the Rocking Chair, Trash the Remote, and Do What You Love, Hankfritz Press, 2009

Lowry, Bob – Living a Satisfying Retirement, Kindle, 2013

McDonald, Gail; Bushey, Marilyn – Retirement Your Way: The No Stress Roadmap for Designing Your Next Chapter and Loving Your Future, Choices Next LLC, 2019

Miller, BJ; Berger, Shoshana – A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death, Simon and Schuster, 2019

Milne, Derek – The Psychology of Retirement: Coping with the Transition from Work, Wiley Blackwell, 2013

Mustric, Peter – The Joy of Growing Older, Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1979

National Association of Mature People – Your Key to the Best Years: A Retirement Guide from the National Association of Mature People, Oklahoma City, OK

Nelson, John E; Bolles, Richard N. – What Color Is Your Parachute? For Retirement, Ten Speed Press, 2007

Pascale, Rob; Primavera, Louis; Roach, Rip – The Retirement Maze: What You Should Know Before and After You Retire, Rowman and Littlefield, 2012

Peterson, Elizabeth – The Music Teacher’s Later Years: Reflection and Wisdom, Meredith Music Publications, 2016

Price, Steven D. – How to Survive Retirement: Reinventing Yourself for the Life You’ve Always Wanted, Skyhorse Publishing, 2015

Reingold, Stella – 101 Fun Things to Do in Retirement: An Irreverent, Outrageous, and Funny Guide to Life After Work, Sovereign Media Group, 2015

Rich, Phil, Fetherling; Dale S., Sampson; Dorothy Madway – The Healing Journey Through Retirement: Your Journal of Transition and Transformation, 1999

Sullivan, Greg – Retirement Fail: The 9 Reasons People Flunk Post-Work Life & How to Ace Your Own, Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley & Sons, 2018

Ryan, Robin – Retirement Reinvention, Penguin Books, 2018

Sadler, Kyle A. – I’m Retired… Now What? 99 “Adventures” to Fulfill During Retirement, 2015

Sarton, Mae – At Seventy, New York: Norton, 1984

Schlesinger, Jill – The Dumb Things Smart People Do with Their Money, Random House, 2019

Schlossberg, Nancy K, Ed. D – Retire Smart Retire Happy, American Psychological Association, 2010

Schlossberg, Nancy K, Ed. D – Revitalizing Retirement: Reshaping Your Identity, Relationships, and Purpose, American Psychological Association, 2009

Shultz, Kenneth S., Ph.D. – Happy Retirement the Psychology of Reinvention, Penguin Random House, 2015

Scott-Maxwell, Florida – The Measure of My Days, New York: Knopf, 1968

Sedlar, Jeri; Miner, Rick – Don’t Retire – Rewire, Penguin Random House, 2018

Sellers, Ronnie – 60 Things to Do When You Turn 60, Sellers, 2016

Skinner, B. F.; Vaughn, Margaret – Enjoy Old Age: A Program of Self-Management, New York: Norton, 1983

Smith, Hyrum W. – Purposeful Retirement: How to Bring Happiness and Meaning to Your Retirement, Mango Publishing Group, 2017

Sood, Amit, MD – The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living, Da Capo Press, 2013

Spector, Alan; Lawrence, Keith – Your Retirement Quest: 10 Secrets for Creating and Living a Fulfilling Retirement, Cincinnati Book Publishers, 2018

Sundstrom, Eric; Burnham, Michael; Burnham, Randy – My Next Phase: The Personality-Based Guide to Your Best Retirement, 2008

Taylor, Roberta; Mintzer, Dorian – The Couple’s Retirement Puzzle, Lincoln Street Press, 2011, Source Book, Inc. 2014

Uris, Auren – Over 50: The Definitive Guide to Retirement, Radnet, PA: Chilton, 1979

Warner, Ralph; Stim, Richard – Retire Happy: What You Can Do to Guarantee a Great Retirement, 2008

Waxman, Barbara – How to Love Your Retirement: The Guide to the Best of Your Life, Hundreds of Heads Books, 2010

Weiss, Robert S – The Experience of Retirement, ILR Press, 2005

White, R. Dean – What the Hell Do I Do Now? A Professionals’ Guide to a Meaningful Retirement, BookLocker.com, Inc. 2012.

Williams, Gary – The Art of Retirement, Emerson, 2013

Wilson, A. Verne – TIPS: Retirement for Music Educators, Music Educators National Conference (NAfME), 1989

Zacharia, Carl B. – Good Long-Term Care: How to Find It, Get It, and Pay for It! – Senior Care Resources, 2016

Zelinski, Ernie J. – How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free, Ten Speed Press, 2009

Zelinski, Ernie J. The Joy of Being Retired, Visions Publishing, 2019

Zelinski, Ernie J. – The Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed and Overworked, Ten Speed Press, 2003