Planning YOUR Retirement

Currently, I’m in Isle of Palms, SC on a business trip with my husband. Everywhere I go now, I view each city from a “retirement perspective.” It’s off season here and some of the restaurants at the resort are closed and last night, the last thing I wanted to do was get in the car and drive somewhere for dinner. I wanted to walk. And it’s a beautiful area to walk, but there’s not a lot of destinations to walk to – that’s the problem. So, we drove to dinner, wishing we could walk.

Retirement seems to crop up in every conversation, too. Is it me that’s leading it in that direction? Not always. But I am curious to know what others are thinking regarding their retirement location, their location criteria and the retirement activities they’re contemplating. I’ve said this before that it’s so important to have retirement discussions with your spouse. (See my Feb. 18 post, "Retirement Location: Your Criteria.") In the course of talking about what you want to do and where you want to live, you develop the criteria, but you also change it over time. It evolves. And it evolves even further when you go to the city and live it for a few weeks.

My husband and I didn’t know that we were looking for an urban lifestyle when we first considered Fort Collins, CO. Yes, we knew we wanted to walk to coffee shops and restaurants, in addition to walking trails. But, we didn’t realize what that meant. Initially, we had looked at an area of town that was more suburban than urban, about 2-2.5 miles from downtown (in this case, “Old Town”), but near a beautiful park and trail system. The houses were a little newer, a little bigger and a little cheaper, too. In our metro Atlanta neighborhood, we walk 2 miles one-way to the coffee shop. Two miles was doable or so we thought. In living it in Fort Collins, however, two miles was just too far. We considered a mile and a half, but decided that, too, was just too far, especially as we age. So, now in looking at homes in Fort Collins, which we’re doing, we’re only considering homes in a one mile radius from town. That little one month stay in Fort Collins is really paying off. When I first arrived in FC, I looked at real estate in a 2-2.5 mile radius and that changed over time. I like to say my thinking evolved during my stay and it really did, simply because I was living retirement. I was walking it and when my husband joined me during the last week, I made him walk it.

The other thing that happened is that we prioritized our criteria list. For us, now, living in a one-mile radius of town is more important than a newer, bigger and cheaper house. And, honestly, we might not have come to that realization without actually living in Fort Collins for that period.

So, if you can, you need to go to your retirement city and live retirement for 2, 3, or 4 weeks. It’s time and money well spent. That’s after you’ve had retirement discussions, of course, and have a good idea of where you want to live.

View all of my posts on the subject of “retirement criteria” by going to the bottom of this post and clicking on Labels: retirement criteria.

Researching YOUR Retirement Location – Part 2

How did I research Fort Collins, CO. as a retirement location? For the past few years, my husband and I have been vacationing in potential retirement locations. No, we did not do the kind of research I suggested in yesterday’s post. I had to learn that bit of advice on my own. J One vacation took us to Estes Park, CO. where we visited Boulder, Fort Collins, and some of the smaller cities in the area. Back home in metro Atlanta after these vacations, we reviewed the information gathered during our visit and did some Internet research, as well. We sat down with a map of the U.S. and talked about the many places we had visited on previous vacations. We looked at our list of retirement criteria again. (See my Feb. 18 post, “Retirement Location: Your Criteria” for more on that subject.) After several “retirement location” discussions like this, we narrowed down our first choice location: Fort Collins, CO. That decision coupled with the downturn in the housing market and low interest rates prompted us to talk very seriously about relocation plans. We had visited FC in the summer, but never in the winter and we really weren’t sure if we could handle “winter” after so many years in the south. That was an “unknown factor” that needed to be checked out. That required a visit during the winter and since I am unemployed, I was the person chosen for the mission.

Flights from Atlanta to Denver were $268, but I wanted to find something cheaper than that and decided to wait for a sale. I had a trip already scheduled to California for early February, so when I booked my sale fare to CA., I decided to fly to Denver on my return from CA. and save some money. It was cheaper to fly to Denver ($99) instead of returning to Atlanta ($199). So, I knew when I would arrive in Denver, but I did not have a return ticket at that point. I booked that later on another sale for $120.

Now, how to get to Fort Collins, which is about 70 miles north of the Denver airport? An Internet search for transportation turned up www.supershuttle.com. SuperShuttle, according to their Web site, “is the nation's leading shared-ride airport shuttle service.” They provide door-to-door transportation “to and from 33 airports in over 50 US cities and surrounding communities.” They also offer frequent flyer miles. I caught the shuttle (a 15-passenger van) at the airport and for $40 (and a tip to the driver), I got a ride to the apartment I rented in Fort Collins. It was easy and it meant I didn’t have to rent a car! Money saved!

Where was that little apartment and how did I find it??? That was the greatest find! It wasn’t the cheapest at $1300 for a month, but renting for a month was just about the same price as two week’s rental and the owner was willing to give me a discount because it was the off season. Since I wanted to stay 2-3 weeks, I went ahead and booked for a month. I found my place on www.vrbo.com. Just find the state and city or area you want to travel to and see what’s available. I had a list of “needs,” such as kitchen, Internet, walking distance to town, near bus line, etc. I already had a specific date and the site’s calendar function let’s you see right away the availability of the rental. The place I rented was so fantastic! It was a little one-bedroom carriage house and the perfect space for my research and writing. The grocery store was 2 blocks away, so I made good use of my little kitchen, saving money on eating out.

So, that’s how I got to MY retirement city! Now, it’s YOUR turn to book YOUR trip. At the very least, start the retirement discussion and think about planning your next vacation with retirement in mind. And, let me know where you’re going! Are you using any of my advice?

If you need help with comments to this post, see my Feb. 17 and Feb. 20 posts for some tips.

Coming up in future posts:

How retirement research helps define your housing needs, the total cost of my retirement research trip, envisioning your retirement, taxes in retirement, healthcare, and more!

Researching YOUR Retirement Location – Part 1

I was at a dinner party this weekend with a group of friends who are approaching retirement age, so “retirement” was on the topic menu – where to live and what to do when you get there. I’ve just spent a month in Fort Collins, CO. researching that city as a retirement location for my husband and I. We enjoy the outdoors and Fort Collins has a fantastic trail system for biking and walking, in addition to being a very walkable community. I confirmed this during my visit. But because we’re not actually retired and still busy with work, we hadn’t given retirement activities much thought beyond the outdoors. So, our initial list of retirement activities was small. (For all of our criteria, see my Feb. 18 post.) We saw ourselves walking to the park frequently and into town to a restaurant now and then. Rocky Mountain National Park is about an hour’s drive and we definitely envisioned weekend hikes in the mountains. Beyond that, however, we hadn’t thought too much about activities. I’m discovering that we’re not alone.

Most people contemplating retirement think about retirement activities in the same way they think about weekend recreation. They want to do what they enjoy doing now on the weekends or on vacation, just more of it. More golf. More tennis. More traveling, etc. Very few people talk about new activities they want to take up. When you’re busy working, who has time to think about new activities, let alone try out those activities? That’s why I recommend trying out a new activity each month for all you 50-somethings (see my Feb. 26 post, “Trying Something New for Retirement”). I always say, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” So, if you’re not looking for new activities, you might miss some fun things to do!

That’s just one more reason to do what I did. Take your vacation from work and “retire” for a week (two is better; three is best) in your retirement city. Actually, I got laid off into retirement, so I had a month to research FC. Go with purpose: to research this city as a place to live in retirement. Your mission is to discover all of the different activities that exist and try as many as possible. It’s not your typical vacation, so don’t treat it as such. You’re there to “work,” to find out if this is a great place to live. If you enjoy golfing, yes, check out all of the golf courses, but don’t spend all of your time golfing! You know you love it, so just go to meet the people who work there, talk about the course with them, ask about prices, senior discounts, are there organized groups who golf, etc. If you love to swim, skip the hotel pool and check out the pools at the senior center and other recreational facilities. Talk to people. Tell them you’re researching this city as a place to retire. People are so intrigued by this simple statement and it’s a great icebreaker, too. Ask them why they love this city or do they? What else is there to do? Are these people friendly? Welcoming? If not, don’t let that deter you and move on to the next activity to research. If it becomes a pattern, however, and you don’t feel welcome in a number of places, then you might have a problem. But you’ll know it because you’ll feel the vibes.

And, try NEW things, too! Look in the paper and on the Internet for local events and vow to try something new every day. Read my "activities" posts (go to bottom of this post and click on Labels: "activities")and see all of the new things I tried while I was in Fort Collins. This might give you some ideas. Trying new things along with the old will help you develop your list of retirement activities! Not only that, but it will help you envision your retirement! How will you spend day after day, night after night? Unless your idea of retirement is to the sofa parked in front of the TV, you need to actively explore what there is to do on a Tuesday afternoon or a Thursday evening and not just on the weekends. You have a lot of time to fill. Don’t waste it.

Stay tuned to my next post when I’ll tell you how I got to Fort Collins, where I stayed and how you can get to your retirement city - on a budget, of course!

More Retirement Activities in Fort Collins, CO.

I took the weekend off from blogging to spend it with my husband who has joined me here in Fort Collins, CO. Friday night was FC’s First Friday Gallery Walk and we went to a couple of galleries in the Old Town area. It’s nice to see so many people of all ages walking around town in the evenings. There are a surprising number of bicycles parked in bike racks, too, even in the winter. Of course, there’s no snow on the ground, but it is chilly, especially riding a bike. Fort Collins is a bike friendly town and the residents seem to be less car dependent here.

On Saturday, we walked across town to look at a home on the west side of Colorado State University, about 2.2 miles from where we are staying. We stopped along the way for coffee and on the return trip, we stopped for lunch. Walking across campus, we passed by a CSU women’s fastpitch softball game, which was a trip down memory lane for us. Our daughter used to play in high school. We love the game. We could picture ourselves attending college sporting events here... 

Back downtown, we walked around a bit and decided to check out a local brewery. We had promised our friends back in Atlanta that we’d go to Odell Brewing Co. and send them a picture from the brewery. It didn’t look too far on the map, so we decided to walk. After sampling all of Odell’s beers, we walked a little further up the road to Fort Collins Brewery for more beer. Having walked off our lunch by this time, we were in the mood for some food. Unfortunately, neither of these breweries offers food. FCB had some bagged snacks, but we were looking for something a little more substantial to fill our stomachs and absorb some of the alcohol. We talked about all the local food producers I’d met at the farmer’s market and all the ready made products… buffalo sausage and cheese, fresh tortilla chips and salsa, a burrito or tamale… that could be available to those like us (and we were not alone) who were doing the beer crawl out Lincoln Avenue. We mentioned food to the man sitting next to us at the bar, Reed, who had actually written a restaurant business plan for the owners of FCB. Clearly, we were not the only ones thinking about food. A restaurant is a big leap into the food business, however. Maybe the owners could start small by offering locally prepared items, so they don’t have to have a prep kitchen. Perhaps another innovative partnership between businesses... capture the tourist market with not only the local breweries, but with the local foods, too. Just a thought…

My husband and I did not make it to the next brewery on the road: Funkwerks. It was getting late and that was much further. Besides, we’d caught sight of a bus earlier and a ride back to town sounded pretty good after a day of walking and an afternoon of beer tasting. Having transit available on this route by the local breweries is an outstanding idea. With all that beer and no food, we certainly did not want to get behind the wheel!

Thumbs up for all the local beers available in Fort Collins and for transit that takes you to most, if not all, of the breweries. Many are located downtown and the bus that we caught back into town, route 14, would’ve taken us out to Funkwerks, but we didn’t know it. Even New Belgium Brewing is an easy walk from Old Town. So, if you’re in FC and want to visit the local breweries, consider taking transit or walking. Park the car and leave the driving to someone else. You’ll be glad you did and others will, too.



My husband, Mark, enjoying Odell beers.



How Walkable is Your Community?

I’m here in Fort Collins, CO. to research this as a retirement location. One of our criteria for location (see February post: Retirement Location: Your Criteria) is good transit and a walkable community. Well, I’ve been walking my behind off in Fort Collins! And, while my behind doesn’t actually seem to be getting any smaller, it doesn’t seem to be getting any bigger either. I guess the walking is a good counter balance to all this sitting at my computer. But, seriously, Fort Collins is a very walkable community, especially when combined with transit. I went to look at houses for sale in Old Town West one day and walked 6.5 miles – a 10K! It didn’t seem that far, but when I got back home and plotted my route on www.gmap-pedometer.com, that’s how far I’d gone. I did encounter some uneven sidewalks along the way that may have tripped me up if my vision was bad or if it had been dark. I believe the city is responsible for the repair of sidewalks here in Fort Collins. In the city of Atlanta, however, property owners are responsible and the sidewalks are in terrible shape. That’s not the case in FC.

A walkable community, whether you walk only or combine it with transit, is important as we grow older. It’s essential as we grow old, however. Already, at age 56, I don’t do too much driving at night, especially in the rain and to an unfamiliar destination. And while I drive on Atlanta’s freeways, I know many people my age who prefer not to. When you get to the point where you start fearing driving in the dark, driving on the freeway, driving on mountain roads, it may be time to assess your driving. For me, I don’t drive at night in the rain unless I absolutely have to. At some point as we age, we’re likely to give up or greatly reduce driving, voluntarily or not. The last place I want to be when I can’t drive is in a community where you must have a car to get anywhere. So, when considering YOUR retirement location, consider the walkability of the community and transit, as well.

If you want to find out how walkable your community is, go to www.walkscore.com and look up your state and city for an average score. Fort Collins, CO. scores 50 on a scale of 0 to 100 with 100 being the most walkable. This makes FC “somewhat walkable.” However, when I type in the address of the place I’m renting, I get a score of 88 – very walkable. My address in Georgia scores 29 – car dependent. So, when you’re considering buying a house, you might want to check the walk score of the address.

More Innovation in Fort Collins!

I have been in Fort Collins, CO. almost three weeks now researching this city and its many offerings. I keep thinking the city has run out of surprises. I can’t possibly be impressed any more than I already am. Wrong!

I went to Songwriter’s Circle last night at a venue for coffee and music here in Fort Collins, CO. – a place called Everyday Joe’s. I was surprised to learn that this place is actually a nonprofit organization. A church moved into the building in 2002 and church members decided to use the building for more than just worship on Sundays. The idea of a coffee shop and music venue was born out of their desire to foster community and relationships. Most of their “staff,” including their baristas are actually volunteers. How cool is that?! In addition to holding benefit concerts, the coffee house provides the meeting room for Songwriter's Circle, a group of budding songwriters/musicians who meet weekly to share their songs with each other.

Last night’s Songwriter’s Circle, now in its fourth week, was attended by four people: Patrick, Nora, Russell and Sarah who were kind enough to let me sit in as an observer. I have a brother who is a songwriter/musician and I was curious about a group who would get together to share their songs with their peers. Playing their acoustic guitars, group members took turns performing songs they’d written, each sharing two songs. I was impressed with their lyrics, as well as their guitar playing. I don’t know much about songwriting or guitar playing, but I know what music I like and I liked the songs they played. What impressed me the most, however, was this group’s willingness to share the story of how a song came to be – sometimes very personal stuff, and their willingness to accept feedback from their peers who can be much more critical than friends and family – that takes guts and shows commitment to their craft. They discussed the technicalities of the music – the changing chords and guitar picking, as well as each song’s lyrics, demonstrating that they were really listening to each other. And they gave honest feedback. They even let me chime in my observer’s viewpoint! It was an amazing evening and I so appreciate the group's generosity in letting me sit in.

Somehow the world seems very right when I see young people following their dreams, demonstrating their passion and perseverance. I feel reassured knowing that our world will be in such capable hands. This is a group of people that I want to embrace and connect with in my retirement, not shun. That’s one of the reasons we’re choosing a college town to live in – the young people and their energy.

Once again, the innovation and sense of community in Fort Collins has impressed me. For more on innovation in FC, see my post: Fort Collins, CO: An Entrepreneurial Incubator.

Thumbs up for this college town and this unusual nonprofit, Everyday Joe’s, for supporting budding artists and musicians. Your support is not going unnoticed. Thank you! Get the full story about Everyday Joe’s, their upcoming events and find ways you can support them at www.everydayjoes.org.

“Made in America” Challenge

ABC news with Diane Sawyer has a special this week on “Made in America.” A family who thought much of their household belongings were made in America was left with a shell of a house, a flower vase and a kitchen sink after the ABC team came in and discovered that almost all of their belongings and furnishings, including appliances were made outside the United States. After spending the night in sleeping bags, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner and doing homework on the floor, the family and news team began the search for “made in America” items to replenish what was taken out of the house. We left off last night with the trucks containing their new items rolling down their street, so tune in tonight to see what they bought and what it cost!

After doing this segment, the ABC team discovered that if every person in the U.S. spent just (an additional?) $64 a year on a “made in America” purchase, we can create 200,000 jobs here. I don’t know if it’s true, but it’s worth a try! So, ask before you buy! Is it made in America? They are also challenging people to look around their own homes to see where things are made. Unfortunately, I think we’d all have a very short list of items made in America. The important thing is to be aware – to live consciously, as Oprah loves to say. Along that same line is to shop locally (see my Feb. 27 post, Shop Locally and Support Your City’s Economy, for more) and support your local business person. Readers, please, before you make that next purchase, consider whether you are buying “made in America” or buying from a locally owned business. Watch ABC news tonight and the rest of the week and take their challenge to spend $64 on “made in America.” Let’s pull together and create some jobs in this country! Want to do more?? Pass this challenge on to your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Let's start a movement!

Making the Decision to Relocate in Retirement

My husband joins me in Fort Collins, CO. tomorrow. He sent me this photo he took of himself in our metro Atlanta backyard this last weekend where temps were in the 70s. Yes, it made me miss him, my family and friends, my home, my backyard, and springtime in Atlanta. It really is beautiful in the spring. Of course, like many places in the country, we’ve been known to have some serious snow storms in March and tornadoes just rolled through on Monday, the day after this photo was taken. Weather is a bit of a roller coaster all over this time of year, I guess. 

It’s not just weather you leave behind when relocating, of course, it’s a home, friends and, sometimes, family. Not an easy choice. For us, we’d be leaving behind our daughter, her husband and our little granddog, Paul. And while I would certainly miss my daughter and her husband, it’s that darn dog who I’d really cry over! We dog sit for him and I’ve really grown attached to him. And, he can’t exactly get on a plane to come for a visit! Or talk to me over the phone. So, leaving Atlanta would be hard. I guess it’s a good thing there are no grandchildren in the picture yet. I hear that is really hard. Almost impossible.

So, relocating in retirement is a BIG decision and not one to enter into without weighing all the consequences. You can always move back, of course. And, in our case, maybe we’ll spend part of the year in Atlanta with our daughter and part of the year with our son in New Jersey. Whatever we decide, we will make the decision that’s best for us, choosing the place where we will be happiest. Knowing, of course, that we could be wrong… and we can always change our mind.



Springtime in Atlanta, GA.



Four Part Harmony

As I’ve said, I’m in Fort Collins, CO to research this as a place to live. This “mission” has provided the impetus to do things I might otherwise never consider. Case in point: last night’s visit to the Community of Christ Church to hear a group of women sing a cappella. I read about this in the local newspaper, The Coloradoan, and since it was close, I decided to check it out. It was fantastic! The women are The Blend Chorus, a group of 20 women who sing four part barbershop harmony. Affiliated with Sweet Adelines International, the chorus competes in regional competitions and performs locally for special events and to raise operating expenses. They practice on Monday nights at the church. 

When I walked in, I made sure they knew I did not sing and was just there to listen. Everyone welcomed me and I settled into a chair to hear them practice. But, first, they had to warm up with some stretching exercises. They invited me to join them, which I did. I work out and know how to stretch, right? But, of course, they stretched to music! Why didn’t that occur to me?! I’m hysterical in a class that moves to music. I can’t move to music! I’ve actually been known to cause women to pee their pants because I’m so bad! I don’t think this happened as I did not hear any guffaws behind me. Fortunately, the stretching only lasted for one song. Whew! Back to my seat where I vowed to stay. And, stay I did, for the entire rehearsal. That’s how much I enjoyed it. They were amazing and while I have no illusions about singing in the future, I gained an understanding of what it takes to sing and an appreciation of their effort. The final song the group did was a medley of John Denver tunes. Sappy as this sounds, it gave me goose bumps and brought tears to my eyes. Listening to four part harmony voices sing about Colorado and the Rocky Mountains and thinking about the possibility of moving here? Well, it just made my evening. I am so grateful they let me stay.

Want to hear The Blend Chorus? The group will perform a Spring Fling concert in Broomfield, CO. on Saturday, March 12th at 1:30 p.m. at Legacy High School, 2701 W 136th Ave.  The cost is only $5. This is a dress rehearsal for the Sweet Adelines regional competition, which is in Colorado Springs March 25 and 26. If you love this style of music, you won’t want to miss an opportunity to hear this group and others sing. Want to learn more about The Blend? Go to: www.theblendchorus.org. For regional events: www.rmr8.org.

You can find a group in YOUR area at: www.sweetadelineintl.org. I found a group in Atlanta that I’ll have to check out when I get back. I'll be staying in my seat, thank you. :)

Thought Provoking Art in Fort Collins

I’m checking out the arts here in Fort Collins, CO. and really enjoying the experience. It’s also making me think… On Saturday, I went to the Art Lab (see my Feb. 24 post, "Fort Collins, CO: An Entrepreneurial Incubator," which talks about this unusual organization) for an art exhibit called The Circle of Light Photo Project. This photo project put together by the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank (RMLEB) demonstrates the impact organ donors, and in this case, eye donors, have in the lives of their recipients. RMLEB asked cornea and sclera transplant recipients to take photos of the things they were most grateful for that they could see with their restored vision. There are some amazing photos in the exhibit. Most are nature photos, but one of a recipient’s son jumping into a lake really caught my attention. It’s a great action shot, but more than that, it captures the spirit of organ donation – to give so others may live. It makes you think about organ donation and how your death or the death of a loved one can affect the lives of others. It’s a good jumping off point for a discussion about organ donation, one you need to have with your family because they will be the ones making the decision. I believe the exhibit is over now, but there’s still info up about the exhibit on the Art Lab’s site at http://www.artlabfortcollins.org/?p=2773 or go to RMLEB’s site at www.corneas.org. To learn more about organ donation in your community, just Google “organ donation + your state or city.” In Colorado, it’s www.donatelifecolorado.org.

On Sunday, I went to a play, Looking for Normal, at Bas Bleu. It was a little hard to find because Google Maps gave me the wrong directions, but I had checked out the location in advance, so I had no trouble finding the theatre the day of – yesterday.  Looking for Normal is the story of a man who after 25 years of marriage decides to have a sex change operation. The play captures the family’s reaction from initial shock to eventual acceptance and takes the audience along with it. It is both funny and touching, the story of a family’s love. The actors were really wonderful. What impressed me the most, however, is that Bas Bleu Theatre Company and the actors - more than half were my age or older - took on the project and the full-house audience - many of them were my age, too - were enlightened enough to attend and enjoy it. Wow! It was a matinee and I overheard many people making dinner plans when I was leaving – no one asked me to dinner though… I wondered if they would discuss the play over dinner. Perhaps not, but still I believe they will use the experience to go forth and be more tolerant of others who may lead what we may previously have called a “less than normal lifestyle” and now more appropriately call an “alternative lifestyle.” Or maybe, we just don’t call it anything anymore. Something to ponder…

Looking for Normal runs through March 6 at Bas Bleu: www.basbleu.org. Be sure to check out their upcoming plays, as well.

Thumbs up again for the arts in Fort Collins. And for the community who supports the arts. What's playing in YOUR town? Make your March event (see my Feb. 26 post, "Trying Something New for Retirement") a play or exhibit. Try something new and different.

Shop Local and Support Your City's Economy

There are some wonderful indoor farmers markets here in Fort Collins. I went to the Downtown location Saturday. The Winter Farmers Market and Music is sponsored by Be Local Northern Colorado, a group advocating on behalf of local businesses. There was a good crowd of people at the Opera Galleria on N. College Ave. There were vendors from all over Northern Colorado selling a variety of local food products, such as vegetables, nut butters, grass-fed beef and buffalo, salsas, honey and much more. There were also non-food products, such as soaps, candles, jewelry, plants and pottery. Deb Tewell of Milkweed Designs had beautiful hand-felted scarves and purses. I really wanted to buy one, but promised myself that I would take one of her classes when I return to Fort Collins and make one myself. I can’t wait. They are really stunning!

After browsing the market and sampling the varied food items, I did my shopping. My husband joins me on Thursday, so I needed a few things. For breakfast, I bought milk and yogurt from Morning Fresh Dairy Farm. The yogurt was so smooth and creamy! I’ve never tasted anything like it. The Ten Grain Bread I purchased from Good Seed Bakery makes wonderful toast. I’m enjoying a piece now with peanut butter, honey and sliced bananas on top. I have an appetizer planned for the ColoRouge soft cheese I bought from MouCo Cheese Company; I just need to get some crackers. For dinner one night, I have a bottle of red wine from Blue Mountain Vineyards. That will go nicely with the meatballs and sauce I purchased from the Little Italian Kitchen. For dessert, we’ll have mint chocolate from the Food Co-Op. Sounds great, doesn’t it? And, it’s all local foods from Northern Colorado. Better yet.

There’s a real movement here in Fort Collins to shop locally. I see signs in business windows that announce they are locally owned and in others, I see “Be Local” signs. I support that effort to buy from locally owned shops and purchase locally produced food and products whenever possible. I think most people do. It helps the local economy. But sometimes people forget. Those signs are a gentle reminder to locals, but especially to visitors to shop locally. As a visitor in Fort Collins, those signs also demonstrate cooperation among local business owners who want to not only see their own business succeed, but others, as well. They’re working together for a common purpose – a thriving economy in Fort Collins. I, not only support that effort, I admire it. Another reason to love FC!

To learn more about the Be Local effort in Fort Collins, go to: www.BeLocalNC.org. You can learn more about the Winter Farmers Market and find local businesses at this site. For other farmers markets, go to www.fortnet.org/market. There are a number of markets in the area. In the effort to shop locally, let’s not forget the Chamber of Commerce and their members. This long-standing organization also advocates on behalf of local businesses. FC’s Chamber is at www.fcchamber.org. If you want information about businesses in your city or are thinking about relocating, the local Chamber of Commerce is a great first resource.

Thanks to Emma Smaldino of Be Local NC for taking my picture as I leave the Farmers Market.

The Winter Farmers Market and Music at the Opera Galleria on Feb. 26, 2011.

The Sun is Shining on Me Again!

We had snow Thursday night and Friday here in Fort Collins, CO. And that glorious sun I have gotten used to was hiding for most of the day! The snow was beautiful - we got two to three inches, but I missed the sun. And worse, my five skylights in my temporary home here in FC were covered in snow making my place a bit dismal - just a bit because overall it's a lovely place. But the sun is shining brightly today and melting the snow. The sun is shining on me again!

Snow blocks my view and the sun.

The sun shines again!

Trying Something New for Retirement

I’m here in Fort Collins, CO. to research what there is to do here for my husband and I in our retirement. Well, I have to tell you, I’ve done more in my 12 short days here than he and I have done in the last six months! Yes, we get together with friends for dinner, take in a movie, go out to eat – the usual stuff that people do. Beyond that though, we don’t do too much. We’re content to stay home on Friday and Saturday nights enjoying a glass of wine, watching Netflix or playing pool. We don’t actively look for things to do, however. We rarely search the Internet or read the newspaper for “things to do.” And, if one of us does find something to do, when the time nears to get ready, the other might question if we really want to go and sabotage the outing. Funny how we just get set in our ways and are reluctant to try something new. Reluctant? Tired?  Whatever the reason, we just keep doing what we’ve always done. It takes effort to do something new.

In Fort Collins, however, I’m trying to make the most of my time here and get in as many activities as possible. I’m doing research, after all! Walking around Old Town, checking out coffee shops and other local businesses is not that unusual for me. Nor is going to art galleries. But going to a painting class this week was stepping outside of my comfort zone. First, I don’t paint unless you count painting walls. Drawing? Well, let’s just say I’ve never graduated beyond stick people. So, when Wednesday afternoon came this week and the class started at 6:30 p.m., I began to have doubts about going. I was tired and wouldn’t it be better to stay in and get to bed early? I hadn’t called to register for the class – maybe it was already full. I didn’t have any money invested in it yet. You get the picture. But I recognized that little saboteur in myself. I had heard all those excuses before. And, I was here to do research… So, in that moment of clarity, I called Lauren Howell at Gadabout Art and said I was interested in the class. She put my painting fears to rest, saying the class is for beginners and for people who just want to have a fun evening. I decided to ignore all my self doubts and excuses and go to the class. To really make sure I would go, I called my friend, Laura, who is a watercolorist back home, and told her all about it. Now I was committed. But I also felt excited that I’d stifled that naysayer in me that always says: You don’t really want to do that, do you? I had already achieved something and I hadn’t even walked out the door yet. Whatever else the evening would bring would just be gravy or ice cream on my day!



My first painting! Many thanks to Lauren Howell at GadaboutArt.com for a great evening!



Well, this is what I achieved at Lauren’s guided painting class! Actually the evening was much more than the final product. I had gone. I had learned something new – this is really good for our brains as we age, you know. I had socialized with Lauren and some of her friends – ditto the above. And, I had fun, too – ditto ditto! I’m going to let my painting be my constant reminder of these achievements. I’m going to hang it in a prominent spot at my home in Marietta (metro Atlanta) and let it remind me of all the new things I want to try in Fort Collins when we move here (yeah, it’s probably going to happen). I want to try biking again and disc golf. I want to get a cruiser with baskets on both the front and rear for shopping, a bell for passing and a neon flag, so drivers will see me. I can hear my family groaning with embarrassment at the visual… but too bad! Disc golf? Well, maybe I’ll be better at that than I am at regular golf! One can only hope, right? But first you have to get out the door and try.

My advice for future retirees? Think about what you want to do in retirement. Maybe there’s something you’ve always wanted to try, such as a new hobby or a physical activity. Start a list. Talk to your spouse about the things on your list; share your ideas. Look in your local paper or on the Internet for events that are happening in your community or the place you plan to live. Try something new. Make a commitment to try one new activity each month. And if you have any of my tendencies, make a pact with your partner not to sabotage the activity. Be committed. Make the effort. Change your perspective. Call it retirement research. Whatever it takes, just do it. Walk out that door.

For things to do in Fort Collins, pick up Thursday’s issue of the Coloradoan for their insert called the Ticket. On the Internet, go to: http://www.visit.ftcollins.com/ or http://www.downtownfortcollins.com/. Try something new this week. Pick just one thing. Make the commitment and GO!

Retirement and Your Local Senior Center

I checked out the Senior Center here in Fort Collins, CO yesterday. A six block walk, two buses and an hour later, I arrived for the center’s “Lunch and Learn” event only to find out it was canceled. L That was a disappointment, but a center volunteer, Leona, made my trip worthwhile. She gave me a tour of the facility, describing all the activities that go on at the center, such as quilting, pottery, woodworking, painting, fitness classes, swimming, movies, dances, and much more. Tax assistance, health screenings, and an exercise class were going on while I was there. The indoor walking track was in full swing, too. Workout equipment is spread throughout the building, making use of every available space in the building until they can add on, which they hope to do in the future. I did not see the kitchen and event rooms, but evidently the space is frequently rented for events, such as weddings and receptions. That’s smart use of the space and the rental income doesn’t hurt either. They have a beautiful outdoor area that overlooks Rolland Moore Park.

Beyond the onsite activities, the Senior Center offers day trips, including trips to area casinos. Leona and another volunteer said they don’t go on these trips just for the gambling; instead, they go for the sight seeing. At $12 for the trip, it’s a bargain. They also offer longer trips to places like California, Arizona, and New Mexico. They go to lunch, see plays, concerts, etc. and according to Leona, they have a great time. Activities at the center, her volunteer work there, church, and activities at the hospital’s Aspen Club all keep this 76 year old very busy. Leona’s enthusiasm for the center, its many activities and for life as a retired woman in Fort Collins was shared by others I met at the center. In my brief time there, I saw three people come in to join. Anyone 50+ can join the senior center for just $25 per year plus some activity fees.

To learn more about a senior center in your town, go there! Ask for a tour and ask lots of questions. Look around and think about what YOU might want to do there. Talk to seniors who are using the facility. What activities do they participate in? What else do they do? Leona mentioned the hospital’s Aspen Club to me and even suggested some activities to try during my stay. Put yourself out there and you may be surprised what you learn. One final word of advice: leave your preconceived notions about senior facilities at home. They are not for old, decrepit people who smell and wear diapers! These days, facilities are catering to the young 60, 70 and 80 year olds who want to keep their minds and bodies actively engaged in life. They are fun places. Personally, the upcoming class, “Back on Bike” interests me, so I can relearn that skill before I hit the many bike trails in Fort Collins. What would YOU like to do?

Thumbs up for FC's Senior Center and all their activities. Can’t wait to become a member!

To learn more about the Fort Collins Senior Center, go to: www.fcgov.com/recreation/seniorcenter. For more info on the Aspen Club, go to www.pvhs.org/aspenclub

Fort Collins, CO: An Entrepreneurial Incubator!

I continue to be blown away by the innovative business ideas in Fort Collins, CO! I’m here for a month to research this city as a place to live in retirement and I’m having a blast! There’s some really cool stuff to do here.

Last night I went to Tasty Harmony, a local restaurant on S. Mason St., just N of Oak St. The owners have generously donated their second dining room to artist and entrepreneur, Lauren Howell, for Wednesday night guided painting classes. Wow! What fun! In October, Lauren received a small grant of $1000 from Art Lab Fort Collins, which was seed money to start her new company, Gadabout Art. Art Lab FC is a whole story themselves! They turn empty store fronts in FC into places for art – a gallery, a music venue, a theatre, etc. If you have an artistic endeavor and need space for it, you can rent it from them. Not only do they provide space for local artists to host their events, they also fund local artists, such as Lauren. Art Lab FC hosts a supper club event to raise money to fund local artists’ entrepreneurial ideas. The first event, held in October 2010, provided funding for Gadabout Art. At the supper club event, diners enjoy food and hear presentations from local artists regarding his or her business idea. Afterwards, diners get to vote for their favorite business idea and the winners receive the proceeds of the night’s event. What a creative way to support local artists in FC! I should mention that Art Lab FC is not always in the same location. They are in empty stores that are for rent (or sale?) and occupy the space temporarily and for free until the owner rents or sells the space. What a great way to fill empty store fronts in FC and support local artists! The entrepreneurial spirit is not only alive and well in Fort Collins, but it is kicking butt!

Do you want to support the arts? Contact Lauren Howell about her guided painting class (more on my painting experience later…) at http://www.gadaboutart.com/. Go to www.artlabfortcollins.org for info on renting their space for your next event, their upcoming supper club event on April 23^rd (tickets are $15 in advance and sell out quickly), and other upcoming events, such as the “Circle of Light Photo Project” this Saturday, 3 to 8 p.m. You just might see me there! And don’t forget a visit to Tasty Harmony www.tastyharmony.com, a local business supporting the arts in Fort Collins.

Not in Fort Collins? Check out those Web sites anyway for some very creative business ideas to bring to YOUR community.

Two thumbs up for the small business community here in Fort Collins, the innovative spirit driving it and the support they give each other. Competition is here, yes, but so is cooperation. I love this city!



Lauren Howell, founder of Gadabout Art, shows me how to paint Colorado aspens in a guided painting class.



Will it Snow in Fort Collins??

In preparation for my month long stay in Fort Collins, CO., I shipped my down jacket, which I've owned since the late 70s and my years in Madison, WI, and my winter boots. I actually wore these in Atlanta (actually in Marietta, suburbs of Atlanta) sledding in my neighborhood. Our street was the sledding hill during our last snow storm and we couldn't get out of our neighborhood for four days. Atlanta does have an annual snowfall of 1 inch; we just get it all in one year and nothing in other years.

The question is: Will I be able to use my winter gear in Fort Collins?? The forecast for Friday is snow and the temps are dropping. Highs are now in the 40s where last week they were in the 50s and maybe even 60s. The thing is the sun and the dry air make it feel warmer than it really is. This is my 11th day here and the sun is still shining. Well, not at 5 a.m., of course, but you get the idea. The wind does blow a little more here in FC and a couple of days, it was quite windy. But I am so enjoying that sun! Part of my research is the weather in winter - can I handle it??  Well, so far, it's been great. And the prospect of snow is exciting. We'll see how I do walking around in it... if it really snows, that is.

The Ace Hardware in Old Town is ready for snow. I want to bring that yellow shovel home with me to my friend Suzanne. She would love it!

The Aesthetics of Your Retirement Location

Again, this is not something I’d really thought about in a retirement location before coming to Fort Collins, CO. But it’s something to consider. Fort Collins is a beautiful, clean city. I haven’t noticed any overflowing trash cans or trash on the streets. The people who live here seem to take pride in their city. Granted, my view is limited to the north side of town near Old Town. So, my window may be somewhat small. But I like what I see out of my little window. Here’s an example:

408 Remington St., Fort Collins, CO - Nancy Erskine, artist





This photo is a transformer that has been “transformed” into a work of art. There are now 90 transformers in the “Art in Alleys” program. The program is part of a city project called, “Art in Public Places”(APP). Groups sponsor a transformer mural and local artists paint it. The goal is to eliminate graffiti on the boxes. According to Ellen Martin, coordinator of APP, the program was the brainchild of city utility engineers for graffiti abatement. The program actually saves the city money! How cool is that? Another APP program is to paint trash cans in city parks. School groups and organizations design and paint up to two trash cans that are then placed in city parks. The city must approve the design and provides the cans and paint to the sponsoring group who does the work. What a great idea to engage the community in beautification of the city! APP’s “Pedestrian Paver” program takes drawings submitted by local youth and sandblasts them into granite pavers. The pavers are then used whenever the city does sidewalk improvements or repairs. In addition, they’ve partnered with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to provide 60 pavers for DDA’s “Alley Enhancement Program.”

What a novel idea to beautify the city, engage the community, AND save money! Are other people looking at this program and considering bringing it to their cities?! The answer is YES! Ellen says she gets frequent calls from city leaders across the country who want to find out how to set up such a program. She just recently spoke to city leaders in Missoula, Montana. Way to go Fort Collins! Again, it goes back to my post about city leaders having a vision for the city. It matters. But more than just the vision for the city, departments are partnering, working together and involving the public. I love it.

Thumbs up for Fort Collins’ “Art in Public Places” program and the city leaders, local artists and community who make FC a beautiful place to live. To learn more about this program, go to: www.fcgov.com/artspublic

Tending to Your Spirit in Retirement

Visiting a church was not on my list of things to do in Fort Collins, CO. Opportunities to worship were not on our criteria list. But, it is something you may want to consider when you’re looking for a place to retire.

As we age, we are more likely to get sick or fall and need help. If you don’t have family nearby and available to care for you, what will you do? Will your neighbors look after you? In my neighborhood, if we are aware of a family in need, we look after them. I don’t know if we’re the exception or the rule; I’d like to think we’re the latter, but I suspect we’re the former. If you are working and sick, sometimes your co-workers will look after you. However, if you’re retired, that’s not a reliable resource. Then there’s the church or other place of spiritual healing. And for the sake of all belief systems, I’ll call the church, synagogue, meditation center, etc. a “spiritual center.” In my experience, which I admit is limited, the spiritual center is a great resource when you’re sick or recovering. They are a community within the larger community whose mission is to minister to the sick and needy. They’ve got systems in place to help. So, if you have knee replacement surgery and need meals and/or rides to the doctor, you’ve got a community to turn to. This might be in addition to family and neighbors.

Well, that takes care of our physical needs. What about our spiritual needs as we age? How will we face sickness and death – our own and others? If I die tomorrow, I won’t have time to contemplate my death and the afterlife. But if you have a terminal disease that lasts over a period of time, you will probably think about it. This is a time when a lot of people need spiritual healing. And for those who do not have a spiritual center and community, they may seek one at this time. Such was the case for my mom who fought ovarian cancer for four years. Except for a brief period when I was a baby, my family did not attend church. I never saw my mom with a bible until the last year of her life. She was struggling with death and seeing her read a bible really brought it home to me. She was going to die. On her own, she had found a church and attended services until she was too sick to drive. Then the minister visited her at home. She asked him about death, what to expect when it comes and where she would go afterwards. All she asked God for was to spare her pain. The minister talked with her about the process of dying and about God. They even prayed together. I sat in on one of those prayers and it was so heart wrenching. They had to comfort ME afterwards.

In the end, my brother and I tended to my mom’s physical needs while the minister and God tended to her spiritual needs. But she wasn’t the only one facing her death; her family was facing it, too. At least we were trying. And it was she, my mom, who ministered to me in the final days. She was preparing me as God and the minister had prepared her. So, is there a need for a spiritual center in YOUR retirement location? I guess you have to answer that. As for myself… well, I hadn’t really considered it until yesterday when I went to church simply because I thought it would be a good way to meet people and not for the spiritual experience. I guess I got both. J For me, this just reaffirms the importance of really thinking about where you want to retire to and how you want to experience retirement and, much as we hate to think about it, sickness and death.  Now that I’ve thought about it and written about it (writing makes you think about it), I know I need a spiritual center in MY retirement location. How about you?

Comments to this Blog Made Easier

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who has trouble using these social network sites! People have said they are having trouble commenting on my posts. I changed a few things in the settings to make it easier and I just tried it. You just have to click on "Comments" and a box pops up for you to write your comment. When finished writing, there's a "Comment as" drop down box. If you're not anything listed, just choose "anonymous." Then click "Post Comment." It's easy, so easy that I can do it!

Renewing the Spirit in Fort Collins, CO.

It’s Sunday and I have been in Fort Collins, CO one week now! It’s been sunny every day and I feel so energized! Is it this city or the experience of investigating a city? I’m not sure, but I’m enjoying it!

I went to church this morning. I haven’t been to church in… I don’t know how long, except for a recent funeral, which doesn’t really count. I went to the 10 a.m. service at Mountain View Community Church on Remington Street. I walked there, of course, and there were a few icy spots that got my attention. But it was so sunny and beautiful out! People were arriving without coats and one man was in short sleeves! And there I was with my coat and gloves on! Yikes, I must have looked like a real southerner. Despite my warm coat and long absence from church, I was welcomed at Mountain View. It was crowded when I arrived and I sat next to a young man named, Aaron. He put out his hand and introduced himself as soon as I got settled into the pew. He said he’s a student at CSU. We chatted a bit and he introduced me to his friend, Jared. There were quite a few college-aged people in attendance and I even met some other visitors to the church. There was a four member band that played great music. That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about church – the music. This was different from traditional church hymns, much more contemporary. I enjoyed it very much, as did the rest of the parishioners. There was some toe tapping and head nodding – to the beat, not in sleep – going on. The sermon, too, was fairly contemporary. What am I saying?! It’s been so long since I’ve been to a church service and I’m Catholic! What do I even know about a community, non-denominational church?!

What I DO know is that I liked it. Truth is that the first song gave me goose bumps. They played a number of songs and I enjoyed them all, including the lyrics. The sermon by Pastor McConahy about anxiety was relevant and thought-provoking. He was a good speaker and I bet he’s a good listener, too. There were people of all ages; well, maybe I was in the oldest age group – 50s to 60s. I didn’t see anyone older than that, at least. Still, a wide range of worshippers in attendance. And, they were friendly. I left the church with a spring in my step, a smile on my face and my coat, I carried on my arm. My spirit and body had been warmed by the people in the church.

The community church is a definite plus for Fort Collins! One more reason to move here. J

An Evening Out in Fort Collins, CO

I’ve been working all week here in Fort Collins, CO. Yes, this is work. It just happens to be fun and interesting work! I’ve been eating the same thing all week: oatmeal with raisins and apple for breakfast, turkey sandwich for lunch and microwaved frozen lasagna on a bed of romaine for dinner. So, tonight I decided to go to a place called Avogadro’s Number or “Avo’s” for short. It’s a restaurant and music venue. The Just Jazz Quintet played tonight. They were very good and it was so great to get out. I had a burger, fries and a beer (so much for my healthy diet). The burger was not that great, but it’s been a while since I’ve had beef. Avo’s serves some vegetarian dishes, as well, and maybe that’s their specialty. It didn’t matter. The music and beer were excellent. If you haven’t been to Avo’s, check them out at http://www.avogadros.com/ But be sure to get there early. Tables fill up fast.

Fort Collins, CO: It's a Friendly Place

I went out this afternoon to the main library here in Fort Collins, CO. I wanted to print out the list of 365 Things to Do in Fort Collins, CO. The staff at the library was very helpful. So, it turns out that there are 63 things on the list and not 365, but Kenny and Ryan are working on it (in addition to working on their real estate business!) Still, it’s worth looking at the list and Facebooking (can I use that as a verb?) them with your ideas and events. I picked out several things I want to do, such as number 7: Enjoy a beer while watching a movie at the Lyric Cinema. I went by that place yesterday and met Ben, the owner. Very cool concept: movies, food and drink. They have movies throughout the day and they even have some Oscar events coming up. Check them out at http://www.lyriccinemacafe.com/

Everywhere I go, people are so helpful. I needed a single envelope to mail a map of Fort Collins to my husband today and walked into the State Farm office of Chip Beake on E. Olive to ask for one. The office manager, Barbara, didn’t hesitate to give me one. They seemed like a friendly group and I wasn’t wrong. Earlier this week, I needed a small, inexpensive, purse-sized notebook and couldn’t find one. Walking by the Ace Hardware on S. College, I popped in and asked if they had one. Sure enough, they did! That and a whole lot more! They had a serious snow shovel, too. My neighbor in Atlanta wants one and she would be hysterical if I brought that back to her! Sorry, Suzanne, I cannot fit that into my suitcase! Next door to Ace is the thrift store, Brand Spanking Used. They, too, had some pretty cool stuff, but I needed black socks, which they did not have. Found a pair of Coldwater Creek jeans for $5.99 though. They’re a little big, but if it gets really cold, I’ll be able to fit my long underwear under them. Sweet.

365 Things to Do in Fort Collins, CO

I’ve just been looking at all the information I’ve compiled about Fort Collins, Colorado and thinking about what I want to do tonight and this weekend. Looked up something on the Internet and you know how one thing leads to another… well, I found this great Web site called 365 Things to Do in Fort Collins, CO at http://www.365thingstodofortcollins.com/ If you are thinking about moving here or live here and want something to do, check it out! This is a fantastic guide to Fort Collins! Thank you Kenny and Ryan!

Retirement Location: Your Criteria

People I know and the ones that I’ve met here in Fort Collins, Colorado seem intrigued by what I’m doing. So, I thought I’d tell you how I got here. Fort Collins, which I refer to as FC, has been at the top of our list of retirement places for two years. My husband, Mark and I vacationed in Estes Park, CO, just outside Rocky Mountain National Park, in June 2008. We visited FC during that time and really liked it. That prompted us to really start thinking about where we wanted to live when we retire. Housing and interest rates have been down and it seems like a good time to buy. Ideally, you don’t want to have a mortgage in retirement, so to buy a home now and get it paid off seems like a good idea.

First, we agreed that we do not want to live in Atlanta. We have really great neighbors there and a married daughter who may one day give us a grandchild, but that’s it. So, then the discussion of what we were looking for in a retirement location started. 

For this discussion, all you need is a notepad and pen. Open a bottle of wine or put on a pot of coffee and settle in for a bit of brainstorming and discussion. How do you each visualize retirement? What do you enjoy? A good way to start the discussion is to make separate lists first and then bring them together with each of you outlining your criteria. Then you need to make a joint list. Hopefully, after a little compromise, you'll both be on the same page.

One final note for the discussion: Be sure to turn off the TV and other electronic distractors. The computer is not needed, yet, and don’t let him tell you otherwise. J

Our list includes the following:

·        Affordable Housing and Living

·        Good Climate – less humidity and plenty of sun; some snow and freezing temps are okay

·        Good Transit and a Walkable Community – I used to work with the visually impaired, many of whom were seniors. I’ve seen firsthand how narrow one’s world gets if you’re out in the ‘burbs relying on others for transportation. Accessibility as we age is critical.

·        Recreational Opportunities – we like hiking/walking, wine tasting, golfing. Mark enjoys riding his motorcycle and working out at the gym. I am an artist who does wine bottle art and fused glass necklaces, so I enjoy art. I also enjoy bird watching.

·        College Town – There are usually many educational and recreational opportunities at colleges for seniors. Plus, young people provide vibrancy to a city and if we need assistance in our old age, they may be a good resource!

·        City Size – we’re looking for a city that’s not too big or too small, population 100K – 150K

·        Access to a Major Airport – we’re looking for a city that’s within an hour of a major airport. We enjoy traveling and we want friends and family to visit us, too.

·        Good Healthcare

·        Low Crime

So, that’s what we’re looking for. What’s on YOUR list? Send me your comments!

Blogs and Responding to Posts 101

This is my first time blogging and many of you may be new to blogs, as well. They are easy to set up and free. If I can do it, anyone can! My best friend, Laura, says I should tell people who may not be familiar with blogs how to read posts and respond to them. She always offers great advice, so I’ll take it.

First, you go to the blog address, which you know because you’re here. You see the most recent blog post; other “posts” (articles I’ve written) are off to the right with titles in order of oldest to newest post. Just click on a title to read that post. If you have a reaction (at the bottom of each post), just click on it. If you want to share that post, just above "reactions," you can share the post by email, Facebook, Twitter, etc. with any of the links.

If you have a comment, write your comment in the box below the post. You can proof your comment to see how it will look and then click “post comment.” I don’t think you have to select anything in the “comment as.”

If you want to be a “follower” of my blog and be notified of any new posts, just click on “follow” in the upper right hand corner of the page and sign on to your Google, Twitter or Yahoo acct. I believe followers are notified of any new posts, much like Facebook notifications.

If anyone has anything else to offer in navigating blogs, please comment!