Over-50

TARGETED!

Today is a time of mixed moods. 

On the one hand, there are exhales about the $1.2K per person that will help pay for necessities.

On the other hand, the prediction is out that, soon enough, the United States will be the Next Italy in terms of the number of cases and deaths. And, supposed safe havens such as Ohio will be the Next New York. There has been a second death in Lucas County, which includes Toledo, OH. 

So, overall, it's another typically crazy day in The Time of COVID-19.

Some are tired of being scared and some are just getting scared.

But, in general, those on Main Street don't want to talk about it. That's like having a conversation about the possibility of dying in 10 days.

Instead of talk there is compulsive consumption of digital and broadcast news. 

Puzzling why media outlets are still covering who has been infected. 

The first couple of cases, both among celebrities like Tom Hanks and the guy next door (more males land the disease than females), were newsworthy. Now they seem media clutter. 

Prince Charles has COVID-19. So? Story is only interesting if the angle is if Prince William will become king. And, will Prince Harry feel ambivalence about leaving dear old dad?

Obviously, there will be surge in retirements from career paths.

Many of those losing their jobs who were interviewed on television were over-50.

Research predicted the aging have targets on their backs. Researchers also passed along the grim news that if the displaced aging employee is blessed and is hired for another job only one in 10 will earn comparable compensation. 

Most likely professionals knocked out of their career box will have to throw in the towels on all that. If they can't afford to retire the traditional way, that is, not work at all, they will have to change their mindsets about how to earn income. Here, free to click open, is my guide on that Download Outwitting ageism.

Class of 2020 is the Unhinged Gen. 

That applies to bachelor, graduate, and professional degrees.

Most graduates will not have the customary ritual of the commencement ceremony as the bridge to The Next, that is uncertainty. It might surprise some but even law students lament no graduation rite of passage.

There may be few jobs requiring college degrees and beyond those. 

Promised jobs may no longer exist. The place could be shuttered.

The jobs which do exist might not last long. 

And, who doesn't face 20 years of paying off student loans?

The takeaway may well be: Reimagine a way to make a good living without higher education. 

Kroger is our friend. 

There is a posse to disinfect shopping carts before and after use.

Fresh produce is fully stocked. 

Self-check-out kiosks reduce human interaction. 

On the W. Alexis store in Toledo, I dropped beverage bottles outside and they burst open. Talk about unraveling.

Unasked, a clerk observing this escorted me back in to replace them free. The security guard oversaw the process. 

In his novels about the Industrial Age, Charles Dickens hammered this meme: The only way to get through economic despair is with the milk of human kindness. Both dispensing it and consuming it. Kroger dispenses it. 

Salvation rides in on two wheels - or re-learning how to do that. 

A Millennial neighbor in my residential complex is learning how to ride a powerhouse of a motorcycle.

For me, the Ok, boomer, it's getting back the skills and confidence I had in doctoral studies (that bit of higher education also had a lousy ROI and that had been years ago) tooling around Ann Arbor, Michigan on a Honda 90. 

Both of us felt euphoria about being able to get across a big street to the gas station to fill up.

The tough nut to crack remains turning on a dime. 

This formidable challenge distracts from preoccupations such as the future of our investment portfolios and if we will be among the dead.

It's an eye-roller for the thought leaders to pontificate the great good which could come from this global crisis. As Madonna had put it, "Papa Don't Preach." 

Smart global ghostwriting, with SEO and social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

FIRE: Has That Gone Way of Low-IQ Phone?

"We're not even officially in recession yet, and already the prognosticators have begun that we're shortly going to see the end of the Fire movement." - Tanja Hester, MarketWatch, March 25, 2020.

During the bull market, the Fire (financial independence, retire early) dream became popular. Yes, it was possible to bulk up an investment portfolio to the point that you never had to work again for income. In addition, those good with money or simply lucky could acquire other assets ranging from real estate to art. If they embraced frugality, they certainly had a shot at exiting what is called "the rat race."

That was then.

It will take years for the wealth lost in the stock market correction (or crash, depending on your point of view) to come back. Those wonderful jobs in which you can work X number of years and then retire early will be fewer, at least for a number of years. 

But, as the MarketWatch article points out, it's still possible to liberate yourself from doing work you don't want to do. Fire doesn't necessarily mean not working any more. Instead the dream is not to have to do the kind of work, when, where, and how that you don't want to do. That could become the new understanding of Fire.

What it requires is establishing a stream of income which you can live on. No, it doesn't have to be large. It just has to be enough. Call that a form of minimalism. 

Think: enough.

For example, a former real estate lawyer had had it. During the real estate crash earlier in the 21st century he had lost mostly everything. But along the way, because of his gross earnings, the amount of what would be his Social Security payment grew.

At age 62, he opted to do a Fire by applying for Social Security early. He hunkered down in a part of the midwest where his rent, including utilities, would be less than $600. He developed low-cost sources of pleasure such as attending no-fee lectures and tech workshops. And he has never looked back. 

Before the Fire concept caught fire (pun intended), in pockets throughout the United States such as Tucson, Arizona, ordinary people were already able to shake off the need to work at what they didn't want to do. They did this by relocating from pricey coastal metro areas and doing radical frugality. Some were even able to ditch the expense of a car by choosing a city with good public transit. According to Nerd Wallet, the monthly nut for car ownership is $702.

Yes, there are those who embrace Fire who are working part-time or even full-time. But it's what they had dreamed about doing. For instance, the job could be receptionist at an animal shelter or designing crafts to sell online. They don't "need" the paycheck. That's what makes Fire Fire. The word "retirement" should be deleted from Fire.

Smart global ghostwriting, with SEO and social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Relocation Check List: What about Public Transportation in Those Locations?

Relocation for retirement/semiretirement used to be relatively simple. 

On the check list had been:

•  Cost of living
•  Medical facilities
•  Weather 
•  Location accessible to relatives and friends.

Those remain on the list.

But with the cost of a new or even a gently used car escalating, another factor has been added.

Your current car or cars can go kaput, that is, the cost of repair isn't worth it. Or, it might not be fixable. 

Or, suppose you have an accident. The insurance company can double your rates. Or, even drop you. Getting insurance when you're in that pickle may turn out to be an expensive ordeal. 

Or, the car or cars may be operating fine, but with reduced income and few or no opportunities to increase it, the monthly nut could make it more and more difficult to make ends meet.  After all, increasing property taxes for home owners and the escalating cost of a rental for those leasing can derail a planned budget. Now you're fine. Then, you're not. 

Nerd Wallet reports that the expense for a car which travels 15,000 miles a year is $706 each month. The statistic comes from AAA. For a year that totals almost $8,500.

So, it's a downright financial necessity to review the availability of public transportation in the locations you are considering.

That information is available from a variety of sources.

One is the internet. For example, key in the name of the city and then "public transportation." For Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, here is what comes up.

Another is the city's chamber of commerce. When I investigated for a client if it was possible to retire in Mobile, Alabama, without a car, the chamber told me "yes," if the couple bought a house or rented an apartment in two parts of that city. The internet confirmed that. 

A third is the information on apartment rental websites. More indicate if the public transportation is available. Follow that up with questions about details for the rental agent. In one situation, the property manager disclosed getting to the bus required a 10-minute walk.

A fourth is to talk to people in the area. Yes, go to the horse's mouth. That can be as easy as retrieving on the internet the contact information for small local businesses. Ask the workers or owner about the public transportation. Sometimes the answer will be: It's available, but not good.

The cities with excellent public transportation, for instance, include Pittsburgh and Tucson, Arizona. Some cities have interesting hybrids. Bowling Green, Ohio, which is essentially a university town, has a bus system which provides "taxi" service at low rates. Just call in your destination and the mini bus will arrive at your curb. There are discounts for seniors, children, and those with disabilities. 

The seriousness of this financial issue associated with car ownership has been reinforced this week. A client, who had been carless in Manhattan for years, was relocating for professional reasons to Toledo, Ohio.

Here's his story. You bet, he needed a car. He called a local dealer about new and pre-owned vehicles for sale and lease. Even with an economy car, that is the four-door model at the bottom of the food chain, the range for the monthly payment was between $250 to $550. The salesperson recommended leasing for three years with a $2,000 down payment. The warranty would apply for the entire lease. The monthly bill with a larger than $2,000 down payment could be just north of $200 monthly. 

One insurance quote from a discount company was over $200 monthly. That was with the discount provided through having one's driving patterns monitored with a mobile app. 

Gas per gallon ranges in Toledo from $2.13 a gallon to $2.70. With the coronavirus curtailing economic growth and oil demand down the range currently is at the low end. But, gas prices have been wild cards.

With the warranty, those leasing would be insulated from many repairs. However, the usual maintenance costs such as oil changes are no longer cheap. Factor in car washes to get rid of road salt. Those are also no longer cheap. Some rentals bill extra for covered or garage parking. In downtown Toledo, where he was looking, one complex charges $50 monthly.  

The client has two children in college so he is financially challenged. In addition, since he is over-50, there is more than a 50% chance he will be forced out of any job he has. If he lands another job, there is only a 1 in 10 chance he will earn comparable compensation. Here are the recent research findings on all that. Overall, Toledo's public transportation is so-so. Given the long hard winter, it's no fun standing in the cold waiting for a bus. 

In addition to using public transportation, more seniors are also considering bicycling. The e-bike gives breaks from peddling. Trikes or adult three-wheel bicycles are becoming popular. 

For the more adventurous there are motor scooters. In many states, the moped version doesn't require a special license. They range in price, at brick and mortar dealerships (versus online), from $1,000 to $3,500. One quote from Progressive for total coverage, including collision and theft, is about $180 for a year, if prepaid. Some states, however, don't mandate insurance.

Takeaway: A fundamental in retirement/semiretirement is to reduce uncertainty. Car ownership entails the unexpected. 

Full Disclosure: My dream of being able to semiretire in five years is more possible because I kicked the car habit. I donated my car to Kars4Kids. I get around just fine w/o four wheels. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with SEO and social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

You Lose That Good Job - Hope Becomes a Misguided Emotion

TTake a look at LinkedIn Updates.

What's obvious is that plenty of your colleagues, that is, those over-50, are losing their good jobs. The current ritual is for the laid-off or the simply sacked to make that termination public on Linkedin Updates and ask for help. Such networking is smart. 

What's also obvious, both from experience and research, is that the majority of those sidelined will encounter major problems in the rest of their working life. 

That begins, found the Urban Institute and Pro Publica study, from the get-go of joblessless at 51.

The framework for the research dates back to 1992. It tracks those who were 51 at the time or afterward throughout the rest of their working lives. 

Here's the story. The norm after losing a job has been six month of unemployment.

That is usually followed with a 50% decline in weekly earnings over the next two years.  

In addition, reports MarketWatch, AARP documented that 90% of those who did lose a job will never earn comparable money.

It isn't rocket science: Frugality will be the new normal.  The cool term for that is "minimalism." And those doing that often feel like the new in crowd.

Reality: Your game has changed. A 62-year-old lawyer who was forced out of a law firm had the ah-ha moment that the big earning years were over. His specific response was to embrace the philosophy of "enoughness." It was enough to take day trips rather than one-week exotic cruise.

So, what are the must takeaways now that you are likely playing a new game? Or, soon will be?

From my coaching those over-50 who had lost a job or fear their employment is vulnerable, I know that there are two urgent priorities:

• One, professionals have to get back to work, any kind. The old saying is true: Nothing gets you a job like a job. Here, free to click open, is my bible on that Download Outwitting ageism.
• Two, professionals have to ensure they won't outlive their income. As long as their health holds up, there are many tactics for bringing in income, at any age, as well as continually downsizing expenses. In his seminal book "Making Toast," Roger Rosenblatt observed folks don't need much as they age. When health deteriorates, research into local, state, and federal resources can turn up ways to make ends meet. Adapt and prevent homelessness.

Essentially there are seven disruptions in attitudes and actions.

Ditch the magical thinking.

Sure, a wonderful earning opportunity could come your way. But the odds against that are 90%. What this entails is no longer looking back to past earnings for a guide to what should be current earnings. In addition, hope for "a miracle" usually will trigger extreme frustration. Brutally put, the best earning years may be behind you. And, that's that.

Expect more losses of jobs and gig assignments.

That very expectation prevents total collapse of income. For example, those I coach who continue to maintain financial security and even continue to build wealth establish multiple sources of income. They may have a full-time position as leasing manager for a 100-unit residential property, operate a small editing business, have a part-time job supervising a call center, and groom dogs. Leverage all job skills, dating back to high school, to maintain a stream of revenue.  

Here is my published article on what I label "mutt branding."

Learn new skills, free.

The sidelined public relations representatives can get the hang of search engine optimization (SEO) by retrieving and studying material on the internet. That ranges from YoutTube briefings to articles. More and more help-wanted posted on Craigslist for communications professionals require knowledge of SEO fundamentals.

In addition, the public library provides free tutorials.

And, universities such as Youngstown allow seniors to audit, for no credit, courses. The fee is probably about five bucks. The laid-off lawyer can boost the hourly rate in document review by acquiring fluency in another language. Two courses at Youngstown might do that. 

Consider geographic relocation. 

There are two reasons for that.

One is cost. Frequently, the toughest nut to crack in budgeting when earning less is the housing expense. In many cities those leasing are "cost-burdened," that is, paying more than one-third of their income for keeping a roof over their heads. Meanwhile the home-owners struggle with rising property taxes, unexpected repairs, and damage from acts of nature not fully covered by Social Security. The solution: Research where leasing or home ownership is more affordable.

The other reason is more work opportunity. After GM shut down the Lordstown, Ohio plant, the smart over-50 got it that they had to flee the area. Yes, there was the ripple effect of the closing of other local businesses, ranging from auto suppliers to restaurants. Also, some areas such as Arizona have a higher median age. There you could encounter less job discrimination. 

Consider reverse-retirement.

The Federal Reserve documents that one-third of those who retire return to work. The most common reason is worry about money. Elder Poverty is real. The best way to dodge that bullet is monitoring any changes in the ability to make ends meet. If things get tight, find work, any kind. That could trigger a new kind of career path.

The 66-year-old who started out as a security guard in the mall then landed a job overseeing loss prevention in a nonprofit retailer. When he became licensed to use a gun, he could seek jobs in a more lucrative niche.

Be circumspect.

Success attracts success. A sad story of chronic underemployment drives others away. Develop an elevator speech to recite when your work situation comes up. It should always have an upbeat spin.

NOT TO SAY:  "I have been out of work since X reorganized."

TO SAY: "I have been blessed. New doors seem to keep opening." 

P0ur out your heart to a tight-lipped friend or your dog. 

Start a Roth IRA. 

As long as you're earning income, you can continue socking away funds in a Roth IRA. When you withdraw those funds that will be tax-free. The deposits made are after-taxes.

Reflection: Over and over again, in the history of mankind, it's concluded that those who are willing and able to adapt survive. 

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.  

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Decision Made to Relocate: Now What to Do With All Your Stuff?

Leaving all you have known for decades is a tough decision.

But, relocation will lower your fixed costs, along with maybe better weather. Also, being in a location where the median age is higher can give you a better shot at full-time, part-time, and gig work. It might be ideal for launching a small business. 

So, you decide to do it: Move. 

Don't fool yourself.

The process of uprooting our life is disorienting and soul-wrenching.

For about 14 months after I took I-95 west from the New York Metro area to southwestern Arizona my head was in Manhattan. Of course, that delayed building a new social network. The residents' reference points ranged from New Mexico to California.

An especially difficult part of the upheaval is dealing with your stuff. What will go with you and what will you sell, donate to charity, or pass on to family and friends?

So common is that challenge, The Wall Street Journal published an article on how to downsize your previous life.

From those I coach and my own across-the-country move here is what I have learned:

•  We humans bond with our possessions. Often they are embedded with memories. It was on that couch we were sitting when we received the call that a person across town found our four-legged son. Nonono, that person would not accept a reward and yesyesyes that person was driving Sunny back home. Take photos of those possessions to preserve the memory, at least visually.
• Shipping is expensive, and getting more so all the time. That's even if it's a do-it-yourself. There are hidden expenses in leasing a truck one-way. Also factor in gas and tolls. Unless your budget is open-ended, you have to sort through and figure out what you yourself can transport. The exception is if the relocation is near-by
• Selling stuff is a time-consuming and frustrating process. You may or may not be up for that. If you are, don't expect a lot of money. That's even if you hire an expert to stage and handle the sale for you.  
•  If your plan is to donate most of it to charity, research that months before. Some charities won't pick up any more. Also, even if they do they may be overstocked at the time with household goods and aren't accepting any more. It's not unthinkable that you are near your move date and the house or apartment is still filled with furniture. To hire a service to pick up it up and dump it is costly. 
•  Take time selecting new stuff. And wait until you reach the new location to do that. A relocation is an opportunity for you to start over. That includes experimenting with new tastes. An interim option is renting what you need such as a bed and couch.
•  Used furniture shops have gone cool. Some even have niche specializations such as semi-antique. 
•  Want only new? Shop around. Make that a fun pursuit. Also, compare delivery costs. Those vary widely. 

One more thing: What eases the long-term transition is committing to return to your former life once or more. It took two trips back to the New York City region for me to let go. What I experienced is that so much of it had changed. And, rents had gone up significantly since I had left. That space essentially was inhabited by a new generation. I hadn't noticed they were "taking over" when I was there. 

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Harder to Make Ends Meet on Social Security

You're not imagining it.

Despite the boost of 1.6% in your Social Security check in 2020, you are having it harder to make it through the month. That's primarily because, as MarketWatch reports, that increase is lower than the current 2.3% inflation rate.

Inflation is being driven by the uptick in the price of keeping a roof over your head, gasoline, and healthcare. In the latter, the scary thing is the cost of medications. 

The good news is that there are solutions to bridge the gap between Social Security and what you really need to survive financially as you age.

Here are eight tips:

•  Work. Even a part-time job at a grocery store, fast food outlet, or call center can add $1,000 a month. Some jobs, such as call centers or grading standardized tests, can be done right from home. You can also start a very small business. There is no excuse for not continuing to earn income. Here, free to click open, is my book on how to land, hold, and move on to better work, at any age Download Outwitting ageism.
•  If you are keeping the family home, you have the option of co-living, that is, taking in boarders who provide skills and services you need. You get rent, plus someone to do the landscaping. Screen carefully.
•  Relocate. You probably can't afford to live where you built your career. To research different locations, just key in on a search engine phrases such as "Toledo, Ohio - Apartments for rent." That will give you a ballpark idea of the cost of living there. Also there are international locations. For those, key in "Ecuador - Apartments for rent." A starter guide for considering exiting the U.S. is International Living. 
•  Ask if businesses provide senior discounts. Usually you have to ask. That could be 10%, for instance, on a hair cut.
•  Consider if you need to own a car. Or can you get by on renting one now and then and Ubering it? According to NerdWallet, maintaining your own auto runs more than $8K a year, if you drive about 15,000.
•  Use the public library. That means you will never have to pony up the money for books, music, movies, and often even workshops in everything from digital to job search.
•  Senior citizen centers are worth checking out. They aren't what you imagine them to be. You could save a bundle on meals, training, entertainment, and wellness. Also you can enlarge your social network. 
•  Stop eating out, even fast food. Invite friends to a conversation over a cup of coffee. 

Radical frugality or minimalism is a growing movement. And not only among those eligible for Social Security.

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

So, What State Should You Choose for Retirement?

Retirement is "expensive."

That's even if you choose to relocate from where the cost of living is high to so-called affordable utopias like a coastal town in Mississippi. Even if you have savings/investments. And even if you are frugal.

That's because, in standard retirement (not semiretirement) you aren't earning income from work. Also, factor in inflation. In addition, there could be the extraordinary extra bills which tend to come with aging. Those include medical costs not reimbursed by insurance and a child who again becomes financially dependent.

A new report from GoBankingRates adds some scary statistics to all that. It documents how much you will need, in addition to your monthly Social Security check, to make it through 26 years of retirement and withdrawing 4% of your savings each year. The funds requirement is broken down by state.

The lowest cost state is Mississippi. There you will need $667,000.

The highest cost state is Hawaii. There you will need $2 million.

What are the implications from this GoBankingRates study?

Here are just a handful:

• Delay retirement as long as possible. And maybe never fully retire. That builds up your nest egg. Also, semiretirement keeps bringing in money.
• Don't assume there is any "smart" relocation per se. No matter where you move the cost of the living in the U.S. isn't cheap. Remember, the average monthly Social Security check is about $1,400. That could eventually be reduced. 
• Investigate the cost of living and the personal fit in locations outside the U.S. Currently, Portugal is a favorite. To find out the facts, International Living provides a good start. 
• Don't take on new debt. You may never be able to pay it off and wind up in bankruptcy. The court could garnish your Social Security check.
• Reduce fixed expenses. A major one is maintaining a car. The annual cost of that NerdWallet puts at $8,469.
• If you've been laid off or forced into early retirement, focus on how you can get back to paid work. Here, free to click open, is my book on how to land, hold, and move on to better work, no matter your age Download Outwitting ageism.

Survival and sometimes even enhancing a lifestyle usually come from a combination of the above. For example, I got out of debt and bulked up my investment portfolio by, from 2014 to the present, by:

• Relocating from the pricey New York Metro area
• Reconfiguring my two boutiques - communications and coaching - to telecommuting ones. Since I don't meet prospects and clients in person, age bias is less an impediment. Sure, they can check my age on the internet but few do.
• Reducing fixed expenses such as owning a car. Not counting any repairs which would have come up, that represents a monthly saving of $350.
• Not financing any big-ticket purchase such as a customized bicycle.
• Eliminating former "treats" such as eating out. Friends meet friends at Starbucks for coffee. 
• Depending on the public library instead of Amazon for books. 

If you want to share your story of managing the financial aspect of aging, please contact me Jane Genova at janegenova374@gmail.com.

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.  Especially those over-50.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Radical Frugality: Hang Out at the Toledo County Public Library

Founding father Ben Franklin had been the primary mover in establishing a way ordinary people had access to books.

That was the public library.

Since that time - the 1730s - the public library has become a lot more than books. Essentially, it's a Third Place, where human beings like to hang out, in addition to their homes, work, and school.

Currently, there are more internet stations, CDs, and DVDs than books. Outreach includes training in everything from how to search for a job to operate Microsoft Office. Groups book the community room for activities such as presenting the secular-humanists point of view.

Obviously, all this requires money. If the funding is less than needed, then the local library system can deteriorate. The brand becomes a joke. People use it less. The media can pile on.

That's why smart public relations is a must-do to keep the flow of funding going. Funding sources usually include:

Federal, state, and local grants

County/city allocations

Levies and referendums

Property taxes

Donations.

One of the best examples of a public library which knows how to tell its story is the Toledo, Ohio Lucas County Public Library. 

Glance at the check-out receipt. At the bottom is, in bold type, the statement:

"You just saved approximately ____ by using your Toledo Lucas County Public Library today."

For me, on 12/28/19, the amount was $140. I had checked out:

Against Empathy

Utopia Is Creepy

What I Wish I Knew When I was 20

Sober curious

Fat, Forty, and Fired

You Are Awesome

Given that I relocated to Toledo at the end of August 2019 and had checked out an average of six books weekly that means that, as the Toledo County Public Library documents, I have saved about $2,240.

Those savings can be channeled into buying more from local merchants. You bet, the public library helps drive Toledo's economy. 

Not long ago I treated myself to one of those specialized bikes from Wersell's Bike Shop, located on W. Central Avenue. The perk from shopping local versus online from a major ecommerce retailer is personal service.

When the bike was making funny noises, Wersell owner Jill had her team repair it w/o charge. An institution in Toledo since 1945, Wersell creates the infrastructure for a biking culture. That enhances the city's green ethos. In turn, that adds to its national profile. 

Another brilliant promotional tactic is the library's seasonal "Program Guide." In print (how cool), the 69-page brochure lists, by branches, all the activities for that time frame. The January - April 2020 one, on pages 17 through 19, has for the Kent branch these categories:

Young Children (0 -5)

Kids (5 -10)

Teens (13 - 18)

Youth

Adults (18+)

All Ages

For adults, free digital courses range from an introduction to Canva to Google Sheets.

A third way Lucas County Library puts itself out there is through its ability to nurture old-fashioned word-of-mouth.

When I mentioned that I would go to Barnes & Noble to try to find a map of Toledo, a neighbor told me that the LaGrange branch stocks those (free) in the lobby. You got it, again I saved money.

In a lecture on architecture, several attendees noted the contours of the West Toledo branch. Go look at it, they told me. 

And, when I needed a book for an upcoming assignment, the local client told me to forget Kindle. The Lucas County library system acts fast on getting to us books not at that particular branch, even new ones. More money saved.

When The Recession finally hits, public libraries throughout America will find their funding in play.

Before that, they can be proactive.

They can analyze how Toledo positions and packages itself as the go-to community resource. They can import aspects of that model.

Public opinion probably has become more powerful than government, leaders, and even wealth.

Smart global ghostwriting, with niche social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

You Have Permission to Stop Faking You're Still the High-Earner You Used to Be

Our lives started out in the conformist Eisenhower era. So, it's predictable that many of use still require "permission" to stop doing what is expected.

What's expected in America is to be successful. The more extreme, the better. Millionaire status just doesn't do it any more.

Since many of us baby boomers had met that expectation for success, we know how it looks, walks, talks, and spends. So, it's a piece of cake to pretend we are still at the top of that big game.

We take on that acting role when that game, for too many of us, got hacked.

Simple aging could have done it. This is no country for old men and old women. Yes, it's worse for women.

And/or technology ate our specialization.

The brass replaced us at one-third our compensation with a 31-year-old.

Our nest egg went kaput in 2008.

No one is buying McMansions and we can't cash out to retire and save face.

The network we depended on retired or died.

Divorce wiped us out. 

Yet, as Elizabeth White outs in her book, there is a compulsion to pretend we are still those high-earners or soon will be again. That pretense is primarily to ourselves. That expose of our illusions is "55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal."

I would have called the book "Magical Thinking Post-50."

The energy needed to play that role prevents us from putting together a fresh path to earned income and another type of lifestyle. 

The good news, White hammers, is that once we let go of fake, possibilities bloom. Yes, she gives us permission to ditch the assumption that we will again be who we had been professionally. Of course, that could happen. But the odds don't favor that.

Meanwhile, recent research documents that once we are knocked out of the box, only one in 10 of us will ever earn what we had been.

Free help is available.

At the public library you can withdraw "Necessary Endings" by executive coach Henry Cloud.

Grab someone you trust and kick off the grieving process for the former you. Yes, you need someone to bear witness to your pain.

Here, you can download at no cost, how to exit your comfort zone. You bet, you need to do a 180.

And, here you can also click open at no cost, how to land, hold, and move on to better work, no matter your age Download Outwitting ageism.

It was when I stopped chasing what I used to earn that I began to again make decent money. For instance, I lost the desperation in my sales pitch. Well-paying assignments came my way.

In addition, I relocated from where I had owned the This Old House and a cottage at the shore. There were no explanations to provide to anyone when I had traded down to minimalism. 

Currently, every month I can sock away funds into an investment fund. Of course, we should continue to invest post-65.

If I wanted to retire, I could afford to. But I don't want to.

Because I am not pretending to be who I was I can find joy in who I am now. A shocker? The same kind I experienced when the corporation cut me loose and I launched my own business. It was a stunner that I was a natural entrepreneur.

Do you have a story to tell about de-faking it? Please send it for possible publication to janegenova374@gmail.com.

Takeover: Less usually turns out to be much more.

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

How The Fat Girl Saved Her Life (and didn't develop diabetes)

Diabetes is a nasty disease.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 9.4% of the U.S. population has it. That percentage will probably increase. 

In 2014, I was heading that way. Quickly.

Actually, the medical doctor's eyes popped when he glanced at the lab results. "You are on the border of diabetes," he said, sternly. And he added that the other numbers didn't look too hot either.

What flashed through my mind was the old neighborhood in Jersey City, New Jersey. There, a woman had lost both legs to diabetes.

Also, my sister Anne Murga-Ring had specialized in diabetes treatment at the former Christ Hospital in Jersey City. That included providing lots of education about that condition. I knew. 

I did something about this. Several somethings.

This wasn't my first rodeo in suffering the consequences of indulgent eating habits.

Some might recall there had been a time when it was a mortal sin, some considered unforgiveable, for a female to be overweight. I had been such a sinner.

"No one will marry you," the they warned.

At Seton Hill College, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, it seemed to always be about my weight.

In my first corporate job - Gulf Oil - it was also about my weight. But less directly since that kind of issue was against the law.

When my father was dying, relatives standing by the deathbed did note, "You lost weight." 

Finally in 2014, I made the decision to eat right and stay eating right. I researched pre-diabetic conditions. For almost six years I have been on a low-carb, low-fat eating plan. Hard at first, yes. It does affect mood stability, at first. But just standard living now.

Another something was relocating from the careerist Northeast Corridor. I packed up the dog and we headed across country to Tucson, Arizona. There, no one gave a damn there about careers. If you paid your rent and didn't vomit drunk in the courtyard on Saturday night, you were okay in their book. I began to like myself. It took time but that mutated to the ability to love myself. 

Stress also was reduced by the lower cost of living. My rent (I had sold my house in the 2004 real estate boom) was about a half what it had been in Connecticut. So was the car insurance. 

The third something was movin' that body. I make a religion of working out. Eventually, I donated the cars to Kars4Kids. I now live in Ohio where you can walk everywhere. Where I can't walk I use my trike (adult tricycle). According to those calculations, one Sunday I rode off 802 calories. 

The fourth was meditation. Nothing too sophisticated. I learned the ropes at a Buddhist temple, then incorporated the practice into my daily ritual at home.

Yesterday, the doctor's office said all my numbers, including for glucose, were within normal range.

Yes, it is possible to get well and stay well. There was no tongue-lashing about my weight. It wasn't bad for "someone my age." No longer do I shop for clothes in the plus-size stores. 

I have no idea what other medical conditions will hunt me down. What I do know is that some health tragedies are avoidable. As for the trauma left over from being a fat girl, that has a long half life. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.