Category: Column

The First Step for a Working Future

In my 2005 book Boom or Bust, I made the case that if you are prepared, it is never too late to do the work you are meant to do throughout the bonus years of your lengthening life. But if you’re not prepared, watch out for the storm clouds ahead.

Notice that I used the word “work”— not the word “job.”

Even so, you may be thinking…

• I am retired.
• Employers think I am too old to hire.
• I can’t do the physical work I once did.
• I don’t have a high school diploma or college degree.
• I don’t know where to start looking for an opportunity.

These are some of the fear words and phrases I hear every day.

Swallow this. Fear will not lead you into a more financially secure, societally connected, healthy world. But I recognize how fear stops action for many people, educated or not; physically challenged or not; old or not. Should you think that I have not walked in your shoes, I will share that I am 80 years old and in some ways wearing down, while in other ways revving up for new adventures. You can, too, because the need to remain engaged is a lifetime truth for one and all.

Rather than offer you a lengthy strategy, I suggest you take your first step — and only your first step — into the next phase that will include future work.

On a daily basis for the next several weeks, jot down a few notes related to ideas for your working future. Include inspirations, dreams and ideas that may surface around you every day. Use your imagination and remember that work can be done for the good of community, for free, for income, part-time, full-time or some of the time. Ideally, find a regular time to add daily notes to your personal journal. Don’t worry about grammar and spelling — you are the only one who will read what you write. Step No. 1 is up to you and for you only. It is your internal journey.

We will cover more steps next issue. Remember, please, without a first step, you will only be hoping — not planning — for a working future.

In the meantime, allow me to offer a gift for the holidays. If you take the time to capture your ideas in a daily journal and know how to use email, please reach out to me. I’d be happy to give you feedback.

NEW WORKFORCE HAWAII
Carleen MacKay
916-316-0143 | carleenmackayhi@gmail.com
www.newworkforcehawaii.com
Contact Carleen via her website and receive New Ways to Work, a free PDF book co-written with Phyllis Horner.

In my 2005 book Boom or Bust, I made the case that if you are prepared, it is never too late to do the work you are meant to do throughout the bonus years of your lengthening life. But if you’re not prepared, watch out for the storm clouds ahead.
Beyond the World of Full-Time Jobs

Over 30 percent of the people who work don’t have full-time jobs. In a few years, that will increase to almost 50 percent.

Working even one day a week will provide psycho-social advantages to an engaged senior.

There are plenty of options. Here are just a few:

♦ Pet sitting. Learn more at www.Rover.com. This is a fast-growing business as residents travel and vacation on the mainland and elsewhere.

♦ Caretaking and caregiving of the old, the young and the challenged. Learn more at www.wilsoncare.com and by doing further research.

♦ Tourism and hospitality. There are options that do not require standing for eight hours a day. Some of these options may even include working from home; for example, proposal writing to prospective buyers and/or website maintenance.

♦ Grant writers. Grant writing is an in-demand skill and talent and a viable option if you are already a capable writer. Look for free, easy classes at a community college.

♦ Board members and paid/unpaid mentors. Membership and mentoring are sometimes seen as voluntary missions. But often, there are gratuities offered. Go to www.mentoring.com.

♦ Health and life coaches. These skill- and knowledge-based options are in high demand for struggling youth and older populations. The rewards may often be financial, but always meaningful. For ideas, go to www.flexjobs.com.

♦ Adjuncts and subject matter experts. More than half of U.S. university/college faculty are adjuncts. They are compensated and doing something that matters. Subject matter experts are adjuncts in the private, nonprofit and public sectors who offer unique value.

♦ Interim professionals. Organizations now engage interim professionals as an integral part of their staffing management plans as a key to maintaining a flexible and nimble workforce.

♦ Stipend workers are paid a flat sum for work done on behalf of an organization in any sector. There are strict rules governing stipend pay but they are worth exploring. Explore your options.

NEW WORKFORCE HAWAII
Carleen MacKay 916-316-0143 | carleenmackayhi@gmail.com
www.newworkforcehawaii.com
Contact Carleen via her website and receive New Ways to Work, a free PDF book co-written with Phyllis Horner.

Over 30 percent of the people who work don’t have full-time jobs. In a few years, that will increase to almost 50 percent. Working even one day a week will provide psycho-social advantages to an engaged senior. There are plenty of options.
The Journey Continues

Yes, the journey of life continues even after we retire!

How long our journey on Earth will be is one of the unknowns we must live with. In my earlier article, entitled, “I’ve Never Been Old Before,” I wrote about how lost I was when I retired from my career in the federal government. It took me quite a while to find purpose and meaning during the empty days that kept coming at me. Thankfully, I realized how rewarding it is to give back in whatever way you can.

For the past 11 years, our church has offered a men’s class called “The Journey Continues.” We have witnessed how helpful it’s been for many working and retired men who attend this class.

The men of The Journey Continues. Steven Kawamura (R, top row) says he has been blessed to be a part of this great, supportive group of men.

While studying the Bible is what brings us all together each Sunday morning, we value building relationships and seek to encourage one another in whatever ways we can. It is not easy in today’s world to find balance in one’s life and sometimes just getting through a week can seem almost impossible. That’s been the value of having a weekly class where you can come and be refreshed and completely renewed.

My life experiences have shown me that many men are living very lonely lives. Unless they are able to address this early, they risk coming to the finish line without anyone cheering for them.

If you see yourself in this article, it’s not too late to bounce back. Just look around you to see if there is anything you can try right away. You’ll be amazed at how many doors will begin to open to you if you do this. That’s been my experience.

Another surprisingly easy thing to do is just ask people you interact with on a regular basis. You’ll be amazed at how helpful their responses will be. Then just go for it.

Some Thoughts to Think On

“If you aim for nothing, you will probably hit it.” So why not try aiming for something and see what happens.

“My whole life has been preparation for now.” So make the most of what’s ahead by using what you’ve gained so far.

A final thought: “Not all who wander are lost”

If you feel like you are wandering aimlessly, remember that it is not too late — there is still time to avoid becoming “lost.”

Yes, the journey of life continues even after we retire! How long our journey on Earth will be is one of the unknowns we must live with. In my earlier article, entitled, “I’ve Never Been Old Before,” I wrote about how lost I was when I retired from my career in the federal government. It…
Tips for Traveling With the Grandkids

Mae and Gil Mendelson invited their grandchildren to join them on vacation, continuing a family tradition started by Mae’s grandparents.

The grandsons, ages 11 and 13, were in agreement: no museum visits on our week-long trip to Toronto and Niagara Falls. Sad words for a grandmother who spends her days as a docent. However, sharing the itinerary with the grandkids before we go is one of the lessons my husband and I learned. After expressing their concerns about being bored, they agreed to visit one natural history museum with us.

We started taking our grandkids on trips without their parents to create shared memories and to get to know each other in a more personal way. It is somewhat of a tradition in our family. My mother took our children to Japan without us. These trips remain cherished memories. In a way, we are continuing her legacy.

For the Toronto trip with our grandsons, we designed a shared agenda that included something for everyone — we saw a baseball game and went to an amusement park.

Traveling also means eating out. Even though I am just as addicted to my devices as my grandsons are, we created one rule for all of us: When we go out for dinner, the electronics stay home.

Taking our granddaughters to London taught us a different lesson: the value of being flexible. As planned, the girls visited the National Gallery, sketched in Trafalgar Square and went on a scavenger hunt. Our itinerary changed abruptly when the girls discovered that an online video festival was in town. So we skipped our planned trip to St. Paul’s Cathedral and joined a YouTube event in which thousands of young people were queuing for a meet-and-greet with their favorite YouTube celebrities. We had suddenly crossed a generational divide. It was awesome. Letting them lead the way was an extraordinary experience and taught us so much.

If you are thinking about traveling with your grandkids, it helps to purchase tickets online for your daily activities. And you always want to be prepared. The benefits can include quick entry, access to special exhibits, and discounts to gift shops and cafes. Bringing their passports, medical cards and written parental permission gives you the right to make decisions on their behalf.

Traveling with your grandkids can be a rewarding experience. Trust your judgement and theirs, and have fun making memories together

We started taking our grandkids on trips without their parents to create shared memories and to get to know each other in a more personal way. It is somewhat of a tradition in our family. My mother took our children to Japan without us. These trips remain cherished memories. In a way, we are continuing…
FREEDOM: Working in New Ways
For the past few months, I have been introducing you to the concept of working in new ways beyond the old, familiar routine of working a regular, full-time job in an office.

Now, many ask how to optimize their independence from the old, familiar world of work. How are they doing good, making money, overcoming feelings of isolation and having a healthy lifestyle?

Let’s begin a new journey by addressing freelancing — i.e., working for yourself.

The Freelancers Union predicts that over 50% of the U.S. population will be freelancing full-time in 10 years.

Today that number hovers over 30%

What started out as “gigs” has become the preferred way of working for many — and if ever there was a perfect landing spot for a prepared mature workforce, freelancing is it.

What I have been repeatedly asked is: “Does freelancing confine you to working from home?” The answer is no.

Option 1: Collaborative Workspaces

Have you heard of it? This is the fastest emerging way of how, why and where to work. There are now a couple of dozen shared office spaces throughout the islands. While I have not visited all these shared spaces, I am very familiar with two in Honolulu. Box Jelly is a co-working space that offers monthly memberships as well as meeting and event space for members and non-members alike. The Impact Hub near the Whole Foods main downtown store is handy and the parking is easy. Both offer a Wi-Fi connection and a collaborative atmosphere where people share ideas and knowledge. Thus, the need for collaboration and social interaction are met.

Option 2: On-Location

While we like working from home some of the time, half of us spend some work time in our clients’ offices. We bond with full-time teams. We integrate into several of the daily experiences others share. But we get a break from the daily grind, and often, this break is just what we need — especially at traffic time on a highway anywhere in Hawai‘i.

Option 3: Off-Location

Quite frankly, working anywhere is possible. Have you been to your favorite coffee shop lately? Look around. Or worked at the corner library? Come on; you’re only limited by the past. This is now. Define your time and space.

NEW WORKFORCE HAWAII
Carleen MacKay
916-316-0143 | carleenmackayhi@gmail.com | www.newworkforcehawaii.com
Contact Carleen via her website and receive New Ways to Work, a free PDF book co-written with Phyllis Horner.
For the past few months, I have been introducing you to the concept of working in new ways beyond the old, familiar routine of working a regular, full-time job in an office. Now, many ask how to optimize their independence from the old, familiar world of work. How are they doing good, making money, overcoming…
Harmonica Seniors Are Healthy & Happy

Seniors of the Small World Harmonica Band

Growing up in Hawai‘i, I played a ten-hole harmonica by ear, but lost interest because I could only play the same old songs and was not getting any better. As the years sped by and before I found anything interesting to enrich my life, I became a senior facing retirement. Doing nothing was not an option so I began to search for the elusive experience that would bring harmony into my life.

One day, I went to a concert and saw a group of seniors playing with a tremolo 21-hole harmonica. Everyone wore attractive red and white uniforms that enhanced the lively group’s sense of harmony. I was amazed by the variety of songs they played — sometimes with two harmonicas simultaneously. At the end of this wonderful performance, I knew this is what I had been searching for.

My retirement dream of doing something worthwhile became a reality when I joined the Small World Harmonica Band, an ethnically diverse group from all walks of life. I was immediately introduced to an exciting world that not only renewed my interest in playing the harmonica but also made me a member of a friendly social group.

The beginner’s group met weekly in free classes; we learned to read numerical notes, breathing techniques, and how to hold and properly clean the harmonica. It also provides health benefits by exercising the lungs and stimulates the mind from reading numerical notes and transposing them into music. After learning the fundamentals, we began to play a variety of music including Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, American and Latin songs.

Stanley plays with his harmonica group at events and senior centers.

By diligently practicing, I finally felt comfortable performing at care homes, senior centers and adult living facilities. Entertaining this audience, many in wheelchairs who smile and applaud as we play music of their bygone days, is a heartwarming and memorable experience. But, the real beneficiaries of this entertainment, I truly believe,
are the players themselves, since it lifts their spirits and gives them a good feeling.

The Hawai‘i Harmonica Society will celebrate its 22nd annual recital and concert at the Mission Memorial Auditorium, City Hall Annex, on Saturday, July 13, from 10 am to noon. This program is free and open to the public, and free parking is available at the municipal parking lot at Beretania and Alapai Streets (Beretania Street entrance).

Anyone interested in joining a group and learning to play the harmonica, contact any of the phone numbers listed below — I’m sure you’ll find it enjoyable.

SMALL WORLD HARMONICA BAND
Stanley Fujii, Publicity Director
808-943-2011 | stan_fujii@hotmail.com
Rev. Mamoru Yamasaki — Mililani | 808-623-7692
Frances Tagami — Honolulu | 808-595-6884

Growing up in Hawai‘i, I played a ten-hole harmonica by ear, but lost interest because I could only play the same old songs and was not getting any better. As the years sped by and before I found anything interesting to enrich my life, I became a senior facing retirement. Doing nothing was not an…
‘I’ve Never Been Old Before’

I’ve never been old before so this is a new experience for me. After retiring from a 37-year career, I found myself adrift. What should I do now? The days seemed very long as I pondered what I should fill them with. Life looks very different when you remove yourself from the “working world.” You feel as though you are invisible when you are with other people.

“What do you do?

“I’m retired.”

“Oh. What did you use to do?”

Joy Fellowship members always cherish getting together at every meeting.

Already you begin to feel as though life is now passing you by — at least in the eyes of others.

The next phase in this process of aging out of the working world is to rethink whether you should have retired or not.

“Maybe it was too soon. Maybe I should have kept working.”

This definitely did not help me in adjusting to the life I am now living.

Finally, I realized there was no turning back. I needed to face what was ahead and make the most of it.

Now that you are not part of a work community, you can feel isolated. Well, I’ve always heard that if you want a friend then be a friend. Maybe it was time to try this out. As I began taking the initiative and making lunch appointments, I found that others were going through the same experiences as I was. This shared feeling made me feel better.

Then I began to hear about different activities available during the week for retirees — but nothing sounded good to me. Then I heard about something at our church that was open to all. You didn’t need to attend our church or even go to church at all, so I decided to try it out. It turned out to be just what I needed.

(L–R) Steven enjoys the company of his friends, Ginny and Ada.

Joy Fellowship meets every Thursday from 9 am to noon and is open to non-church or other church seniors. It is a well-planned time that includes a variety of activities — crafts, singing, sharing, exercises, a short message of interest — to keep people involved and entertained. The morning ends with a healthy lunch.

There are also special events during the year, such as monthly visits from the Kalihi Union Church Preschool (it’s great to see seniors and children together), a day trip to Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Gardens (includes a ride in a school bus, unless you drive) and a Senior Olympics usually held during the summer. Currently, there are about 80 seniors attending.

It’s not easy in today’s world to find a place you can go to and feel cared for — especially if you are a senior. Joy Fellowship is open to all and perhaps if you are reading this, you will be motivated to check them out on Thursdays at Kalihi Union Church.

I’ve never been old before so this is a new experience for me. After retiring from a 37-year career, I found myself adrift. What should I do now? The days seemed very long as I pondered what I should fill them with. Life looks very different when you remove yourself from the “working world.” You…
WORK: A New Proposition for Boomers

For most mature employed people, work was considered having a job with one or two companies in a working lifetime. Now retired, many may still have debt; few have the savings to take them through their remaining years.

Countless mature workers believe that just one more job, perhaps much like the one they just left, is all they need to secure their futures.

Unfortunately, those jobs may no longer exist or they may have been completely re-framed so that they are no longer a possibility for most mature workers. However, key pieces of the job they once held are likely to be important to employers and/or clients as organizations struggle to do more with less in order to remain competitive and successful.

The boomer dilemma is realizing that the previous slow march to the future is now a race to understand and adapt to meeting unprecedented problems with a new game plan. The boomer proposition: New strategies and new options — not old tactics and old jobs — that are the order of this new day. Adaptation is the key.

Instead of thinking of work as your next job, think of work as your contribution to both your community and your wallet!

Here are a few ways to reach for viable, near term income through work that matters.

Work from home. Almost 2 million Americans (including many thousand in our beautiful islands) have embraced the idea of working from the comfort of their home office or couch. It is a strong recommendation for people seeking to increase their work-life balance. Google the term and be amazed at how many opportunities are presented.

Consider freelancing. Up to 40 percent of new opportunities within today’s organizations will not be full-time. These flexible opportunities are often perfect for mature, independent workers who market and deliver their own unique services when and as needed at their own choice.

Create a portfolio. Some have success by putting together short-term contract or part-time work in order to develop and ensure a balanced flow of income from multiple sources.

Note that nowhere in our suggestions is the word “consultant”— an old word that has become synonymous with someone offering high-priced advice. Instead, refer to yourself according to what you do.

And no matter what you end up doing, there are a lot of options for life after retirement. A great place to start is asking family and friends. There are a lot of jobs and opportunities, once you realize there’s a new way to work.

NEW WORKFORCE HAWAII
Carleen MacKay
916-316-0143 | carleenmackayhi@gmail.com
www.newworkforcehawaii.com
Contact Carleen via her website and receive a free PDF book called New Ways to Work, co-written with Phyllis Horner.

For most mature employed people, work was considered having a job with one or two companies in a working lifetime. Now retired, many may still have debt; few have the savings to take them through their remaining years. Countless mature workers believe that just one more job, perhaps much like the one they just left,…
Self-Care, Self-Healing the Natural Way

Last school year I fell down half a flight of stairs, bruising my left hip. It was an accident where I was just happy I didn’t break anything. At age 63, I should have been more careful! X-rays indicated the need for a hip replacement but, since I’d been practicing self-care for the past fifteen years by using wellness products, I thought I already had everything needed for my body to heal itself.

I first started seeking healthcare solutions when my daughter injured her neck during gymnastics training. We went to numerous specialty doctors who recommended a variety of treatments but we saw no sustained progress for her pain management. I quit teaching to find a solution and discovered natural healing products that help the body function as designed. My daughter went through a healing crisis where she felt worse before she felt better but then she had less pain and then no pain. When her brothers saw the value, they also wanted these products. They experienced better alertness in school, speedy recovery from sports injuries, less sickness and permanent allergy relief. Amazingly, however, sharing our story has not attracted followers because of the “ask your doctor” mentality in our culture.

Part of my self-care includes hydrating with purified alkaline water, eating a plant-based diet, supplementing to build bones (prevent osteoporosis), getting deep sleep and exercising regularly. All this helped tremendously until I hit the floor again by horse playing students near the end of the school year. I could hardly walk due to the repeat impact to my hip. Chiropractic and massage worked wonders but were needed more often than insurance allowed.

We can’t repeat the same actions expecting different results, so I went to see a naturopathic doctor for cannabis. With a medical cannabis card, I made my own tincture, teas and biscotti. After two weeks on cannabis I could lift my leg

up to ride my bike when I couldn’t prior to the fall. I can’t recommend anyone make their own medicine due to the problems of pure sourcing, processing and dosing. I recommend using CBD transdermal patches because it has better bioavailability than when ingested. It also bypasses first pass metabolism in the liver, making it gentle for ages 2 and up according to the Natural Medicines

Database. It’s like a Band-Aid that dispenses a sustained dosage for 24 hours with no bad taste!

I love my retirement lifestyle of self-care. It provides daily motivation to be physically active and the mental challenge of choosing what to put into or expose my body to, as well as the “can do” spirit to help others do the same.

Last school year I fell down half a flight of stairs, bruising my left hip. It was an accident where I was just happy I didn’t break anything. At age 63, I should have been more careful! X-rays indicated the need for a hip replacement but, since I’d been practicing self-care for the past fifteen…
Living a Full Life of PIE

I have been a social worker, with a varied practice, for over 40 years. Suffice it to say that I am somewhat of an extrovert, with a love for meeting, relating and living with family, friends, colleagues and even casual acquaintances. As a social worker, I developed a skill set and method to connect with individuals and to help them connect with each other. My passion, which I try to live out daily, is to allow people to come up with solutions to problems that disallow them from living a what I call a “full life.”

You know, the profession of social work’s claim to fame is the theory “Person-in-Environment” or PIE. Not only does the social worker relate and deal with the person but also the environment and relationships he or she lives with; those intimate realities of life that affect the “personhood.” Once, I was trying to explain this to a client when we were sitting next to a pond and talking story. So, I took a stone and threw it in the water. As it landed and made concentric circles in the water, I said, “This is what you and I do when we meet. We make these concentric circles.” He understood right away. We must have thrown at least 30 stones in the pond, between the two of us!

Preaching my first sermon, 2016

So my passion, still, even after years of social work, is to “make and eat PIE” with folk. Three years ago, after a period of theological and faith formation, I was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church. I found that my passion for God and Faith was combined and integrated with my passion for people and life. In my way of living a “full life,” I find that my priesthood allows me to practice a kind of “divine” social work, in that I am connecting people with each other and with God. The PIE I now “make and eat” becomes pastoral and sacramental with and for others.

Not long ago, I was at a meeting of social workers, and a couple of colleagues asked for my opinion as a priest. Naturally, we started getting into the PIE of the issue and I focused on the stone thrown in the pond as a metaphor. Then I asked my colleagues to consider what would happen when the stone is thrown in the water vigorously — with verve and gusto! Ah, then our discussion took on dimensions that heard us talking about water “leaping up” and stones “coming out” and concentric circles becoming “irregular and converging.” There we were, professionals, discussing very secular things and mixing it up with somewhat theological and numinous realities.

Yes, my “life is full.” It is full for the people, in relationship with each other, that I know and meet. Yes, I “make and eat PIE” whenever I can.

The profession of social work’s claim to fame is the theory “Person-in-Environment” or PIE. Not only does the social worker relate and deal with the person but also the environment and relationships he or she lives with; those intimate realities of life that affect the “personhood.”
Since When is work Fun? Since Now!

Welcome to CREATIVE new ways of working throughout our ever-lengthening lifetimes.

Let go of the past. You are both the author and central character of your Third Act. Let your imagination wander as you read about new ways people over 50, 60, 70 and beyond are having fun, making money and devoting their creativity and energy to all the areas of their jam-packed lives.

Cruise line opportunities  All types of workers fill short-term, fun positions that allow them to contribute their knowledge on board. Google “cruise line opportunities” and you will be surprised by the available options. Don’t Google? Ask your keiki or grandchildren to teach you.

Ensemble collaborators  The single voice is a song. The collective voice is the Hallelujah Chorus. It is in “teaming” where fun and profit meet. Often labeled as “shared sourcing,” services are provided through the unique efforts of individual contributors from a co-committed group.

In one local group, team collaborators help people optimize future health, well-being and financial security. Team members enjoy their work and refer opportunities to one another. The result? They are busy, productive and socially connected.

Interim professionals  Interim professionals are the leaders of change during various periods of organizations’ life cycles. Increasingly, interims are hired during rapid expansion and not for their ability to handle past crises. Most are subject-matter experts whose knowledge is critical to effect desired results in this fast-evolving world of ours.

Get-paid networks  Get paid for taking part in research studies, opinion surveys, clinical research, focus groups, passing out free samples in grocery stores… even standing in line for others. Google various areas of interest such as “Get paid to write” or “Get paid to…” (fill in the blank).

Internet opportunities  Examples of internet based opportunities include affiliate marketing, where you get paid a commission for generating clicks on another company’s website from your own. You could sell your own stuff online, or help local businesses draw customers into their store or restaurant. The internet provides the perfect opportunity to start a side business that can be operated by working a few hours a week.

Go ahead — explore!

NEW WORKFORCE HAWAII
Carleen MacKay
916-316-0143 | carleenmackayhi@gmail.com
www.newworkforcehawaii.com

Contact Carleen via her website and receive a free pdf book called New Ways to Work, co-written with Phyllis Horner.

Let go of the past. You are both the author and central character of your Third Act. Let your imagination wander as you read about new ways people over 50, 60, 70 and beyond are having fun, making money and devoting their creativity and energy to all the areas of their jam-packed lives.
Building a Fine Arts Museum on Maui

My current goal is to help Maui Arts League build a Visual Fine Arts Museum on West Maui — for our children, residents and visitors. My husband and I have always valued art and were inspired by collecting fine art. I believe art makes people happy. What could be better than surrounding yourself with family, good friends, delicious healthy food and beautiful art?

Working for my community keeps my mind active, takes me all over the island, and leaves little time to become a couch potato! I think this approach to life makes me look younger than I am. I may feel like a centenarian some days (backaches or joint stress), but at 73, I ordinarily wake up fresh and eager to accomplish something of value.

If you want to keep enthusiastic about life, feeling vibrant, looking young and fit — just volunteer. My parents passed on to me their dedication to volunteerism and I am thankful for their wise insight and guidance on how to get the most out of life.

I worked long hours during my career at IBM. In retirement, I still liked setting goals and keeping busy, so I donated my time and skills to art organizations first in Austin, Texas, and later on Maui when we relocated here. I work just as much volunteering as I did at IBM, but now my imaginary ‘paycheck’ is much bigger!

You can give back to the community by donating time to your favorite nonprofit organization as a docent, a greeter, office helper or event staff. Pick groups that fit your passion: literary groups (especially children’s organizations like Book Trust), health groups (cancer, hospice, hospitals, care homes), or arts groups (Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Honolulu Museum of Art, Maui Academy of Performing Arts, Maui Arts League).

My retirement goals focus on community work because I don’t have children. If your focus is on family, keeping busy and setting goals works well too! If you’d like to chat about growing old and art, send me an email. If you live on Maui, a cup of coffee may be in the cards.

———-

MAUI ARTS LEAGUE
Lois Reiswig | infomauiartsleague@yahoo.com
www.celebrateartonMaui.org

My current goal is to help Maui Arts League build a Visual Fine Arts Museum on West Maui — for our children, residents and visitors. My husband and I have always valued art and were inspired by collecting fine art. I believe art makes people happy. What could be better than surrounding yourself with family,…