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Renee Langmuir was an educator for 34 years in public schools and at the university level. After an unplanned retirement, Renee chronicled her transition in a series of personal essays on the website, https://www.therookieretiree.com/. Her writing has appeared on the websites Agebuzz, Next Avenue, Forbes and in The AARP Ethel Newsletter.

Latest Posts By Renee Langmuir

1 week ago

Classical Music Is My Constant Companion

Recently, the young actor Timothee Chalamet created a stir when he stated that “no one cares about ballet and opera.” Although the backlash was swift and strong, there is no doubt that classical art forms are struggling in the modern world. The audiences are aging out, ticket sales and funding are dwindling…

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3 months ago

“Retirement” Is Not a Dirty Word!

When I was newly retired several years ago, I created a website for those rookies in my cohort, so they could benefit from my experiences transitioning to a new stage of life. On that website, I included a definition of retirement, which felt quite tongue and cheek at the time: “to withdraw to a place of safety and seclusion.”

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5 months ago

Have I Lost My Zest for Travel?

One of the 10 commandments of retirement must surely be “Travel as much as you can!” Budget limitations not-withstanding, many early retirees view…

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7 months ago

The Vanishing Serendipity of Retail Shopping

A timeline of retail shopping in America and abroad is an excellent vehicle for women of our cohort to chart their personal histories. Coming of age when individually owned shops prevailed, entering our prime during the age of the shopping mall, moving forward…

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8 months ago

The Superpower of International Television

Whenever I tell friends I only stream international television, I usually encounter the same reaction: a blank stare, or a statement which negates the “supposed” onerous task of viewing a program with subtitles. While it is true that I have always preferred Art House films…

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10 months ago

Aging Overachievers: Stand Down!

When I first retired at the tender age of 65, I posted a reminder to myself on the fridge: “Less is required of you!” I needed to look at that little nugget of wisdom repeatedly. One does not seamlessly shift gears upon receipt of a first pension payment…

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1 year ago

A Reluctant Traveler Passing Through the Stages of Retirement

Retirement planners have coined the clever terms Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go to describe the three distinct stages of financial planning which ease the burdens of growing older. Equally, if not more significant, these phrases succinctly describe…

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1 year ago

The Wisdom I Gathered from Three Marriages

I have been married three times. If you met me, you would know immediately I am not the Elizabeth Taylor type. My three men did not seduce me with rock-sized engagement rings. I did not tire of any of them: they were or are all good men! It is only life’s unpredictable…

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1 year ago

Volunteer Burnout?… Volunteer Self-Care!

There are three well known stages of retirement: the Go-Go years (late 50s to early 70s), the Slow-Go years (mid 70s-80), and the No-Go years (80s-90s). Of course, there is some variability for retirees depending on their physical health. Right now, I’m 72…

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1 year ago

Technology Is Making Me Old Before My Time!

I’ve been keeping a running list of technology fails recently. There are events on a smaller scale such as our iPhone connected deck lights going on every time there is a change in weather, or the frustration of jazz music blaring out of my smart speaker when my…

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