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Baby Boomers Blog on Stage of Life

Information, Resources, and Coupons for Empty Nest Story and Retirement

Stage of Life® is a free writing community for Baby Boomers in the Empty Nest and Retirement stages of life.  Get involved with our educational mission:  Share a life experience about your empty nest experience or retirement planning, explore our retirement and empty nest resources, such as information about the Baby Boomer generation, quotes about Retirement, statistics about Baby Boomers, and more.  Plus, save money with our coupons for Baby Boomers.  Whether you're a retiree (or soon-to-be retiree) or "Empty Nester" - we look forward to reading your essays about and helping you save money during the empty nest and retirement years.

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Winning Essay WritersWinning Writing Contest EssaysFor over half a decade, StageofLife.com hosted on of the world's largest, monthly, multi-generational writing contests.  We've gathered up all of the essay winners, student and adult, from the past six years to feature on our writing contest winners page.  Between 2010 and 2016, we selected one essay each month from across all of the non-student life stages to win our monthly blogging contests. 

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Empty Nest & Retirement Stories

The Secret of Happiness: A Sense of Humor

Written by: bfrances, on 06/03/2016
Life can be complicated, with trials and tribulations from birth to death, and all the convoluted paths we travel in between. Having a sense of humor helps us smooth the rough edges of life.When we are annoyed by the neighborhood sound of a loud automobile horn honking and ask at the dinner table, “Who could be doing that!” and the reply from our seven-year-old daughter is “Beeps me!”, all is right in the world again!When we don’t take ourselves too seriously and see th...

The Secret of Happiness: A Sence of Humor

Written by: bfrances, on 05/30/2016
Life can be complicated, with trials and tribulations from birth to death, and all the convoluted paths we travel in between. Having a sense of humor helps us smooth the rough edges of life.When we are annoyed by the neighborhood sound of a loud automobile horn honking and ask at the dinner table, “Who could be doing that!” and the reply from our seven-year-old daughter is “Beeps me!”, all is right in the world again!When we don’t take ourselves too seriously and see th...

What is the Secret of Happiness: Security for My Special Needs Adult

Written by: [email protected], on 05/13/2016
Only minutes after 2 year old Kevin’s diagnosis as a person with autism (PWA) I questioned: “Who’ll take care of him when we are gone?” We agreed that as soon as the right placement came along for him, we’d accept it. But the likelihood was that there’d be no spot until we were well into old age. We went to work on creating the life he needed. Following were a stream of stressors: locating a home program for preschool PWA (special education rights run fro...

What is the best solution when your 36 year old son does not spend holidays with you?

Written by: Carolina, on 05/09/2016
I moved a year ago from California to North Carolina to be near my only son who is 36 year old. He and his girlfriend have lived together for nine years now. His girlfriend has a daughter 14 and a son 10. I thought when I moved closer that I would be spending most major holidays with them however that has not been the case. I have spent every holiday alone and most times not even a phone call. I know they are busy and I understand how difficult it can be raising...

Retirement: Where to 'Be'

Written by: StageOfLife, on 04/30/2016
There’s a theory (mine) that the seismic activity on Vancouver Island is the result of the accumulated weight of translocated retired Albertans pressing down on the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate, causing it to dive under the North American plate in an imminent and nasty subduction. I think we can expect the whole kit and caboodle to undergo a major shakedown and tsunami rinse in the near future. Yet the retirees continue in their mass mi...

Is it wrong if guests don't want my husband at home for holidays that are in my house?

Written by: Freya56, on 04/25/2016
The last three years the family and most of my friends have been subjected to my husbands insisting that our abuse that was not meant of 24 years Before he was crippled by MRSA, Has left us without any rights to decide he was not participating in family vacations, holidays, and other functions, because he was no longer fit socially to deal with them.Last Christmas I had guests coming to where we live now, its a 1230 mile trip, There were many that voiced concerns that my ...

The Secret of Happiness: Appreciating Small Moments

Written by: readarose, on 04/06/2016
In our culture, we are conditioned to focus on the major events in life. Consider how elaborate weddings have become. How about birthday parties? When I was a kid, you were lucky if you had a few children over to your house for cake, ice cream and game of musical chairs. Today, extravagant venues and elaborate themes are of the expectation for a child’s birthday party. We live from one big event to the other and in the process often ignore the small, sacred moments that...

Second Chances: Gut Instinct

Written by: bfrances, on 03/31/2016
I do believe in second chances, but sometimes you have to go with your gut instinct. I was a Girl Scout and Brownie leader and a liaison for our troops to the Service Unit.One year I also volunteered to be the Cookie Chairman. I was a stay-at-home mom and this was my first job supervising adults. I recruited one of mothers in the Scout Troop to help me out. I was giving her a second chance. She had helped me out previously and it hadn’t turned out well. I don’t reme...

Six States You Should Consider Retiring in

Written by: BrookeChaplan, on 02/19/2016
There are numerous factors all seniors should evaluate before choosing a retirement destination. The first element most retirees think about when deciding on an area is usually the climate. However, there are many other factors that should also be considered. Prior to packing up and choosing a destination solely based on the weather, it’s important to assess other factors. Factors such as political stability, healthcare, education, safety, transportation, public services, rec...

Second Chances..Wrap and Re-new

Written by: Sjofunny, on 02/09/2016
Second Chances, Wrap and Re-newEmpty Nester and House Projects…words that don’t go together, or at least they shouldn’t. I mean afterall, didn’t we raise two kids and make it to the finish line?!There was just something about the word “foreclosure” and the price that went with it that we couldn’t resist. So Goodbye big house, and hello condo.How many times through the years with all of our moves had we been faced with a few good “house projects”. Okay, this move would be...

Writing to Grieve the Loss of a Loved One

Written by: dgallehr, on 02/06/2016
The loss of a loved one can be heartbreaking, and it is so important for our loved one, and for us, that we complete the grieving process from beginning to end. Writing about our relationship with them is one of the most effective ways to grieve, and while it make take months or years, it leads us to the point where we are ready to move on with our lives while maintaining the love we will always have for the one we’ve lost. In addition, and if appropriate, we can also pass ...

Eve of the First of the Next

Written by: Bill Hamilton, on 01/01/2016
As I sit here in the soft glow of twinkle lights emanating from our Christmas tree and the pine boughs on the fireplace mantle above I reflect on a year gone by.Mixed emotions fill my head as I rejoice in the birth of another Grandchild Jacob whose smile and demeanor even at his tender age brings me joy. A successful year with tours and the association of people from all over the world enlightened me. The loss of a close friend I grew up with saddened the year. It brings to ...

Be the Change: This Changes Everything

Written by: Silver Fox, on 12/23/2015
The daily news torments me with a story of a violent, devastated world. Last week, after viewing the documentary film “This Changes Everything”, our audience debated. Is climate change real? How big an impact does human activity have on the coming crisis? Can individuals truly make a difference? Is life on earth, as we know it, -doomed – or is there hope? When I was young, we caught frogs that leaped in abundance around our feet at the lake’s edge. Fish swarmed around the e...

Moving Out: Six Cities Perfect for Retirement

Written by: BrookeChaplan, on 11/20/2015
Retirement is something everybody looks forward to. It is a time when you can relax, travel, and try things you never had time for before. Many decide to move to a new city after they retire and below is a list perfect for retirement living. Franklin, TennesseeFranklin is a city located about 20 miles south of Nashville. The cost of living is relatively low and the tax rate is lower than the national average. This is a safe city as well, having pretty low crime r...

Why won't grown children allow grandma time with grandchild?

Written by: Cinrich, on 10/26/2015
I have friend whose grown son and his wife set time limits on when my friend can visit her only grandchild. Her son talked her in to moving from her home of 35 years to the town that he ans his family live in. She was an excellent mother to him ans his sister and raised them as a single mother.They were brought up right. She was never abusive in any way and always did the right thing by her children. She has lived in this town for about 2 years now and has only seen her gra...

The Environmental Problem We Call Busy

Written by: Tammy Whitehurst, on 10/26/2015
Busyness Is Not a Spiritual GiftI can easily become overloaded, overburdened, and go overboard with busyness in my daily environment. I get so busy that waiting is not an option. Wait is a tough word to deal with in today's busy world. Being too busy can distract us from the most important things in our lives—people. The most important thing in our environment. Busy is the enemy of peace. Busy steals precious time. Busy robs my blessings.Waiting Time Is Never Wastin...

The State of Speech

Written by: klodwick, on 09/14/2015
I hate to be the bearer of bad news folks but I'm afraid the term freedom of speech should probably be changed to the freedom of some speech. It is a little telling of my age but when I was growing up in the sixty's and seventies it was taken very seriously, however today I see a complete reversal. Our parents and teachers used to recite to us from an early age the old “sticks and stones” saying and it was for a reason, it is true. We used to say, “I don't agree with you bu...

Seshendra Sharma : A Poet's Biography

Written by: saatyaki, on 09/05/2015
My Father’s Story of LifeWHO ARE THE HEIRS OF SESHENDRA SHARMA?The literary world is aware that my father Gunturu Seshendra Sarma, eminent poet, litterateur and scholar-critic, died on 30th may 2007. Ever since he expired, there has been no mention of his parents, family members and other personal details in the news and in the articles about him. Not only this, fictional lies are being spread and using money power one shady lady is being propagated as his wife and so on. ...

Family Vacation: The Trip We Never Made

Written by: Daisho, on 08/28/2015
When you are living in Florida driving is almost a necessity. So I learned to drive and got myself a license in 1975.Our family vacation was to be in Key West. With much anticipation, the car was inspected a day before and was packed the night before. “Dad, how much longer to get to Key West?” Greg sounded from the back seat as he was getting bored. “Mom, I’m thirsty. Can I have something to drink?” at Greg’s side Dean followed as if he had to say something, too. “All rig...

FAMILY VACATIONS: A Dude Ranch is for Everyone

Written by: bfrances, on 08/27/2015
In 2013 I got a settlement from an accident. The whole thing took over two years; and during that time I teased my family about finding a vacation that we and my two daughters’ families could enjoy. A cruise was out of the question, because one son-in-law got seasick and the other, being a sailor, would want to pilot the ship himself.While I was thumbing through one of my husband’s fishing magazines I came across what looked like a good compromise. A lodge on a lake with ...

Family Vacation to Find Our Family

Written by: popsiemom, on 08/23/2015
The kids in our extended family were reaching high school and college age, and we decided to make one last big family trip with everyone. Twelve of us, aged 14 to 75, traveled to Ireland to keep a promise to my sister, who was making plans for a family trip when she died of cancer. She left the money in her will for all of us to go, and we spent 10 days coming face-to-face with the country that produced our great-grandparents and our grandfather. We rented three cars and thre...

There's An App For That: Why Not Getting Lost Is A Good Thing

Written by: penny4yourthoughts, on 07/13/2015
There’s An APP for that: Why Not Getting Lost Is A Good Thing I love technology, and have many APPS on my phone and other devices. So technology is not particularly a problem for me at my age. I taught school for many years so I retired ahead of the game with a comfortable appreciation of the Internet and the all powerful APPS. I love the game, information and productivity APPS I use, but there was no hesitation when I thought about which APP was my favorite. Google Map...

Etiquette for overnight guests

Written by: bothielm, on 07/09/2015
I recently had a group of 10 family members from out of state stay with us for a week. FOUR of them stayed in our garage apartment while the others stayed in our guests room in the main house. When they left the garage apartment was left in a horrible state. Is it wrong to expect guests to clean up after themselves before leaving especially when they were given free room and board for a week?...

There's an App for That: Making Life Easier to See

Written by: rhale, on 07/06/2015
The lights are dimmer. The print is smaller. The sewing needle manufacturers no longer put thread eyes in needles. I have my prescription glasses for driving but now I have dollar store glasses for print (and threading needles) along with magnifying glasses. I even found a magnifying glass that has a built-in light. I hold things under my chair side lamp, under my overhead light then under my halogen lamp. I need all of these in an effort to compensate for the consp...

Pearls of Wisdom: Facing the Mirror at 50 - The Ballet Blog

Written by: liz pearl, on 06/09/2015
Week 1 For months M has been nagging me to attend ballet classes with her. I have a plethora of valid excuses: it’s dinner time, it’s carpool time, it’s TV time, it’s snack time, etc. The truth is; I really don’t have a single legit excuse. So with substantial ambivalence, I anxiously agree to give it a try. Actually, I have pretty much convinced myself I am doing M a friendly favour. After an extended nearly 30 year hiatus, I find myself surrounded by mirrors, standing at...

Teacher Appreciation: My Favorite Teacher

Written by: bfrances, on 05/31/2015
I first met my favorite teacher when she was nine years old. I was dating her brother, who eventually became my husband. We had been dating awhile and we had to stop by his house for some reason. We entered through the back door into the kitchen and she was wearing an oven mitt and was taking something out of the oven. I was amazed that her mother thought she was old enough to assume a baking task. In retrospect, I now realize the relegation was a matter of necessity ...

Teacher Appreciation: She has Moxey

Written by: Silver Fox, on 05/31/2015
Her name is Emily Moxey, and she inspired and transformed the lives of the children in her Life Skills Class. Her students were in the 5th – 8th grade, and all were diagnosed with severe intellectual disabilities. Often, students in her class also had serious physical disabilities. Ms. Moxey opened her classroom door – and the door to the outside world – wide for them.She worked down the hall from me, and I tried to visit her classroom whenever I could. When the challenge...

"Fight or Flight"

Written by: 007pandas, on 05/18/2015
Fight or Flight******************The love story of Jeb and Suzy.On the first day of kindergarten Jeb & Suzy were seated at the same table when she leaned over, whispered into Jeb’s ear, and said. We are going to be married one day.After school, Suzy told her mother, who she was going to marry and her mother laughed, just as Jeb’s mother laughed when she was told the news. What they didn’t know is that Suzy was serious about her prediction and she told her mother...

Where Am I Going?

Written by: Sheila, on 05/17/2015
I am no longer working, and living with renal dialysis. I need to work out what to do with the rest of my life....

Animal Stories: Window Sill

Written by: jeade, on 05/11/2015
One day as I sat reading a book on my comfy couch, I happened to look up and see my three cats growling at each other. Buffy, my long haired grey and white male, sat on the window sill in the living room. He growled and hissed at Terra and Abbey. As I watched them yowling at each other, I could imagine the conversation they were having. Abbey, who was a regal looking Persian, had a rather commanding demeanour; after all she’d been with me for fifteen years. Buffy had...

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