Baby Boomer Sabbatical Sisters!

Baby Boomers are redefining retirement just as they have every other aspect of their lives. There are 78 million of us and 10,000 turn 65 every day.

In fact, we “sabbatical sisters” fit that category of people born between 1946 and 1964 and we have dealt with, or are dealing with, this redefinition.  The fact that we are writing books, running retreats, doing research and consulting is but an example. We have much we still want to do in our next chapter.

So we are writing our next book, which we are still to title, on this topic! For now we are calling it the Baby Boomers Guide to the Next Chapter. Just as we are exploring what this next phase of our lives means, we are also looking for new words to describe it. Retirement is a word that has multiple interpretations, we are finding.

The idea came to us not only from our own experiences and that of our friends, but from the voices of people who attended our Reboot Your Life Retreats and those we interviewed. The majority of 45-65 year olds who come are looking for meaning after ending their primary career, or are saying “now it’s time to follow my passion,” or want to know how to design their next chapter of life.

You will begin to see more articles, blogs and tweets on the subject as well as our newsletter coverage as we uncover new ideas and meet fascinating people. The Sag Harbor Retreat in August will begin to bring in some new exercises and the Sun Valley Retreat in October and the Santa Fe one in January 2014 will focus primarily on that next phase of our lives. It doesn’t mean we won’t still focus on sabbaticals or reboot breaks….we will teach that you can “reboot your life” at any age!

We will share our findings as we continue to research, talk to recent and soon-to-be retirees, talk to organizations who want to help their employees plan for retirement and create new material for our retreats and the book.

Here are 5 things to think about in designing your next chapter:

• What are my real interests and passions and how do I go about finding them again? 
• Do I need to have income coming in throughout my next chapter? Do I have enough saved and invested if I live to 100? 
• Where do I want to live? Near grandchildren? Near friends? Near healthcare providers? Near the ocean or mountains? 
• Is my spouse or partner ready to try a new life? What might hold us back? 
• Do we want the same things? Have the same dreams? 
• How can I design my next chapter so that I have enough money and time to follow my dreams? What do I need to do now?

These and other questions are what we are researching and will hope to answer by showing you examples of what people have done or are doing.

Stay tuned!

“That session was phenomenal!”

“Love the ideas of walking meditation and morning pages. Thank you!”

For more information, please visit http://inspiringwomensummit.com/

And listen to the full session below!

InspiringWomen2013-04-RebootYourLifePanel

VINEGAR BRAISED CHICKEN

We suggest seasoning the chicken with salt a day in advance. Makes 6 servings.

3 ¾ pounds bone-in chicken pieces, preferably dark meat

2 ½ tsp. kosher salt, divided

½ tsp. ground black pepper

1 ½ Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1/3 cup finely chopped shallots

1 ½ cups red wine vinegar

1 cup chicken broth

2 Tbsp. tomato paste

1 cup canned whole peeled plum tomatoes, drained and quartered

6 cloves garlic

4 sprigs thyme

3 bay leaves

2 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Season chicken with 2 tsp. salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven or wide, ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Arrange half the chicken in pot in a single layer and cook, turning once, until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.  Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining chicken.
2. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 2 minutes. Add vinegar and cook until much of the acrid aroma has dissipated, 3 to 5 minutes. Add broth and ½ cup water, bring to a vigorous simmer, and cook until slightly reduced, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Whisk in tomato paste and remaining ½ tsp. salt. Add tomatoes, then arrange chicken in pot, skin side up, pouring over any accumulated juices from plate. Tuck garlic, thyme, and bay leaves in liquid. Cover pot snugly with foil, then lid, and transfer to oven. Cook 1 hour and 15 minutes, until chicken is very tender.
4. Let rest 30 minutes; discard thyme and bay leaves. Scatter parsley on top and serve.

VEGETABLE SALAD WITH SALSA VERDE 

Makes 6 servings

4 medium beets (about 1 pound)

Kosher salt

1 head cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets (about 6 cups)

2 large leeks, white and light green parts only, thickly sliced (about 3 cups)

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

2 Tbsp. brined capers, drained and roughly chopped

2 Tbsp. finely chopped cornichons (French gherkins)

1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest

¼ tsp. ground black pepper

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange beets in a baking dish and add water to reach a depth of ½ inch. Cover dish with foil and bake until beets are tender, and 1 ½ hours. When cooled, peel and slice into wedges.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cauliflower to a colander and rinse with cold water until cool. Drain well and transfer to a large bowl. Return water to a boil and repeat process with leeks.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together oil, parsley, capers, cornichons, zest, ¾ tsp. salt, pepper, and garlic to make a salsa verde.
4. Arrange beets on a large serving platter and drizzle 3 Tbsp. salsa verde on top. Toss cauliflower and leeks with 6 Tbsp. salsa verde and scatter over beets, then drizzle remaining salsa verde over top. Serve at room temperature.

KALE WITH ONIONS AND PINE NUTS

 Makes 6 servings

1/3 cup pine nuts

1 ½ Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

2 yellow onions (about ¾ pound total), cut into thin wedges

2 bunches Tuscan kale (about 1 ½ pounds total), stems removed, leaves chopped

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

¾ tsp. kosher salt

1. Heat a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add pine nuts and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes; set aside.
2. In same skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brownand tender, 12 to 14 minutes. Add kale, lemon juice, and ¼ cup water and toss gently. Cover and cook until just wilted, 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, add reserved pine nuts, red pepper flakes, and salt. Toss well and serve.

PARSLEY POTATOES

Makes 6 servings

Kosher salt

2 pounds small red potatoes

4 Tbsp. butter, cut into small cubes

2 Tbsp. finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

¼ tsp. ground black pepper

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add potatoes, and return water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer gently until potatoes can be pierced with a fork but are not completely tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large plate.
2. One at a time, cradle each hot potato in a clean towel in your hand and use a paring knife to gently peel, discarding skins.
3. In a large skillet, bring ½ cup water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add potatoes. While gently swirling the skillet, add butter a few pieces at a time until completely incorporated, 3 to 4 minutes. Continue to cook, swirling skillet often and gently tossing potatoes, until sauce is thickened and potatoes are tender, about 2 minutes more.
4. Remove from heat and toss with parsley, pepper, and salt to taste. Serve immediately.

(All recipes can be found in the April 2013 edition of O Magazine)

Sometimes it takes time to realize how much we’ve accomplished, and other times we know and are ready to celebrate.  Regardless of where we were on that continuum, 13 of us gathered in Brooklyn on April 14 for the Reboot Your Life Reunion, for some amazing food, drink, company, discussion and a Reboot refresher.  Do you have food this wonderful at every retreat and every reunion?!  Is it always so tasty and healthful?! 

While we came from a few different workshops over the past 4 years, the reunion, or I’m gonna call it “refresh”, was the same investigating, pushing, supportive atmosphere. What impresses me is not only the intimacy of the gathering (wonderful food, welcoming location, small group), but also how impressive each individual is – diverse skills, backgrounds, and life circumstances, from different industries, some entrepreneurs and innovators.  The participants were smart, ambitious, and warm and real – honestly wrestling with things and genuinely successful.  We’d experienced or were in the middle of recent adoptions, recent deaths, long marriages, and looking for the landing in the career redirect.  I know I was frustrated that I’d not accomplished what I had thought reasonable for a year’s time frame… but the workshop reunion, and the thinking afterwards reminded me of the power of having written those goals down last year, and how so much of it HAD come true.

• I had literally dozens of planned and unexpected opportunities to reconnect with family and friends last year (one of my goals had in fact been to reconnect with family and friends),
• I had taken the time in my sabbatical (and afterwards) to volunteer with several good causes around my new city, and to explore museums and gardens and other organizations, as well as regional weekend trips. Yesterday, someone said to me “Yes, the New York Botanical Garden is in the Bronx. Thank you for knowing that! Most think we got married in Brooklyn.” 
• I had wanted to build buffers – emotional, spiritual, financial, of my time – call it a counter-balance to my entrepreneurial and non-profit-y sides – asking for help more readily… and I truly felt more centered and myself – the basics of regular exercise, sleep and interaction have helped. And my skinny jeans fit now, even after the dryer!

Both last year at the retreat and this year at the “refresh”, I spoke about how much my music and singing centered and energized me; I would pour myself into the song’s story or message, communicate and connect with people. No matter how I have felt before a rehearsal or concert, no matter the themes of the songs, afterwards, I have always felt cleansed and joyful.  Now, while I didn’t meet my musical goal of doing a show this year, I have attended a few open mikes, and have a group of Rebooters and refreshers who are ready to come listen when I do.  What clicked in talking about this hobby-passion at the reunion, was that my next career didn’t need to be based only on my skill sets, but had to also be something that engaged my heart and passion. I wrote my pages the last few mornings, took the time to notice what has occurred this last year, as well as re-commit to my circle goals, I am feeling refreshed.

So, a week after the Reboot reunion or refresher, I’ve realized it stirred up thoughts, hopes, “don’t worry about that-s”, and a mindset shift, that has proved a quiet, slow, but huge shot in my arm.  And an energy boost that has stayed with me through our week of alternating winter and spring weather. Thanks, Sabbatical Sisters and fellow Rebooters/Refreshers!

We here at Reboot agree exactly with what the paradox the author articulates: Sabbaticals are about “unstructured time exploring without specific goals in mind. “But (this is the paradox) this is often exactly what you need to improve your career.”

Read the full article for more exciting benefits from taking a sabbatical!

He is the author of the recent book Rising Son: A Father and Son’s Bike Adventure across Japan.  In the book and in his talks, he shares entertaining and sometimes harrowing stories from the adventurous family endurance challenges he has taken with his two young children across Japan, Iceland, and Western Europe.  He offers encouragement and tools to the audience to come up with their own adventures, unshackle themselves from sedentary living, too much stress, self-imposed limits, and anything else that gets in the way of pursuing a healthy, meaningful life.

You can check out video excerpts from his talks given at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-xCWcWC0TM

was an Intel executive

I would like to introduce Alan and Nancy of Kentucky, whom I met recently on an airplane. Their retirement story embodies the key concepts we at Reboot Partners espouse about planning your next chapter. As we have continued our research on Reboot Breaks and undertaken new research on retirement, we are reaffirming these themes.

1. Plan Ahead - For a Reboot Break, try to plan a year ahead. For retirement, start 5-10 years out, which is what Alan and Nancy did. They started planning at 45 to retire at 55. They are now 70, and their retirement planning has worked out well.     

2. Think About Where and How You Want to Live - Alan and Nancy started by planning where to live, knowing that their finances would dictate moving from Long Island to somewhere less expensive. They enjoyed the process of choosing  rural Kentucky through research, travel, and subscribing to local newspapers. Seven years before retirement, they bought a parcel of land and camped there several times, getting to know neighbors and reaffirming their choice. They designed a house five years ahead, then built it themselves after moving to Kentucky. They have lots of living space on 64 acres and do not live near others. But, they are very active in their community. Their living expenses are a fraction of what they were in New York.   

3. Live Life to the Fullest - People love to discover old and new passions to explore. Often it is travel. Alan and Nancy have traveled literally all over the world, and it is not luxury travel – one of their trips was to Africa, where they traveled in a truck for 61 days from Kenya to South Africa. They are going to Europe next, but only for a month and only to 8 countries!

4. Give Back - There are so many different ways to volunteer, and it is a great way to be fulfilled and give back. Alan and Nancy started a volunteer fire department in their area and both participate. Nancy is a fire captain, meaning she is in charge of a fire truck; Alan is a fire fighter. He also teaches special science programs in the schools for which he started a non-profit to enable getting grants for the programs and financing field trips for the kids. Nancy and Alan volunteer for disasters around the country, and they also review cases and care of foster children. She knits tiny hats and blankets for preemie babies and runs gardening clinics too!

5. Stay Healthy and Stay Connected to Family and Friends - Alan and Nancy are in great health and vigorous and are very passionate about life and what they want to contribute and do. Their only regret is that their two children and grandchildren live long drives away.  But, they are happy to make the 11- and 13-hour drives to stay in close touch.

As the flight was nearing our destination, Nancy finished the handicraft project she had been doing while we talked and graciously handed it to me. Whenever I wear that scarf, I will remember this vibrant, inspiring couple and imagine them in their Kentucky house, fire truck, or adventuring somewhere in the world.

Cathy talks about the Reboot Your Life book, the secrets behind making a partnership work between four co-authors and partners, and why people are motivated to quit their jobs to start a business.

Read the full article here.

We were delighted to find Jane Fonda’s inspiring TED Talk about “Life’s Third Act.” Within this generation of people living 30 years longer than previous, the view of age as the declining end of an “arch” or a pathology is changing – Ms. Fonda suggests instead that aging is a staircase – “the upward ascension of the human spirit bringing us to wisdom, wholeness, and authenticity. Not pathology but potential.”

Our work re-envisioning retirement and pre-retirement planning follows this belief exactly – we help organizations and individuals re-imagine the possibilities of their “third act.”  How can you use these added years to your benefit – to be vibrant and successful?

There is nothing like a mini Reboot Break to feed the soul.  I have recently returned from two weeks in Brazil that met so many of the criteria we here at Reboot Partners espouse.

How my trip was turned into a Reboot Break:

• My travel mate was one of my closest friends who has never been to Brazil so I had the pleasure of seeing her big smile and eyes open with amazement around every corner.

It was a perfect Reboot break.  We disconnected from work and technology, which in turn cleared our minds to see and learn all sorts of new things. That and reconnecting with friends refueled our creativity and spirits as we headed back home.  As always, we would love to hear from you – how are you using travel this spring to Reboot?