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There’s a new normal that’s emerging for our nation’s seniors. No longer are older Americans quitting their jobs by age 65 and riding off quietly into the sunset. Instead, they are starting businesses, writing books and cycling across states.
Carey Kyler, vice president of consumer experience and strategy at AARP’s Life Reimagined, says her group’s research points to older Americans, particularly those between ages 45 and 65, swapping out traditional retirement for a new life stage. According to Kyler, this time in a person’s life is when they may embrace their passions, explore new ideas and set out on adventures they never would have attempted in their younger years.
“This is a life stage generations before didn’t have,” Kyler says. “The boomers and the Gen Xers will have to be very creative about what they do with it.”
Even seniors who have taken a more traditional approach to retirement say it’s not what you might think, and it’s definitely not a time to be lazily puttering around the house.
Most importantly, seniors say retirement is fun. Millennials might wonder what older Americans do with all their free time, but those who are in the thick of this life stage say they’ve been given the opportunity to do things they couldn’t during their younger years.
Whether working or playing, today’s seniors are embracing their later years as a time to shine.
Psychologists have found time and again that a walk in a city park is much better for the tired brain than a walk down typical city streets. (Even a quick window view of some greenery can do a body good.) The leading explanation is called “attention restoration theory”: whereas our mental faculties get fatigued by the busy streets and tall buildings and crowded corners of urban life, they get refreshed by the undemanding nature of nature.
Most of the work on attention restoration theory has focused on adults or hyperactive children. But new research from Anne Schutte and Julia Torquati of the University of Nebraska and Heidi Beattie of Troy University extends the restorative power of urban trees to very young kids (under 8) whose attention capacities are healthy but still developing.
The research trio recruited two groups of children for the study (excluding those with diagnosed attention deficits): preschoolers (ages 4 and 5) and school aged (ages 7 and 8). Half the kids took a 20-minute walk through a typical urban environment, and half took a nature-filled stroll.
After the walk they kids returned to the lab and took a series of several tests designed to measure various aspects of their executive functioning. The idea was simple: if urban nature refreshed the mind, the kids who did the park walk should score higher than those who didn’t.
The researchers did find some evidence that trees can restore attention in young, healthy, developing brains. In other tests, however, nature didn’t have a measurable effect.
According to the research trio: [T]hese findings along with those from other studies have important implications for educators and policy-makers as they make decisions about green space in child playgrounds, amount of time for recess, and even the planting of trees and the provision of green space in urban neighborhoods.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2015 is returning to the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. This year’s event will see 18 collegiate teams compete to determine who can design and build the most attractive, cost-effective and energy-efficient solar-powered home. The event runs from October 8-11 and October 15-18. In this article, Ben Schiller, a writer for Co.Exist, provides an overview of this year’s competition.
The Solar Decathlon – the Department of Energy’s biennial solar house building competition – starts up again this October, and it looks like the homes on display will be as creative as ever.
All designed by students and all energy self-sufficient, the homes give a glimpse of what could become mainstream in home-building in the next few years.
Richard King, who launched the first Solar Decathlon back in 2002, says there have been a lot of changes since the early days. The houses back then tended to be functional; they tended to incorporate solar panels as an afterthought to the design; and they didn’t have the fancy technology we have now, including smart home control systems and intelligent windows.
“Now it’s all about how you design beauty and architecture into these houses. Then, they were just sticking solar panels up on roofs in any direction you can imagine,” he says. In 2002, seven of the 14 solar water heaters installed didn’t work properly.
King, who still directs the contest, says many of the homes in the 2015 batch nod to California’s drought, even though water conservation isn’t an explicit part of the brief. “You’re going to see an emphasis on water conservation because of the competition is in Southern California [in Irvine], where it’s a precious commodity almost more than energy,” he says.
For example, the house designed by the University of Texas at Austin and Technical University of Munich reuses greywater and captures rainwater. It has its own under-deck system that purifies and stores water for drinking or use in the garden, and it also incorporates an aquaponic system for growing food. The teams call it the “first water-independent home in Austin.”
This year, the houses must also be able to charge up an electric vehicle, so it can be driven at least 25 miles a day. The idea is to encourage architects to think about how to incorporate EVs, so solar systems can handle the extra load and so that they can begin to think about ways EVs and houses might interact.
Unless you’re a storybook princess of some kind, there’s a good chance that your bed doesn’t fill all the vertical space in your bedroom. How do you decorate that blank wall above your bed? This article from The Huffington Post outlines ten clever ways.
Home decor is all about mixing things up and getting creative, but when it comes to the bedroom it’s pretty much a given that you will be decorating around some sort of bed. Unless you’re living the hammock life, which is pretty cool too. So once you’ve set up the bed in the most logical position, it’s highly likely that you’re going to be left with a large, empty wall space above the bed. Obviously you’ll want to add some art ASAP, but if you’re not sure what direction to head, here are 10 clever and unexpected ideas to help you complete your sanctuary in style.
If you’re a spatial pro, fill that entire wall with a collection of artwork that will bring your room to life. Or choose soft and neutral pieces to keep the bedroom feeling calm and restful.
Odd-shaped bedrooms can make it hard to hang artwork, and small spaces can limit your options even more. Instead of cramming more pieces into your space, bring color and interest onto the wall behind your bed with a pretty piece of wallpaper.
Keep things classic and simple with just one big piece of art. For something restful, try a monochromatic piece of art, or opt for a colorful thrift store update for a fun, personal look.
Texture is just as important in the bedroom as it is in the living room. Adding a sculptural piece of wall decor will give your space a fresh and playful feel. DIY a macrame piece or choose a couple of pieces to anchor to the entire wall.
The wall above your bed is another great option for a big, reflective piece. If you love a room with lots of light, a statement mirror will reflect any natural light and make your room feel bigger and more airy.
When you come to that point in your life that it’s time to downsize, you can be faced with a lot of choices. Aside from choosing a new home, and potentially a completely new location to call home, you’ll also have to decide on all the things in your current home that you should keep or toss. This article from U.S. News collects some helpful advice from people who have already been through the process.
Many people, at some point in their lives, look around and decide they need to downsize. Maybe that means buying a smaller home or getting rid of one car. Maybe it’s a desire for less clutter. Or maybe it’s a far-flung goal to leave your kids less to sort through someday.
That was Kathy McCoy’s motivation after two “nightmarish house cleanings.”
“My parents were hoarders, and it took two years to clean out their 1,000 square-foot house,” says McCoy, a psychotherapist in Florence, Arizona, and an author of books that cover topics like teenage depression. “My aunt was not a hoarder but had many treasured mementos squeezed into her closets and attic. I made a firm decision after these experiences, to downsize my life so that no one I love will have to go through a prolonged cleanup after I’m gone.”
But downsizing is harder than it looks. McCoy says she and her husband managed to part with many of their belongings when they sold their home of 29 years and moved to an active-adult community. But even so, they’re still downsizing, she says.
No wonder it’s hard. After all, you spent a lot of money to get to where you are, and you don’t want to throw out everything you own, do you? (Well, maybe you do.) But before getting a bulldozer to scoop everything out of your home, try these tactics from people who have been there.
Take photos. It’s become pretty common among professional organizers to suggest taking pictures of items you don’t need but hate to throw out because of sentimentality. Still, it’s good advice, says Pauline Rick, a public relations coordinator for Mercy Ships, a nonprofit organization that sends hospital ships to the poorest parts of Africa for medical care.
Her best downsizing tip is to occasionally take stock of your stuff and find the things you aren’t using but are keeping for sentimental value. Then photograph those items before trashing, donating or re-gifting them. Generally, Rick says, it’s the memory you want to hang onto, and not the item itself.
Do not pay to store items. Just don’t. You’re paying to put off what you’ll eventually have to do anyway.
Sissy Lappin, a real estate broker in Houston and founder of ListingDoor.com, a site about selling one’s home, says 90 percent of her clients are downsizing because they’re empty nesters. The biggest mistake these homeowners make, she says, is getting a mobile storage unit, filling it, then paying for it month after month after month.
“I joke that once that stuff goes in there, it will never come out. I have clients who have had stuff in a POD for over five years,” Lappin says, referring to the popular moving and storage company.
Do a test run. So you want to get rid of a bunch of clothes in your closet or maybe a bunch of books you never read. Go through the motions of getting rid of them, but don’t actually touch them – yet.
Todd Kuhns, who co-owns a video production company in Kirksville, Missouri, says he and his wife have been downsizing for a few years and have embraced the test-run concept.
“For example, we went through all the cups, glasses and dishes in our kitchen cabinet and, instead of immediately getting rid of things, packed a bunch of them up and put them in a box in the garage,” Kuhns says.
That way, if they realize they made a mistake, they still have the item around.
“It’s a safe way to prove to ourselves what we can live without and what we really need. Sometimes you’re really surprised,” Kuhns says.
Of course, it’s also a good way to fill up your garage with boxes, so use this strategy carefully.
Labor Day weekend is a great time to fire up the grill and invite some friends over for a barbecue. This article from U.S. News offers some advice on how to plan and host your barbecue, while saving money and keeping things simple so you can fully enjoy it.
Labor Day weekend seemed to sneak up this year. In many parts of the country, the weather shows no sign of cooling down yet. If you forgot to make plans, why not host a party and celebrate? You can put together an inexpensive, easy BBQ for friends and family with a few quick steps. The ideas below will help you get started, while sticking with your budget.
Send out an evite.
No need to worry about getting an invitation in the mail at this late date. Send an email invitation through a free service like Evite or create a private event on Facebook. For anyone that doesn’t go online often, just give them an old-fashioned phone call. All of these methods are free, so you won’t be adding any pressure to your budget. The other great thing about these online invitations is you can communicate with your guests in real-time and collaborate on the event. You’ll see right away who can attend or who has other obligations.
Crowdsource your menu.
There’s nothing wrong with a potluck. In your group invitation, list the items that you would like party goers to bring if possible. These should be the “add-on” items, such as salads, appetizers, drinks, side dishes and desserts. When someone commits to bring something, the rest of your invited guests will see that item has been claimed (thus avoiding the “three potato salad problem”).
If you don’t have enough fuel or charcoal for the grill, you could ask one of your guests to bring some they have on hand in lieu of you buying a large supply that might not get used before the end of the summer.
Choose entrees carefully.
As the host, you should provide the menu staples for your guests. Staples can include the meats for grilling as well as a vegetarian option. You should also consider having one or two side dishes on hand, as well as condiments and non-alcoholic beverages. That way your costs can stay low, but you will have enough food available if any guests are a no-show.
A tossed salad and chips are two budget-friendly menu items. If you want to offer veggies and dip, cut up your own vegetables instead of buying the prepared platter to save money (the most frugal option yet is to use produce leftover from your own garden). In-season fruit like watermelon, which can serve a lot of people, is also an idea for a reasonably priced appetizer.
For your entrees, check your grocery store for deals. The holiday and end of summer should offer discounts on typical grilling meats. You can also make cheaper substitutions. Instead of steak, cook up hamburgers. Rather than chicken breasts, grill thighs instead (many find them to be more flavorful anyway). If you’re offering fish, ask the expert behind the counter what’s best on the grill, and avoid the pricey catch of the day. As for a vegetarian entree, try stuffed peppers or veggie skewers. Veggie burgers are always an option, as well.
If you’re one of the six in ten 18 to 29-year-olds who doesn’t have a credit card, and if you never even want one, it’s still possible to build a solid credit history. This article from U.S. News offers some advice on how to make it happen.
It’s conventional wisdom that using credit cards responsibly is the fastest and best way to build credit. It’s also conventional wisdom that using credit cards can be the fastest, best way to destroy credit.
That’s why it’s easy to understand why not everyone has or wants a credit card. In fact, recent evidence suggests that millennials are bucking the conventional wisdom. For instance, a Bankrate.com survey released last year found that more than 6 in 10 people ages 18 to 29 don’t have a credit card.
But whether you don’t trust yourself with credit cards or simply don’t want them, you should want good credit. After all, if you care to buy a home or a car, but can’t afford big-ticket purchases without a loan, you won’t get a low interest rate if your credit score is nonexistent or low.
Don’t fret. If you’re seeking to build credit without touching a credit card, you can explore these routes.
Build credit with student loans. According to some estimates, Americans owe $1.2 trillion in student debt, with interest rates as high as 6.8 percent on federal loans and 14 percent on private loans. It’s depressing, but there is a bright side, according to April Lewis-Parks, director of education and corporate communications for Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“In spite of the bum rap they’re getting for all the problems they have potential to cause, federal student loans offer a unique opportunity for those with a limited credit history to get financing even if they have bad credit or no credit. As a result, they also offer a way for those individuals to build credit by paying those same loans off,” Lewis-Parks says.
Build credit with a car loan. If you have a car loan, those on-time payments are being reported to the three major credit bureaus. The longer you make payments without a problem, the healthier your credit score will be.
Granted, many consumers get car loans by way of responsible credit card use. But it isn’t impossible to get financing for a car without credit cards. If your bank or credit union knows you or your parents well, that may help you earn the trust needed to get a loan despite an absent lending history – especially if you’re buying a fairly inexpensive, used car.
Build credit with a bank loan. Similarly, if you’re a regular at your bank, and the manager and tellers know you well, they will likely be more inclined to help you get a loan without much of a credit history, if they can.
If you have any savings or money invested in a certificate of deposit, the bank would likely let you use that as collateral for the loan, says Alisa Livesay, a certified public accountant and a lecturer at the University of Dayton.
Livesay also recommends exploring a credit builder loan. Some banks have them, but they’re more popular with credit unions. Some institutions offer them without any collateral – the credit union or bank just wants to see that you’re a veteran customer and haven’t racked up any overdraft fees for a length of time.
But in many cases, these loans work like a secured credit card, where you put up a security deposit in case the loan goes south.
Livesay explains that consumers pay the bank either a lump sum or monthly payments for a while. Once you’ve paid whatever the bank has asked, that’s used as collateral for a line of credit, she says.
A fascinating new multimedia exhibit at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design looks at housing design and its influence on communities, cultures and governmental policies around the world. This article from the Harvard Gazette highlights some of the background and details about the exhibit, “Living Anatomy: An Exhibition About Housing.”
It might be time to think a little deeper when looking around your home.
The floor you are standing on is more than simply a place to put your feet. The ceiling above does more than just provide warmth and protection from the outside elements. These structures provide a clue into how communities work, how culture changes, and how discourse and policy are shaped.
These are crucial tenets behind Harvard’s Graduate School of Design (GSD) teachings on housing, and now the results of those lessons are on display for the community to see.
Initiated by GSD Dean and Alexander and Victoria Wiley Professor of Design Mohsen Mostafavi and produced by a curatorial research team of the School’s faculty, staff, and students, “Living Anatomy: An Exhibition About Housing,” a multimedia show in the lobby of Gund Hall, just opened and will be on display until Dec. 20.
The exhibit – filled with interactive models, renderings, and texts – covers the walls of the lobby. The goal is to help answer questions about how housing has become a fundamental agent of change around the world in the last 50 years. The hope is that the discussion about design and building, both for the public and for those who work and study at GSD, will grow from a stroll through the space.
The display was part of a four-month effort to bring together a collection of work relevant to topics studied at GSD. The team chose to look at work from 1965 to now, a period that witnessed the waning of modernism. Instead of looking at one aspect of housing, the team dug into six areas.
Walk through the Gund Hall doors into the lobby with Loeb Library on your left, and immediately you are hit by a large mural of a French project (Mulhouse Social Housing: Lacaton & Vassal, Paris, 2005) that depicts a living space in what looks like an old greenhouse. The idea was to introduce visitors to the space with an eye-catching piece and get them looking at the first section of work called “Inviting,” in which housing promotes social engagement, strength, and purpose. The other sections cover “Recovery,” “Territory,” “Exposure,” “Transience,” and “Discourse.”
With just an 8 minute ferry ride across the Hudson River to Manhattan, Weehawken is as close to midtown as you can get while living in New Jersey. Weehawken is known for its breathtaking, panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline. Lennar currently offers exceptional waterfront condominium living in Weehawken with spectacular views of New York City at The Avenue Collection. This article from The Wall Street Journal profiles the township of Weehawken, and why its location is so popular with homebuyers today.
The late August sun glinted off the Empire State Building and other skyscrapers across the Hudson River from Weehawken. They seemed as if they were an arm’s length away.
The Manhattan skyline is the backdrop of this mostly residential New Jersey township, where some 13,700 people live within its 1.5 square miles. The historical town has riverfront developments, palatial old houses in King’s Bluff, neat, (barely) detached homes of brick and wood that line the side streets and busy thoroughfares up on the Hill.
Weehawken straddles the Lincoln Tunnel and boasts a quick ferry ride to Manhattan, so it is a big draw for homeowners who work in New York but want the suburban feel found in the tree-lined, winding streets. And it is more serene than hip Hoboken just to the south.
“Here there are yards, it’s quiet, with many detached houses and palatial homes,” said Tom Costagliola, who has lived on the Hill in Weehawken for 15 years and in the Hudson County area for 25 years. He is a Realtor with RE/MAX Gold Coast Realty.
The housing stock includes condos that sell for $175,000 to $4.5 million, and Victorians, villas and Georgian mansions that sell for millions.
Allison Thoms had lived in Hoboken for years, and when she and her husband started a family they bought a riverside townhouse-style condo for under $1 million.
“We have a 3-bedroom with 1,860 square feet,” said Ms. Thoms, a private bank underwriter. “Weehawken has bigger places, you get more bang for the buck, and the school system is great. And the ferry commute is convenient.”
The average home price is about $630,000, according to realtor.com and Zillow.com
The waterfront, known as Port Imperial, includes the developments The Brownstones, Henley on Hudson, and Riva Pointe, which is on a pier that juts out 1,000 feet into the Hudson River.
Up on the Hill, between Boulevard East and Park Avenue, shops and eateries and brick buildings line Park Avenue, the boundary with Union City.
