Archives for January 2011

Volunteering for Charity or Neighbors

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: March 27, 2019 Leave a Comment

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New retirees have the time to sort out their options and settle into their new lifestyle, but they're still learning how they want to spend that time. It can take a few months to feel their way into a new routine with new activities. However, many charities and non-profit organizations have become experts at recruiting these inexperienced … [Read more...] about Volunteering for Charity or Neighbors

Dealing with “retiree guilt”

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 27, 2018 4 Comments

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"Retiree guilt"?!? I don't remember that subject being raised at any of the transition seminars. However, the early-retirement discussion boards are full of this unexpected speed bump. It can be an especially surprising source of stress in families. It's the retiree's equivalent of survivor guilt. Instead of coping with the aftermath … [Read more...] about Dealing with “retiree guilt”

Forget about who you were and discover who you are

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 27, 2018 Leave a Comment

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That homily makes a great e-mail signature or bumper sticker, but it also carries a warning to a particular segment of veterans. The military excels at giving its members a ready-made identity: you're not an individual, you're part of a team. You take responsibility and behave at a higher standard. You're a leader. The … [Read more...] about Forget about who you were and discover who you are

The transition to a bridge career

"The Military Guide" is full of advice and stories from dozens of servicemembers and veterans who hope that you'll benefit from sharing their experience. I don't tell their stories in the blog (you'll have to read the book!) but I'll post the stories that didn't make the manuscript. As you read this next story, think about whether you'd … [Read more...] about The transition to a bridge career

Retirement: don’t recreate your old environment

Retirement is a great opportunity to make new lifestyle choices, but proceed with caution. Most people are comfortable with the habits they've developed over the years, and upheaval for its own sake can be more disruptive than beneficial. Family and friends may also be slow to embrace major changes, especially if those changes will challenge their … [Read more...] about Retirement: don’t recreate your old environment

Retirement: Relax, Reconnect and Re-engage

So, what happens after you declare yourself retired? Maybe you finished 20 years of active duty in a blaze of glory with a farewell dinner, a retirement ceremony with full honors, and dozens of family and relatives. Perhaps you did the same in the Reserves/National Guard along with friends from the civilian office. Or you could have left the … [Read more...] about Retirement: Relax, Reconnect and Re-engage

“So, Nords, how did you start blogging?”

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 27, 2018 2 Comments

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A friend's e-mail inspired this post. They asked: "How did you get started?" "What software/host do you use?" "Is there an understandable how-to out there for the non-technical?" I've only been blogging for 18 weeks and the blog is slowly gaining traction. You readers are contributing 50-60 views per day, and the recent "Fog of Work" post hit … [Read more...] about “So, Nords, how did you start blogging?”

Sea story: “Secure blowing sanitaries!!!”

Let's take a break. The last couple weeks of posts have covered some pretty heavy topics, with some pretty intricate HTML formatting, and maybe it's time for a little levity around here. To many submariners, "levity" means "potty jokes". In fact, about the only unclassified sea stories we're allowed to tell are the ones involving toilet mishaps. … [Read more...] about Sea story: “Secure blowing sanitaries!!!”

The “Fog of Work”

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: July 17, 2018 2 Comments

Advertiser Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any other entity. This site may be compensated through the advertiser Affiliate Program. For more information, please see our Advertising Policy.

This essay caps off the book's first seven chapters of ways to leverage your military career & benefits for financial independence and retirement. I wrote it after an exchange with Tomcat98 at Early-Retirement.org. We realized how often the daily grind of work gets in the way of planning, let alone recognizing new opportunities or being able … [Read more...] about The “Fog of Work”