Season 1, Episode 3: Transform your retirement: Embrace new horizons with Don’t Retire, Reinspire

Please Note: this is a bog, not a direct transcription - there is more information and anecdotes than in the podcast.
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Hey there, lovely listeners its Lyn Nikoloff your podcast host!

Get cozy and grab a cuppa because you're in for a treat!

Welcome to "Don't Retire, Reinspire" – your go-to podcast for an inside look at my journey into a retirement that's not just about kicking back, but about kicking it up a notch and finding new ways to make every moment count.

Join me as we embark on this exhilarating adventure together, exploring the myriad of possibilities that retirement has to offer. From discovering new passions to reigniting old flames, we'll delve into the heart of what it means to truly live life to the fullest, even after bidding farewell to the 9-to-5 grind.

Expect some heartwarming stories, insightful conversations, and practical tips to help you navigate your own path to a retirement that's brimming with purpose and fulfillment. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired as we uncover the secrets to a retirement that's anything but retiring.

Today, its all about embracing new horizons because retirement isn't just about winding down; it's about cranking up the volume on life's adventures and enterprises.

Whether you're itching to finally tackle that bucket list, dive into a passion project, or simply embrace the freedom to do whatever you want, this is our time to shine.

So, picture this: you've finally said goodbye to your trusty work routine and stepped into the wide-open world of the reinspired years. Ah, sweet freedom, right? Yeah, Maybe, maybe not .

Now, I'll be honest with you. Taking the plunge into a new venture for me is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. Equal parts of excitement and uncertainty, with a dash of adrenaline thrown in for good measure.

Like the time I visited Disneyland determined to take an unforgettable trip to mars imagining it to be a leisurely tour along the milky way. Even the warning signs about minimum height requirements and that it was not suitable for pregnant women did not put me off. I was finally going to be an astronaut and take my dream trip to Mars. Yes it is on my bucket list.

As I was strapped into my seat – alarm bells should have been ringing but I was so pumped up and excited that I had enough enthusiasm to blast the apollo 11 into space. The ride started sedately as we crawled up an incline albeit in the pitch black. This wasn’t too bad I smugly assured myself and my companion, who was only too aware of my fear of heights. In the darkness I had no idea how high we had climbed until my world turned upside down and inside out. I was sucked into a black hole with no escape – I wanted to die. I screamed for help in absolute terror but this was no ghost train where I could get off. This was hell with laser lights. Let’s say by the end of the ride I was greener than any Martian, unable to walk and made my thoughts known to everyone by throwing up in the flower bed by the launch pad.

And that’s how I feel right now – scared, full of trepidation yet excited now that I have the freedom to do whatever I want (within budget of course – lets never forget that money is important in terms of the freedom to make choices, more on that in coming episodes).

So on the one hand here I am all pumped up with enthusiasm, ready to explore the world such as visiting the Valley of the Kings in Luxor or watching the Humpback whales in Tonga. The next I am terrified.
There are days when I want to cancel my reinspired retirement, find a job even if its cleaning floors and toilets or just simply accept a quiet life of learning mahjong and spending the in-between hours having nana naps or snoozles as we like to say.

Any hoo I committed to the plan and have started my podcast. I’ve had to learn how to script trailers, episodes, use a microphone and recording software. None of which I knew how to do until I started exploring the podcasting world.

Although to be honest there are nights when I wake in a cold sweat wondering does anyone actually listen to my entitled baby boomer struggles like a menopausal women who thinks her hot flushes are the first to be experienced by anyone or like the terrible moment when you find a chin hair and your world is suddenly filled with images of white compression stockings, arch supports and incontinence nappies.

Yes exploring is more like that rollercoaster trip to mars – there are times when you can take your breath such as on the uphill ride and then wheesh its all over the place – no idea where the next twist and turn will come all the while being bombarded with coronal mass ejections that are threatening your very existence.

Yes I am recording this podcast soon after witnessing the recent stunningly beautiful aurora australis while standing on my deck. This was on my bucket list and I was resigned to never being able to have the money to travel to see them. I am pumped and stoked. I am now an aurora chaser But I digress …

Exploring is what makes life interesting. The thrill of the unknown, the challenge of stepping outside your comfort zone, and chasing your dreams regardless of your age. After all it doesn’t matter what you explore, whether it’s starting a side hustle, launching a passion project, or diving headfirst into a whole new career, it’s all about the excitement of the journey that makes your heart skip a beat.

Sure, there might be hurdles along the way. You might face setbacks, encounter naysayers, or have moments of doubt. But here's the thing: you're not alone. We're in this together, fellow trailblazers, navigating the twists and turns of retirement entrepreneurship with grit, determination, and a healthy dose of humour.

So, here's to embracing the excitement and uncertainty of delving into new enterprises in retirement. Who knows what adventures await us on the other side? One thing's for sure: it's going to be a heck of a ride!

Now that I am free to explore new opportunities and horizons I am excited to rekindle the same enthusiasm I once had for embracing the new. Like the time I spent the summer holidays working in a remote part of NZ as a housemaid to earn money for university. I know all non-baby boomers get a little upset about our subsidised education but I make no apologies for receiving it.

Any hoo …Unsure where to find work, a friend suggested I contact HANZ – the hotel association of New Zealand who owned a chain of scenic hotels throughout the country. I was offered a job in Haast on the West Coast.

Now at this point in my life I had never travelled beyond Canterbury, probably because back then, as you may recall from episode 2, I was hooked on guidance from the mystical oracle and perhaps it hadn’t recommended I venture beyond the familiar. I accepted the position having no idea where Haast was but the money was too good to resist so I took a leap of faith.

As I boarded the NZ rail bus, to begin a two day journey, I felt a mix of trepidation and excitement. When I arrived at the DB Haast Hotel I realised that I was joining a vibrant community. This made for an enjoyable three months along with pub sing a longs, learning drinking songs and games like Stewart Island – you know where the goal is to take a long sip of beer hoping you can drink enough so that the level of beer in the glass aligns with Stewart Island on the HANZ logo. For those of you interested in the details it was a 7oz glass.

Any hoo… the surprising aspect of the work for me was that I enjoyed meeting people from all over the world thanks to the daily tour groups stopping for the night before crossing over the scenic but treacherous Haast Pass. If you have never driven it then add it to your must sees – the water falls are amazing.

And for me that’s the thing about being open to exploring new horizons, while you may achieve your goals or expectations, and for me that was a healthy bank balance. You also might receive the unexpected and maybe that’s just what you needed.

Like the time my husband and I decided to go boating on the Norfolk Broads. Oh the glossy brochures were very inviting – if anyone has ever seen that episode of friends where Joey buys a boat at a silent auction and he names it Mr Beaumont. And then Phoebe and Rachel encourage him to keep the boat selling him visions of sailing the NY harbour, captain of his own boat and life. This was our Mr Beaumont moment.

We carefully chose a boat that would accommodate the dog, and three adults as my sister was joining us. It was a hulled boat that sat high in the water – by that I mean it was not a flat bottom canal boat which you might associate with exploring canals in the Uk.
Now neither of us had ever sailed a boat before but the brochure assured us it was like riding a bike. Easy peasy. Yeah right.

We planned to eat our main meals in the myriad of pubs along the canals, explore the local market villages and spend lazy days lying on the deck with tendrils of weeping willows brushing our cheeks as we passed beneath. All instagrammable.

As we left the dock it quickly dawned on us that we had not chosen our boat very well. It was not easy to steer, especially for novices. So we spent the first day just puttering along the canals non stop – agreeing we would visit the pubs on the way back.

By late in the afternoon we felt confident enough to wet our whistle at a local pub. But we soon realised that mooring a boat is not easy – as soon as it touched the dock it bounced off. In desperation I jumped out of the boat and tried single handedly to wrangle it into submission. I failed, jumping back on the boat as it slowly swung by. We decided to try to dock the boat further up the river – agreeing that the tides, currents and all that had caused the problem not our inexperience.

We eventually found a place that gave us a runway long enough that we could have landed an airbus. We tamed the boat into submission just as the runway was coming to an end. Phew! Our moon landing moment.

We tied the boat to the mooring stones. The dog was walked, and we even enjoyed a drink at the local pub before heading to bed. On balance day 1 had gone okay, mooring a boat was now a key competency– progress.

We awoke in the morning when our boat seemed to be rocking a little too violently. It had slipped its moorings in the night and we were now drifting in the middle of the canal, a hazard to all boaties. Key learning: a clover hitch will not secure a boat you need to use a half hitch.

Undeterred we optimistically decided to sail to a little market town–anticipating a farmhouse lunch - fresh bread, cheeses and pickles. The captain assured my sister and I that he felt more confident today and was conquering the art of canal boating.

As we navigated our way towards the day’s destination – I saw there was a sign warning us about the stone bridge ahead. The warning related to the low bridge being unnavigable during high tide. It was high tide and we were about to do just that.

I yelled to the captain to turn the boat around, we were clearly not going to fit under the low stone bridge. At that moment I remembered the wheelhouse was collapsible. With much shouting we lowered our boat’s height sufficient to fit under the bridge – albeit touching the stones as we passed by.

Once past the bridge we were relieved that we had crisis managed our way out of that potential disaster. We were like a LANDSAR team.

We reached our chosen destination – an idyllic market town. The captain pulled the boat into the bank, I jumped off to secure it using the mooring knots I had now mastered, only to sink into the marshy reeds. Another key learning, not all riverbanks are solid.

As we bade farewell to the boat we took with us many memorable moments such as celebrating my sisters 21st birthday, doing something I had never done before and we had explored the Norfolk Broads.

Sure not everything went well but that’s okay too.

And that’s also the thing about exploring and being adventurous it may include the Great walks of New Zealand, the cycle trails in Otago or if overseas the Camino de Santiago, or it may be something completely different like volunteering at the local school or airport. There will be many memorable moments, some things will be forgettable and sometimes we will have to manage a crisis because exploring is not just about the physical space it is also about exploring our mental and emotional capabilities.

Now I know a few people who are trying different things in retirement. One friend recently spent 6 months living in London, another friend has bought a caravan and is enjoying being a grey nomad pursuing their different hobbies – hers is photography and his is hiking. Another friend has bought a tiny home and is living in a community of like-minded people. A couple I know are crafty people, creating an income source – and spend the summer at craft markets selling their wares, stopping on the way to go fishing and enjoying life at a slower place. They have met a community of like minded people.

It really doesn’t matter where your exploration takes you, it’s the new routines, places and people that you meet along the way that opens up opportunity and who knows you may even find your passion.

NZ mountaineer and beekeeper, Sir Edmund Hilary who you may recall conquered Mt Everest with his climbing companion Sherpa Tenzing Norgay back in 1953, wrote: “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”

One of the obstacles to living a reinspired life is having the courage to step outside our comfort zone. When Sir Edmund climbed Mt Everest over 7o years ago, he had no guidebook no one had conquered it before. Sir Ed and Tenzing had to adapt to the conditions and challenges they faced each day and even each moment. They had to make quick decisions when facing life threatening situations.

However, one of the biggest challenges they faced was to conquer themselves, to not give up and to not let fear paralyse them with inaction – because inaction was a certain death. Although context is important Mt Everest was not the first mountain they had climbed, they took with them all the experience they had gained climbing other mountains, and all that they had learned from failing to summit and all the challenges they had faced along the way.

I know that retirement can seem like you are leaving behind familiar routines and venturing into uncharted territory and it can be daunting and its natural to feel a mix of excitement and apprehension, but that's all part of the journey!

And like Sir Ed and Tenzing this is not the first mountain you’re climbing – you bring with you all the times you tried and failed, all the challenges you have faced and all life’s lessons you have learned.
Take me for instance – I am not a professional broadcaster neither do I have formal media training. Still I decided to try my hand at podcasting.

You may recall dear listener that it all began with a pity party and being in a funk when I realised my formal working life was coming to an end. I can assure you that when I was first exploring podcasting, I was simply overwhelmed. It all seemed so technical and there was so much jargon to get my head around. Speaking about it with friends and family helped keep me on track – their enthusiasm when I lost mine was reassuring.

But I soon realised that I had to conquer me before I could even begin the practical things like buying a microphone or finding a podcasting host. Sure, I felt a bit awkward recording my first episode, but that's where the magic happens.

Over the past three episodes I’ve slowly gained in confidence as I’ve stumbled and fell, picked myself up and kept trying. I haven’t gone from zero to hero in one episode, I am now at zero point 5 and for me that’s like conquering Mt Everest.

I encourage you all to embrace the opportunity to explore new things, whether it's picking up a paintbrush for the first time in years, signing up for a dance class or learning sign language. You might like to apply for a new job or sew baby angel dresses to bring comfort at a time of great sadness or knit hats for prem babies. You might book a photographic safari or cruise down route 66. Or you could sell your crafts and preserves at a local craft market.

That reminds me of a friend’s elderly mother, even in her eighties, she crocheted and knitted beanies during the week, selling them at the local Saturday market. The money she made was used to buy a few luxuries. She even involved her grandchildren in her crafty enterprise teaching them about money and entrepreneurship.

My next podcast challenge …is to conduct an interview using not one but two microphones – watch this space. You see once we take that first adventurous step we can see there are more steps we can take because there’s always something new to try, learn or explore.

Afterall as Sir Edmund Hilary reminds us: it’s not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.
Alright, let's dive into this adventure!

Here are some ideas I came across to kick start the adventure – one or two I am giving a go, join me or maybe there is something or somewhere you’ve always wanted to explore … you do you.

1. Join a New Club: I decided to throw myself into the deep end and join a heritage radio group as a radio announcer. Sure, I was a bit nervous at first – meeting new people can be daunting – but I quickly realized how welcoming and supportive everyone was. Not only did I get to learn how to use the control panel, but I also have enjoyed exploring different genres of music such as the old 78s and speaking with listeners. Try joining a club – step outside your comfort zone it could be scrabble, hiking or Probus. Most community newspapers have lists of local societies and clubs. Check out what is available in your community or join an online forum.
2. Start a Side Business: Maybe you can turn a hobby into a side business. A friend of mine plans to make dance costumes when she retires. There are many local Menz Sheds or craft groups that make items to be donated – the money made from selling items is used to fund the next project like the Lilliput libraries now adorning many streets in Dunedin. Starting your business can be a thrilling adventure, pushing you to learn new skills and embrace the entrepreneurial spirit in this new chapter of life.
3. Volunteering Abroad: A couple I know did a six-month stint with VSA in Papua New Guinea after they retired from the formal workplace. They found the role rewarding, challenging and memorable. Another friend volunteered as a tracker in Kruga National Park. She finds the work so rewarding that she is about to embark on her third season. And as a keen photographer she enjoys the opportunity to pursue her hobby along with meeting so many amazing people from all over the world. Here’s another volunteer opportunity for men who can dance – volunteer as a dance host on a cruise ship. I have a friend who does just that – he loves it although you must be single, divorced or widowed.
Give volunteering a go – use your skills or passion to help others or the environment and have an experience of a lifetime. The only advice I give you is to please make sure you do your homework about the organisation before launching yourself into the truly unknown – check out reviews etc. Only support bona fide organisations, there are some awful scams out there. There are some great local websites that advertise volunteer opportunities like Volunteer Canterbury.
4. Learn a New Language: Retirement is the perfect time to master that second or third language you have always wanted to do. I know someone who did just that – taking French classes. Sure, she found it daunting at first, with vocabulary, and pronunciation to master. But she has a goal – she wants to enjoy six months living in France and is heading off later this year to just that. Au revoir Sarah. I have another friend who is learning sign language. If you’ve been hankering to learn another language then take the plunge.
5. Go on road trips: Exploring new parts of the country can be exciting and exhilarating. It doesn’t matter where or how you choose to explore the world around you – just get exploring. Last year during a visit to Oamaru my brother suggested we go to see the hydro dams in the Waitaki valley as they were spilling water – an awesome sight and one I had never seen. Sadly, when we reached the first dam it was apparent that they were no longer spilling but I did get to see the three hydro dams which I had never seen before and enjoy the Waitaki Valley which is beautiful. On or way to lunch in Omarama we noticed that it was getting very cold as we travelled further inland but that was okay as we were toasty warm in the Tesla. And then the most unexpected, amazing sight appeared before us – the landscape was covered in hoar frost. It looked like a fairytale. It was magical. Now had we not ventured out that day we would never have seen this amazing phenomenon. While we did not see the dams spiling, we did see something even better and that’s the great thing about exploring. You never know what’s just around the corner so go take a road trip.

Well There you have it – five ways to step outside your comfort zone in retirement and explore the world around you, you just never know what adventures await, and you might even discover your passion along the way. And when you go exploring don’t forget to set yourself some goals which can be as simple as to go one road trip per month, and a great way to keep you motivated in your adventurous quest.

Whether you are thinking about your next adventure, ready to get started or already on the road Here are five inspirational quotes about starting new adventures:
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." (Helen Keller)
"You can learn new things at any time in your life if you're willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you." (Barbara Shur)
Everything begins at the beginning, and quite often the beginning begins when you shift your mind in a new direction.” (Louie Herron)
Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow know what you truly want to become.” (Steve Jobs)
Stop being afraid of what could go wrong, and start being excited about what could go right.” (Tony Robbins)

This is what I do with inspirational quotes that speak to me – I write them in a place where I can see them such as on a kitchen memo board, or sticky notes in the office, or a note in the diary.
Seeing them reminds me to get exploring.

Thanks for your company today. We would love to hear your stories about the new adventures you are enjoying in your reinspired life. …happy exploring fellow adventurers. Please share this podcast with your friends – every share means so much to us.

This podcast was produced by Antony Radley