"No Man Loves Life Than Him That is Growing Old" - Sophocles
"Applies To Women Too!" - Helene
Welcome To Our Retirement Story
Hi, I’m Helene – my husband Zaf and I are retire-agers wannabees!
“Retirement” thinking has been part of our lives for the past several years, but we haven’t taken that leap yet. We are exploring our options to see what would be right for us, and then we will be exploring retirement as we live it!
Timing is a big part of retirement planning, and for us, it will be on March 1, 2021. That will be the date when we will leave the hard work, the headaches, and the “hurrying” of life to adopt an easier way of living.
There is much to consider and much to do. A household of “stuff” to be dealt with, the house itself, a business we own, and a career to minimize. We also need to decide where we will live next and what to do with all this free time we will have. Travel looms large as it has been part of our lives already and is something that we truly enjoy.
New information on “how to” retire comes to us almost every day. Financial planning, 55+ housing developments, ways to de-clutter our homes, saving tips, senior discounts, senior travel, senior medical advances to make us feel and perform younger, etc. There is so much out there and so much to explore!
We will be sharing our challenges and our discoveries as we move towards the big day! After that, we will be covering how we spend our days with activities, travel, and whatever else comes along!
Our hope is that you will find our postings funny, inspiring, and of value as you prepare for your retirement as well.
We invite you to part of our journey.
Start Exploring Your Retirement Journey
Retirement Explored™ offers a fresh perspective on what a retirement life can truly look like. From the very beginning – just when you are starting to think about retirement – their journey will give you insights and inspiration on how to navigate this next chapter in your life to make it fun, purposeful and exactly what you want it to be!
Why Stories Change Retirement
Authenticity
Every moment described in my stories really happened. I believe retirement is best understood through lived moments—whether they were funny, challenging, or deeply meaningful. My book leans on personal anecdotes to demystify retirement, offering practical comfort for anyone adjusting to this new phase. If you'd like to explore these experiences in greater depth, read the book on Amazon.
Visuals
Readers love seeing the actual photos behind each adventure. Each story comes alive with matching images, whether it's a hillside in Greece or a quiet day figuring out what to let go during downsizing. The pictures and stories together make retirement feel tangible and genuinely possible for everyone. Explore the Gallery to see more moments from our journey.
Community
Retirement should not be a solo act. Helene’s speaking engagements come alive with her storytelling and photos… she will make you laugh, cry happily, and simply have a wonderful time! Welcoming others to share or ask questions makes for supportive connections that make the retirement journey richer.
Our Stories - Live and in Person!
If retirement has you wondering what's next, you're in good company. I share my journey not as a roadmap but as a friendly travelmate. Maybe you're ready to try something different—spend time abroad, refresh your daily routine, or just trade stories with someone who's been there. I am available for speaking engagements—no lecture, just honest talk and practical stories and photos from the heart. Choose from two presentations: Our Life Living in Greece for Six Months or Our Retirement Journey. Each one brings some insight into how we made decisions, how we chose what type of retirement life we want to have, and some down-to-earth, realistic concepts of what we expected in retirement and what we found out was true and what we had to change.