NONFICTION NOVEMBER Week 3: Ask the Expert
NONFICTION NOVEMBER is being hosted this week by Julz at JulzReads.
This week we can be an expert, ask an expert, or become an expert.
I don’t feel like an expert on anything right now but I do need some inspiration.
What’s happening:
My husband and I are preparing for retirement which means selling our large home and drastically downsizing.
We are also thinking about making a big move to South America – for six months of the year anyway.
What I need:
1) memoirs of people who have made major life changes (or maybe learned a new language?) AFTER AGE 60;
2) the best books about downsizing, especially for when retiring and thinking about where the things you do keep will eventually end up.
Any experts out there? Bring on your recommendations – please!
P.S. The links are affiliate links so I will receive a small percentage of any purchase you make after clicking through from this blog.
I don’t have any advice or books with advice to suggest, but I do sympathize. I will be retiring in a year, my husband a year after that, and all we are working on right now is social security and planning to apply for medicare. Such a shift in thinking. Having to think about moving and downsizing must be overwhelming but planning for a move to South America sounds like fun.
It’s fun and stress and (almost) equal measures, Tracy. I hope your retirement transition goes well.
Set in the 1700’s in England is The Paper Garden: Mrs. Delany Begins Her Life’s Work at 72 by Molly Peacock – totally inspiring, but maybe not quite on point.
Sounds like you could be in need of Dr Suess’ Oh The Places You Will Go 🙂
Good luck!
Brona, what a stroke of genius to revisit Dr. Suess! Thanks so much.
Wow! Those are some big plans. Exciting but kind of daunting, as well.
I’m drawing a blank on biographies, but you might enjoy the resources at GrowingBolder.com (podcast, etc.). They recently did a story on Cherie Gruenfeld, who’s a triathlete at 75, even though she didn’t start the sport until her 40’s. Big changes can be made!
As for downsizing, the “bible” of such things from a cultural (not retirement) perspective is Duane Elgin’s “Voluntary Simplicity.” There are lots of reasons to turn away from consumer culture and benefits from doing it. You might find it motivating!
Both of these sound intriguing. Thanks, Jane!
I second the nomination for The Paper Garden — so good. I can’t think of any books that exactly match your specific requirements, but for general inspiration I’d recommend A Glorious Freedom: Older Women Leading Extraordinary Lives by Lisa Congdon, which is full of stories about women making major life changes after 40 (and many well into their 90s).
As for downsizing, I appreciated Year of No Clutter by Eve O. Schaub, and Gretchen Rubin’s books are also useful — she has a new one coming out in 2019 all about clutter. I jotted down a couple of questions from Sarah Smarsh’s Heartland that she asked her grandmother when they were clearing her house: “Will you use it?” and “Does it have extreme sentimental value?” I think the word “extreme” is the key there.
Two votes for the Paper Garden – that definitely makes it a read.
I’ll look for the Year of No Clutter. Ironically I have one of Rubin’s books pn my shelves but I haven’t read it yet. You could say that it’s forming part of the clutter!
Thanks for your suggestions, Rebecca. 🙂
Ha! Good question. I’ve made plenty of huge life changes in my day, though I finally settled down at post 60 years old. For the South America move I would suggest reading novels set in your country of choice. Google can help you there.
I have read a couple, Judy, although I find them very hard to source. 🙁
I’ve enjoyed Genevieve Parker Hill’s Minimalist Living. It’s not specifically aimed at retirees, but it does deal with lifestyle shifts in general, in addition to offering practical advice about how to declutter. Marie Kondo’s book on the subject is also great, if you haven’t read it. Best of luck with downsizing!
Minimalist Living sounds like it might be exactly what I’m looking for. Thanks, Michael!
Well congrats! Those are some amazing changes coming your way. For language learning I’ve read Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak a Language from Anywhere in the World by Benny Lewis. He has such practical advice and he has a very vibrant website and youtube series to keep you updated on all things learning new languages! Good luck!
Great idea, Heather – language advice is an area that I hadn’t thought of delving into. I’ll be sure to read Fluent.
I don’t know of particular books that fit this category but the podcast The Minimalists is worth a listen – their approach to getting rid of stuff feels more considered and mindful than the Marie Kondo version!
Thanks, Kate – I will add that to my podcast list.
I love Brona’s Dr Seuss suggestion, that’s a favourite of mine, but am drawing a blank myelf. All I can think of are those sea-change sorts of memors but they were more about middle-age crises than retirement ones. So I’ll just say good luck and tell us your stories here so we can quote you next time someone asks this question.
I love that you chose Ask the expert and had such a “real”question to ask.
Thank you, Sue. We really are facing a huge change – that I thought I was ready for, but I’m feeling lost and overwhelmed.
I’m definitely going to read that Dr. Suess book – I have it on reserve already. 😉
I have a great book about a couple who decided to retire somewhere else, but in Provence, not South Africa: https://francebooktours.com/2013/06/05/anne-marie-simons-on-upcoming-tour-taking-root-in-provence/
Good luck for your move!
Thank you, Emma. Come to think of it, I also read Chickens, Mules, and Two Old Fools a couple of years ago – about an English couple retiring to Spain. I’ll check out Taking Root in Provence.
The only books I would think of in correlation to downsizing, although more decluttering, are of course the Marie Kondo titles. I read The Year of Less by Cait Flanders this year which really made me think about all that I consume, which could perhaps help in the run up to downsizing… Maybe. Anyway, I wish you luck on this journey of yours!
Thank you, Jade. The whole move really is a mindset, so I appreciate your recommendation of Flanders’ book.
I have nothing to contribute book-wise, but excitement for you!
Maybe look for some recipe books from South America to get an idea of the food you will be experiencing.
The food is so regional, raidergirl, that I may have some trouble finding specific areas – but it’s a good idea and I’m going to try. Thanks!
Oh, I should add, I loved Field Notes by Sara Jewell which is about a big move, but you’ve done this one.
I think I’d feel a bit lost a Nd overwhelmed too Debbie, buf I’m sure you’ll get there!
One book I should have mentioned, but in joke really, is Sarah Krasnistein’s biography of Sarah Pankhurst, The trauma cleaner.Shdx a transgender woman who has made a career of cleaning up after traumas and for serious hoarders. If you read that, you’d feel wonderfully in control of YOUR downsizing, I bet!
That’s on my TBR list, Sue, but I never would have thought of it from that perspective, I’m sure. Thanks for the insight. 😉
This is another post where I’m super happy to see everyone chipping in, because I have no recommendations. Good luck with your retirement plans! They sound like a great adventure.
Exactly how we want to view this, Kati. It may not last the rest of our lives but it’ll be an adventure while it lasts!
That’s quite a plan: amazing! I don’ t have anything specific to add other than that I am reading Molly Peacock’s book about Mrs. Delaney right now and it is wonderful. Also, I recommend May Sarton’s journals, which consider ageing in general (although she doe the opposite really, hunkers down, geographically speaking, although she is a roamer as an inward artistic soul). Very quiet and contemplative.
I have Molly Peacock’s book on reserve at the library, Marcie. I’m excited to read it because so many of the bloggers I respect think that it’s wonderful.