10-4 Magazine / April 2025 47 You’vegotbigplans. Resignfromyourcurrentjobandfindworkthatmakesyouhappy,spendtimewithfamily,maybe researchyourgenealogy. Thatdreamvacationisonyourlist,andyou’reeyeinganewhobbythatlooksfun. Somanypossibilities foryourretirement. Now,read“TheSecondFifty”byDebraWhitman,PhDandmakesureyougetthere! Youeatright,exercise, buckleyourseatbelt,andyou’refinanciallysecure. You’reingoodshape,whichiswhatWhitmanfiguredaboutherhusband,until hehadalife-threateningheartissuewhileonahikeinthemountainsafewyearsago. Hedideverythingright–she’sanexperton aging–buthehadthreebadarteries,whichiscommoninoldermen. That’swhenWhitmanrealizedthatwhenitcomestoaging, therearenoguarantees. But,therearethingsyoucandotogiveyourselfabetterchanceatalongerlife. Howlongyoucanexpectto live? TheaveragelifeexpectancyforAsianAmericansismuchhigherthanitisforwhiteandblackAmericans,buteachindividualis different. Willyoubehealthyinthecomingyears? Takestepsnowforit. Willyouretainyourmemory? Whitmansaysthattherates ofdementiaaredeclining,duetobetternutritionandbetterlifestyles,soknowhowtomaintainbrainhealth. Willyouwanttowork afewyearsafteryourretirementage,orwillyouhaveto? Willyouhaveenoughmoneytoenjoylife? Beingfinanciallysecureis oneofthehallmarksoflongevity,butajobafter65doesn’thavetobeadrudge. Andfinally,onefactremains:you’lleventuallydie. Youmaywonderhowthat’llhappen,buthavingplansinplaceforthattimewilleaseyourmindtoday. If you came across “The Second Fifty” on a shelf, you might think you’re getting advice on how to enjoy your so-calledgoldenyears. Anditisthat–butmoreover,it’saboutgettingtherehealthyandsetuptoseizethem. At a time when life expectancy inAmerica is lagging, that’s important information to have, and when it comes fromAARP’schiefpublicpolicyofficer,youknowyoucantrustit. AuthorDebraWhitmanusesplentyof real-life examples to make her advice as relevant as possible, and what she says will make readers take a hardlookattheirlives,tospotwhereeventhesmallestchangescanmakeabigdifference. Whitmanalso invites readers to consider the next generation by becoming activists for better health care, more safe senior housing,andbetterwaystopayfornursinghomesandmemorycare. Thatmakesthisagreathandbookfor anyoneoverage60,butit’salsoagoodroadmapforthoseintheirmidlife,too. Ifanyofyouarehoping to enjoy an awesome retirement someday, “The Second Fifty” should be part of your plans. n The Bookworm Sez: By Terri Schlichenmeyer PREPARING FOR A GOOD RETIREMENT
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