Book Review

Redefining Retirement, New Realities for Boomer Women

by Margret Hovanec & Elizabeth Shilton, Published by Second Story Press

Redefining Retirement, New Realities for Boomer Women is not just a guide to "practical strategies for creating a dynamic, healthy and secure future;" it is a terrific source of retirement resources. "Retirement," Hovanec and Shilton say, "is undergoing a drastic redefinition." They tell retirees to "ditch your fears" and "realize your dreams!"

Hovanec is a cognitive therapist, while Shilton is a lawyer who specializes in labour and pension and benefits law. Both women are Canadian, and so is all their material, so all the information applies to the Canadian reader.

"Retirement is now a stage of life that may last, for many of us, as long or longer than our time in the workforce," they say. To help readers design their own retirement, the authors discuss issues such as:

• the challenge to your sense of self in retirement
• striking a new balance if you choose to work in retirement, paid or unpaid
• practical tips on managing your financial resources
• living longer and better – including exercise without joining a gym or wearing spandex
• your health, what to expect and what to do
• talking to (and negotiating with) spouses, parents and family about your goals and their expectations of you now that you have more "free time"

The authors also provide suggestions for dealing with many of the issues that people tend to avoid until forced to confront, such as writing a will. Good advice for all pensioners (not just "boomer women.")

March 2008