Retirement needn’t mean the end of work There are lots of jobs out there for older workers, and volunteering – as well as part-time work – accounts for a good number of them.


I


have had three very different con- versations with older workers this past week. I spoke with a retired friend of mine who, two years into retirement, wants to return to work. While he has enjoyed his winter sports and looks forward to golfing season, he really misses interacting with people. Still another friend, age 68-plus, in good health and still operating his own business, told me he doesn’t plan to retire ever. The third gentleman in- formed me he has stepped down from partnership in his accounting firm and is slowly graduating into re- tirement, a three- to five-year process. There’s more to it than money As you see, there appear to be a mul-


Barbara Bowes Transitions


temporary workers has changed. No longer does this sector simply consist of low-end clerical jobs. According to Kevin Gill, president of StaffMax, a leading staffing agency, many of the workers are technical professionals with sala- ries up to $100,000. As well, many corporations are seeing the benefit of hiring temporary work- ers as a way to assess the need for a full time em- ployee, but even more as a means of transferring all the time and effort used for recruitment to the shoulders of a re- cruiter and away from the corporation.


Still, who says “work” needs to be


titude of strategies older workers are us- ing to retain their lifestyle. On the other hand, bank surveys are continuing to show that many respon- dents are returning to the workforce to supplement their income. Perhaps they didn’t save enough for retirement or they have unfortunately gone through a late-life divorce and don’t have the mon- ey needed to retire. Part-time work is thus a growing sec-


tor of the economy, providing benefits for retirees.


One reason for this growth, in my view, is that public perceptions about


paid? There is a huge need for volun- teers. Volunteering lets you continue to lead a rewarding life by pursing a cause that is important to you. Perhaps you didn’t have time to join an advocacy group and now you do. There are many volunteer groups in every industry sec- tor, education, the environment, social services and health. For instance, one of the popular vol- unteer roles at the airport is the Gold- wing ambassadors who donate their time to assist passengers and other air- port visitors. They are a welcome sight when you are coming back from a trip. Winnipeg also has organizations such as Winnipeg Harvest and/or the Men-


Part-time work offers a chance to continue working without the heavy workload. You call the shot


nonite Central Committee thrift stores. Each of these organizations is actually a “business” that operates with a large volunteer workforce. There are roles for cashiers, stock sorters, customer service representatives, supervisors and team leaders. And of course, there is always a need


for volunteers to sit on a board of di- rectors to oversee the entire operation. They need volunteers with good orga- nizational skills, good customer service skills, and a strong desire and passion for their particular cause. Volunteering also benefits your own mental and physical health by placing you in a positive envi- ronment with positive relationships, all working toward the same goal.


The great thing about part-time work


and/or volunteering is that you are al- ways in control of your time. You set the schedule that works best for you. Going on vacation? No problem. Want to work more hours this week versus next? No problem. Do you want to take on more responsibility? No problem. Many people I know are working part-


time and volunteering; in fact, some say they are so busy in retirement, they don’t know how they had time for a full-time job!


Barbara J. Bowes is president of Legacy Bow- es Group in Winnipeg. She is also a radio host, author and professional speaker. She can be reached at barb@legacybowes.com.


Too many possessions? Be systematic as you clear out the surplus The burden of “too much stuff” will at last have been lifted from our shoulders. Carolyn Menaar


uckily, downsizing isn’t some- thing we have to do often in the course of our lives. Luckily, be- cause it can produce some painful mo- ments, and it’s not easy. But the good thing is, most of us feel cleansed in a way after the job is done. More important, the burden of “too much stuff” will at last have been lifted from our shoulders. Be systematic in approaching the task,


L


and you’ll find you can make good prog- ress. Here are some tips. 1. Start with the easy stuff. Elimi-


nate anything that is broken, damaged or no longer wanted. Then go to the out-of-the-way spaces like attics, crawl- spaces and garages. Making progress in easier areas will build momentum to go through the harder-to-decide areas. 2. Ask yourself, “If this disappeared tomorrow, would I run out and replace it?” If you wouldn’t miss it or need to replace it, it’s probably not worth keep- ing. 3. If friends or relatives have left things for you to store, it’s time to ask


Here's some tips on downsizing – you'll feel lighter. Supplied photo.


them to pick them up—or arrange to have them shipped. You may need to set a firm deadline, after which you will do- nate the items. 4. Ask for help. Although you can


do much of this work on your own, a family member, a good friend or even a professional organizer can help make the job more manageable. 5. Decide what’s really important.


Pretend you are moving overseas, and it will cost a small fortune to ship things. What items belong on your list? 6. Is this something from a lifestyle I


no longer have or want? For example, if you have three cabinets full of plas- tic containers, but only cook for one or two people, you probably can lose a few plastic sets—and dishes, pots and pans. 7. Schedule a regular time each


week—or several days per week—to work on right-sizing. Realize that right- sizing is a life-changing marathon. You didn’t accumulate everything overnight, and you won’t sort it all out overnight either. 8. Value what you keep. The fewer


things you keep, the more you will trea- sure and enjoy what you have. These are the few, meaningful items worth having in your personal space. 9. Prevent new collections from form-


ing. Instead of material gifts, ask people to spoil you by sharing time, enjoying new experiences, and indulging in luxu- ries (spa certificates, imported chocolate, a theatre production, gift certificates for dinner out). 10. Now is a great time to “gift” items


you “eventually” want family members to have. Take a photo (preferably digi- tal) of them holding the special item and create a digital scrapbook of next gen- eration memories.


Carolyn Menaar is a Senior Real Estate Specialist with Realty Executives First Choice, serving the community with car- ing, competent service. Phone: 204-803- 8701.


June 2015


www.lifestyles55.net 7


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