In this issue... Why Old Brains are Better Brains ...Comparing the cost of living where you versus where you're headed ... Close-Up on Southport, North Carolina. Working After Retirement. Getaway Special from St. James Plantation. and more
Things To Ponder
Why an 'Old' Brain is a Better Brain.
As reported in a recent Wall Street Journal
article, ".an emerging body of research shows that a surprising array
of mental functions hold up well into old age, while others actually
get better." Among the brain functions that improve with age: vocabulary,
facility with synonyms and antonyms, and "expert knowledge" - information
that is directly related to your employment and/or your hobbies.
Semantic memory - the recollection of facts and figures - also improves
with age. "Semantic memory is relatively resistant to the effects
of aging," according to psychology professor Arthur Kramer of the
University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Older brains are more
finely attuned in the areas of empathy and understanding and tend
to have greater control over negative emotions such as impatience,
fear and anger. Finally, according to the article, older brains ".often
show a keen emotional intelligence and ability to judge character." Thomas
Hess, a professor of psychology at North Carolina State University,
recently conducted a research study which documented that older participants
in the study were better able to discern character traits such as
honesty, kindness and intelligence than the young participants were.
The ability to discern good (or bad) character is arguably a far
more important skill than multi-tasking or methodical problem-solving - skills
which are better-suited to 'young' brains
What
to Know Before You Go
Check out the Cost of Living Index for 289 Cities
Want to know how the cost of living in the Boston area compares to Hilton Head? Or how Philadelphia compares to Sarasota (Florida)? Or how Kalamazoo (Michigan) compares to Kinston (North Carolina)? Or even how potential destinations compare to each other (Tampa to Ft. Lauderdale or Savannah to Myrtle Beach)? You can purchase a quarterly ACCRA (American Chamber of Commerce Research Association) Cost of Living Survey for 289 U.S. cities for $70 ($95 in Excel format) - or you can purchase a single city-to-city comparison for $7.95 ($4.95 each after that). And you can do it with a few keystrokes right from your computer. Check it out at www.coli.org.
Making the Move
Dave & Penny Sokol, Rochester, Michigan
In 2002, the Sokols began discussing the requirements
for their "perfect" retirement location. The only thing they could agree on? Michigan's cold weather had to go! They decided to attend the LiveSouth Real Estate Show in Troy, Michigan, to weigh their options. They found several communities in which they were interested and booked Preview Packages to see them and explore the various retirement options. On their first trip south, the Sokols fell in love with Southport, North Carolina, and knew that was the area where they wanted to retire. They also decided they wanted a gated community with lots of activities and amenities. Once they drove through the gates of St. James Plantation, they knew they had found the right place. The first home site they looked at was the one they ended up purchasing. When they got back to
Michigan, they told some good friends about St. James and that couple bought property there as well. Says Penny Sokol, "We can't wait to live their full time! The LiveSouth Real Estate Show was a very helpful tool for us and one I would recommend to anyone who is starting to search for their 'perfect' retirement
community."
Working After RetirementSeveral sources recommend the following as the best Internet job sites for those who want to keep working after retirement or who are interested in a second career (full- or part-time) after they head south:
Seniors 4 Hire - www.seniors4hire.org
Senior Job Bank - www.seniorjobbank.org
RetirementJobs.com - www.retirementjobs.com
Your Encore - www.yourencore.com
Dinosaur Exchange - www.dinosaur-exchange.com
CHECK
IT OUT – Southport, NC
Southport is located at the mouth of the Cape Fear River about midway between Myrtle Beach (SC) and Wilmington (NC). It has a lovely downtown with shopping, restaurants, antique stores, and Victorian houses. Bald Head Island - a resort community where no cars are allowed - is a 20-minute ferry ride away. Nearby beach towns include Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach. Check it out.
Communities in or near Southport
GETAWAY
SPECIAL – St. James Plantation, Southport, NC
St. James Plantation is located on the Intracoastal Waterway in beautiful Southport, North Carolina. They are currently offering a three-day/two-night Plantation Preview Package for only $149. The package includes two nights' accommodations in one of the Club Villas, two rounds of golf, breakfast (two mornings) at the Members' Club, a complete tour of St. James Plantation, and access to all of the facilities and amenities. Contact St. James Plantation at 1-800-245-3871 and tell them you want to book the Plantation Preview Package you read about in Choose The Right Place E-News. or click here to request more information
