65 Things To Do When You Retire

by Mark Evan Chimsky (Editor)

This fun, lively, and inspiring collection of 65 essays features practical advice from noted authors, retirement experts, and people who have turned their personal dreams into reality - whether by starting a nonprofit, writing a novel, or volunteering to help others.

Genres: Self Help

403 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2013

About the author

Mark Evan Chimsky is the head of Mark Chimsky Editorial Services Unlimited (markchimskyeditorial.com), an editorial consulting business in which he helps authors develop and polish their manuscripts and book proposals.

Previously he was executive editor and editorial director of Harper San Francisco and headed the paperback divisions at Little, Brown and Macmillan. For nearly six years, Mark was the editor in chief of the book division of Sellers Publishing, an independent publishing company based in South Portland, Maine. In addition, he was on the faculty of New York University’s Center for Publishing, and for three years he served as the director of the book section of NYU’s Summer Publishing Institute.

Mark has edited a number of best-selling books, including Johnny Cash’s memoir, Cash, and he has worked with such notable authors as Melody Beattie, Arthur Hertzberg, Beryl Bender Birch, and Robert Coles. He was also project manager on Billy Graham’s New York Times best-selling memoir, Just As I Am. He conceived of the long-running series The Best American Erotica, which was compiled by Susie Bright, and he was the first editor to reissue the works of celebrated novelist Dawn Powell. His editorial achievements have been noted in Vanity Fair, the Nation, and Publishers Weekly.

In his career, Mark developed and compiled a number of acclaimed books, including Creating a Life You’ll Love, which won the silver in ForeWord’s 2009 Book of the Year Awards (self-help category) and 65 Things to Do When You Retire, which the Wall Street Journal called “[one of] the year’s best guides to later life.” He is also an award-winning poet whose poetry and essays have appeared in JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association), Wild Violet, Three Rivers Poetry Journal, and Mississippi Review.

Mark also teaches in the Writing, Literature, and Publishing Department at Emerson College in Boston, and he is the co-author of the new musical The Road of Life (roadoflifethemusical.com).

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me a few days to figure out that I had *this* book, rather than the first of the series. And now that I've looked at our library's catalog entry, they made the same mistake. So the book at hand, about various ways and means to spend your retirement years traveling, isn't the book I wanted to see. So 2 stars may be harsh, though it doesn't get high marks here. Basically, these mini-essays are too short to go into any great detail. Back it goes!

[Karen ReadsALot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite obvious you must keep busy with a job, family or travel.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

A total dog's breakfast of a book; some interesting info, but a lot of tripe. On second thought, it only deserves 2 stars. I left it at Starbucks' book exchange, and didn't bother to seek an exchange.

[Chere Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s sort of endearing that the book is published in semi-large print! I really liked this book. It’s broken into 10 chapters with essays by 65 writers specializing in travel, retirement, wellness, spirituality etc. I took notes and especially appreciated websites and authors I plan on follow up with.

[Ralph · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first couple of "chapters" have some helpful hints, otherwise the information provided seems out of reach for the everyday retiree. there is much talk about living abroad for years at a time, hiking through (name a place), doing excavations of prehistoric sites, biking through (name a place), visiting (name a number of places) each year, etc., etc.

One couple decided to travel using the ABCs. Starting out with the "As" they went to Aruba (shouldn't count since they had a time share there), Austria, and Africa (a whole continent!). They should have stopped in Andorra for lunch and knocked off Asia, Antarctica, and Australia while they were at it.

While, obviously some people can do these things, there are many other retirees that find these things to be wishful thoughts. I know that the information given often reports how inexpensive travel can be it still seems that the actual implementation of the suggestions just seem too out-of-reach for a lot of us.

Good luck and best wishes to those that are able to do most of the travel written about in this book. For me much more modest goals will have to suffice.

[June Ding · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you look for something inspiring or interesting, this is not the book.

[Nancy J Roos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Self help is not my favorite type of book.

[John McPhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broad summary

This is a thought-provoking series of contributions that do well summarizing many of the choices possible as you look a decade or so ahead!

[C. Woody]

13

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you just want to read retirement travel stories, then you will enjoy this book. However I wanted to know how and where to travel. There were some good ideas such as volunteering to work in other countries. This was not my idea of a vacation. Most of the stories just presumed that you had the money so just book that barge cruise through France. In other words, not what I was expecting when I chose this retirement book to read.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter has a different author so lots of viewpoints given

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a series of essays with different takes on travel after retirement ranging from living on a boat, to volunteering abroad, to moving abroad so it was easy to pick up and put down (hence the extraordinary amount of time it was on my "currently reading" list). Some of the ideas interested me and others didn't, but all in all it was a good overview of the possibilities for retirees who want to include travel in their plans.

[John Orman · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, Travel it is--but where? This book has some answers!

I liked the section on improving the travel experience through internet tools and the social media. Also useful is the Voluntourism chapter on making the world a better place as you travel across it.

Wish the book had an index!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is invaluable to me as I plan our travel for the next few years. Many relevant resources are listed and the book gives the reader a taste of each author's work. I will be following up on many of the good suggestions.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very helpful book with many suggestions and tips for travel. Offers ways for retirees to travel throughout the world. Somewhat inspirational as well.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good reference book composed of essays from various travel experts. Web sites are provided for volunteer expeditions as well as more formal types of travel from budget to luxury.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure this is the right one, but the book I read did mention travel. It was interesting and gave a very positive outlook on my life as a retiree. LOVING IT.

[Ecolpip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this travel version for retirement and the regular one for retirement. Really love the websites in both books for further information or research.