Informative Articles
The Empty Nest, Not the End: Redefining Fulfillment After the Kids Fly Off
​Article by Kory Tuffin
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It sneaks up on you. One day you're packing school lunches, tripping over soccer cleats, and refereeing arguments over who gets the car on Friday. The next, you're standing in a driveway waving goodbye to a kid who now lives two states away and answers your texts with emojis. The silence that follows can be deafening—or liberating. This phase, often referred to as the “empty nest,” isn’t just an ending; it’s a recalibration. A rediscovery. The question is no longer “What do they need?” but “What do I want?” And for many, that question is a surprisingly hard one to answer.
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Redefining Routine Without Guilt
The biggest initial hurdle is usually inertia. You’re so used to pouring time and energy into your kids’ schedules that having a blank calendar feels almost rebellious. But guilt has no place here. You earned this stillness. Instead of reflexively filling your time with obligations, start noticing what you reach for without being told—what book you crack open, what neighborhood you wander into, what music you play with nobody listening. Your natural rhythms have a way of whispering what you've been missing. Trust those cues.
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Resurrecting the “Before” Version of You
There’s a version of you buried under the carpools and parent-teacher conferences. Maybe you loved painting. Maybe you were always halfway through a novel before breakfast. The point is, parenthood often demands so much forward focus that you forget who you were before. This moment, right here, is the invitation to reconnect. Dust off the guitar in the corner. Enroll in the art class you bookmarked three years ago. You’re not starting from scratch—you’re continuing a sentence that was only ever paused.
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Going Back to School
Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering what’s next—not just in your personal life, but in your career, too. That quiet stretch of time that opens up when the kids move out can also be the perfect moment to explore an online degree, especially if a job change has been on your mind for a while. The beauty of online programs is they meet you where you are, letting you learn on your terms. If you’re looking to pivot into something like tech, choose a program that includes access to industry certification exams—stacking your degree with IT certifications can be a game-changer when it comes to opening new doors.
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Building Friendships That Aren’t Logistical
It’s wild how many adult friendships are built on child-related logistics—sideline chats, shared rides, school events. When that scaffolding falls away, so do many of the friendships. That doesn’t mean you’re stranded; it means you get to be intentional. Seek out people you admire, not just people who are nearby. Join a hiking group, a wine club, or a volunteer crew. Some of the richest adult relationships are born from mutual curiosity rather than mutual convenience.
Saying No Without Justification
One of the sneakiest freedoms of this new phase is the ability to opt out without having to explain. You don’t have to go to the neighborhood potluck if you don’t want to. You don’t have to spend your Saturday organizing a fundraiser unless it lights you up. For years, your time wasn’t your own—it was your kids’, your job’s, your family’s. Now, when you say no, you’re not being difficult. You’re being honest. And that’s a quiet revolution in itself.
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Letting Stillness Be Productive
There’s a cultural addiction to “doing.” Even rest, these days, feels performative—yoga, breathwork, wellness retreats with itineraries longer than workdays. But what if your fulfillment isn’t in maximizing your free time, but in resisting the urge to maximize at all? Letting yourself stare out the window for twenty minutes, guilt-free. Going for a walk without a podcast in your ears. Fulfillment doesn’t always come from stimulation. Sometimes it comes from space.
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Rewriting Your Relationship With Your Home
Your house changes when the kids leave. There’s less noise, fewer shoes by the door, maybe an eerie sort of order. But instead of mourning what’s gone, reimagine what your space can be now. Turn a bedroom into a reading nook or a meditation den. Reclaim the kitchen if you used to love cooking before it became a 6pm scramble. A house, like a person, can evolve. And your home deserves to reflect the version of you that exists now—not the one who used to fold five loads of laundry on Sunday night.
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Letting Your Kids Go Without Disappearing From Their Lives
This is a tricky dance. You want to give them space, but you don’t want to vanish. The trick is to shift from manager to consultant. You don’t need to fix everything; you just need to be around when they reach out. Send a dumb meme. Ask for their take on a movie you’re watching. Be present, but not pushy. You’re not on the sidelines—you’re in the stands, cheering them on, occasionally tossing a snack. The bond changes, but it doesn't weaken.
Here’s the quiet truth that nobody talks about enough: becoming an empty nester is an opportunity to be a beginner again. That’s not failure—that’s freedom. You get to try things, mess up, start over, chase weird ideas, and lose track of time in a way you probably haven’t since your twenties. The end of daily parenting doesn’t mean the end of purpose. It means shifting your gaze. The world is still vast, still waiting, and finally—finally—you’ve got the time to wander through it on your own terms.
Discover a vibrant community and enriching activities at the Park County Senior Center, where there’s always something happening—from chess and pinochle to coffee with friends and wellness clinics!
The Independent Retirement: Building a Future Without Social Security or Medicare
Article by Kory Tuffin
For generations, the American retirement dream has rested on the promise that Social Security and Medicare will provide a sturdy safety net. But cracks in the foundation are hard to ignore—aging demographics, shifting policies, and rising healthcare costs have made these programs increasingly fragile. If you’re looking to build a secure retirement without relying on government support, it takes careful planning, smart investments, and a strategy that balances financial independence with long-term health security. Here’s how you can craft a safety net of your own.
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Reimagine the Traditional Retirement Age
The idea of retiring at 65 is a relic of the past. If you want to create a self-sustaining retirement, consider shifting your timeline. Working longer—whether full-time or part-time—can help you maintain cash flow while keeping your investments growing. But this doesn’t mean you have to stay in a high-pressure job forever. Many people are turning to phased retirement plans, freelance consulting, or passion projects that bring in income without the daily grind. By staying engaged in work you enjoy, you create a buffer against unexpected expenses and keep your mind sharp well into your later years.
Invest in Education for Long-Term Stability
One of the smartest ways to strengthen your financial safety net is by furthering your education to increase earning potential. Going back to school, especially through online programs, allows you to gain valuable skills while continuing to work full-time. For example, earning a Master of Health Administration can open doors to a career in healthcare leadership, providing both job security and higher income opportunities in a rapidly growing industry. By strategically choosing a degree that aligns with market demand, you can future-proof your career and ensure financial stability well into retirement.
Build a Diverse Investment Portfolio
Relying on a pension or 401(k) alone won’t cut it anymore. If you want true financial independence, your money has to work harder for you. Diversification is key—think beyond stocks and bonds. Real estate, dividend-paying stocks, and passive income streams like rental properties or royalties can provide consistent cash flow. The goal is to build multiple revenue streams that can sustain you, even if one takes a hit. And if you’re late to the investing game? It’s never too late. Catch-up contributions and aggressive but calculated investment strategies can still make a huge difference.
Create a Personalized Healthcare Plan
Without Medicare, healthcare becomes one of the biggest financial hurdles in retirement. The key is to plan ahead. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are one of the most tax-efficient ways to prepare, allowing you to set aside pre-tax dollars for future medical expenses. Long-term care insurance is another essential piece of the puzzle, as it can help cover in-home care or assisted living costs. Concierge medicine and direct primary care memberships are gaining popularity, offering a way to secure consistent, personalized healthcare without the unpredictability of traditional insurance. Thinking outside the box can give you more control over your medical future.
Downsize and Relocate Strategically
Where you live plays a massive role in your financial stability. High-tax states can drain your savings faster than you expect, while cities with skyrocketing housing costs can make home ownership a burden. Many retirees are downsizing to smaller homes, moving to tax-friendly states, or even considering international living in countries where healthcare and the cost of living are lower. Some are embracing van life, house hacking, or community co-living arrangements to reduce expenses. Finding a place that aligns with your budget and lifestyle goals can free up resources for the things that truly matter.
Develop a Self-Sufficient Mindset
A truly independent retirement isn’t just about money—it’s about building a lifestyle that minimizes dependency. That means staying healthy, maintaining strong social connections, and developing skills that make you resilient. Whether it’s growing your own food, learning basic home repairs, or mastering digital skills to stay relevant in the gig economy, self-sufficiency is a major asset. The more control you have over your daily needs, the less you have to rely on outside systems that may not always be there.
Prioritize Estate and Legacy Planning
If you’re planning for a retirement that isn’t government-reliant, legacy planning should be part of the equation. Setting up trusts, ensuring beneficiaries are in place, and having a solid estate plan can prevent financial headaches for your loved ones. If you own a business, creating a succession plan is crucial. And if you have philanthropic goals, structuring your giving in tax-advantaged ways can make a bigger impact. A retirement without Social Security or Medicare isn’t just about making it to the finish line—it’s about making sure your wealth and values carry forward.
Build a Community That Supports Your Vision
The strongest safety net isn’t always financial—it’s social. Having a community of like-minded people can make a huge difference in how you navigate retirement. This might mean joining co-housing communities, forming investment clubs, or simply cultivating friendships with people who share your long-term outlook. Retirement isn’t meant to be spent in isolation, and surrounding yourself with a support system can offer both emotional and practical benefits.
Relying on Social Security and Medicare is no longer a given, and for many, it’s not even a desirable option. The future belongs to those who are proactive, adaptable, and willing to forge their own paths. By investing wisely, planning for healthcare, and building a lifestyle that emphasizes self-sufficiency and community, you can create a secure and fulfilling retirement—on your own terms.
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Discover a vibrant community and enriching activities at the Park County Senior Center, where there’s always something happening for everyone!
Practical Ways to Improve Website Accessibility for Customers with Hearing Loss
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Article by Kory Tuffin
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Your website should be easy to navigate and understand for everyone, no matter how they experience the world. Prioritizing accessibility creates an online space that welcomes all visitors, including those who rely on visual communication. Small changes can remove obstacles, making interactions smoother and more inclusive. Thoughtful design choices improve clarity, ensuring every customer can engage without frustration. An accessible website isn’t just a courtesy—it’s a necessity for a truly connected digital experience.
Integrate Accessibility from the Start
When you design your website, it’s crucial to consider accessibility from the very beginning. By embedding accessibility into your initial design process, you enhance the user experience and align with global standards, which many organizations view as a competitive advantage. Avoid the costly mistake of postponing accessibility reviews until after finalizing designs and code. Instead, by prioritizing accessibility early on, you contribute to a more inclusive digital landscape and potentially gain a significant business edge.
Integrate Subtitles and Captions
Incorporating subtitles and closed captions into your video content is a vital step toward making your website more accessible. This feature supports those who are deaf or hard of hearing and enhances the experience for non-native speakers and viewers in noisy environments. By ensuring your captions are accurate and clear, you improve the overall user experience, allowing everyone to fully engage with your content. Additionally, implementing these features can help your business comply with legal requirements and demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity.
Include Visual Enhancements
It’s essential to design user interfaces that prioritize visual cues over auditory instructions. By integrating features like adjustable text sizes and high-contrast modes, you can ensure that users with diverse abilities can navigate your site effortlessly. Interactive elements, such as subtle animations and feedback, can intuitively guide users, eliminating the need for sound-based instructions. Additionally, implementing smart defaults and contextual help, like pre-filled forms and tooltips, can significantly reduce cognitive load and improve user experience.
Commit to A/B Testing
Consider implementing regular A/B testing to evaluate the effectiveness of various visual alerts and notifications. This approach allows you to identify which visual cues best convey important information, ensuring that your design choices are inclusive and user-friendly. By involving hearing-impaired users in the testing process, you adhere to the principle of “Nothing about us without us,” which emphasizes the importance of including the target audience in design decisions. This method improves user experience and fosters a more inclusive online environment.
Offer Accessible Contact Options
Giving customers multiple ways to reach you ensures that everyone can communicate comfortably. Relying only on phone support creates barriers for those who have difficulty with voice communication, but offering email, chat, or text-based options makes interactions easier. Clear contact information and responsive support help customers feel valued and understood. Simple changes, like ensuring chat services are easy to use and email responses are timely, create a more welcoming experience. When people know they can reach you in a way that works for them, they’re more likely to engage with your business.
By embracing these strategies, you create a digital space that respects and accommodates the needs of all users. This commitment to accessibility not only fulfills legal obligations but also enriches the user experience, making your website a more engaging and effective platform for everyone.
Discover a vibrant community at the Park County Senior Center—visit us online to see all we have to offer!
Retirement on the Road: Embracing the Digital Nomad Lifestyle in Your Golden Years
By Kory Tuffin
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Retirement used to mean winding down, staying put, and taking up hobbies you never had time for during your working life. But now, for many, retirement signals the beginning of a whole new adventure—one that trades in the backyard garden for beach cafés, and morning walks around the block for sunrise hikes through unfamiliar lands. With the world more connected than ever, and the demand for flexible, remote skills increasing, retirees are uniquely positioned to take advantage of this lifestyle with wisdom, experience, and time on their side.
Putting Your Skills to Work
You don’t need to be a coder or influencer to thrive as a digital nomad. Many retirees are turning to freelance writing, online tutoring, consulting, virtual assistance, bookkeeping, and customer service. Your prior career—whether it was in education, marketing, law, tech, or admin—left you with valuable expertise that can easily transfer to remote roles. Teaching English online, editing academic papers, or offering part-time coaching in your specialty are all real paths to income. Even hobbies like photography, genealogy research, or crafting can be monetized when you lean into platforms that help you showcase and sell what you do.
Pocket-Sized Marketing on the Move
When you’re constantly on the go, a well-designed business card becomes your most compact and personal way to leave a lasting impression. Whether you're chatting with a potential client at a café in Lisbon or networking at a coworking hub in Medellín, handing over a custom card shows professionalism and credibility. It also helps people remember who you are after a brief interaction, especially in places where digital follow-ups might get lost in the shuffle. You can design and print on demand business cards using an app that offers high-quality templates, generative AI design features, and easy editing tools to get polished cards delivered wherever you're stationed.
Telling the World You're Open for Business
Marketing yourself in retirement doesn’t mean creating TikToks or chasing algorithms. Start with a clean, professional-looking LinkedIn profile that highlights your expertise, past roles, and what services you now offer. Build a simple website or online portfolio that tells your story, displays your work, and provides clear ways to contact you. Your age becomes a strength when you position yourself as a reliable, experienced professional who doesn’t need hand-holding.
Keeping Costs Down Without Missing Out
Living abroad can stretch your retirement dollars further than staying put. Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and parts of Latin America offer low costs of living with high quality of life. House sitting opportunities can let you live rent-free in exchange for basic caretaking duties. Use travel apps to find off-season airfare and long-term rental discounts. Cooking your own meals, using public transportation, and staying in one place for a few months at a time can also keep expenses manageable without sacrificing the experience of discovery and freedom.
Client Communication from Anywhere
Just because you’re in Bali doesn’t mean you should sound like it’s a vacation. Set regular hours for meetings or replies, and use scheduling tools to avoid time zone confusion. Always be clear about your availability, and over-communicate during the early stages of a working relationship to build trust. And when you’re in areas with spotty internet, give your clients a heads-up—you’ll earn more grace with transparency than you ever will with excuses.
Getting Paid—Without a Hitch
Handling payments remotely is easier than ever, but you’ll want to set yourself up smartly. Services like PayPal, Wise (formerly TransferWise), and Payoneer let you receive global payments with minimal fees and currency conversion headaches. If you’re working on a platform like Upwork or Fiverr, payment is usually automated once a job is complete. For private clients, consider sending invoices through tools like Wave or QuickBooks. And always double-check banking compatibility when choosing new countries to visit.
Tech That Has Your Back
Your phone, laptop, and a decent headset are your essential gear—but there’s more out there to make things smooth. Use password managers like 1Password to keep logins secure and accessible. Cloud storage lets you work from anywhere without dragging around a hard drive. A portable Wi-Fi hotspot or local SIM card can be a lifesaver in spots with questionable internet.
Retirement isn’t a finish line—it’s a blank page. By becoming a digital nomad, you’re choosing adventure over idleness, connection over isolation, and creativity over complacency. With the right tools, mindset, and strategy, your golden years can be filled with more color, movement, and meaning than ever before. The world isn’t just out there waiting—it’s inviting you in, one Wi-Fi signal at a time.
Discover a vibrant community and enriching activities at the Park County Senior Center, where there’s always something exciting happening for everyone!