| We all know that you can teach an old dog new | | | | new in this changing world. It's true. Continuing |
| tricks. We also know that it's important to keep your | | | | education can literally enrich and possibly extend your |
| mind active when you retire. Just because you're | | | | life. |
| planning to move to a retirement community in | | | | You don't have to be reminded that activity, both |
| Florida to get away from winter weather doesn't | | | | physical and mental, is important to staying young. |
| mean your brain has to be put into storage along | | | | There's a massive body of scientific literature that |
| with your mittens and snow shovels. | | | | promotes the healthfulness of intellectual activity. |
| The rain in Spain still stays mainly in the plain, birds | | | | Consider stretching your own academic muscles again |
| are still migrating, and somewhere in the world people | | | | and connecting with an academic program that might |
| are dancing. What, you may ask, do these things | | | | stimulate you. |
| have to do with you, now that you're retired? Well, | | | | Many people who live in a community that offers |
| before you choose your retirement community, | | | | educational courses find that they renew their |
| make sure that as part of the amenities and activities | | | | passion for learning. It keeps them in the mainstream, |
| available, that educational courses are part of the | | | | gets them involved, keeps their minds alert, and |
| program. Why? | | | | opens their eyes to subjects they may have missed |
| Because rather than sitting by the pool everyday or | | | | while they were working and/or raising a family. |
| watching TV or playing cards, you might actually learn | | | | Educational programs can give you a reason to get |
| enough Spanish to visit Spain to see the plain, acquire | | | | up in the morning. You get to meet new people, look |
| enough art instruction to paint a bird in flight, or learn | | | | at things in a new way and get a chance to try |
| enough new dance steps to get back out on the | | | | something never before attempted. |
| floor. What good is sitting alone in your room? Life is | | | | The importance of learning never stops. Retirement |
| a Cabaret, old chum. Don't sit back and watch the | | | | communities that don't offer educational courses, |
| world go by. Get involved. | | | | such as dance classes, should be avoided like a rerun |
| Retirement can be illusory. It's not long before the | | | | of Lawrence Welk. Be sure to choose a retirement |
| joy of sleeping late, playing golf, and enjoying the | | | | community that offers educational courses or is |
| grandchildren soon becomes insufficient. Retirees who | | | | affiliated with a nearby college. There is so much to |
| are single, divorced or widowed, soon feel quite | | | | gain. Ask yourself, would you rather see pictures of |
| isolated. After a lifetime of responsibility and mental | | | | Spain or learn how to order a fine meal when you |
| activity, many retirees miss interacting with | | | | visit? |
| colleagues and the opportunity to learn something | | | | |