Fly into Retirement seniors activities

Fly into Retirement By Pat Redmond

"Retirement the way we know it is changing dramatically"

--Ken Stern

How do you envision retirement? Will you be playing endless rounds of golf, planning your week around shopping trips or just lounging on the beach?

Think again! Baby boomers have reshaped what it means to grow older. Compared with their parents, boomers are healthier, better educated and living well into their 80s and beyond. The increasing lifespan has given boomers the chance to reinvent themselves and pursue new passions at any age.

With an unstable real estate market and many boomers worried about retiring away from family and friends, many are taking off on one of the greatest adventures of their lifetimes. They're learning to fly! In fact, 67% assert that continued mental stimulation and challenge will motivate them to visit their local flight school, while the ability travel without the commercial aviation hassles will prompt them to invest in their new form of transportation ... a private plane.

"You can start at any age as long as you pass a physical exam and hold a current medical certificate. Some of our customers still love to fly into their 80s and 90s." remarked Tom Trumbull, owner of Suburban Aviation, Inc. the authorized representative for Cessna Aircraft in Michigan. "Your aviation medical exam is a head-to-toe check of general health and you'll need an additional check-up every two years to renew your "medical." It's required equipment."

There are just a few limitations to flying. Perfect vision isn't a necessity as long as it's correctable to near 20/20. It's even possible to obtain a waiver from the FAA for special circumstances, such as deafness and color blindness. The only things that would keep anyone from flying are serious conditions -- such as a history of heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, or epilepsy.

Yes, the boomers have created a whole new stage of life They're relaxing more, pursuing personal growth goals and spending more time with their spouse, children, grandchildren and community.

Ready for the rocking chair? Not anytime in the foreseeable future for these boomers!

"Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson