Downsizing in Retirement, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Tax Planning for High-Net-Worth Retirees

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Downsizing isn’t just about moving to a smaller space — it’s about choosing what you want to bring into the next chapter of your life. After decades of collecting memories, deciding what stays and what goes can feel emotional and overwhelming. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s clarity, comfort, and a home that reflects who you are now.

Start with the easiest category: the things you use every day. These automatically earn their place. After that, move to items tied to specific memories. Ask yourself whether the object is the memory — or whether the memory already lives in you. Keeping a few meaningful treasures is enough; you don’t need a whole closet to remember a moment.

When it comes to items you no longer need, think in three groups:

Downsizing works best when taken slowly, room by room, with patience and compassion. You’re not clearing out a life — you’re making space for the part that’s still unfolding.

💌 If you found these ideas helpful, forward this newsletter to a friend — downsizing is something many people face, and it’s easier when done together.

“The Wooden Canoe”
From the life overview of Daniel F., 82, Bemidji, MN. Shared with permission.

The wooden canoe sat by the edge of the lake, water lapping gently at the shore. The varnish of the canoe was warm from the morning sun. My father and I had built it ourselves, sanding each plank and fitting every joint with care. I remember the smell of fresh pine and sawdust, mixed with the crisp tang of lake water, and the excitement that ran through me the first time we slid the canoe into the water.

We paddled together in the early mornings, when the world was quiet except for the soft slap of oars against the water, the distant call of loons, and the gentle hum of dragonflies skimming the surface of the lake. One time, we were caught by a sudden wind that rocked the canoe. I froze in fear. My father just smiled, steadying the boat and teaching me how to adjust, to move with the rhythm rather than against it. I laughed with relief when we regained balance, and that laughter echoed across the lake, mingling with the mist rising from the water.

Sometimes we stopped mid-lake, letting the canoe drift as the sun warmed our shoulders, the smell of pine and lake mingling with the faint aroma of wildflowers from the shore. I’d close my eyes and just listen to the water, the wind, or the occasional splash of a fish. As I did so, I would feel the quiet, patient lessons that the canoe taught me.

Decades later, I sometimes walk along that same shore, watching boats glide across the surface and imagining the canoe under my hands. The wooden boat is gone, returned to the forest floor in pieces. However, the lessons that it taught me remain: patience, balance, trust, and the quiet joy of moving through life together, one deliberate stroke at a time.

***

National Park Service: Historic American Buildings Survey
A large collection of photographs, drawings, and short notes on historic buildings across the United States. It’s easy to browse and offers a quiet look at places—homes, barns, churches, bridges—that shaped daily life in earlier eras.

New York Philharmonic Digital Archives – Performance Recordings
A searchable archive of past concerts with recordings, program notes, and simple background information. It’s a relaxing way to listen to classical music while also learning a bit about when and why each piece was performed.

The Royal Irish Academy Library – Irish Folklore Transcriptions
These handwritten stories and notes from rural Ireland offer a straightforward window into past traditions, daily life, and memories. The collection is easy to explore and gives a quiet sense of what mattered to people a century ago.

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Smartphones are wonderful tools, but the constant buzzing, ringing, and notifications can get overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to sleep, read, rest, or simply enjoy a quiet moment. Both iPhones and Android phones have built-in tools that help you control when your phone makes noise and who is allowed to reach you. These features are called Do Not Disturb and Focus Modes (Apple) or Modes & Routines (Android).

On an iPhone, open Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb. Turn it on, and your phone will silence calls, texts, and notifications automatically. You can choose people who are still allowed to reach you — for example, close family members — by tapping Allow Notifications From and selecting their names.

On an Android phone, open Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb. From there, you can silence everything or choose what still gets through, such as alarms or favorite contacts.

Even using Do Not Disturb for things like doctor appointments, religious services, or bedtime can make your phone feel calmer and easier to manage.

If you’re comfortable adjusting settings, Focus Modes let you tailor your phone to different parts of your day. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus and create modes like Sleep, Reading, Driving, or Walking. You can set your phone to dim the screen, hide notifications, send auto-replies, or only allow important calls.

On Android, open Settings > Modes and Routines (available on many Samsung and Pixel devices). You can build a routine that turns on Do Not Disturb automatically when you get home, starts when your calendar says “Meeting,” or activates at bedtime.

If you’ve ever wished your phone would behave differently at certain times of day, these tools are the easiest way to make it happen.

Cruise deal of the day: 5 Nights Bahamas Cruise - departing January 10, from $240

Unmissable American gem: Jekyll Island, Georgia offers seniors a serene blend of quiet beaches, paved bike paths, and gentle nature trails perfect for relaxed coastal exploring.

Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object! Be the first to reply with the correct answer, and we’ll send you a free gift in the mail.

Today’s clue: Classic sweet treat blending soda with ice cream.

OTOR EBRE ALOTF

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