{"content":[{"text":"Challenges for the Single Person in Retirement","bbox":{"left":0.273114,"top":0.23212,"width":0.45698999999999995,"height":0.01757600000000001}},{"text":"Dr. Michael Winters \n retiretovitality.com \n 713-724-4622","bbox":{"left":0.420173,"top":0.2733,"width":0.16272399999999998,"height":0.05546500000000004}},{"text":"Being single in retirement presents a unique set of benefits and challenges. The primary \n benefit is that the single person is in charge of all aspects of their life. The primary challenge is \n that the single person, alone, is in charge of all aspect of their life.","bbox":{"left":0.119389,"top":0.3533,"width":0.7535510000000001,"height":0.05546499999999999}},{"text":"For married people, a spouse provides for automatic social connection – a dinner partner, \n someone to discuss significant decisions, and a person to care for and be cared for by are all \n wrapped up in one relationship. Without a spouse, a single person has to work harder to \n develop and maintain social connections, but it is possible to do so.","bbox":{"left":0.119389,"top":0.427239,"width":0.736656,"height":0.07395100000000004}},{"text":"How much social contact do you need to be at your best? \n Of course, the answer to this question is unique to each individual. Some of us do fine with \n minimal social contact and only connecting with others a few times a week. Others require \n daily social connection to be at their best. \n Consider not only the amount but what types of social interaction are needed. Some research \n points to the value of multigenerational relationships. I think of this on three levels: Peer \n friendships – having people near your age anchors you in shared experiences and a shared \n place in the life cycle. It is essential to cultivate and maintain peer friendships. Mentor \n relationships: It is often meaningful to find younger people whom you can mentor in a task, or \n about life in general. The mentoring does not have to be the primary component in the \n relationship. If you have adult children – this often serves the role of a mentorship relationship. \n If you do not have children, where can you find people to connect with that may benefit from \n your life experiences? \n Finally, there is value to having relationships with young children. If you have grandchildren, \n how do you prioritize your relationship with them? If they are far away – can you have \n telephone or facetime contact regularly? Can you travel to see them more often? If you do \n not have grandchildren or do not have frequent access to your grandchildren, how else can you \n connect with children? For example, are there opportunities at a church or synagogue to be \n part of childcare, or teach a class? Perhaps there is a local elementary school where you can","bbox":{"left":0.119389,"top":0.519663,"width":0.763634,"height":0.3745569999999999}}],"images_bbox":[{"left":0.325957,"top":0.09111,"width":0.353758,"height":0.114513}],"images_bbox_not_text_overlap":[{"left":0.325957,"top":0.09111,"width":0.353758,"height":0.114513}]}