For the last four years I have considered it a privilege to scour the internet for what I consider to be the best blogs and websites about positive aging and retirement I can find. While my list certainly doesn’t contain all the sites available on these topics, they are personal favorites that I believe are noteworthy and offer thoughtful and provocative insights on the subjects. Plus, for the most part, I believe they are also fun to read and uniquely different. Thank you to each of the authors and creators who put in the time and effort to provide such helpful ideas and information while sharing their lives and experiences with all of us throughout the year. Taken together I believe that those of us who read the wisdom found in these sites will surely benefit with a healthier, happier, more content and SMART life as the years go by.
When making my choices I use what I call my SMART criteria. That criterion is a gauge that includes posts and articles that:
- Share thoughts that I personally believe engage, inspire, or encourage us as we age and/or retire.
- Puts the perspective on the benefits, latest research, good news, and opportunities surrounding aging and retirement.
- Offer a distinctive perspective on living, saving and/or traveling as we age.
- Aren’t overly technical or financial—and instead shines the light on the mental, physical, emotional and sometimes spiritual evolution of aging.
- Avoids commercialism along with annoying ads or lots of self-promotion.
- Regularly and consistently adds quality content (If a blog hasn’t posted anything in over a month or more—it won’t be on this list.)
- Avoid sites that focus on fashion, food or politics!
Blogs & Websites for A Positive Retirement
My Satisfying Retirement. Bob Lowry regularly shares content that raises questions and provides answers about life, retirement and aging while he does his best to “make the most of today and what is still to come.”
Sightings Over Sixty Where Boomer Tom Sightings offers his insights as he looks at health, finance, retirement, grown-up children and how time flies.
Retirementally Challenged A blog written by Janis who shares her passion for photography, travel, relationships, gratitude and whatever else pops into her head (even, sometimes, issues surrounding retirement and aging).
Retirement Reflections Donna retired in 2015. To document this transition, Retirement Reflections was born. Over six years later, Donna retains her focus on new discoveries, healthy living and gratitude.
Picture Retirement A blog written by Suzanne and Malcolm where they share what they’ve learned since retiring at age 50 in 2006.
Retirement Confidential is a written by Donna, writer and speaker, who is a two-time cancer survivor in hot pursuit of a long, healthy and happy life.
U.S. News On Retirement provides planning ideas and advice from a number of personal finance and lifestyle bloggers.
A Retirement Blog by Caree Risover Caree is from the U.K. and writes about retirement—from planning to implementation to the eventual enjoyment.
Retirement Transition Follow Pat’s journey as she transitions into retirement while envisioning and implementing life’s next stage.
Retirement Manifesto is a blog founded by Fritz with a heavy emphasis on finances but also offering articles that provide a meaningful voice to the retirement journey.
Living Richly In Retirement A blog where Barb shares ideas about living and loving life and retirement on a fixed income.
(new) I’m Retired—Adventures of a Simpler Life comes from Cynthia who lives in South Carolina and shares the adventures, actions and photos of her retired life.
(new) And We Plant. This blog is where Amanda and Darrel share their stories, adventures, and interests as we go about their 60+ living. Along with aging comes hindsight, the regret of past mistakes, and missed opportunities. They have decided while they can, to live intentionally, enjoy where they are right now, and to stay positive.
(new) Retires Great A Blog/website where Debbie and Shannon focus on helping everyone achieve a retirement (and life) filled with passion and purpose.
(new) Annie’s Journey Is a site where Annie’s path is one of the mind and time rather than miles. Her content is an attempt to take over the challenge her job previously provided her brain. She loves science, gardening, nature, art, spirituality, books, music, my family, and my friends. No topic is off limits!
(new) Cresting the Hill Follow Leanne’s (early) retirement journey. This is a great place to find inspiration, toss out Midlife crisis and replace it with Midlife contentment and connection.
(new) A Retirement Blog –The Summer House Years A blog and podcast where Peter explores the psychology of retirement and finding a new identity while maintaining my self-esteem.
(new) Raven & Chickadee Laurel and Eric share stories about their active life in Florida and take us along as they explore the backroads of North America.
Positive Aging No Matter What Your Age
Blue Zones The Blue Zones Story is a website devoted to sharing insights into ways we can all stay healthy, happy and active as we age.
Boomer Café Now in its 20th year, Boomer Café is the original digital magazine (ezine) for baby boomers with active lifestyles and youthful spirits.
Sixty and Me Produced to empower and motivate women to find their own voice and value in a transitional time of life that offers so much new opportunity.
Boomer Highway According to Beth life is like a buzzing highway: adult children, grandchildren, aging parents–your own age. How can we slow it down and keep it safe on that highway?
The Widow Badass is a blog where Deb (the widow) shares thoughts and activities as a newly retired woman. You never know what she will do next!
Galen Pearl is a site written by Galen who is a Spiritual director, guide, teacher and student, martial artist, writer, explorer of the Dao De Jing and other wisdom teachings, embracer of life’s mystery —who along the way points out that the “no way” is often the way.
(new) Life Lived Forward features a variety of guest authors who do their best to inspire us to live our best life—no matter what our age!
(new) So What? Now What? Christie is a self-professed goal setting, list making, self-improvement addict. Her blog is her way of (publicly) sorting out the answer to the question ‘What Now?” Her mission is: live, laugh, learn and love.
(new) Muddling Through Middle Age Author Anne Coleman writes about the changes and issues found in middle age along with learning to recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of aging.
(new) Deb’s World A blog about midlife, travel, adventure – and all things in between. Enthusiastic, energetic and always seeing the positive, Deb’s goal with her blog is to make readers smile, inspire each other and connect.
We all have many choices about what we do with our time. But if we are going to be reading or staring at any “screen” then let’s be reading things that are positive, uplifting and life-affirming–especially when it comes to getting older or living in retirement. I think all these websites fit those needs. So, please accept this list as my year-end gift to all my SMART Living 365 readers for 2021.
Please Note: I also provide links to other SMART sites I read and enjoy regularly HERE. Be sure and check these out as well.
Thank you so much for including me in your list! I’m so humbly honored to be in such great company. I know several of these blogs, and I’m looking forward to checking out others. Thank you thank you thank you. Wishing you a healthy and happy new year.
Hi Galen! You’re welcome of course because I enjoy your blog and believe you offer such a unique and special insight to aging and to women. Besides, I’m thrilled to share my favorites (old and new) with others so that more people can find us and connect…and isn’t that one of the greatest gifts that blogging and writing provides. Happy (and healthy!) New Year to you too! ~Kathy
Another winner of a list. Thanks for compiling it, Kathy! There are a few familiar ones in there. 🙂
Hi Liesbet! I always debate putting your blog on my list even though you are younger than most of us and not really “retired” because you are certainly one of my favorites! I actually ought to have a list of adventurers or travelers and you would DEFINITELY be on that one. Happy New Year to you and Mark and Maya! ~Kathy
I am on your other list and happy about that. I’ll have to send you a new blurb, though, as we are not house and pet sitting anymore. 🙂 Happy New Year to you and Thom!! Xxx
yes do send me a new bio…figuring out what to say about my fellow bloggers is always hard!
Just did. Thank you!
Hi Kathy I was reading the list saying to myself I have got to check these blogs out and my goodness gracious you included us. I am so excited. I feel like the coolest girl in the room (won’t mention I’m the only one in the room LOL) I am honored that a blog that I consider among the best would put us on the list. Thank you. I have taken a little break but you had better believe all kinds of stuff is going on in ‘Amandaland’ and I will be sharing again soon. Happy New Year… 2022 here we come!!!
Hey Amanda! Happy to include you. Don’t you just love the variety of writers that are blogging about their unique experiences of getting older (in a positive way) and retirement? I always enjoy your “voice” and think others will too. Happy New Year to you and I look forward to your adventures in 2022! ~Kathy
Hi Kathy, so excited to see my Deb’s World blog appear on your list! Many thanks for including me and I now have some other great sites to look at over the next few days as we head into a new year :). I follow many of the ones you have mentioned and find we all have something to offer each other regardless of where we live in the world. You are always so positive and I always enjoy your posts.
I’ll proudly display the badge and a link to your post on my blog. Happy New Year to you and your family 🙂
Hey Deb! Yes I thought it was time to include your great blog on my list. I always wrestle with who to add and not, and who is really writes much about aging and/or retirement so it is fun to add ones offering something special and unique to the “story.” Thanks for displaying the “award badge” and I hope that new readers find your blog. Happy New Year! ~Kathy
Thank you so much, Kathy, for including us on your list! We’re definitely in there with some prestigious company (yourself included) and so grateful / honored for the recognition. Our blog is a labor of love and very rewarding. We really enjoy helping people achieve a “great retirement” :-).
I’ll be checking out some of the other blogs you mentioned as well. Some I know and follow. Others are new ones that sound very intriguing and interesting. Thanks for sharing this! Hope you had an awesome Christmas and have a very Happy New Year! Here’s to a wonderful 2022!
Hi Debbie! You are welcome. I was delighted to find your blog and totally agree that yours, like most all the others, are labors of love. That’s a big reason I like to provide an introduction to others who may be out there trying to find good blogs. Not only does the internet offer us tremendously good info, it also introduces us to some awesome people that we would never have the opportunity to connect with without it. You are one of those. Still hoping that one of these days we meet in person! Until then have a Happy New Year and may it be a good one for us all. ~Kathy
Great list Kathy! The descriptions are perfect for the blogs I already followed – and have piqued my interest for those I still want to check out. Thanks! Happy New Year!
Hi Janet! I know that you are several years younger than some of us but I still hope think there is a lot of wisdom and ideas in nearly all these blogs that would appeal to you and many others. And when you think about it we are all “aging” so we might as well make it positive right? And Happy and Healthy New Year to us all! ~Kathy
Absolutely — we hope to all age well!
Thank you for the shout-out, Kathy! Much appreciated. I am honoured to be included in some very good company!
Deb
Hi Deb! You are welcome! Always nice to share the interesting and thoughtful ideas from other bloggers–and especially those I call friends! Happy New Year! ~Kathy
Hi Kathy- thanks so much for adding me to your list. I definitely feel that early retirement has been a godsend and an absolutely positive experience (once I got it figured out). Lovely to see some familiar blogs on your list that I love already, and several I haven’t seen before that I’ll be checking out in the weeks ahead. Happy end of 2021 and let’s hope 2022 turns out to be a great year for all of us! x
Hi Leanne! Yes I’ve followed you for a number of years now (as I think you know) and you’ve finally begun to write about retirement and positive aging a lot more so it deserves to be on this list! And if you think you know of any I’ve forgotten please let me know. There are really so many of us that it is often difficult to keep track. And YES to a happy END of 2021 and a good 2022 for us all! ~Kathy
Wow! Thanks for continuing to do this and for keeping us on your list this year. Raven and Chickadee have been favorites of mine for a while now, so it’s nice to see them among the newcomers. I’ll spend some time checking out all the others and will surely add to my regular reading list. Have a great week.
Hi Suzanne! You’re so welcome. I don’t always get the time to get around to all these great blogs on a regular basis. (and admittedly not that great at commenting on all the ones I do read–you KNOW how much time that takes!). But doing this list helps me look around and see which ones I might have missed and remind myself of the ones that deserve to be noticed over and over–like yours! I hope you have a chance to look them over and maybe discover some new ones. ~Kathy
I always look forward to seeing your list, Kathy. Lots of favorites here, and a few new ones to discover. Thank you so much for including my blog. I will proudly display your “Best of 2021” badge on my sidebar!
Hi Janis! Thank you! I always enjoy your perspective as well as your friendship. And thanks for displaying the “award badge.” I always hope that people find the list a helpful introduction to some great blogs! ~Kathy
Thanks for including Sightings Over Sixty on your list. Many of these are familiar, some are new ones to explore, which I will happily do during this end-of-year period. Happy holidays to you and yours!
Hi Tom! I’m happy to include your blog because you nearly always give me something to think about and consider. I also appreciate your sense of humor. Happy holidays and Happy New Year to your and your family! ~Kathy
Thanks, Kathy – The screenshot worked well. It is a great graphic. Thanks so much!
Donna
Thank you for mentioning my blog – I am, as we say in Yorkshire, “right chuffed” by the accolade. Have a wonderful Christmas.
Hi Caree! So glad you found this already! I won’t be sending out the email notification of the post until Monday because I didn’t figure many would have the time to read it. And thanks for all you do to share thoughts and ideas with all of us! ~Kathy
This is an awesome resource, Kathy. Thank you for the care and attention that you put into making this list each year. And thank you for the shoutout. I have already included this badge on my sidebar!
Hi Donna! Thank you. As the post says I really feel like it is both a privilege to put out– and a gift I LOVE giving to all the other talented writers and bloggers out in the blog-o-sphere! And I do have an original graphic of the award if you want it???? Thanks again for your input as well….The connections that come from blogging is one of the best gifts we give and offer one another. Happy Holidays to you and your entire family~. ~Kathy