The Joy of Not Working

by Ernie Zelinski

The Creativity Guy Too Prosperous to Do Mornings


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Retirement Letters from Readers about

How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free

Retirement Letters Book #1

Over 325,000 Copies Sold

Published in 9 Languages

Purchase How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free at this link:

 

 

Following are some of the most interesting letters about How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free since the first U.S. edition of the book was published.

 

NOTE: If you are searching for a sample retirement letter or a retirement letter template, or tips on how to write a retirement letter then go to:

 

              Letter Retirement Samples at The Retirement Letters Café

Retirement Letters at The Joy of Being Retired

              Retirement Letters about How to Retire Happy, Wild & Free

 

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A Letter from a Reader about both

 

The Joy of Not Working

and

How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free


Steve Yu, an attorney from Hacienda Heights, California, sent me this letter in August 2006:


Dear Ernie.

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I would like to thank you for writing such marvelous books. I first came across your book How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free, while browsing in the finance section at the local bookstore, Barnes & Noble. For the past year, I have been going to bookstores almost every weekend. Lately, I have noticed more and more that reading books provides tremendous stress relief. It is especially nice to do on a hot summer day, and there is no admission charge.

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When I started reading How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free, it was an instant hit, as I kept thinking that this book was written especially for me. I agreed with 95% of your ideas and suggestions. After reading the first chapter, I decided to purchase the book because I was compelled to highlight certain sections, so that I could re-read them. After I finished the book, I wanted to read your earlier book, The Joy of Not Working, which was equally enjoyable.

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I am a 39-year-old attorney in Los Angeles, and have been practicing law since 1992. Lately, I lost the zeal and motivation at work, and I keep thinking about taking some time off. I do not think that I am ready for full-time retirement, but I definitely feel "over-worked" and burnt out. Earning a higher salary and bonus no longer drives me like it used to. As you so eloquently stated in your book, having more money does not mean automatic happiness. I need to enjoy life's little pleasures and engage in leisure activities to find happiness and fulfillment.

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I am considering part-time work as transition into retirement. Your two books have encouraged me to take the next step.

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It appears that you are preparing to publish additional books, and I will look out for them.

Very truly yours

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Steve H. Yu

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Retirement Letter #1

A Woman Who Lives in Paradise and Is Now

Experiencing Freedom after Reading the Book

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Liza Nordin from Honolulu, Hawaii, sent a two-page letter which is the longest that I have received about this book. I have shortened the letter somewhat even though every word was worth reading.

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Aloha Ernie:
I came across your book How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free sometime earlier this year and bought it out of curiosity. I have read many financial books on retirement but yours seemed different.
I read your book from cover to cover within 2 days and found myself in totally enjoying and agreeing to everything you said. At last, I am understood! I am no longer a freak just because I hate to work for money and FREEDOM means more than a secure JOB!!
I am 38 and officially retired from working at a job or business. Actually my last paid JOB was when I was 24, just right out of college. At age 26 I started my own business and have owned 3 businesses during the last 10 years. I became a serial entrepreneur and found that being a small business owner is sometimes worse than having a job, although I loved the freedom from a boss and the office politics nonsense. Making lots of money and being recognized as a successful entrepreneur were driving factors.
However earlier this year, I got a nagging feeling that there must be more to life than working hard for money. That nagging feeling turned into terrible unease and depression and I hated the business I was working on. I had worked hard building up this 3rd business for the past 2 years and I was bored and unhappy, even though it was profitable and I made good money. Here I am living in this amazingly beautiful paradise and I could count the times I went to the beach and actually relaxed. I don't want to be in a walker and carrying an oxygen tank before I can go hiking up Diamond Head Crater!
When I finally got the courage to end the business and give up the money, I felt tremendous relief. However, there was this void that whispered "so what do you do now?" That's when I picked up your book at a local bookstore! As the saying goes, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear!
Now I love being "retired"! LOOOVE being free with my time with no demands from pesky emails, telephone calls and demanding clients. Free to choose do things I have not done before because I had no time. Simple things like going to the library and reading, taking seminars on courses that interest me not related to business and money, taking care of my health by exercising, spending more time with my family. The first time I volunteered to become a parent chaperone for my son's class trip to the Honolulu zoo, I almost cried with happiness. My son, who is 7, was so happy and proud to have his mom around. I feel sad I didn't have the time for my daughter when she was growing up (she is 12) but I am now making up for lost time. This year for the first time in my life I joined a non-profit organization, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as a volunteer and was promptly made the Event Chairperson for the annual fundraiser. I enjoyed it and look forward to more charitable events
Best of all, when my husband (who is 51) saw how happy I was, he decided to quit his job with a very large and respected insurance company. He too had been very unhappy and bored with his job but stayed on because of the money and benefits. So in September he quit the Financial Services Industry for good and joined the world of the Semi-Retired. He got a real estate license and does broking on his own terms and absolutely loves it! Guess what? The world did not burn down and crash and he is making more money than he ever did in the Insurance Company and has lots more free time to spend with the family.
I just wanted to thank you for your wonderful book and showing the world there is more to life than working hard for money.  Now I find life fascinating, interesting and so fulfilling. Every day is an adventure and there is so much more to do, see and experience.
Aloha from Paradise (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Liza Nordin
Fellow Connoisseur of Life
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For Those Who Absolutely, Positively Want to Read

The World's Best Retirement Book

How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free

Retirement Wisdom You Won't Get

from Your Financial Advisor

retirement activities

The World's Best

Retirement Book

by Ernie J. Zelinski


  • Published in 9 Languages

  • Over 325,000 copies sold

 

Purchase at:

www.amazon.com,

www.barnesandnoble.co

 

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A Retired British Man Who Wants to

Know the Best Places to Retire

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Sam Mosely from Southport, England, wrote to me not only to discuss the book, but also for some information.

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Dear Mr. Zelinski:
I was in my local library late last month and noticed your book, How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free on the new bookshelf.
Being 69 years (old), I finished work in October 2001. I was very excited to see and glance through your book, so I took it on loan from the library being the first person to have it. I am due to return it on August 12th but I may ask if I can renew it.
Thank you for writing such an interesting and informative book. It is so full of wonderful advice on every page. I must endeavor to put into practice what you advise. I am a bachelor and need to make some changes to my present lifestyle.
Southport is a town in northwest England. It is quite an old Victorian town. It is flat and on the coast near the old shipping port of Liverpool where the old Atlantic steamers used to sail to and from Canada and America. It has a lot of retirees, but the weather is very unpredictable so I should like to spend the winter months somewhere warmer - and maybe permanently.
I have a question:  Re. Chapter 8, Page 187, you mention "AARP The Magazine recently chose its top fifteen places that Americans should consider if they want to retire abroad."
Please, could you tell me the names of the fifteen places?
I trust that you are in good health, happy, and enjoying your summer.
I note that you don't like to work in any month that doesn't have an "r" in its name, so I do hope you are enjoying your free time. I shall be quite happy to wait until September before you reply.

Thank you once again.

Yours very sincerely.

Sam Moseley

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Just a note that I didn't immediately provide Sam Mosely with the information about the fifteen best places to retire for Americans because I had lost it. However, several months later a retired friend of mine, who spends his six months a year in Thailand, sent me the information in an e-mail:

You can see them at Best Places to Retire on The Retirement Cafe.

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Lifestyle and Retirement Planning Made Easy

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With The Joy of Not Working


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Purchase The Joy of Not Working

leisure activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Seen in USA TODAY

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Top 10 Reasons to Buy

The Joy of Not Working

1. You are more independent and more creative than most people.

2. You were born a lover of life and not a workaholic.

3. You don't want the cheese; you just want to get out of the trap.

4. You like books that are reader friendly with lots of cartoons, quotations, and exercises.

5. You like books that make you smile and challenge traditional ways of living and thinking.

6. You agree with the words of Bertrand Russell: "To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the best product of civilization."

7.
You are receptive to the concept that we can achieve more if we relax, enjoy life more, forget about what the majority in society thinks is important, and focus on the things that really matter.

8. Your parents and co-workers will not approve of your adopting this book as your lifestyle Bible.

9. You know a good deal when you see one - if a book has been published in 17 languages in 21 different countries and has sold over 300,000 copies, it must have great value.

10.
You know something important that the hard workers of this world don't know: the secret to a happy and fulfilling life is to work smart and not hard.

 

Purchase The Joy of Not Working

 

 

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Retirement Letter #4

Additional Advice for a Happy Retirement

from a Couple in Arizona

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This couple from Sedona, Arizona, wrote to me to share their ideas on how to have a happy retirement.

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Dear Ernie:
Just a note to consider for your next book on retirement/life ideas . . .
Tell them to try the Peace Corps.  I retired at 59 from Boeing and my wife at 54 as a CPA to spend 2 1/3 years totally challenged, focused, and feeling like we were on a constant adventure.
You do not grow old while you are there and for many months after you return home! And they never look at life the same bored way again.
Canada has CUSO, of course.
Tom & Ann Tedrick

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Retirement Letter #5

Work Ethic Is Okay But There Are More

Wonderful Things to Do in Life!

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Sharon (no last name given) sent me this e-mail in March 2005.

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Hi Ernie,
I don't know if you actually read your fan mail but I want to personally congratulate you on the wonderful books you write!  I just finished reading 2 of them this past winter and they helped me to refocus on life.  I have always had a very strong work ethic which enabled me to work in a very stressful career for the past 25 years but with your help I have now come to the realization that there are other more wonderful things to do in life!  I am seriously considering retirement in the next 5 years to pursue more interesting activities. 
Thanks so much, Sharon

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Retirement Letter #6

Outrageousness in the Book Gave This

Reader Encouragement and Support

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Roland Jarka from Portalnd, Oregon, sent me the following e-mail in April 2005.

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Hi, Ernie.
A word of appreciation to you for your inspiration, courage, and outrageousness! I've been reading How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free and finding a lot of encouragement and support in your words.
I "retired" in December, 2004, at 63 1/2 years old. I'd been trying to get a job with no success--my heart was not in it. I decided then to restart my coaching and hypnotherapy practice, and recently decided to focus on helping people who are retired, or planning to retire, since I've been going through so much emotionally upon retirement. As such, I've started creating a workshop to present to businesses and to the general public, and have found a wealth of material in your book. Thank you!
It has also helped me to focus my own energies on being more creative. I used to make toys when I first 'retired' to the Vermont woods when I was 32, a time that impacted me in many powerful ways. I plan to start making toys again and hopefully have a class to teach other retirees.
Thank you again,
Roland Jarka

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Retirement Letter #7

Looking Forward to a Fulfilling Retirement

with a Smile on Her Face

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Earla Legault from Agassiz, B.C., wrote to me in May 2004 to report on her plans for retirement.

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Dear Mr. Zelinski
Though I signed "How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free" out of the library for my husband, I read it instead and loved it. Your overall message of living in the moment, finding gratitude in everything and keeping a healthy and happy heart is inspiring. Though I am a few years away from retirement, your research, insights, and quotes will keep me on the right plan and path.
Thank you for your book. I read it in one weekend - what better way to live in the now than reading a good book! I work in a library and I see the difference in seniors, especially those who enjoy their books. To quote my mother-in-law, "I would jump off the balcony if I didn't have books." Thank goodness she has a good library!
I look forward to my retirement with a smile on my face, my camera around my neck, and a pen in my hand.
Earla

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Retirement Letter #8

A 44-Year-Old Who Was Inspired

to Think about Long-Term Goals

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The following is excerpted from a Website by Chris Chaos who lives in Tucson, Arizona. I happened to find the Website when I typed in How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free into the Google search engine.  It's amazing what you can find about how your books have affected other people in this way.

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"My long term goals haven't been reviewed or updated in 5 years. Here are the goals I set in July 1999 just after I quit paid employment:

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1) Rent house, move elsewhere. (I was in Dallas.)
2) EMT training
3) Golf, tennis or softball league.
4) Read corporate books in Borders. Become an expert on corporations.
5) Get organized
6) Little league coaching
7) Saxophone lessons
8) Day trading
9) Math self study
10) Digital weather station
11) HAM radio license.

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I've done half of these tasks. The other half are out of date. What made me even think of long term goals was Ernie Zelinski's new book: How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free. In the first chapter there's a list of Ian Hammond's long term goals (just retired.) I thought they were cool enough to list on my blog, because they got my juices flowing:

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1) Study for an astronomy degree.
2) Learn to speak Spanish and German fluently.
3) Write and publish a travelogue, short stories and poetry.
4) Read all the "classics".
5) Volunteer as an overseas science/French/English teacher.
6) Study for an electronics degree.
7) Cycle around the world.
8) Compete in an international chess tournament.
9) Play classical guitar to concert standard.
10) Learn tourist Italian and Portuguese.
11) Paint watercolors.
12) Do ten things I haven't thought of yet.

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End Result? I'd like to recapture the enthusiasm Ian obviously has and that I felt 5 years ago. Time to review long-term goals.

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The World’s Two Best Retirement Gifts

f-Price Books



Over 300,000 Copies Sold            Over 325,000 Copies Sold

 

“Ernie has done it again [with How to Retire, Happy, Wild, and Free]. Easy to read, well laid out.  Emphasis on simple living, and preparing for retirement long before you retire.”

— Mary Anne Fields, Life Coach and Trainer of Life Unfolds, Houston, Texas

 

COPYRIGHT © 2017 by Ernie J. Zelinski

 

  

 

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