Author shares tips on keeping life exciting after retirement -see his top 5 ways to keep life fun

Dave Pratt retired in 2000 as an Army lieutenant colonel with 25 years experience in hospital administration, military medical operations and medical intelligence. Since then he has started a new career in the computer field, opened his own consulting business, taught for aU.S .university in China, and written a couple of books. His novel “Buried in the Records” is a murder mystery set in the Pacific Northwest.
 

Is life after retirement dull?  Not if you are Bill Deming, retired military officer turned consultant – and the hero in Dave Pratt’s newest medical mystery “Buried in the Records”.
 

The story of murder for profit at an Olympia hospital, “Buried in the Records” follows Deming as he returns to western Washington to run a routine audit of the hospital.   Readers follow Deming – and his dog Alex - as that audit quickly turns anything but routine and Deming stumbles onto an old flame, a new love and a murder for profit scheme that threatens his job and his life.
 

Western Washington author Dave Pratt brought a whole career’s worth of experience to this story.  A retired Army officer himself, Pratt has 25 years experience in hospital administration and military medical operations and intelligence. 
 

Pratt has been a freelancer for many years too, and has written more than 60 published articles, poems, stories and novels.
 

And does real life after retirement have to be dull?  Not for a minute, Dave says.  Since he retired from the military, this go-getter has taught for Saint Martin’s University in China, opened his own consulting business, and written a couple of books.  Another mystery novel – based on his trips to China – is now in editing.
 

Dave also is active with Lions Clubs International and as a Big Brother.  He has taught martial arts.  And he and his wife Jacqueline train and show dogs in agility trials – more experience that became part of “Buried in the Records”.
 

What keeps retirement fun?  Dave has some ideas. 
 

“This is the time of life to try new things, to put all that experience you have gained over the years into something you have always wanted to tackle.  It can be something big like starting a new career.  Or it can be something simpler, like trying a new recipe once a week or taking art lessons or teaching kids to play golf.  The point is that by the time we reach retirement age, we are old enough – and sometimes wise enough – to give ourselves permission to have fun,” Pratt says.
 

 Dave’s top 5 ways to keep life fun during retirement

1.       Do what you want to do.  Ok – so you may still have to take out the garbage, mow the lawn,  or fix dinner – but give yourself permission to do something each day just because you want to.  Pencil yourself in on your calendar and set aside time every day for your favorite activity.  As the ad says, you are worth it.

2.       Try something new at least once a week. There really is no pause button in life – either you are growing or you are withering away.  If you opt for growing, start by trying a new food next time you are at the grocery store – something healthy might be nice, but, hey, even a candy bar you have never tried before is a start!

3.        Do something for someone else.  Studies show that volunteers tend to be happier and healthier than others in their age range. Schools and hospitals always need volunteers, or you might consider becoming part of an organization like Lions Clubs International or Kiwanis where you can get involved in both local and international projects.

4.       Do something with someone else.  The transition from water cooler camaraderie to long quiet days at home can be tough.  But now you have time to devote to finding new friends who share your non-working interests.  Make a point of introducing yourself to someone new.  Or call an old friend for coffee.  The point is, get out of that chair and get in touch with another human being.

5.       Look for the mystery in life.  Webster defines "mystery" as something not fully understood – or something that arouses curiosity.  Mysteries are all around us every day and now you have the time to enjoy them.  In fact, just developing a mystery story for the person who cuts you off in traffic (is he racing his wife to the hospital?) or the person in front of you in a long line can go a long way to making life more fun.  Start enjoying the mysteries in your own life today.

 Learn more about author Dave Pratt at www.books-by-dave-pratt.com.