Retirement Plans Changed by 9/11

Hi:  

 I haven't blogged for a couple of months, and today seems a good time to start.  In thinking about today, September 11th, and the remembrances around the World Trade Tower bombing, I realize retirees have been affected greatly by this event. People thinking about travel and moving internationally now consider terrorism as one of the criteria for consideration.  I don't believe this was the case five years ago.

Initally, many people simply stopped travelling.  A shift to road-based transportation played havoc with airline traffic for a while.  Now, five years later, things are back to relative normalcy, although the recent British scare and the ban on liquids is another reminder the terrorists are still active.

Americans have borne the brunt of the 9/11 attacks, yet Americans have great opportunity to travel in their own country.  With so many geographic regions and differences in climate, Americans  do not need to leave their country to find great variety. Especially important, they can escape from inclement weather as the southern states are easily accessible for the winter months.  For years, I have been envious of the fact that Americans can live in relative warmth, while I live in the rain.  Even snowbirds may only spend limited amount of time in America.

Although Canada is just as huge, most Canadians live within 300 miles of the border. The problem, of course, is the weather and the geography.  When Canadians want to travel to get away from the harsh, interminably long winters, they must travel.  Canadian snowbirds flock to the southern states such as Florida or Arizona, and also to Mexico.  Yes, the geography of Canada is beautiful, but much of it is inhospitable.  The great bulk of the population has not been to the far north for any extended periods of time. It is relatiuvely undeveloped and unexplored. 

One thing is clear - we have much work to do for peace and much for which to be grateful. September 11th ris a stark reminder for us all.

Mahara