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Life is a journey. Lot's of retirees think about retiring as a couple. But what about retirement as a surviving spouse?\nIn this interview, I talk with Ann Nelson. After suddenly finding herself a widow in 2009, Ann needed to learn \u2013 and fast \u2013 about finances, survival, and ultimate retirement.\xa0Ann is the author of Retire Well, Retire Happy. On her journey, she has found that in the end, it is not all about the money. Living a happy and worthwhile life is extremely important. Her book is about how she navigated through the retirement maze and found her way after being left a widow.\nIn 2009, Ann was semi-retired but still working part-time flipping houses with her husband when he passed away.\nAnn knew she had to figure out her retirement as a surviving spouse\nWe talked about the very sudden and surprising passing of her husband who had a heart attack at the dinner table. This was the catalyst for the following chain of events in her life:\n\n* She found herself making burial and funeral arrangements\n* Anne had to continue renovating homes herself. She worked for about a year before fully retiring. She did find working helped keep her mind busy.\n* Then she also realized she had to learn how to sort out finances due to her husband's death\n\nIt wasn't until she went back to her and her late husband's home town, she began to grieve. \xa0You have no control over grief and you have to allow yourself the time to grieve. Even though it's been over 8 years since her husband passed she still grieves sometimes.\nShe had to reimagine herself and where she was going since her life had changed so much\nAnn has been keeping herself very busy in her retirement. She is writing and has her own podcast. Ann is also a retirement consultant and has taken courses to learn about investing.\nShe is also a member of a variety of groups:\n\n* Lions Club\n* Toastmasters\n* Australian Independent Retirees Association\n* National Seniors\n\nIn her book she not only talks about the investing and finances in retirement, she also talks about being happy in retirement. (You know I LOVE that!) The non-financial aspects of retirement such as traveling, learning and living arrangements.\nHer book is called Retire Well, Retire Happy and can be found on her website: http://www.annnelson.com.au/\nAnn's advice: Unless you are involved in outside activities, retirement can be a struggle. Prepare for retirement as a couple but also prepare and think about retirement as a surviving spouse.\nThis post\xa0about retirement and\xa0Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on\xa0http://RockYourRetirement.com