PATHS FAQ

Who attends the Paths to Creative Retirement workshop and what motivates them?

Typically, the 25-35 participants are professionals, couples and singles in their fifties who are still pursuing a career. A small number have already retired or scaled back their work life but they want to reassess their options. At least one fourth of participants tell us they need a way to “jump start” their planning process and that, for them, going away to focus specifically on planning their transition is essential.

What is included in the cost of the workshop?

The fee for the workshop includes three light breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners, handout materials and the workshop activities. Lodging is a separate expense with a wide range of options available. The workshop is conducted at Reuter Center, an attractive classroom and conference center-type building located on the UNC Asheville campus. Many hotels, motels and B&B’s are located 5-15 minutes by car from Reuter Center. There are no hotels within walking distance of Reuter Center, therefore most participants use their own vehicle or rent a car for the weekend.

How do I/we know that Paths to Creative Retirement is the right workshop for me/us?

The Paths workshop is an important investment of time and money. Participants have made it abundantly clear that they are seeking solid information, an exciting and inviting group of peers with whom to share insights, a well-organized and well-run program, and a helpful workshop framework that will ensure they are asking the right questions. Participants generally welcome a creative, highly interactive environment that is unpretentious. They like the fact that they workshop is conducted by a university-based program, with no products for sale, and diverse people from around the country. Participants tell us that the workshop either helps them confirm and refine a plan already partly formed, or it motivates them to feel less anxious about the changes ahead. Again, the Paths workshop is mainly about lifestyle issues; financial issues are explored in terms of values, attitudes and self-awareness.

What makes the NC Center for Creative Retirement qualified to offer this workshop?

The Center’s professional staff and its cadre of trained volunteer facilitators (who are Center members) combine their knowledge of research and practical experience relevant to the changes and choices people face as they make retirement decisions. The Center’s work over two decades in offering workshops on how to successfully navigate the uncertain waters of senior career development, personal rejuvenation, relationship enhancement, and other life goals makes our team uniquely experienced and well-informed.

What can I/we expect to take away from this workshop?

This varies depending on the individual or couple’s starting point and their openness during the workshop sessions. Past participants tell us that as a result of attending the workshop, they feel less anxious and more excited about planning their next steps. They are delighted to have found a group of fellow participants with whom they can exchange ideas and practical information. For many couples, the workshop enables them to more easily share their individual expectations and goals for retirement-related decision making (including extending their working years).

Who are the facilitators of this workshop?

The workshops are led by small teams of trained facilitators that include NCCCR director Catherine Frank, PhD. Other facilitators are members of the Center with backgrounds in business consulting, business ownership, education and facilitation. More than providing you with answers, these talented facilitators aim to guide you to find your own answers and solutions.

What is the difference between Paths to Creative Retirement and NCCCR’s other weekend program, Creative Retirement Exploration Weekend (“CREW”)?

Both programs address mid- and later-life transition issues. Paths is about the personal transition to a meaningful retirement, including timing, identity, relationships and, for some, relocation. Not everyone who attends Paths is thinking about relocating; those who are considering relocating often see it as one of many factors in planning their meaningful retirement. CREW is specifically all about RELOCATING in retirement. Everything is seen through the lens of relocation. CREW is for people who perhaps feel that relocation defines their retirement planning.