New Zealand Bucket List Trip, Medicare Funding, and Writing Your Memoir

March 31, 2026 — It’s been a while since our last newsletter. Since there is so much going on in the world right now, much of it bad, we thought some different news might help take your mind off of our problems. We hope you enjoy it! And remember, Topretirements is still alive and kicking. Come on over and post your Comments any time.

Have You Ever Thought About Writing Your Memoir?

I never thought my life was interesting enough to write about it, until I got started on a Christmas present from my daughter. The subscription to Storyworth she gave me comes with weekly prompts on topics to write about. This article talks about what the writing process is like, and includes a sample chapter I wrote that any baby boomer might appreciate: “What it was like growing up in the Cold War.”

Medicare Part A Goes Bust 12 Years Early

Well, this isn’t exactly good news, but it is something to know about. It seems that the so-called Big Beautiful Bill has come with a cost - its reduced taxes means that Medicare won’t get anything near the amount it will take to stay fully funded.

Bucket List: A Trip to the (Other) Land Down Under

People have many different reasons for choosing their retirement bucket list trips. But if outdoor adventures and amazing scenery make it to the top on your list, start planning your trip to New Zealand!

Topretirements just completed our long anticipated trip to the land of kiwis …and it was great!

New Zealand consists of three major islands: North, South and Stewart. All have tons of fun places to visit, with the the south having the more amazing scenic wonders. We started our trip in the North, landing in Auckland after a 15 hour flight from Dallas. Yes, it’s a long way to get there, but it’s worth it.

Auckland, or Aotearoa in Maori, is the country’s largest city. Like most of New Zealand’s coastal cities, it takes full advantage of its beautiful harbor filled with sightseeing boats and ferries. Along the wharf there is a great Maritime Museum along with many eateries and shops. We took a ferry to a nearby island that is the country’s most impressive nature preserve, Tiritiri Matangi. Once devastated by overgrazing and invasive rats, possums, and stoats, volunteer efforts have restored its bird and plant life to what the island looked like before westerners arrived with their pests.

Driving south we visited Rotorua near the Bay of Plenty. There we took in the National Kiwi Hatchery, which celebrates New Zealand’s proud symbol, the kiwi. These birds are flightless, and thus are very susceptible to predators. The Hatchery offers a chance to see and learn more about these reclusive birds. Next on tap was a cultural visit to the Ngati Manawa tribal center. Unlike America, New Zealand has embraced the culture of its indigenous people, the Maori. Everyone in the country seems too know at least a little bit of its language and customs. Most cities and places use names in both languages.

From there we flew to Christchurch on the South Island. In 2011 a very powerful earthquake struck the exact center of the city, leveling most buildings and killing hundreds of people. In the last few years it has largely been rebuilt, and for the better. There is a huge area of pedestrian-only streets that extend for blocks along the graceful Avon river. chock full of with cool restaurants and shops. What they have done in such a short time is very impressive.

To see the rest of our South Island adventures including trip highlights like Lake Tekapo, Te Anau, Milford Sound cruise, and the hike along the Routeburn Track, go to “More Down Under Adventures”