One of my favorite things about retirement and this Encore Voyage…Here’s a Hint:

It’s the BEST!!!  To finally have the time to read, read, read, read and then read some more – well, just heavenly.  And to not pay the penalty.  Here’s how it goes when I read in bed.  I tell myself, “Just one more chapter.” – Then look and I’ve gone the next 100 pages, OR I tell myself, “Just 15 more minutes.” – and look to find yet another hour has passed.  The Encore Voyage allows for such nonsense without having to explain my glazed eyes to my boss in the morning.  We love to go on Barnes & Noble dates and pet and smell and touch and generally support brick and mortar booksellers.  I also have a confession to make.  I’ve had my Nook for several years, and I love it, too.  I love being able to have lots of books with me when traveling, and I love being able to adjust the light (particularly helpful for past my bedtime reading!).  So I guess you can say I’m bi-literary:  I swing both ways.

But in my subtle move toward minimalism, I’ve also been reducing the number of actual books I have around the house.  It’s a little bit like giving away a child, I know, but it can be done, at least in part.  It’s easier knowing that I can still access those wonderful works with a tap of the screen…

And my latest rediscovery on the Encore Voyage?  The Public Library!   Come on, face it you boomers and retirees…when was the last time you roamed around your public library?  Here’s a news flash:  You should go!  No seriously, get your rear down to your local library and take your electronic reader with you, because here’s what I’ve learned:  There’s a high probability that your library will have a talented young techie person who will get you hooked up with downloading from the library’s e-collection. It’s easy peasy…They will help you download and start an account for OverDrive Media Console.  It’s quite simple.  You will need an Adobe account (easy to set up the first time – just an email and a password), and it’s all free.  Then wham, bam, thank you library – You are in business.  You select your local library and are directed to it’s e-collection right on your e-reader.  Coolest thing ever?  You can check out and download books from wherever you happen to have a wi-fi connection!  Generally, you can check them out for 14 days or so, and then they are just deleted.  Right??? No books to return, no worrying about overdue books.  And the hours and hours of browsing potential, without anyone thinking you are some weirdo!   If a book isn’t available right now, you can place a hold on it and the library will notify you by e-mail when it’s available for download.  Once you have the account, you can even put Overdrive on your smart phone, for those moments when you are bored at the DMV!   Just thinking about it makes my eyes glaze over with reader bliss…

So carpe librum and hurry over to your local library!  Then let me know how it all works out for you!