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Literary Travel: Visiting Authors' Homes
Trivia: Which ancient queen lived closer in time to the Moon landing than to the building of the pyramids?
RetireHub
January 21, 2026
Rise and shine, RetireHub community! ☀️ Your Wednesday newsletter is here!
Today we have an exciting announcement. RetireHub Premium officially has a new look and TONS of new features. A few of our favorites?
Daily games (like Solitaire, Snake, Tetris, and more!)
More trivia! (See how you stack up against other RH members)
Medicare Classes!
Personal Finance Classes!
More daily deals!
Daily free e-books!
A job board (with jobs tailored for 50+ year olds)
And we’re building more weekly! We’re really excited about this, and would love for you to test it out risk-free, so we’re giving everyone a free 7-day trial that signs up at the link below:
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What We’re Reading
Get these e-book deals before they’re gone.
 | By: Denise Gore Long A matchmaking dachshund sniffs out true love. After rescuing a drowning dachshund, Arden and Nick become a local celebrity couple. Unfortunately, Nick is her brother’s best friend and is only in town long enough to raise funds for his overseas mission. Despite their complicated pasts, can Arden and Nick find a way to bridge the distance? |
 | By: D.B. Elrogg Murder has happened in the past at the old deserted farmhouse. Murder is happening again. One body in a puddle of blood in the kitchen. One body in the barn. Police Consultant Milo Rathkey was there for the plane crash, but stayed for the murder. Who killed the would-be actress? Milo realized it wasn't what he saw, it was what he didn't see. |
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Dear Joanne
Your questions, her wisdom — Joanne’s here with thoughtful advice, warm humor, and a listening ear for whatever’s on your mind.
This past weekend, our family experienced a setback of historic proportions. Not a medical one. Not a financial one. Something far worse: Our beloved football team, the Buffalo Bills lost their playoff game. Five turnovers. Questionable calls. Last minute hopes. Only to lose. Again.
“I’ve seen this movie before, and I don’t like the ending.”
The game ended with a lot of yelling at the television, mostly from my husband. Then there was a vast sense of quiet. Too quiet. The television was shut off with the kind of care usually reserved for antique furniture. There was a lot of post-game commentary, again mostly from my husband, with long stares in between, and the occasional head shaking. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Within minutes, everyone we know became an expert. Blame had to be assigned. General Manager decisions were questioned. Play calls were replayed repeatedly in our minds. And, as is tradition in our household, it was unanimously decided that people needed to be fired, especially the General Manager. Not officially, of course but definitely, absolutely, and without appeal. The living room “front office staff” (made up of my family) made it final. After all, years of being Buffalo Bills fans gave us the expertise needed to move this team forward. I immediately thought about the 1990’s, when I had the privilege of attending three of the four Super Bowls that the Buffalo Bills participated in. What an experience I lived! Now my sons, who are all grown up, do not even know the thrill of having “your team” be in a championship game. I do not even have the faith that they will ever experience that joy.
The rest of the evening was pretty subdued. Snacks continued to be eaten out of sadness, not joy. One of the talking heads on television mentioned “next year” far too early. I just about lost it. Another reminded us that at least the weather was nice during the game in Denver, an attempt at optimism that was politely ignored since we live in Western New York where we are going through five days of predicted blizzard-like conditions.
By Monday morning, the emotional hangover had set in. Coffee didn’t work as quickly as it should have. Conversations started mid-sentence, assuming everyone already knew what “that play” referred to. Smiles were limited in every household and every workplace. Then, to everyone’s surprise, the “breaking news”… Buffalo Bills Coach Sean McDermott was relieved of his duties. What??? Was our living room bugged? That is not what we wanted!!!
After all – We are the BILLS MAFIA. As we have done for the last 30 years, we pick ourselves up and brush ourselves off.
Still, retirees are resilient people. We’ve lived through worse. We’ve learned patience. We know that hope, like football season, always returns. The Bills may have lost, the coach may have been fired, but our spirits will lift again.
Our family will recover.
Eventually.
Probably by the draft.
Email me and tell me about your sports teams and related horror stories, I mean experiences. Or, if you want to make me jealous, tell me your stories of your winning teams and how you celebrated. Please email me at [email protected].
If you are from Denver or New England, please be kind.
I’ll be in better spirits next week. I promise.
Joanne
With regards to Professional Sports: |
On this day in 1924, Russian leader Vladimir Lenin died at age 53, ending a pivotal chapter in Soviet history and setting off a power struggle that would eventually bring Joseph Stalin to power.
Literary Travel: Visiting Authors’ Homes
There’s something magical about stepping into the spaces where great stories were born. Visiting an author’s home is more than sightseeing—it’s a chance to connect with the creative lives behind beloved books. From cozy cottages to grand estates, literary homes offer a window into the habits, struggles, and inspirations of the writers who shaped our reading lives.
Many authors’ homes have been preserved as museums, filled with personal items, handwritten notes, and original furnishings. Seeing a writer’s desk, favorite chair, or garden path can make their work feel suddenly personal. You may find yourself imagining scenes taking shape in that very room, or lines of poetry forming during quiet morning walks.
Literary travel is also a wonderful way to explore new places. Instead of visiting a city only for its landmarks, you get to experience it through a writer’s eyes. Walk the streets Charles Dickens once walked in London, wander the rolling countryside that inspired Jane Austen, or explore the Southern towns that influenced writers like Flannery O’Connor and Harper Lee. These journeys blend history, culture, and storytelling into one rich experience.
For many travelers, visiting an author’s home is emotional. Books often mark important moments in our lives—childhood favorites, novels that helped us through hard times, stories we shared with loved ones. Standing in the home of the person who wrote those words can feel like saying thank you in person.
Planning a literary trip can be simple. Many homes offer guided tours, special exhibits, and even writing workshops or readings. Some are part of larger literary trails, where you can visit several sites in one region. Even if you don’t travel far, you might be surprised to find a famous—or soon-to-be-famous—writer connected to your own town or state.
Literary travel also invites you to slow down. These homes are often quiet, reflective places that encourage wandering, reading, and thinking. You might leave with a new book to read, a deeper appreciation for a favorite author, or inspiration to write your own stories.
Whether you’re a lifelong book lover or someone who enjoys a good story now and then, visiting authors’ homes adds depth to travel. It turns reading into a physical journey and reminds us that behind every great book is a real person who once sat at a desk, stared out a window, and wondered how to begin the next sentence.
Have you ever visited an author’s home? |
Yesterday’s Poll Results: What do you use your Smart TV for most often?
Most readers are clearly using their Smart TVs for what they do best—watching movies and TV shows, which took a big lead with nearly two-thirds of the vote. A smaller but steady group is still sticking with basic TV channels, while about 13% haven’t made the jump to a Smart TV yet. News, documentaries, music, and learning programs came in much lower, showing that for most people, Smart TVs are still mainly about simple, cozy entertainment rather than all the extra bells and whistles.
TOP COMMENTS
“I/we use all of them, except sharing photos/ videos, we only do that with our phones, not from our phones to TV.”
“It is important to me to know what is going on in the world around me. The news channels on streaming services are generally more straightforward and truthful than what is broadcast on regular tv. I love documentaries because I enjoy learning about things I did not know.”
“My daughter set me up years ago. I enjoy my Smart TV and I have a Fire Stick, it give me more variety.”
“We have a tv that’s over 10 years old, works fine with cable service.”
“News first thing in the morning, music rest of day if I’m home, news at 5 and then tv shows or sports.”
“I have Sling TV and Gotham Sports. I use it to watch my teams play.”
“Retirement” Isn’t a Dirty Word — It’s a Chance to Retire From What Drains You and Retire To What Fulfills You
Rather than seeing retirement as a grim withdrawal from life, redefining it can open the door to peace, purpose, and deeper fulfillment. The author reflects on her own transition, noting that stepping away from work freed her from stress, competition, obligation, and self-criticism—allowing her to focus on what truly matters, like health, family, creativity, and quiet joy. By thinking of retirement not just as leaving something behind but moving toward meaningful experiences and values, this life stage becomes a rich opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery.
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Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: Green light
Meaning: To give approval or permission to start or move forward with something.
In a sentence: “After talking it over with her family, Carrie finally got the green light to take that cross-country train trip she’s always dreamed about.”
Good News of the Day
Lost Cat Found After 4 Years Thanks to a Cousin Spotting Her on a Shelter Website
Four years after Tinsel the cat vanished from her home in Vermont, her owner was finally reunited with her when a cousin recognized the pet’s distinctive “moustache” in a photo on a local animal shelter’s website. Tinsel had slipped out of the house back in 2021, and despite extensive searching and outreach at the time, her owner eventually let hope fade — until that text message changed everything. When Tinsel saw her owner at the shelter, she immediately showed her affection by pressing her forehead against her, creating a deeply emotional reunion and proving that sometimes love and luck can bring families back together even after years apart.
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RetireHub Trivia
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Want more trivia? Play our “Nostalgia Trivia Game” on our site! We add fresh questions daily, so there’s always something new to test your knowledge.
Not into trivia? No worries! We’ve got plenty of other fun games to enjoy, like:
Which U.S. state is known for the geysers in Yellowstone National Park? |
Which animal produces cube-shaped droppings? |
Which ancient queen lived closer in time to the Moon landing than to the building of the pyramids? |
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A QUICK ASK: First off, thank you for reading RetireHub every day. It fills our cup that so many thousands of people get joy from our little publication.
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- Jay
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