PLANNING YOUR RETIREMENT

PROVIDES a focus for the community and is an essential leisure service, contributing to the quality of life for residents and visitors to Mid Argyll. Located in Lochgilphead, next to the Crinan Canal, the community pool services 26,000 admissions annually including pre and post-natal mums, prefives, children and adults learning to swim, school swimming, athletes, families and the 50-forward demographic as well as holidaymakers and visitors to the area. Because swimming is with you all your life, we host classes, activities, challenges and competitions for all age groups. The community facility is unique in Mid Argyll as it is the only leisure facility to operate seven days a week and offers public swimming, fitness classes and swim teaching over an average 11-hour day. MACPool is accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Swimming is an excellent form of low impact exercise with many health benefits, including weight loss, muscle toning and cardio respiratory improvement. It is also great fun. It is an ‘all rounder’ when it comes to health and wellbeing. Swimming boosts endorphins that increase feelings of wellbeing, and studies have shown that swimming produces the same relaxation response as yoga. RETIREMENT is about more than simply leaving employment. It is about living life to the fullest with your new-found free time and immersing yourself in your local community. It is important to think ahead and plan accordingly, which is why having a chat with Citizens Advice’s Pension Wise team might be a sensible decision. But it is also important to think about all the activities which you will now have time for. Why not plunge yourself into Mac Pool in Lochgilphead, or go along on Campbeltown Old Pals’ latest expedition? If you feel like relaxing while still keeping in touch with the goingson in your community, you could use the services of Argyll Talking Newspapers. Or if you need a hand doing your shopping, give Shopper-Aide a call, and they will be more than happy to help. Volunteering is also a fantastic way to spend your time so look out for any volunteering opportunities. Regardless of how you’re planning to spend your retirement, it will be an exciting time in your life that you must cherish!