Q: I'm having problems maintaining my bonds with old friends. Although I've known many of them for decades, they've seemed to drop out of my life recently.

The last couple of years have been hard on me, and it feels like everything's piling up at once. I lost my husband, have been having health problems and now am losing my support network.

Why do things tend to all go bad at the same time?

A: Positive choices and attitudes determine how life's misfortunes affect us.

Decadeslong bonds may falter at times but have a strong base.

Many old friends may not know how to help you. When they start to see you falling into a spiral of negativity, they may think that they're unable to help.

After a long time of negativity, the people in your life will stop engaging. Your friends may find that they have to take a breather for their own needs.

People enjoy spending time with those who lift them up. You're relying on others to improve your mood but having the opposite effect on them.

The next time you talk to someone, pay close attention to what you say. How many of your statements or questions are negative or pessimistic? How many are positive?

Once you start focusing on the positive parts of your life, you should find yourself seeing more of them.

It's easy to get into a negative spiral when things start to go wrong. Bad things happen and are unavoidable, but you can control your response.

Commit to breaking the cycle of negativity. Instead of dwelling on the past, think about the present and future.

What can you do to make today a better day than yesterday? — Emma, Doug's granddaughter

RENTERS INSURANCE

Q: Now that we're both retired, my husband and I have sold our home and are moving to a retirement community. To make sure that this is the right choice, we're leasing for the first year to get a feel for the place.

This is our first time not owning a home, so we don't know much about renters insurance. We'd prefer to save the money, but old friends have recommended we buy it. Although our finances are comfortable, not having income is an unnerving change that's making us overthink all our choices.

As far as we know, the community is pretty safe. On the other hand, it's in a pretty densely populated area and things do happen.

Is rental insurance worth it?

A: If in doubt, insurance is a good way to hedge your bets.

If something happens to your belongings without insurance, you're unlikely to be able to replace many of them. Living on a fixed budget makes retired people especially vulnerable.

Less than half of renters buy renters insurance, but it can be invaluable in times of need. Although the property owner has some liability with your new abode, he or she is under no obligation to protect your personal possessions.

Renters insurance covers losses by fire, burglary and other situations like injuries to guests. Your premium will depend on your qualifications, state laws and coverage choices. You can choose one of several tiers of coverage after assessing your needs. You can also insure expensive belongings, like jewelry and electronics.

To save yourself time before the move, make a list totaling the value of your belongings (like furniture, appliances, clothing and valuables).

Making a personal inventory will give you some perspective on the value of insurance. Once you realize how much stuff you own, you'll realize how difficult it would be to replace!

Like Benjamin Franklin said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." — Doug

Doug Mayberry makes the most of life in a Southern California retirement community. Contact him at [email protected]. Emma, Doug's granddaughter, helps write this column. To find out more about Doug Mayberry and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: pasja1000 at Pixabay