After retirement, it’s time to make plans for enjoyable activities since now, there is time.

“Just because you stop working doesn’t mean your life comes to an end,” said Pattie Tingle, executive director of MAC Inc.

This is the time to decide how to get involved in and support the community, take a trip, maybe see the world, and be sure necessary documents are prepared and put away.

“You spend a lot of time planning the first 50 years of your life. Spend as much time planning he next 50 years,” Tingle said.

Information necessary to accomplish that will be available Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the second annual Thrive, a free, informative and entertaining fair for those 55 and older.

Sponsored by the Salisbury Independent newspaper, it will be at MAC Inc., on Progress Circle in Salisbury.

Vendors will have details about topics including travel, home health care, alternative medicine, prescriptions, pharmacy services and funeral planning.

Hot dogs, hamburgers and desserts will be for sale and there will be entertainment, demonstrations, antique appraisals and a silent auction.

Other sponsors include Holloway Funeral Home, Peninsula Home Care, Peninsula Home Care of Nanticoke, Peninsula Alternative Health, Community Pharmacy, Alzheimer’s Association, Apple Discount Drugs, Avery Hall Insurance, Bath Fitters, Care Patrol, Coastal Hospice, Coldwell Banker/Harold Townsend, First Shore Federal, InFocus Financial Advisors, Inc., Peninsula Regional Medical Center and Philips Lifeline.

Vendors include Harrison House, Herl’s Bath & Tile Solutions, Home Instead Senior Care, Long and Foster Inc., Riverside Pharmacy and Tidewater Physical Therapy.

Outdoors, antique cars will be on display and there will be food trucks, doors prizes, drawings and presentations.

Kathleen Morton Jones, funeral director and pre-planning advisor at Holloway Funeral Home said information about pet services will be available at the Holloway vendor table, as well as material about pre-planning, traditional burial and cremation.

“It will be a good opportunity for people to be able to privately ask questions and get a lot of things to take home and look over,” Jones said.

One of the many values of Thrive is those attending didn’t realize how much information they were lacking, Tingle said.

“Mostly when we think about planning late life we think simply about legal documents, maybe the will. We may think about our final wishes but we don’t think about other areas of our lives and we don’t communicate with our families.

“Many times we don’t know where to begin or what to consider. This kind of event opens the doors to those kinds of thoughts and how to engage in those conversations,” she said.

“How do I talk to Mom and Dad about how they want to spend the last 20 years of their lives? Do they want to live in a three-story home or do they want to downsize? How do I talk to my children about it?” she said.

Having plans made in advance make it much easier when critical times arise, she said.

Thrive opens doors to families thinking about making plans and talking to each other about them.

“A lot of people say, ‘How do I talk to Mom and Dad about how they want to spend the last 20 years of their lives? Do that want to live in that big, three story home or do they want to downsize?’

“And a lot of those 55 and older are saying, ‘How do I talk to my children about selling the home they grew up in?  How will they feel about that?’” Tingle said.

“When these critical times happen, we don’t want them to hit us without plans,” she said.

Again this year, Thrive will feature the Antiques Appraisal.

Last year, it attracted more than 500 people, both spectators who listened and watched to hear the value of items brought in and those who owned the pieces and were curious about their worth.

Antiques will be appraised from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m., with appraisals from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Appraisers Charlene Upham and Steve Blumenauer, residents of the Mardela Springs area, are nationally recognized.

Spectators won’t be charged. Those taking objects will pay $5 for one or $10 for three.

“It’s open to anybody. They will look at any items – toys, paintings, books, art, coins,” said Sylvia Bradley, director of the Wicomico County Historical Society, which, along with Thrive host MAC Inc., benefits from the appraisals.

The appraisers volunteer time to help the Historical Society.

“We get such a wide variety of items. We get old antique furniture. If it’s really big furniture, they will accept a photo if it’s a really good photo. Last year, we had a beautiful, 19th Century baby pram.

“We have had an architectural drawing that was a work of art itself. We’ve had old guns if the firing mechanism is removed. Coins. Machines. Little equipment machines,” Bradley said.

“People do come to see. They watch and see what people bring. It’s a comfortable place and there is food available,” she said.

About half those attending had items, so there was a wait, but while they waited, “there were lots of other things to do,” Bradley said.

On Saturday, a silent auction will be held in the back of the room, another fund raiser.

Proceeds are used to support Historical Society programs, such as lecture, and to run a research library and educational programs, Bradley said.

Local author Brice Stump will be at the Antiques Appraisal with his latest book, Working Skipjacks of Deal Island.

The Historical Society started in Wicomico County in 1984.

Bradley called Thrive “an excellent opportunity to do something useful and fun for people 55 and over. “

“This really fits the bill. They all enjoy it. It’s a marvelous place where you can get out and meet old friends,” she said.

Last year, more than 600 people attended Thrive and Tingle expects a bigger crowd this year.

“For those concerned about parking, we will have shuttle buses available. We’re prepared this year. We’re all prepared for inclement weather, too,” she said.

Of those attending, about 60 percent are expected to be seniors and the rest, children and caregivers of the senior population.

Usually, those attending stay two to two and one—half hours.

Long & Foster Real Estate will feature associate broker Gee Dunsten.

“Nearly everyone wishes to age in place as they grow older, but often the spacious family house becomes too burdensome, financially and physically, to maintain for individuals over 50,” said Dunsten.

“ Whether you’re empty-nesters looking to downsize, seniors who want to relocate to be closer to grandchildren, retires who can finally move to the home of their dreams, or adult children assisting parents in reviewing their current housing situation … whatever the reason, there may come a time when you consider selling and moving on.  Determining the next step can entail a complex set of decisions relating to finances, ideal over 50 housing locations and property types, as well as anticipating future needs as you or your loved ones age.”

Jeff Farace of Community Pharmacy on South Salisbury Boulevard said he looks forward to meeting new people and seeing old friends.

“Community Pharmacy is all about your health,” he said. “We are excited to be at thrive this Saturday to talk about how community pharmacy can help you live a healthier life. We have the latest in health care including CBD, organic herbal products and vitamins. We will have CBD samples and gift basket to give away Saturday.”

Barbara Murray, Branch Director with Peninsula Home Care, saluted MAC’s efforts.

“We are excited to be a sponsor of Thrive. It’s a great collaboration of local organizations that offer services and resources to enhance the lifestyle of those over 55,” Murray said.

“We provide services that can help people be active and independent and have a new club called the OWL program that rewards you for older wiser living. Stop by and see us on Saturday and get your blood pressure checked and learn about our services.”