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“Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different.” (C.S. Lewis)

Things do change, in big and small ways. Here’s a little thing. It is not too long ago that kale– that tough leafy cabbage-y plant- was only used as a garnish on your restaurant dinner plate. Kale was supposedly edible, but most people really did NOT eat it much, at least not like now. Today, kale is everywhere. It is snuck into foods where it was never seen before. That bitter leaf (now it’s called tangy!) is used in all sorts of dishes.  Kale rice bowls, kale smoothies, kale Caesar salad, baby kale with Mac and cheese.  There is even…I am not making this up… apple kale cake with apple icing (see Kate Hackworthy’s Sept 6, 2021 recipe from veggie desserts.com if you do not believe me). Despite all the buzz over trendy kale, I still don’t like the taste- no matter how much calcium, vitamin C and K1 is in the stuff.

Trendy kale reveals a bigger thing though- it is the tip of the iceberg of today’s health/fitness/gym culture. The rise of today’s fitness culture is needful, by the way- there have been some alarming changes over the years. In 2016 the CDC estimated that 40% of US adults and 19% of its young people were obese. In the US, we now eat out a lot, and portion sizes are way up (compared to many other countries). Plus Americans guzzle way too many sugary beverages. In 1950 the annual soda consumption for a person was 10.8 gallons- by 2005 it had risen to a whopping 49.3 gallons per person. (Maybe I do need that kale smoothie after all…)

Another small thing- tattoos. They are everywhere, seen on all age groups. Both men and women sport tattoos in the US- ornate, colorful, snakes and skulls, pictures of departed beloved- the bigger the better. Tattoos used to be relegated to sailors, whalers and navy folk. Their tattoos recorded travels or service- anchors, North stars, swallows, hula girls, dragons or even their ships.  My father-in-law had a fuzzy blue anchor tattoo on his upper arm- a shore leave souvenir from his WWII Navy days in North Africa.  Some professions still do not allow visible tattoos on their employees. And body art does not go over well in places like Japan, Iran, UAE, or China.

But opinions regarding tattoos are changing. Maybe it is not a bad thing to recognize tattoos as a form of artful self-expression and confidence by the tattooed. (Even science is studying tattooing to find ways to make vaccines more effective). There are physical benefits to tattoos. Wearers say getting tattoos improves immunities, reduces stress and migraines (due to raised levels of immunoglobulin A, reduced levels of cortisol, etc.). While getting one is not high on my list, tattoos are still fascinating and often beautiful. Who does not want more beauty in the world?

Technology is how society has changed the most. Take the mini-computers/cameras that are cell phones. For good or bad, they are everywhere, used by the smallest of children. In the film “A Man Called Otto” a man accidentally falls onto some train tracks as a train approaches the station. Rather than anyone in the surrounding crowd helping him, everyone takes out their cell phones to video it. Incredulous senior grouch Otto is the only observer (without a cell phone) that rescues the man. Spoiler alert, Otto may have been old-school, but he smartly utilizes social media to his advantage later in the movie, in the form of a young social influencer he meets through this train incident. But it illustrates that technology does have its good and bad facets- and how it certainly has changed our world. 

So many more changes… Streaming television shows, remote work-from-home, accessible air travel (no longer a luxury for the few), 24/7 access to information, self-driving cars, recycling (not just done by “hippies” anymore) and computers for everyone…these are the status quo.

No one remembers that people used to always shop in retail stores or malls, or actually communicated by writing each other letters (yes, “snail mail”).  There were such things as paper maps, milkmen, full-service gas stations and banks, newspaper deliveries, no EV’s but big gas-guzzling cars, phone land lines (ONE PHONE PER HOME), regular worship attendance, drive-in theaters…. The list of changes in our society could go on. 

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” (Marcus Garvey)

Every age has elements, beliefs and trends that shaped it. It is not a bad idea to take an occasional look back at how things were, and how life is different today. Seniors tend to do this a lot as they get older, with emphasis on how much better their old days were-(“Back in MY day…!”). The reality is that some things were better, and some not so much.

But everyone can benefit by looking at how things have changed once in a while. Such contemplation helps with ideas of what you still want to accomplish, what was worth keeping from your past, what changes are good or bad for you. And then you can do something about them. A good start for me would be to use some of that time I’m supposedly saving with all this high-tech gadgetry. I can choose not to let more time pass, and do some meaningful communications. Maybe I can make an unhurried phone call or schedule a get-together with a loved one I haven’t reached out to for a while. If a world-wide pandemic taught us nothing else, it is to make the most of my present- with the best folk from my past. 

Sorry, kale consumption is still not on my “good change” list though.

I saw this recently on a greeting card, and it struck me. It is true that the older I get, the more I’ve experienced unexpected life events, health issues, or friends passing away. Those things have given me some  “grateful I’m not dead” appreciation.

 But the funny part behind this saying is that lots of seniors really were front and center at many a Grateful Dead concert. And even today, those older adults aren’t just sitting around at home watching TV every night. Boomers (those 55 and up) have music in their soul. Their musical lives are likely to have been influenced by the watershed Woodstock Festival of 1969. Music and concert attendance remain staples of their lives, senior or not.                  Entertainment and music businesses are starting to take notice too. The 50+ market accounts for almost half of US consumer spending. That’s an annual $3.2 trillion that businesses want to get their hands on.

They know, for instance, that adults over 45 buy the most music-related goods. And adults over 65 are huge supporters of both rock and country music (the older teens and young adults are the primary fans of hiphop and rap).  Older boomers go to more concerts than the younger 23-38 aged millennials (you’d expect them to be the majority rocking out at concerts!) Businesses want to get all that potential senior spending. Seniors have to learn to leverage their spending power and make concert-going more accessible in various ways for them. 

“Just because you’re reaching your elder years doesn’t mean the effect of hearing live metal music has lessened its impact.” (From “The Inconveniences of Going to Concerts in Your 60s”)

I just read this very insightful account about an older heavy metal music lover (https://www.metalsucks.net/2022/06/01/the-inconveniences-of-going-to-concerts-in-your-60s/).  She addresses some issues she must deal with now at concerts. As a younger person, she never considered such things as bathroom access, avoiding the standing room only seating, getting to the venue, finding someone to attend with her, or astronomical ticket prices. But as a senior concert-attendee, she does. Those issues that affect seniors have not stopped her from still going to her beloved heavy metal concerts though.  

Such issues have not affected my attendance at concerts either. I still see concerts of my favorite groups, whenever location and budget allow.  Primarily I find the cost of tickets to be astoundingly prohibitive. For some of the ticket prices I’ve seen (resale tickets in the thousands!!!), I want my own private musical performance by Sir Elton or Bruce Springsteen, with a steak-and-lobster dinner thrown in for good measure.

Tech-challenged as I am, I’ve had to learn how to jump into the online ticket-purchasing fray in order to get the best deal (or any deal at all, since tickets sell out so fast). However I refuse to ever promise that I will refrain from punching out any corporate Ticketmaster employee that I may someday meet. Ticketmaster upper management, beware this irate senior. 

So I’m actually really excited about attending an upcoming music concert at the soon-to-be-finished Sphere in Las Vegas. My favorite group U2 will be in “Achtung Baby” residency there this fall.  They will play concerts at the Venetian’s other-worldly Sphere. It is billed as the world’s largest spherical structure, seating 17,600 people. The Sphere will have the largest and highest-resolution LED screen in the world. Even hard-of-hearing senior folk will have no audio problems- the Sphere will feature 164,000 speakers, with sound delivered through the floorboards! (Pass the ear plugs, please).

Immersive concert experiences on a grand scale seem to be the latest in entertainment now. Even The Edge, U2’s usually reserved guitarist, seems excited. “My hope is that this will be a kind of quantum leap forward in the sense of what a concert can be,” he said in the May 12 Rolling Stone magazine.                                                                                                         This concert-going senior is totally happy to soon find out if The Edge is right.     (https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Las-Vegas-Sphere-Construction.jpg).

It’s not fair.  I just spent time trekking to, and freezing in a cold, distant place. All this was to fulfill my bucket list dream to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. But now, what do I see in the news? The Aurora Borealis is currently being seen in 30 US states, depending on weather conditions. A strong solar storm is taking place, giving many states much further south the unusual chance to see some colorful skies. Sightings are possible even in California, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Utah. In an Arizona News article (https://www.abc15.com/news/state/photos-northern-lights-visible-in-arizona-sunday-night) one Andrew Pescador happily shared his pics of sky colors near Flagstaff, and Deborah Burd shared hers of the skies over Payson.   Hmmmmm, so happy for them…..(sort of). 

Don’t get me wrong, my trip was very successful, and my Lights were beautiful (better than theirs, nah, nah, nah). But my Northern Lights sighting was not so conveniently close to home. And my travel north had some issues, as travel usually does. 

Take the flying part of getting to a viewing spot to see the Aurora. Some of you airline folk understand the joys of the standby travel that I did. There is the exhausted gratefulness of finally achieving middle seat status on some flight (after a few tries of course). How quickly do those emotions change when you realize an ugly fact. You are trapped next to one passenger who should have purchased an extra seat (you all know what I mean). And the passenger on your other side talks non-stop in a conversation that can only be described as random neural firings of the brain.  This is for-an-entire-endless-flight.

Then there was the weather- and by weather I mean the COLD. Forget that a waitress in  Alaska sweetly chirped “It’s sweater weather!” when it got up to 30 degrees one day. It was sweater weather for me, all right, along with a few other layers. 

Watching the skies outdoors at midnight in the proximity of the Arctic Circle means needing lots of those warm clothes. I had to wear stuff like long underwear, heavy socks, multiple tops and sweaters, a ski jacket, gloves, scarves and boots.

I also had hand warmers arranged in various other places on my body (not that they worked). Sorry, I am now too used to 70-and-sunny California weather, not Alaska cold. Call me bitter, but so much for Mr. Flagstaff stepping out of his house, maybe wearing his light jacket, to snap some Northern Lights pics for the newspaper.  I had to work hard- and dress with more layers than an onion– to see MY Northern Lights. And let’s not forget trying to pack all that wintery stuff in suitcases that do not make the strength and endurance of a team of Sherpas necessary. There was no “traveling light” on this trip.

There was a final laugh- for any observers, not for me. As if the puffy down ski jacket did not make me look stylish enough (think Pillsbury Doughboy), there was also my head covering called a balaclava.  A balaclava covers the head and most of the face- toasty and practical for that balmy below zero weather. But a balaclava is not chic by any stretch of even the most generous  imagination.  So my finished stylish fashion look for viewing the Northern Lights could only be dubbed as “bandit Pillsbury Doughboy.” Don’t search for this look in Vogue any time soon. 

I realized later that I was very fortunate to not be walking past any Alaska bank dressed in my bandit Pillsbury Doughboy garb.  Of course, I would have stayed warm, all the way to jail after I’d been arrested. I do not even want to imagine dressing like this in an airport. 

It’s just not fair, this solar storm that is sending the Aurora further south. But I do hope lots more people see some Northern Lights in new places- even in the wimpiest way possible. The Northern Lights ARE truly worth seeing.

(Even though my difficult Alaska Northern Lights viewing was much better, nah, nah, nah…) 

Louisville, KY was in the news recently- for all the worst reasons. There was a horrific shooting incident at a downtown bank.  An armed disgruntled employee showed up at a board meeting, wreaking havoc and death before being killed by police.

This awful Louisville news hurt my heart for several reasons. The pain and loss of this tragedy was awful, but additionally the violent news did not at all match the fond memories I have of that city. Like many US cities, Louisville has some unpleasant history and crime to overcome. But I found today’s “Derby City” to be a hospitable creative place. When I visited Louisville, its residents were pleasant, helpful, and so obviously proud to share their hometown with visitors. 

I travel enough to know that such qualities are not commonly found amongst the residents of all cities. Even though I was just a typical tourist doing all the typical touristy things, that lovely attitude was everywhere. During my whole time there, I had nothing but positive personal interactions. This ranged from my visits to the giant baseball bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, to the inspiring Muhammad Ali Center, to the artsy Stoneware & Co. store filled with beautiful Louisville Stoneware.

As a side note, when I travel, there are no rules with my diet- I simply try to taste local specialties in the places where they originate. Therefore, in Louisville, that meant that I sampled their famed “Hot Brown” sandwich at the elegant Brown Hotel (turning 100 in October 2023).

The Hot Brown sandwich was born there in the Roaring 20’s, in the wee hours of the morning. Weary dancers were arriving to the Brown Hotel restaurant from the ballroom, hungry and clamoring for a wonderful culinary finish to their night of dancing. Chef Fred Schmitt wanted to offer something more than usual breakfast fare. His creation, dubbed the Hot Brown, was a big hit with the hungry revelers. I have since learned that the Hot Brown has become an ultimate comfort food. Louisvillians still seek it out, no matter how far from Louisville they roam. Even Chick-fil-A in Hapesville, GA has their own chicken version of a Hot Brown. Now I understand why.

How can I describe my first taste of this decadent delight? The Hot Brown is an open-faced turkey sandwich- an immediate winner for people like me that love white meat turkey. This sandwich uses juicy thick sliced turkey breast meat, arranged on toasted crustless white bread points. The Mournay sauce that then covers these layers is made from a creamy buttery roux accented with Pecorino Romano cheese and a pinch of nutmeg. Sliced Roma tomatoes are arranged around the base of the turkey and toast. The dish is then put under the broiler until the cheese is bubbly and brown. A final sprinkle of paprika and parsley, a criss-cross of crispy bacon slices placed on top of that cheese-and-turkey goodness- and your Hot Brown is ready to savor.

So I still hold onto my fond memories of Louisville, culinary and otherwise, different from the anomaly of today’s news.  One day I will return again to Louisville’s Brown Hotel. First I’ll sip on an “Ali’s Smash” bourbon in their ornate Lobby Bar.  Not only will I be surrounded by its elegant Old World decor, but also the elites and celebrities attending the famous Kentucky Derby horse race. Everyone- myself included- will be pleasingly attired in fancy spring pastels. The ladies will all be wearing their requisite over-the-top Kentucky Derby hats, decked with flowers, bows, ribbons, and feathers. At some point I will enjoy my crispy, creamy, tangy Hot Brown sandwich, perhaps partaking of it in the Brown Hotel’s sophisticated wood-paneled English Grill room.  I will undoubtedly over-do afterwards with a decadent dessert of chocolate-and-walnut custard Derby Pie.

This is the Louisville that should be highlighted. It is a city with a core culture of hospitality and celebratory spirit, showcased by its delicious decadent culinary creations, and characterized by all things bourbon, equestrian, and bluegrass.  

Walking is a good way to achieve health, so they say. Thus my current attempt at being healthy has been to do a walk pretty much everyday.  I would like to say I am doing it for my health- it sounds like such a lofty focused goal. But if the truth be told, my walking is really just about seeing all the critters I can (and taking pictures of course!) 

My route is usually near Veeh Ranch Park in Laguna Hills. There I have discovered a lovely sidewalk-filled greenbelt area located along Mill Creek.  If you follow the stream bed you end up with a view of beautiful mostly undeveloped hills, that roll all the way to Laguna Beach. Cars constantly speed by on nearby busy Santa Vittoria. Yet mere steps away, the area is chock full of wildlife.  You just have to take the time to slow down and look. 

Mostly there are many birds. Hawks soar, and usually battle daily with the local flock of crows. The crows dislike hawks in their territory (especially when it is the time for baby crows). I have been surprised to see turkey vultures in the trees sometimes.  They like to spread their wings out for a little sunbath, and are easy to spot with their distinct red head. Pretty snowy white egrets often perch on the nearby condo roofs to survey their domain. Then they gracefully swoop down to fish in the stream.  As pretty as the egrets are, they have the ugliest bright yellow feet.  They use them much like a fisherman’s lure to shuffle along the muddy creek, and attract fish with the yellow- then snap them up. There are often mallard ducks and Canada geese in the creek, that pair off in springtime. Then I enjoy glimpsing lines of fuzzy baby ducks swimming along behind mom. 

Sometimes I just see tracks. On a certain sidewalk, where the sprinklers always wash shallow layers of mud, there are bobcat tracks. At least I think they are bobcat tracks. They are distinctly feline, bigger than a house cat, with no nails in the imprint, unlike canine dog or coyote tracks. I think a bobcat must regularly stalk the neighborhood in the quiet dark of night. 

I’ve seen some pretty big turtles in that creek too. Though I cannot get too close, there is one big guy I spot regularly that is as big around as a dinner plate. That creek water looks pretty murky to me, but it must chock-full of whatever turtles eat (bugs, fish, plants?)

My biggest surprise was the day on my walk when I discovered a literal snake in the grass- I almost stepped on it!  The cold-blooded reptile was basking in the warm sun. After checking online, I found it to be a Pacific gopher snake.  If you do not like too many mice or lizards, you should be very fond of gopher snakes, because that is what they feed on. 

So my exercise walks are really just nature walks in disguise. I may or may not be getting any healthier, but I am certainly having fun while walking. Like in Psalm 121, I get to daily “lift up my eyes to the hills…”. Those hills give me a daily reminder of the beauty of creation, and of the Maker of heaven and earth who has been my help through the years.  The exercise part is a distant second to that.  

This “Oh my!” is about secrets and logos and coffee, rather than the famed Wizard of Oz song lyrics about lions and tigers and bears.  There are lots of secrets lurking behind everyday things like coffeehouse culture or company logos. Here’s a fun look at what’s really behind some of them. 

What do you know about Danish history? Not much, you might say. But did you know that there is a secret Danish history connection behind your Bluetooth device? Every time you use it, you are recognizing Danish King Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson. Apart from having a bad tooth that gave him his nickname, Bluetooth was the king known for uniting the tribes of Denmark. In 1997, the maker of the Bluetooth wireless device chose that name. They wanted to show how their  technology would unite devices- symbolic of how King Harald had united Denmark. Their Bluetooth logo even consists of the Nordic rune symbols ( H and B) in Bluetooth’s name. I never noticed it till I took a look at their blue and white logo. 

“[Captain Dan] got me invested in some kind of fruit company.” Forrest Gump 

Apple computers (Macintoshes or “Macs”) and iPhones are everywhere the world over. But have you ever wondered about the secret behind their now-familiar Apple name? Supposedly founder Steve Jobs simply liked apples.  The first Apple logo was physicist Sir Isaac Newton sitting under a tree, with an apple poised to hit his head.  Newton’s resulting theory of universal gravitation had a major effect on the science world. It was akin to the massive effect the Apple company had on the world of electronics.

Computers like Apple, along with “mini-computer” iPhones have changed everyone’s world.  While some may gripe that it is not for the better, I am mostly glad for the changes. For instance, remember driving using an unwieldy map? Or worse, having to stop for directions? MapQuest or Waze on my phone beat Rand McNally maps any day. Computer technology has improved life in more ways than I can count.

“May I have a grande Pequot, soy milk and no whip?” 

Here’s another little-known secret… why is the Starbucks Coffee Company called Starbucks? Its Seattle founders were told by an advertising specialist that “st” words were powerful for a company name, so they started research there. During the hunt, they found an old mining map with a small town called Starbo, which made co-founder Gordon Bowker think of the classic book “Moby Dick.” Going in that direction, they almost opted to use the name of the whaling ship in the book (“Pequot” pronounced Pee-kot!) Instead they chose the name of Captain Ahab’s first mate Starbuck.  Thankfully they thought a “cup of Starbucks” sounded better than a “cup of Pequot.” Their Starbucks logo- a green mermaid-like sea siren- is a further nautical nod to their ocean theme. 

I digress, but coffeehouses like Starbucks may be on every corner today. However some may remember that in the 50’s and 60’s, coffeehouses were not part of mainstream culture at all. Coffeehouses were edgy places of counterculture and folk music, for discussion and poetry, with calls to political action and reaction against societal norms. Few parents would have brought their kids to a coffeehouse back then, unlike a Starbucks today.  Times do change. 

“On Friday night, I was reading my new book, but my brain got tired so I decided to watch some television instead…” Stephen Chbosky, the Perks of Being a Wallflower 

Telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound- huh?  Aren’t you glad we call it television, or even better- TV?  Have you ever heard a TV called “the tube” (or even “boob tube”)? What is the secret behind that? The tube nickname comes from the original bulky cathode-ray tube that most televisions used, until being replaced by flat-screen TV’s in 1997. Retirees and seniors can remember not that long ago when televisions were massive bulky furniture pieces with that big tube in the back.

Additionally, the television channel changer was not a device, but a person. Usually the unluckiest family member was stuck with the chore. Their job was to get up and change the TV dial to a different channel. Improved technology gave us the handy devices we know today. Depending on where you are from in the US, you may call it the channel changer, the remote control, remote, even the clicker. But whatever the name, it beats having to get up to use a dial or buttons to change channels. 

And there must be other seniors who can remember the excitement surrounding the first color television they ever saw? My first color TV was playing in a household on my block in the 60’s, and caused the whole neighborhood to flock there to see it. Revolutionary! Isn’t evolving technology wonderful?

“Dear Amazon, Could you please NOT deliver all this stuff when my husband is home…?”

For a final secret…can you imagine ordering something online from Cadabra (as in abracadabra)? In 1994, that is what Jeff Bezos started calling his startup company. But people kept mishearing this word as “cadaver”- not very appealing.  So Bezos started researching for something different. When looking through the “A” section of the dictionary, he came across the word Amazon, describing the world’s largest river. Bezos liked the concept of an unstoppable force of water dominating the landscape.

His initial logo for his original Amazon book company was an “A” with a curvy river-like shape inside, and “Earth’s biggest bookstore” underneath. It was said that Bezos also toyed with the company name “Relentless” and purchased Relentless.com.  (That rumor is true, I searched for that Relentless site, and it does automatically lead you to Amazon).  Of course, Amazon’s e-commerce domination has evolved to much more than book sales. Everyone has seen the landscape of brick-and-mortal stores and malls disappear due to the major impact of Amazon and other online shopping.  

So these are just a few secrets behind some of the everyday things around us. These secrets give a glimpse of how things used to be, and you can chronicle the many changes in your lifetime.  Remembering how things were (“Back in my day… !) is not a bad thing. A little introspection can help us all value the good from the past AND the present, as things inevitably change.

Lists have become my new friends. Mapping out a list of chores for my day or week helps me greatly. I can check things off as I accomplish them, and it give me just that- a sense of accomplishment. 

Just Do It

Though I am no longer multi-tasking to the level I did while working a full-time job and balancing a family, my to-do lists organize and ground me. With the horrific climbing costs of gas, lists also help me synchronize my errands to minimize my fuel usage. Lists are simple things really, but productive- especially when striving to maximize a lessened income. 

A Stop Doing List?

On the opposite side of this coin, there is a not-to-do list as well. You intuitively know there are some things that you repeatedly do in your life, that you should stop doing. Honestly, how many low-level work or home tasks are there that you could delete, delegate or outsource? Be honest also if there are tasks that allow you to procrastinate, and not accomplish the important priorities. You can write yourself a “temporary” not-to-do list that will allow you to honestly defer some tasks to another day with more time. This way you will take pressure off yourself by not creating an unrealistic to-do list that leaves you frustrated and negative when you cannot accomplish it.  

Choose An Attitude of Gratitude

While an everyday to-do list for your chores is practical and effective, here’s another list you can do as well. If you have been depressed of late, write a gratitude list.  Document big and little things for which you are grateful. It will help your mental health. Looking back at your ongoing gratitude list once in a while is uplifting too. 

Dreams Are Whispers From Your Soul

Do a dream list and write down your dreams that you remember when you wake up.  You can even research some of the items or situations in your dreams, however odd they seem. Sometimes such things in dreams represent something you are tackling in your mind. Also if there are people popping up in your dreams that you haven’t talked to for some time, you can reach out to them, if that is feasible. At the very least, you can pray for them, there might be some reason they are coming to mind in your dreams.

When Words Fail, Gifts Speak

Write a gift list for yourself, and your family and friends.  This list does not have to be practical.  You can have lots of fun imagining the perfect presents you’d like, or that you would get for those on your list, regardless of your budget. Clarifying fun gift ideas on a gift list can help you spot more creative practical gifts that you might be able to afford at some point too. 

Reading Provides A Place to Go When We Stay Put

If you are a reader, a book list is a must. So many books, so little time… a reading list can help you focus on some of that reading. Maybe you can become well-versed by thoroughly exploring a particular topic, person, or time. Maybe you just want to read all 68 of Agatha Christie’s books. You need a book list.

Really the idea behind a book list applies to any hobby or profession. You know why all those great chefs with successful restaurants were successful? It is because they prepared ahead, and plotted their cooking path. I am sure they had their detailed lists- from making the perfect homemade salad dressing to mastery of a proper pasta al dente. Lists helped them focus and accomplish, step by step. 

Bucket List: Been There, Done That

Bucket lists are the most famous beneficial lists to do. People need to have dreams and goals, and bucket lists are those lists of things you want to experience or accomplish before you die (or “kick the bucket”). Bucket lists can involve fun travel (go on an African safari), philanthropic goals (e.g. fund a scholarship) or personal actions (graduate college or go zip lining). It is vital to not neglect this most important bucket list of dreams. 

Who To Become?

Finally some people like to have a to-be list. Rather than a sole focus on things to do, the focus is on some quality to bring into their day. You can choose a focus on “friendly” or “confident” or “brave” for instance. Creating your to-be list involves honestly thinking about what qualities you want to have, and who you are trying to become.

So just like Santa, keep on making your list, whatever it is, and checking it twice… And try some of those different types of lists too, just to keep creative. 

Pig butchering– it’s the latest scam in crypto, where scammers with a false identity develop a relationship via text or social media, with victims (“pigs”)- eventually leading them to supposedly invest money in cryptocurrency (they may even send you a fake financial statement showing “earnings”). By the time the victim becomes suspicious, their contact is unreachable- and their money is gone. 

Scams of all sorts are big business, and retirees are often the victims. Unfortunately many criminals today particularly target older Americans.  It has gotten so bad that from 2020, there has been a 62% increase in scams, costing Americans 50 and older 3 billion last year. Scams can take place online, by texting or phone call, or at your front door (such as criminals posing as home repairmen).  Older Americans are great targets because they are polite, trusting, often homeowners, and sometimes have tempting financial savings.

“Congratulations! You are the grand prize million dollar sweepstakes winner! But you have to act fast and just send some advance fees to claim your winnings…”

So says the phone call.  We have all gotten such calls, or variations on them.  I cannot count the number of times I have received recorded messages from the “IRS” demanding immediate payment. The IRS has a specially dedicated phishing@irs.gov to report such fraudulent calls or emails. I always try to report these scams.  It only takes a few minutes and I like to think that it helps the IRS target their impersonators. 

Just how many Nigerian princes need help getting money out of the country?

Schemes take many forms, all of them based on psychological and emotional manipulations. Take the romance scam– you’ve seen this one play out every week on Dr. Phil or other such show, with some unfortunate guest insisting their online boyfriend/girlfriend is bonafide and not just interested in draining their bank account. Romance scammers are skillful to “reveal” something about themselves, to get reciprocating self-disclosures, and create a sense of closeness or even love.  What person can resist someone telling them, “I have not felt so close to someone in so long…” ?

Sweepstakes scams, on the other hand, are based on a person’s FOMO (fear of missing out). The scammers presents this great opportunity (“You’ve won the sweepstakes and are now rich!!!”) But the person has to act fast, to claim that dwindling opportunity for whatever product or winnings. Make note, anything that pressures you to act quickly, without thinking much about it, is probably fraudulent. The best advice to take when someone is pressuring you, is to tell them you will not decide this immediately- they need to send you a letter, and then disengage. No impulse spending allowed here.

“I need you to wire money now…!”

Grandparent scams are particularly ugly, and raise up emotions that replace logic. What grandparent getting a panicky call from someone screaming, “Grandpa, help! I’ve been arrested and need money for bail right now!” is likely to act calmly? You might think that you would not be tricked by this, but it is surprising how many fall for this scam. An example of an awful variation on this was a recent kidnapping scam call that an OC woman received in September 2022 that her son had been kidnapped and money must be paid immediately for his safe return. (https://abc7chicago.com/phone-kidnapping-scam-ransom-spam-calls-california-fbi/12265882/). The scammers, sometimes out of the country, want money wired to them. Their scam is based on speed and fear. If the victim slows down long enough to verify the actual whereabouts of their loved ones, they find them safe. The scammers often use information gleaned from social media to make their calls realistic, and have the crying screaming child supposedly on the call in the background.  

Tech support scams are a recent fraud, compliments of the computer-based world in which we now live. A tech support scammer will call you, saying they are from a well known company, and there has been a (non-existent) problem that you end up paying for them to fix.

Pop-up error messages on your computer are a variation on this scam- do not call the number on the screen!!! I fell for this scam once, with a loudly screaming pop-up message on my computer saying that I had a computer security problem. Thankfully I stopped before spending money to fix something that was never broken, but thinking clearly with your computer making horrible incessant alarm noises is difficult. Legitimate tech companies will never contact you by phone, email or text telling you there is a problem with your computer. You can report tech support scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.  

“This is a call from your bank, we are seeing suspicious bank activity with your account…”

Impersonation scams are especially successful with an older generation that has an ingrained respect for authority, such as the police, the IRS, or Medicare rep. Criminals will actually program their caller ID so that their phone call looks like it is from the Sheriff’s Office, or the Bank of America. Many people, not just seniors, have been bilked out of thousands of dollars by falling for phishing scams of emails or texts, saying for instance that your account is compromised and you need to reset your password. NEVER click the link provided, it enables scammers to access your information or download malware so as to hack into your account. 

So everyone, retirees included, have to make note to think clearly, not react quickly, never give out personal information directly to someone that has contacted you… common sense stuff. The scammers are clever, and play on trusting people that are not thinking that anyone is out to get them. It is sad to have to assume that there ARE people trying to get you, or your money, after all.  

So it is good to study up on some of these scams. Knowledge is power, and retirees like us need to stay savvy and informed. But if the variety and amount of scams still makes you feel helpless, take heart. Some folk are fighting the scammers, in some pretty unique ways.

Porch Pirates Vs. Glitter Bombs

Take Mark Rober, a former NASA engineer. (https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/mark-rober-glitterbomb.html)  Rober’s reaction to a porch pirate stealing a delivery off his porch evolved into his setting up a tempting delivery that was really a glitter-bomb.  When stolen, the box would explode and not just coat the thief with glitter. The glittery thief would be filmed as well- one such event was viewed some 88 million times on You Tube. That prank raised awareness of scammers with the community and authorities alike.

Not content to settle on porch pirates, Rober and other fraud vigilantes focused on illicit call centers in India, that often target older Americans. The scam fighters got very elaborate, and also used their skills to record their results on the scammer’s own (hacked) closed-circuit TV cameras.  As a result of their scheme, a criminal call center in Kolkata, India, was overrun with cockroaches, rats, a stinky spray AND glitter bombs. When the film was shared with Indian officials, multiple arrests were made, and several call centers were briefly closed down.  

While these creative push-backs cannot beat the 20 million a year international phone fraud businesses, it is a step in the right direction.  Everyone must do their part.

The Department of Justice has a national fraud hotline.  Reporting a scam or attempted scam helps DOJ target where criminals are at work. The National Elder Fraud Hotline is 833-FRAUD-11 or 833-372-8311. 

Ianzito, Christina AARP. (October 4, 2022). Justice Department Intensifies Its Fight Against elder Fraud. 

Are you dreaming of the most affordable and happiest place to retire- but are unsure where to look?

I was.  While I personally like where I live in Southern California, it is a very expensive area.  I always hold the thought that I may have to relocate to a cheaper location at some future point.

To even think about a move, I first prioritized what my most important life considerations are. My budget, the weather, proximity to family, medical needs and access to care are some. 

Then I started to research which are the best places for retirees. Where in the US can retirees get the most affordability, best climate, lowest crime rates, work options, and optimum livability?

“Florida: Senior Citizen Discounts Available“

Some states rank high for retirement. The big one is Florida.  Great Florida retirement cities include Jacksonville, The Villages senior community, Pensacola or Naples. Daytona Beach residents praise their affordable city for its overall resident happiness. College town Gainesville gets kudos from retirees also- it has all the activities and educational options a college town can offer. The city of Ocala is noteworthy for great affordability and health care options. (You might even run into actor John Travolta at some local store as he is an Ocala resident). If you do not mind tourism and its impact on traffic, Orlando offers vibrant activities but is affordable with good medical care too. Nearby Orlando airport is a plus with easy travel access for you and visitors. 

FL gets such high rankings due to its affordability and health care availability. It has no state income tax or tax on retirement income or social security benefits. Home prices are less than the national average, maybe why 19% of all seniors in the US currently live in Florida. Along with affordability, warm Florida meets my good weather criterion for sure.

On the downside, I have heard (facetiously) that the state bird of Florida is actually a bug.  Quite a variety of bugs are a permanent part of Florida life. Annoying mosquitos particularly love Florida humidity and are year-round residents. So any folk that know they are “mosquito magnets” (like me!) should factor that into any decision to move there. Hurricanes and alligators are additional Florida facts of life that might be on the con list for some retirees.

“Arizona: Where Summer Spends the Winter, and Hell Spends the Summer“

Arizona is a state frequently mentioned as a retirement destination. T-shirts emblazoned with “At least it’s a dry heat!” above a skeleton sprawled in the desert, are a funny but accurate reflection on extreme AZ weather though.

Arizona offers some perks to the budget. It exempts Social Security benefits from state income taxes, plus some income from federal and AZ retirement plans. Military retirement income is tax free too.  Until recently AZ had many more affordable housing options. However, median housing costs have risen. Unfortunately Arizona housing is now about 20% higher than the national median. Even so, Sun City, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Prescott, Mesa, Prescott, and Tucson are traditionally some good retirement places.

“New Mexico: Lizards Make Excellent Pets”

New Mexico is a recent newcomer as a popular retirement locale. NM has attractive lower living costs and a warm climate (not Arizona extreme, but 4 seasons, with some snow). Crime is a problem is some areas though, and healthcare costs are high. Placitas, Ruidoso, Santa Fe, Taos, and Santa Fe boast substantial populations of those over 65.

“Virginia Is For Lovers”

Virginia is for lovers, their tourism motto claims, but VA is apparently for retirees too- in cities such as Roanoke or Virginia Beach. Virginia is tax-friendly for retirees. There is no tax on SS, and retirees can deduct up to $12,000 in pension incomes. VA has good hospitals and healthcare, and low crime. But living costs are high and traffic is not so hot.

Retirement locations in more clement weather spots are also found in southern states such as North Carolina- Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Asheville, and Raleigh Durham cities are ranked well. 

“Pennsylvania: Land of 10,000 Potholes”

Potholes are a given, in a state that can receive over 100 inches of snowfall annually. It was a shock to me that snowy Pennsylvania has great kudos for retirees (that do not mind the cold weather).  Being a former Midwesterner, I have no poetic illusions about the down side of the fours seasons, especially winter. 

Weather aside, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, Scranton, Philadelphia and York pop up as good for retirees. In fact, some list Lancaster PA as the number one best place to retire. Harrisburg, PA comes in 2nd best.  They are considered affordable compared with other major metro areas. Other living costs are about equal to the national averages but these cities additionally ranked high for health care. Pennsylvania weather is just a major deterrent for me in these places, my arthritis twinges just considering some of them. 

“The Search Goes On…”

Anyway my research continues. Aspiring to retire in the best spot has lots of options. Plus I do want to investigate the greatest retirement spots in the world too. More research on that another time… 

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