Social Week

I have read that as one ages that social interaction is very important. It affects the health and well being when you are disconnected from every day interactions and social interactions. Studies suggest getting out and visiting and having interactions with others is extremely beneficial to one's health.

I have made an effort to increase my social interactions this year. I have vowed to take a more active role in my Metal Detecting Club and got myself voted in as Vice President. I didn't campaign for the spot, but as I attempted to have more of a voice in the club, our President basically appointed me to the position for the simple fact I was showing more interest and activity in the club. I had taken on a recruitment role of getting new members in the club and setting up an Intro to Metal Detecting class at our local library. At the very next meeting I found myself voted in as VP. Last night was a club meeting and I interacted with the 11 attendees.

On Friday, I have set up a third meeting of a neighborhood men's coffee club meeting. The last two have seen attendance of 2 and then 3 men. I already have noticed that at least 3 will show up for this Friday. The last two coffee meetings were very nice with great conversation and a chance to learn more about my neighbors. 

Both of these social engagements do leave me a little happier after I attend them. I do see the benefits of social engagement to a fulfilling life. I encourage each of you to seek out social interactions with others, even if it is a brief encounter at your mailbox, at the grocery store or other location.

My wife will be attending a monthly Bunco meeting tomorrow night. This is in it's third month I think. She has enjoyed these and it really brings people together in our neighborhood. 

Also, this month someone has started a Bunny Bopped campaign in our neighborhood. You get a flyer and a gift that says you have been "Bunny Bopped" and then you are to go out and Bunny Bop someone else. We have participated in the past in a similar activity around Halloween where you get "Booed". This is another fun and social activity that is small but brings the community together.

What social activities to you participate in? Club activities, Church activities or some other social event? How often do you think you participate in some type of social interaction? Does you neighborhood have things like Bunny Bopped going around the streets?

Please share any other ideas of fun things to do that will enhance social engagements. Warmer weather is here and starts a great social season ahead!

Bucket List Trip #1 Completed!

I have a list of places to see on my Bucket List. One place has held the #1 spot for a long time and that is Egypt. I had always wanted to see the pyramids and The Valley of the Kings. Last Fall my wife and I had one big beautiful trip with a visit to Egypt among other stops. We left out of Port Canaveral on a Carnival cruise ship and went across the Atlantic to Barcelona, Spain. The cruise included stops in the Bahamas, Canary Islands and Spain. We got off the ship and spent a few days seeing the sights in Barcelona including the Familia Sagrada. It was impressive. Then off to Egypt! We flew to Cairo and visited the pyramids and the new Egyptian Museum. Then flew to Luxor to board a Nile river boat for four nights. During this portion we did a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Nile, the desert and Valley of the Kings. The next stop was one of my favorites, Valley of the Kings. I toured six tombs. All were impressive! We visited many other Ancient Egyptian temples and sites. After our Nile cruise we said goodbye to Egypt and flew to Rome. I toured the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. We did a food tour and saw the Trevi Fountain. We also toured Pompeii, my #2 on my bucket list! We had a very short stay in Rome before flying back to Barcelona to take the cruise ship back to the U.S. The trip was long but was awesome!  

I still have items on my travel bucket list. Here are a few: Great Wall of China, Macchu Picchu, Yosemite Park, Australia and some U.S. cities to include Boston and Philadelphia. We may get to the Great Wall and see the Terra Cotta Soldiers this fall when we take a cruise to Japan and then hop over to China. 

What bucket list trips have you taken in the past few years? Have you done your #1? Have you marked off many trips or have you yet to begin the journey?

What about bucket list activities? My list does not include skydiving or bungie jumping but yours may. I can't think of any grand activity that would be on my list. My list is mostly places to see and experience. Do you have an bucket list of things to do? Whatever you see or do, be safe out there!

 

Awards, Plaques and Memorabilia From the Working Life

I've been retired now almost 6 years. When I left the office I boxed up my things and took it all home. I took family photos, memorabilia related to the industry, awards and plaques and other items. Most went into a box and into the closet. I recently saw the box and thought "What am I keeping this stuff for?". I pulled the box down and went through it for the first time since retirement. A lot of it was things I will still keep, but there were a couple of plaques that I wonder what to do with. Keep? Throw in the trash? Not sure.

Once you retired, what did you do with your old awards, plaques and memorabilia from your working years? I can't imagine that my kids will want any of this. It would mean nothing to them other than being a little history of their father. The further I get away from those working years, the more this stuff was just a stage of life that I know longer have as much interest in. I have one framed box on the wall of my study that was given to me at retirement that notates the years, holds my law enforcement credentials marked "retired" and two badges. I will probably keep this hanging forever as it looks really nice and marks a special time in my life.

Other plaques note my time in one capacity or another during the career, but don't hold a lot of sentimental meaning to me. Do you have one or two items that you kept? Or an item or two that you display in your home? It is funny how when you are neck deep in your career it becomes a big part of your identity. Then, after retirement you shed that identity and take on a whole new identity as "retired". The life of trying to have a better work year than last and trying to beat ever increasing goals is over. Now my goals are simple. Today is to get internet fiber installed and take our two old iPhones to UPS to return. Those are the simple goals of a retired man. What a life!

Have you had a similar experience of separating from work life? Or do you still yearn for those working days? Has you life filled more with retired activities and goals? What are those goals today? Do you have goals such as get fiber internet, become a pickleball champ, win yard of the month, restore a car or any other worthwhile goals that you have?

Senior Discounts

I love getting a good deal and now that I'm eligible for a few Senior Discounts, life is good! Different places offer discounts based on age and that age can range from 55 to 65. I turned 60 last fall and now qualify for those discounts that start at 55 and 60 but still have to wait a few years for the age of most discounts.

My wife and I like to shop at thrift stores to see what treasures we can find. One thrift store gives a Senior Discount of 25% on Mondays. That is a great discount! One of our favorite Mexican restaurant just began offering a Senior menu for 60 and older. It includes one enchilada, rice and beans for $7.99. It is a great discount because the normal price for that dish is $11.99. 

I get my haircut at Great Clips. They offer an $18 cut for seniors that usually costs $20. Their age is 65, but I don't argue when they ring up the discount for me. I have also used my AARP membership to snag discounts at a few restaurants and hotels. I searched Google for senior discounts in Oklahoma and the list below is what came up. I'm sure this is a very small portion of places that offer a discount to the mature population. 

I need to get better at asking for discount when I am out and about. I just don't think of it every time. Where are some of your favorite places that offer a good deal for Seniors? Do you routinely ask about Senior discounts or just know where the great deals are?

I recently saw a push to end property taxes for those over 65. Now that would be one awesome discount? I could afford to pay that extra $2 for a haircut if they cut my taxes! During my discount research I also saw a list on Good Housekeeping.  It had a list of 25 places. I couldn't figure out an easy way to copy the link so try to search it and check it out. But here is a great list also:      https://www.theseniorlist.com/senior-discounts/

Let me know of any great discounts that you have found! I'm always in the mood for a great deal

Dining & Groceries

Bonefish Grill & Outback Steakhouse: 10% off for AARP members..

• Dairy Queen & KFC: Participating locations offer up to 10% off or free drinks.
• Chili's:
   10% off (55+)
  .
Golden Corral: Senior pricing available. 

Retail & Shopping

• Kohl's: 15% off on specific days (60+).
• Michaels: 10% off for Rewards members.
• Rite Aid: Savings for Wellness65+ members.
• Ross Dress for Less: 10% off on Tuesdays (55+).
• Goodwill: Discounts vary by location (55-62+). 

Service & Entertainment

• AMC Theatres: Special pricing for guests 60+.
• Oklahoma Area Agencies on Aging: Offers assistance, meals, and services for those 60+.
• Choice Hotels: 10-30% off (60+). 

ICE

 

As I write this, we have about 6-8" of snow on the ground here in OKC as part of the great winter storm of 2026. I can see a 3 foot snow drift out my front window where snow has been piling up against a large landscape rock. The snow accumulated there as it slid or blew off the roof. The snow is beautiful and will be around awhile with predictions of super cold temperature for the next several days. 

This post is titled ICE but is about snow and ice and not touching on the current political discussion and protest about the other kind of ICE. Hopefully the blog will benefit from extra views because of the clever title.

In retirement, I really get to enjoy these snow conditions without the worry of work pressures and getting behind in a work schedule. I can sit back, enjoy the views and a cup of coffee. No worries of wondering if I can get on the roads and get to work today. I turned 60 last year and was interested in a recent article from USAToday titled "When Should You Stop Snow Shoveling?". The article says that snow shoveling puts a heavy strain on the heart. I have always heard that the activity shows an increase in heart attacks. My past snow shoveling is less about shoveling but more of a bull dozer motion of pushing the snow off to the side of a sidewalk or driveway. Even that activity will get your heart rate up. The article said between 1990 and 2006 there were 200,000 adult seen in emergency rooms for snow shoveling incidents with 1600 deaths. They recommend not shoveling snow definitely after 65 but even recommend an earlier age of 45 as the cutoff date for this activity.

This is more than enough information for me to avoid this activity from now on! Most of the time I let nature take care of melting the snow. The few times I did clear snow was probably more for the entertainment of the activity and satisfaction of a clear walkway and driveway. In OKC, we get a few snows through the winter but most don't measure up to more than a few inches. This snow is a particularly heavy one for us. I can't imagine living further north or around the Great Lakes and dealing with feet of snow. 

So, during the huge winter storm, which is affecting a large portion of the country, take caution with snow removal. Also heed the warning about the extreme cold. Humans have been dealing with snow forever. The first snow shoes were invented 4,000-6,000 years ago. Snow skis were invented about 8,000 years ago. The earliest snow shovel was found in Russia and is about 6,000 years old. You have to wonder how many men have died since then from this horrible tool. I say men, because the studies show that is who is out shoveling snow and then dying from the activity. 

Do you shovel snow? Or, do you have a snowblower or hire someone to clear the snow? Has anyone had a cardiac event while shoveling snow that you would like to share?

If you are over 45, hire a snow removal company or 16 year old kid. Enjoy the snow, play, take photos but do not pick up that snow shovel! Stay safe and stay warm! Spring is only a few months away!

Screen Time

Last week I talked about device usage in public and the stress that it causes me. Today, I want to discuss screen time. If you have an iPhone you probably get the Screen Time pop up notification once a week. If you go into your settings and select Screen Time it will break down the time you spend on your phone and will break it down by app. It is very interesting data to see what you spend your time on. I will admit that my screen time has increased during these colder and darker winter months. I pick up my phone often to check texts, emails, facebook, news and the random Google searches to find out answers to the latest question that pops into my mind. Looking at yesterday's screen time shows a total of 2h 24m with 54m on Social, 33m on Information and Reading and 20m on Productivity & Finance. My most used breakdown is Facebook 36m, News 23m, Messages 18m, Safari 16m, Checkbook 11m, Mail 4m and other smaller usage on various apps. I can't imagine what the screen time would be for those who are on Instagram, TikTok and other social sites. It doesn't feel like I spent 2+ hours on my phone, but I guess every little pickup of the phone adds up.  

Since our phone holds so much power and info at our fingertips, I wonder how much screen time is too much? I do necessary things on my phone such as check news and balance my checkbook and other daily things. I just added to my screen time by searching the average adult screen time. Wow, I am shocked with the answer of 7 hours with US adults often exceeding 8-9 hours. Here is the breakdown by age:

Age 16-24 around 7.5 hours

Age 24-44 is 7+ hours

Age 55-64 is 5-6 hours

The search also broke down by Smartphone, TV and Computers with 2.5 hours on phone and 4.5 TV streaming. That breakdown would explain the 7 hour average above when you combine phone and TV, although many use the phone to stream. Another article says you spend 17 years of your adult life online. I've seen estimates before about how much of our lives are spent waiting in lines or in traffic. I think the online years far outpace the waiting years!

If your read my last post, you know my wife and I enjoy streaming on our TV. I would guess we watch 2-3 hours per night unless we watch a longer movie and then it may jump to a 4 hour night. We catch the evening news for about 30m to an hour and then watch a couple of episodes of various shows. 

In the summer I listen to music on Spotify or Amazon Music. I wonder if that counts as screen time? That doesn't seem to qualify as screen time to me as I'm not utilizing the screen and simply just listening, just as I would a radio. I'm sure there are other apps, such as those used for driving navigating, that should not count as screen time in my opinion. 

What do you spend screen time on? Are you on social media a lot? Do you spend time on emails, text and news? What time do you consider necessary and what time do you consider entertainment? How much screen time do you average a day on your phone? How much time watching streaming services or TV programming? Does your screen time and TV decrease in the Spring and Summer when the weather is nicer, or do you maintain a pretty even usage? If retired, do you think your phone screen time has increased as a form of entertainment that you didn't have time for when working?

When spending time on screen time just remember one thing, use those earbuds and headphone when in public! 

Device Usage in Public

Pet peeve of the year..........People on their phones, tablets and computers with the speaker on!!  Nothing annoys me more than having to listen to a small child's cartoon program while waiting in a medical waiting room, in a restaurant, in an airport waiting area or any other public area. People of all ages are so inconsiderate of those around them. I have seen families at a restaurant with three kids, each with their own tablet propped up on the dining table listening, without headphones, to their program or game. I have seen teenagers and adult scrolling video after video or streaming music with no head phones on. I have seen adults watching how-to videos or talking to someone on speakerphone in a hospital waiting room full of cancer patients. It all infuriates me to no end! I wish I had a jammer that I could flip on in these situations and shut them all down. I mean really, who needs to hold their phone conversation on their speakerphone while sitting among 30 other patients in a waiting room!

On the last flight I took we had plenty of open seating. I was on an aisle and the row across had only one woman in a window seat. She began watching video after video with the volume up enough that I could clearly hear it. I finally got her attention and asked if she had headphones. She looked at me stupidly and said "sorry...sorry" and muted the volume. This was after the flight attendants had clearly stated that any device usage requires headphones! I've gotten to where I carry noise cancelling headphones on planes or even into waiting areas just to try to tune out the idiots with their devices on speaker. 

How about phones at the movies? We recently took our granddaughters to see Zootopia 2. I understand people doing last minute texts or emails during the commercials that they now have before the movies. I don't like them to continue to be on their phones during the previews. At this movie, I could see about 5-10 phone screens lit up through the whole movie. I wanted to stand up and proclaim "Turn off your phones!" but I did not. I tried to focus on the movie screen and tune out the phones but it was impossible. Why can't these young parents of young children not be fully engaged in watching the movie with their kids? I just don't get it. I paid $15 per person to see this movie and I expect to be able to watch it without distractions. 

Oh, and what about restrooms! I have seen many a man talking or watching videos on their phones while standing at the urinals. I've heard phone conversations from people in a stall. Is there no place that is off limits anymore?

I'm all for freedom in this country but that freedom has a limits if it impedes on the freedom of another. The use of phones and devices is fine until it infringes on the rights of others. 

Does this device usage, I listed above, get you agitated as it does me? What example of annoyance have you seen? Am I over reacting to this issue? As I write this, my wife has her phone on speaker while talking with her mother. I have no problem at all with this as it does not disturb the general public and is in the privacy of our own home. I often have our son or daughter on speaker while I continue to do whatever task I'm in the middle of. But, you will never see me on speakerphone in public or listening to videos or movies without headphones in public. Maybe I can suggest an Executive Order to prohibit this annoying behavior! An idea is born!

What Are You Watching?

This is the time of the year when my wife and I watch our most television. With it being colder weather and less daylight, we tend to catch up on streaming shows and start new shows. We have watched these various streaming series and completed them:  The Man on the Inside, The Beast In Me, Nobody Wants This, The Morning Show, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King and one of our favorites Ted Lasso. We are still watching Shrinking, The Neighborhood and another favorite Landman. I am also in the late Season 2 of Silo and find it an interesting watch. 

As you can see we subscribe to multiple streaming sites and have our favorite shows for each one. We watch Hulu, Netflix, Prime, Paramount and recently added Apple TV. We also have access to HBO Max and Peacock but watch very little so far on those sites. We quit our main cable tv service months ago and went with Hulu Live for our primary service for local channels. 

We are very much looking forward to The Pitt coming out next week. We really enjoyed the first season and are ready to see the new season. Just yesterday, I watched CBS Sunday Morning do a story on Noah Wyle in which I discovered he was on the ER show in 1994-2000. I remember watching the show but never connected him from The Pitt to the older show.    

On a regular basis, we watch local news and NBC Nightly News and then usually start watching "our shows" on the various streaming services. 

We are always looking for new shows we might enjoy so if you have one you really like, please list it in the comments and we will check it out. You would think with a billion streaming options we would have enough lined up for a lifetime, but sometimes the many options are a little overwhelming to sort through.

What are you watching? Any favorites that really stand out? Do you have a favorite streaming service? One thing I avoid is dubbed movies or shows that were originally in a different language. I just can't get past the fact the words don't match the facial motions. Can you handle dubbing or does it bother you too? How many streaming service do you subscribe to? Do you start and stop the services to watch a particular series?

Whatever you watch, I hope it helps you get through the bleary winter months like it helps us. I personally get burned out after watching 2-3 hours and have to turn it off and read a book. I already look forward to warmer weather and more sunshine ahead.

Happy New Year!

Uggaa Buggaa!

UGGAA BUGGAA!

I mentioned my three granddaughters a few weeks ago and they continue to give me blog post ideas just by being around them. One post was "alone time". This week's post is about grandkids and our interaction with them. My three live just a few miles away so we get to see them very often and my wife and I love it! They seem to think Nana and Pawpaw's house is the place for snacking and they are not wrong. They come in the door, greet us, and then are instantly hungry. I beginning to think they don't get fed at home! They enjoy looking in the candy jar we have placed on the middle of our kitchen island. They climb up onto two bar stools at the island and begin digging for something to eat. Then they want popcorn, then ice cream, then a jolly rancher. When mom and dad are here, I refer questions on being able to have something to them. At least one, if not two, are candy sneaks and will creep into the kitchen when no one is watching them to grab an extra piece of candy.  

The grandkids enjoy playing at our house. They play with playdough, color with crayons or markers and play with baby dolls. One thing they love to play is Uggaa Buggaa! I made it up, so I'm sure that is the correct spelling. One day while they were here they wanted to play monsters and have me chase them. I began stomping around and uttering "Uggaa Buggaa" while chasing them and then hiding from them as they creep through the house to find me. Now when they come over they want to play Uggaa Buggaa every time. They will sometimes come over to me like they are telling me a secret and whisper in my ear "Can you be Uggaa Buggaa?". Of course, Pawpaw as the UB, will oblige and off we go. I love to hear their screams and giggles as I chase them back into their room and into their closet to hide from me. It is a great joy to hear their laughter and their efforts to fight and then hide from Uggaa Buggaa. I will admit it ramps up the volume in our house but it is well worth it. I have to calm them down sometimes. Recently, they each grabbed a plastic toy golf club to come at Uggaa Buggaa with their "whackers" as they called them. The oldest said "the more scared I get the more I whack!" 

A big part of my enjoyment in retirement is the interaction with the grandkids. I'm fortunate to have them all just a few miles down the road. I know a lot of grandparents only get to see their grandkids every so often due to them living hours or even days away. However often you see them, make the best memories that you can, while you can!

Do you have a special something that you do with your grandkids to connect with them? It doesn't have to be as active as Uggaa Buggaa. It could be baking with them, drawing with chalk outdoors, reading with, or to them and any other special activity. To me, it is a special time that will pass way too soon as they grow into teens and adults. I try to be Uggaa Buggaa every chance I get to get as many screams and laughter as I can. 

Tell me what you do to get the smiles, giggles, screams, hugs and kisses. I'm always up for trying something else with them.

When I googled Uggaa Buggaa I discovered their is a casino slot machine with that name. Who knew?

Uggaa Buggaa out.

Christmas Cards

 

Christmas card exchange during the Christmas season has been a pastime for many centuries. The first known Christmas card was given in 1611. The first commercial card was designed in 1843 in London to make the postal service more popular. The modern format of the folded card with an envelope was an innovation in 1915 by the Hall Brothers company, later known as Hallmark. The White House began a tradition of an official White House Christmas card with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. Cards became enormously popular in the 1930's-1950's.  I began my government career as a mail carrier in 1986 and carried the mail for about 5 years. I remember December being real busy with Christmas cards. My mail case would be full of red, white and green Christmas card envelopes. They were so noticeable because they were so much bigger than the average letter or bill at the time. I imagine the mail case for each route is much less festive these days.

I remember our family receiving Christmas cards when I was young in the 70's and 80's. My mother would tape them to a large double door frame along the edges. We would get so many cards the door frame would be covered up each side and across the top with cards left over and stacked in a basket. That was a time when we received many cards from relatives that have now passed away.

We sent out about 25 cards this year, but have only received 12 to date. I believe our generation will be one of the last to exchange cards through the mail. These days, people either post a greeting on their social media or send a greeting or letter via email. It is just not the same. I enjoy getting the cards in the mail. I enjoy getting the newer version where the sender puts photos of the family consisting of a family photo or multiple photos of the year's activities. This card exchange pastime is on the decline and I fear will soon be a victim of technology and social media.

Do you still send and receive Christmas cards? If so, have you seen a decline in participants over the past years? My wife is a card giver. She still sends cards for birthdays, anniversaries, Halloween, Thanksgiving and other major holidays. She loves getting cards as well. It is a small gesture that means so much. It is much like receiving a Thank You note, which is also a lost art.

                                                     

 Merry Christmas to everyone!

May your packages remain safe from porch pirates!

Me Time

 

We recently had our three granddaughters over for a sleepover. They consist of 3 year old twins and a 6 year old. They play really well together until they don't. They were all playing well in their bedroom/playroom they have at our home until I began to hear the fussing. The 6 year old comes out and into the living room with her twin sisters right on her heels. She declares that she needs her "alone time" and they won't give it to her. She was very upset that her sisters wouldn't leave her alone for a minute for her "alone time". 

She reminded me a lot of myself, although I'm not as dramatic in demanding my "me time" as I like to call it. I would consider myself an introvert and a trait of introvert is that I recharge my batteries by spending quiet time alone. My "me time" is usually in the morning, when the house is quiet, and my wife is still sleeping. I enjoy my coffee, a little news and then read in a book. Sometimes I just lay in the recliner and listen to the grandfather clock ticking away. My wife is more of an extrovert who recharges by being around people. I enjoy being around people but rather than recharge at that time I expend energy and later need the "me time" to recuperate. 

My 6 year old granddaughter has spent the last several summers at our home during the day while her sisters attend day care school. Those summers have been special for her to have Nana and Pawpaw alone to herself. This year she will be joined by her twin sisters and her "alone time" will be severely cut back at our house.

Do you recharge around people or by being alone? Whichever you prefer, what is your favorite activity to recharge your energy levels? Do you recharge in silence or at a busy party? Do you recharge by getting out in nature or getting deep into a hobby? If you take "me time" do you have a normal time, like my mornings, in which you get that time? 

I did notice while the girls were here that there was a time where the twins were playing together in another play room (our dining room turned toy room) while 6 year old sister was no where to be found. I was sure she was in their bedroom on the bed and reading a book. She got her "alone time" after all. Way to go big sister!

However you recharge your energy, make sure you take the time to do it. We all need that energy renewal on a daily basis and certainly during the busy holiday season!

Mistakes

The photo above highlights a mistake I recently made. Apparently, I didn't pay close attention to the directions! I was so excited to make a photo book of our recent trip to Egypt. I loaded about 80 photos into the program and couldn't wait to see the finished product. I received it in the mail, opened the box and just laughed at the title to my new book. I have since created a new title with a label maker and kinda put a fix on it. This is just the latest example of mistakes I make when I get in a hurry.

There was no real reason for me to be in a hurry on this book project. I'm retired and have plenty of time. At the time I sat down to do the project I had absolutely nothing planned. I have no idea what causes me to get in such a hurry sometimes. When I sat down to do the book something in me said do it as quick as possible and be done with it. You see the result.

This mistake made me think of numerous mistakes I have made in the past and all are probably related to rushing through whatever I was doing. Years ago when I was still working, I made the mistake a few times of putting on one blue and one black dress sock. Surely, everyone out there has done that. I always put the 10% ethanol gas in my cars, but I have made the mistake at least once of grabbing the premium gas nozzle and pumping away. When doing home improvement projects, I often cut the same wrong angle or wrong length twice in a row until I take my time to really look at what I'm doing. Another recent mistake I made was at Thanksgiving. My wife was making some fudge and asked me to get some of the ingredients for her including Vanilla Extract. I pulled out a bottle that looks like Vanilla but once she poured it in the mixture she turned it around to see I had given her Orange Extract! All of these mistakes could have been avoided if I wasn't in such a hurry.

I try my best not to hurry in life so I can enjoy a nice slow retirement vibe. Sometimes, I just can't do it and it gets me into trouble. Not serious trouble, but a little stupid trouble. I laugh at most of these mistakes and get on with my life so it's not too big of a deal.

I think mistakes just show we are human. I will laugh at my Egypt photo book for the rest of my life. I'm sure my wife and I will talk about our Orange Extract chocolate fudge every Thanksgiving. I laid new tile in the bathroom of our last home. In the very middle I had one tile that was just a little crooked. Most people would never notice, but I noticed it every time I went in there and I would smile about my handiwork. When I think about these mistakes they give me a little memory dividend that I mentioned in my last post. Without the mistakes, those particular things would have no acknowledgement in my brain.

How many times have you made silly mistakes?  What are the most memorable ones? Surely you have a unique story to share that still makes you smile today. How many times have you been in a hurry to get dressed and as you button up the shirt realize you have an extra button at the bottom on one side? You look in the mirror and realize your collar is also up a little on one side as you have buttoned the shirt all wonky.

Embrace your mistakes, learn and carry on. I will double check my work on the next photo book and I will always read the label on the Extract the next go around!

 

Memory Dividends

I recently read a great book, "Die With Zero" by Bill Perkins. It is a great book for everyone, not just retirees. It is a reminder that while working we are trading our living hours for money and that we need to enjoy that money at some point. With the point of spending being sooner than later or "some day".

One point of the book that really has stuck in my head is his description and discussion of memory dividends. The gist of the idea is that we create memories with experiences over the years and then those memories can pop up when you think of them and create a little bit of happiness again for that past experience. The more great experiences you have the greater your memory dividends can add up as you get older. 

As I look around my study, I get memory dividends as I look at photos from our recent trip to Spain, Italy and Egypt. I smile and feel happy just looking at the photos and thinking about that awesome experience. I can also see photos of Vietnam, Philippines, Hawaii and Singapore. I see figurines and statues of a cannon, a hula dancer, the Wall Street bull and a Merlion among many other trinkets I have picked up. In my glassed in bookcase I see a Key West sign, currency bills from different countries, color sheets that granddaughters did on a Disney cruise, bottle caps from a variety of root beers I've sampled and many other things. All of these produce memories and good happy feelings thinking back on those experiences.

Since reading the book, I have a new appreciation for creating experiences right now to enjoy and provide future memory dividends. I just turned 60 and feel like the next 5-10 years will be the best time to travel and do things before my wife or I get sidelined with an age related injury or disease that will slow us down. 

The experiences don't have to be travel. They can be a new thing you tried, a family event, a personal accomplishment and many other things. A couple of years ago I was on a quest to try 100 new things. Some of those experiences still pop up as memory dividends. One of those "new things" was attending a rattlesnake festival. I dislike snakes as much as anyone and this memory popped up the other day with a discussion with my oldest granddaughter (6 years old). We have a running joke of me being afraid of snakes while she likes them. She will often put a play snake near me or on me to try to scare me. Of course Pawpaw always screams like a little girl to her great delight!

I encourage you to read the book or any other book that stresses living in the now rather than wait until "some day" to do that thing you've always wanted to do.  

How do you remember great experiences you have had in the past? Do you hang photos or collect small souvenirs like me? Or do you have another way to record those experience to remind yourself? Maybe a journal or scrapbook? Let me know of any great experiences you have had that continue to provide you with memory dividends today.

Also comment on the book if you have read it and tell me your thoughts and anything that jumped out at you. 

It's Been Awhile

I have been away from posting on this blog for over a year now and I apologize for the long break. I completely forgot about the blog for awhile and just recently thought "Why don't I get back to writing a little on the retirement blog?". So, I hope to work on a new post soon and then get back to regularly writing posts to see if there is any readership interest out there.

For those of you who have visited lately to read old posts, thank you and stay tuned. 

Reunions

When I was a young kid and up until my late teens, my dad's side of the family had a few family reunions. I remember attending a few of them and seeing aunts, uncles and cousins galore. It mainly involved getting together to catch up, letting the cousins play and eating a lot of food. I think I had one or two aunts and my grandmother who set these reunions up. After graduating high school I don't remember any family reunions. If there was one, I didn't attend. I don't know if it was due to the cousins all growing up or the aunts and grandmother aging and not interested in continuing the work that it would take to plan the reunion..

This past weekend my wife and I attended a high school reunion. Our school was very small, so every two years there is one "all school" reunion. This year marks my 40th year since graduation and I had never been to one of the all school reunions. This year my sister was in charge and we decided it would be fun to go. We enjoyed it very much and enjoyed seeing people we haven't seen in many, many years. I was class of 1984 and my wife was class of 1987. There were five of us from my class and it was good to see them. I think there were four from my wife's class. We also got to see a few graduates that were a year or two above and below us and got to see our Principal and a couple of teachers. My high school math teacher was there and we were very surprised to see each other. That's him in the photo above. 

We have vowed to continue to go to this school reunion every two years and try to encourage other classmates to come and join us all. My graduating class only had 18 and I would guess all other graduating classes were similar in size. So, you can see why the need for an all school reunion would work for this small town. 

Reunion is an instance of two or more people coming together after a period of separation. With that definition, I have attended numerous small family reunions when I attend a funeral. Unfortunately, these are not happy reunions. Other small reunions my involve birthday parties, weddings, graduations, etc. You could have a small reunion when welcoming home a friend or family member after living away or welcoming home a service member after a lengthy time away in the military.

In retirement and with age these reunions may become more fun. Seeing and visiting with family and friends, that you haven't seen in awhile, is always fun. What kind of reunions do you enjoy? Does your family have regular family reunions? If so, who plans them and what type of activities does everyone do? Do you enjoy family or high school reunions or do you avoid them for some reason?

Root Beer Update!

Back in February I posted about root beer and my quest to try some new brands. I have purchased numerous different brands here in OKC and picked up six new brands on a recent trip to Kansas City. The store in Kansas City probably had about 50 or more brands! Here are some of my most recent taste tests. I have rated them on a scale of 1 to10. I tend to favor the sweeter variety. I have about ten more brands in the fridge awaiting a try. Have an awesome root beer summer!

 

1.      Rocky Mountain Root Beer  2/27/24     (5)

2.      Bull Dog Root Beer 2/29/24  (6)

3.      Red Arrow Root Beer 3/2/24  (7)

4.      Dang! That’s Good 3/19/24  (5)

5.      Sprecher 3/30/24  (7)

6.      Americana 4/5/24  (9)

7.      Dog N Suds 4/17/23  (7)

8.      Death Valley Root Beer  5/16/24  (8)

9.      Gene Autry Root Beer 5/28/24  (7)

10   Poppi   6/19/24   (-2)     Yes -2. I did not like this one past two sips!

11   Oak Creek Barrel Aged Root Beer 6/20/24   (8)

12   The Pop Shoppe 7/2/24  (7)

More Preparation

 

My son and I had a discussion last year about purchasing first aid kits for our vehicles. He bought a kit for his car. I never did, so I got online last week and bought two kits and the following is the reason why I got motivated to be more prepared. 

On a recent trip to Kansas City to visit the WW1 museum, I was reminded to be more prepared for emergencies. My son, my wife and I were driving up Interstate 135 when we came upon a vehicle accident just south of Newton, KS. We rolled up on this major accident within a minute or two of it happening. I could see a jackknifed big rig across the interstate and a badly damage car closer to us. I asked my son if he had his first aid kit and he said he did. He grabbed his kit and we headed to the damaged car to see if we could give assistance. 

One man had beat us to the car and was walking back toward us when I asked if anyone was in the car. He replied that he didn't see anyone in the front but did not check the back. I went up to the car and had to move the side airbags away to look in the back seat and back luggage area. Luckily, I found the car empty. Another woman walked by us carrying a towel and said there was a body in the road. We returned to our car and tried to calm down a little. I tell this story to emphasize preparation again. My son's kit was a first aid kit that included the basics but also has chest seals and a tourniquet. Had we come upon someone hurt, we would have had the tools to bandage a small wound or for something more serious until first responders arrived.

We later learned, through an internet search, that the driver was a 29 year old female. She had crossed the median and hit the big rig head on. The cause was unknown and she was not wearing a seat belt and had been thrown from her car. We were shocked at the loss and I wished the outcome would have been better, but I was glad we were prepared had we found a child or another person needing immediate first aid. I hope to never come upon a scene like this again, but if I do, I want to be prepared. 

I bought kits that included one tourniquet and chest seals. I had training on using both during my career. I recommend that you watch an instructional video online to learn how to quickly apply either of these life saving tools.

Similar prep can be done at home for a variety of things. I have a fire extinguisher in the garage. I have placed bottled water in our underground shelter in the garage. I'm sure there are more things that I can do for other situations that may arise. I do not have 6 months worth of food, water and ammunition stored up like a true prepper may have. But, I hopefully have a few basics to get me through whatever comes my way.

Do you have a first aid kit in your car for emergencies? How about a small took kit, jumper cables or other emergency items? If you have a kit, have you ever had to use it for a more serious situation? Do you have any other preparation ideas that I need to consider?

Stay safe out there!!

Preparation

I just hit my 5 year mark of retirement! It has passed so quickly and I better get busy over the next years and live it up before the next 5 years zoom by.

Prior to retirement, preparation is the key. Many spend years preparing for retirement. I spent 33 years saving in to the government version of a 401K in preparation for retirement. Some people prepare by saving, some by investing in real estate or other investment and income producing products. Some people never prepare and just as my 5 years of retirement quickly passed by, their 30-40 years of working passes by with nothing saved for retirement. Reminds me of the grasshopper and ant fable where the ant works hard to prepare for the winter while the grasshopper did nothing. The grasshopper played around all summer and then had nothing to eat that winter. The news is full of stories about the number of people, at or close to retirement, with little to nothing in retirement savings.  Preparation is key to a good retirement and requires some sacrifice along the way. I was very fortunate to have the career that I had that included a pension plus any 401K savings. I certainly understand that saving is hard these days, even if you have a middle class income. For some, preparation for retirement is difficult if not impossible for a variety of reasons.

The grasshoppers of the world are a different story. The grasshopper is able to prepare but just fails to do it because it is more fun to live it up in the moment and not worry about tomorrow. Today's grasshoppers are buying more car and house than they can really afford. Today's grasshoppers are wearing expensive clothing and carrying around the latest gadgets. Today's grasshoppers are going to wake up in 30 years and then panic because they can't retire.

Retirement preparation is not all finance. We need to prepare in other ways. We have to prepare for the extra time on your hands and what our retirement days are going to look like. We have to prepare for possibly living on less. Even in retirement, there is preparation to be done. We need to monitor the savings and income to make sure it will last for another 30 plus years. We need to continue to prepare for the future with decisions of downsizing a house or moving into a retirement community. We need to prepare for aging in place by making our homes easier to live in as mobility and dexterity may become issues. I have read of recommendations of replacing door knobs with door levers to make it easier to open. Other recommendations are to have a walk in shower with no step, have brighter lighting and widening doors for wheelchair access if eventually needed.

Other retirement preparation will include wills and long term care insurance. I have a will that I completed online but I have yet to check on the insurance. 

What other preparations can you thing of that are needed leading up to retirement and during retirement? Have you explored long term care insurance yet? Have you made any improvement to your home for aging in place? At 58 years old, I don't think too much about these things, but I do need to begin preparing for the future.

A Pedicure

 

I've posted many times about trying new things. I have a new one to report thanks to a Christmas gift from my wife. She gets her nails done often and gets a pedicure every once in awhile. She felt that I would enjoy a pedicure and gifted me a gift card for one at the shop she frequents. 

Yesterday, she announced she was going to get her nails done and I bravely announced that I would join her and try this pedicure thing. I was hesitant as I entered the salon not knowing what this thing would involve. I always thought a pedicure was getting your toe nails trimmed and painted much like your fingernails. I also largely thought this practice was for the ladies of the world even though I have heard that men enjoy them.

I sat in the pedicure chair and the pedicurist, if that is a word, asked if I wanted the massage function turned on for the chair. I said "sure" and my first pedicure began. The massage chair was pretty nice and I became comfortable very quickly. Next was a soak in a hot footbath. I'm liking this more and more! Then came the nail trimming, the scrub, the wax and the hot stone massage. The pedicurist said "Happy feet make happy people". I couldn't agree more. I thoroughly enjoyed this pampering and will be back to enjoy this again in the near future.

For this post I looked up pedicure history. Pedicures have been around for thousands of years and was enjoyed by ancient Egyptians. In Babylonia, noblemen gave themselves pedicures using solid gold tools. Very nice! Early depictions of early manicures and pedicures are depicted on some pharaohs tombs. Pedicures didn't become popular in the United States until the 1990's. Wow, we are behind the times! Prior to that, most of the U.S. classified the pedicure as a medical procedure and had laws preventing them.

If you have never experienced a pedicure, I highly recommend you give it a try. It feels awesome to have "baby soft" feet as my pedicurist described them. I asked my wife several times if she wanted to feel my baby soft feet yesterday. She never took me up on the offer! Happy feet make happy people!

Have you enjoyed a pedicure? Do you agree that it is a pretty relaxing event?

First Visit to NYC!

My wife and I just got back from a cruise out of NYC and four days of sightseeing in the city. It was our first trip to NYC and we loved it! We did the normal sites and visited the Statue of Liberty and walked up to the crown. We saw the Wall St Bull, the Empire State Building, the NYC Library, the NY Stock Exchange, Central Park and many other sites. We did an evening harbor cruise and enjoyed the lights of the city at night. We saw two Broadway Shows, Wicked and the Book of Mormon. Enjoyed them both but was surprised at some of the vulgarity in the Book of Mormon but it was a funny show. We went to Top of the Rock and rode the beam for some fantastic views of the city. We visited the Morgan Library Museum which I dearly loved. We got up early on Monday morning and went to the Today Show plaza and got to do a "shout out" which was aired on TV!

We were amazed at the size of NYC while staying in the Times Square area. We have a few tall buildings in Oklahoma City but there are hundreds of skyscrapers in NYC. It is definitely the city that never sleeps. We were amazed at the number of people on the streets at 11pm. We got to experience the crowds on the sidewalk, the NYPD on the street corners or directing traffic, the honking, the street traffic and the huge amount of yellow taxis everywhere. 

We ate some of the best Italian food we have ever had in Little Italy. We had NY pizza a couple of times and ate at many other great places. We really enjoyed this first visit to NYC and recommend that everyone experience that huge city at least once in their life.

Have you visited New York City? Were you amazed at the size and busyness of the city? Have you been to a city even bigger somewhere else in the world? If so, how was your experience?