Golden Boomers

Goldenboomers, Parents & Dementia

Peter — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:51:52 +0000

There are many baby boomers who are dealing with parents who have varying forms of dementia. The most talked about one, of course, is Alzheimer’s. David Cassidy makes some very good points in this short interview.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_bn12#/video/bestoftv/2012/05/18/exp-cassidy-alzheimers.cnn

Navigating the New Normal

Peter — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:56:06 +0000

The ups and downs of my personal economy (trickled down from the local economy, impacted by the state economy, dictated by the national economy, and shaking from the world economy) have necessitated some interesting lifestyle changes, some of which have included experiments in:

1) Getting rid of my home phone

source

2) Disconnecting my internet at home

source

My eventual solution was to hook up with a family member’s cell phone plan

and obtain a mobile hotspot device for my mini-netbook.

3) Changing the thermostat

- turned down in the winter

- turned up in the summer

source

4) Upgrading my meal patterns

(image no longer found)

Eating smaller meals more often.

It helps to call them “snacks” and eat them 2 to 2-1/2 hours apart:

breakfast snack #1, breakfast snack #2,

lunch snack #1, lunch snack #2,

and a dinner snack.

source

This is supposed to:

- Keep my blood sugar level on a more even keel

- Get me used to smaller portions

and

5) Riding public transportation

source

For a nostalgic peek at bus riding,

A Boomer’s Memories

Honestly, these changes have been Not Exactly Fun. My core belief, however, is that they are ultimately healthy changes. Still working on incorporating them into my internal Default setting…

We welcome your input:

Goldenboomer “Rule of Three” Questions:

As you respond (react?) to the changing world and local economy,

1) What are the three most significant challenges for you personally?

2) What are the three best changes you have made?

***

Is it about time to redefine “beauty”?

Peter — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:37:45 +0000

was reading a public copy of the May 28 copy of “People” magazine…(an observation….as I get older it seems there are less and less people in there that I recognize….) There was an letter in there from a “Mitzi Weinstein from Columbia, Md.” Here is the letter: “In the Beauty of Every Age section, what happened to the women over 59? I think you could definitely find beautiful women in their… 60′s, 70′s, 80′s and 90′s. Don’t exclude your readers over 59.” My thoughts exactly. Of course People has a marketing demographic much younger then those who are 59! What do you think? Are those over 59 sidelined for those who are 40 or younger? Why (and my view point is that of the male variety) is there an unfair standard that finds older men “craggy and handsome” and older women “washed up”? I don’t get it…older women have such beauty……Did I open a can of worms here? Let’s discuss this! More importantly how do we change the standard?

Light Hearted Senior Race….

Peter — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:25:41 +0000

Just a light hearted women’s race from the Indian/Pakistan area……Everyone has fun, no special equipment needed. What a great way to have some fun, using what is available!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOT4o6OImac

What Mom Never Told Me….

Peter — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:05:38 +0000

A subject near and dear to my heart. So often I find out after the passing of a parent or grandparent that they had fascinating lives. Wouldn’t it be better to have a cup of coffee with them and find out what it was like to _________________. But trying to get them to tell us about these often life changing experiences is often impossible.

More here: http://www.ltlmagazine.com/blogs/sandra-hoban/what-mom-never-told-me?WA_MAILINGLEVEL_CODE=&spMailingID=39189098&spUserID=MTkwNTk2MzU0MQS2&spJobID=142832730&spReportId=MTQyODMyNzMwS0

Another co-housing community off the ground!

Peter — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:53:04 +0000

It just goes to show you that this intentional community design is viable even in difficult times!

http://www.oregonbusiness.com/linda/7370-co-housing-community-bucks-market-trends?device=xhtml

Here is a comment that is relevant from Erick

This was a comment sent in by Erick and thanks for the headsup! ….Thanks, for the information, Erick! I might also add that the book “The Senior Cohousing Handbook” by Charles Durrett is a good resource.

“Imagine the sustainability of sustainability. That is, how can we be more sustainable beyond green consumerism? Sustainability is one concept worth taking away from our crashing market, but consider it through the lens of cohousing. What it can mean socially, economically, as well as environmentally – cohousing is designed to facilitate being sustainable, as opposed to just buying sustainable.

Simply put, the cohousing process is more efficient, effective, and responsive to community needs and not the bottom line of developers. This is the sustainable way to balance value and cost to create lasting value. I highly recommend Creating Cohousing: Building Sustainable Communities, by Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett.”

What are the best movies for our age?

Peter — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:51:10 +0000

I don’t watch too many movies. Generally, I seem to pick those that have some message (beyond the gore and gratuitous language, etc.) I have been fairly successful in finding those that go beyond the norm. Here is one that I haven’t seen yet, but it too, looks like a winner. The actors, theme, and scenery all look that they will work well together to create a memory that will carry on long after the theater lights are on again. Take a look at the trailer for “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” Then after you’ve seen the full length movie, let’s talk about it! Are there other movies that take a look at aging with a unique view point? Let’s discuss them as well!

So what are the best movies for our age? Or is that an unfair question?

http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDY89LYxK0w

“Third-age suit” used to design cars for goldenboomers

Peter — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:43:27 +0000

According to Ford Motor Company they are the only ones using the a ”third-age suit” to give younger engineers and designers a feel for the needs of the elderly. The suit, which looks like a bee catcher’s outfit, is made of materials that add bulk and restrict movement at key areas of the body (e.g., knees, elbows, back and neck). The suit also uses gloves that reduce the sense of touch, and goggles that simulate cataracts. The suit doesn’t necessarily simulate a specific condition, such as arthritis, but it does simulate a worst-case customer scenario — for example, where someone can’t comfortably bend his elbow to grasp the door handle and can’t easily look over his shoulder when changing lanes.

It is about time that the designers and creators of new products remembered that we are a potent force to be considered.

Here is more from Ford: http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=23730

Eco-Tourism 101, Part 1

Peter — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:53:14 +0000

According to Wikipedia, “ Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low-impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial (mass) tourism. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, or to foster respect for different cultures and for human rights.”

“It is also considered the fastest growing market in the tourism industry, according to the World Tourism Organization with an annual growth rate of 5% worldwide and representing 6% of the world gross domestic product, 11.4% of all consumer spending – not a market to be taken lightly.” Source http://www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/etour-define.html

Okay, ‘nuff said. Where does one find out more information about such trips? What are the benefits of this sort of vacation and what are the costs involved. Is there a central clearing house where such trips are posted? Who writes about such trips and is there someone who really has lots of experience and can give good advice about eco-tourism?

These are some questions that I have heard since I started goldenboomers.com. Often I have mentioned such trips, but never dug deeper.

Here then is the beginning of what we’ll call Eco-Tourism 101. For all of us, it will be a learning experience.
Having heard of eco-tourism for a long time now, I was however sadly mistaken about what I thought I knew. Opening the first website I saw, I started reading about luxury eco-tourism. All this time I thought only of working vacations in ecological sensitive areas. It won’t be the first mistake I will have made concerning eco-tourism! While there are other less luxurious destinations where you can go, there is obviously a wide range of areas where you can go. Many, by the way are proud to mention how eco- friendly they are. From using locally sourced materials, to windmill and solar arrays that provide power as well as other measures that these destinations use to be as carbon neutral as possible.

Here is a link that will show the range and breadth of the eco-destinations around the globe. If you have taken such a trip, let us know what you think and why you chose such a vacation and what you were able to bring back with you, in terms of knowledge and experience.

Here is a good start:

http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/

Changing the work environment for a longer working goldenboomer.

Peter — Sun, 13 May 2012 04:12:52 +0000

While some countries prepare for the onslaught of its retirees, (China for example) others are restructuring their work environments to suit the seniors.

While it is a good idea to remain active, intellectually and physically, is the idea of restructuring the work environment for its seniors (thus keeping them in the work force longer) a good idea? What do you think?

See complete link here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16260315