Today Is Your Day Boomer

Today is your day Boomer! Looking at this picture, I am reminded of the children's nursery rhyme "Do You Know the Muffin Man?". Well, apparently that is me! And that is hard to believe because I grew up not doing any baking; my mother did it all and now my wife does. So, why me now? Because, as a retired Boomer, I want to try some new things. I want more variety in my life and I shouldn't be afraid to try. It is also because my wife still works part time and is busier than I. Well, it was easy. I just Googled "raison bran muffins" and got to choose from hundreds of recipes. I even consulted with my mother-in-law for tips and her personal recipe. Wow, they turned out great! One tip for you....use a recipe with molasses for extra flavour and moist muffins. And Boomers, let's continue to experiment with life. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! I love it when I see stories like this in the media. Local weatherman predicts we have "turned the corner" on winter! It is only late January, so optimist as I am, this makes me feel great for Boomers! Many of us are stuck in houses, condos, and RVs during this long, COVID winter......and if you are following the rules of our provincial health officer, we are staying mostly isolated. This means you can be active like skiing(see picture), but it also means the end is in sight. An early spring is a strong possibility; that means you can golf and ski on the same day during Spring Break and anticipate seeing some new greenery during a stark time of brown! But do you trust these weather forecasters? I do. I had a friend who did this for a living and he explained all the technology and collaboration behind their predictions; plus, I also follow the weather forecasting every day because I am an "outside" active person and I can tell you

Today is your day Boomer! And today is a day you may want to consider a decision on your finances.....especially if you haven't accessed your Canada Pension Plan yet. Most Boomers take their CPP at age 65, but you can receive it starting at age 60 at a reduced rate. How reduced? Apparently, .6% per month for every month before your 65th birthday. You can access your CRA account and go on the CPP estimator to see how much you will receive at different ages 60-65. For me, it is about $100/month extra for every year I wait. But hold it....the 60's are supposed to be our GO years, the 70's our SLOW years and the 80's our NO period. So, maybe we should take that CPP money early and take that extra holiday to the sun every year?! Why not? We paid into it for 40 years and it is our money. Boomers, live a little.....spend some extra money if you can, but wait until after COVID is done. Something to think about. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! And today is another day for wining......and I don't mean complaining. I mean drinking some pressed grapes and enjoying the health benefits. That's right, drinking alcohol is good for you. First, let's state the obvious....only in moderate amounts: two glasses per day for men and one for women. Research shows the following positive health effects: (1) reduces risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson disease (2) is an anti-flammatory(white wine is better for this) (3) decreases risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol(red wine is a better choice) (4) good for mental health, may increase age longevity, may promote healthy gut bacteria. All of this sounds good and much of it boils down to the antioxidants which are higher in red wine. It seems reds--like Merlot, Cab Sav, and Shiraz--have been studied more.....which means more research is needed on whites. Boomers, maybe we could volunteer for a new study! Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! Are you still thinking of moving away from the so-called "rat race" to the quieter retirement area of the B.C. southern interior? Many Boomers are abandoning places like Calgary and the Lower Mainland to settle in towns like Summerland, Princeton, Merritt, and Keremeos. One reason? The price of real estate. Just look at the numbers: stay away from the higher-priced spots like Kelowna and you can find some good deals. For example, the average price of a home in Summerland is just over $500,000.....probably half of a typical price in Burnaby. The other incentives are bigger-size lots; our first home was 1/3 acre because of septic system requirements, low interest rates(about 2%), more greenery(we are surrounded by orchards, vineyards, and hobby farms), and a slower pace of life. I looked around and found you the best deal....check out the picture! Good house hunting! Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! And during this non-snow winter (at least where I live), maybe we need to focus on different things for entertainment. How many shows on Netflix can you watch, how much internet surfing can you do in one day, and how many jigsaw puzzles can you do during this long, COVID winter? How about looking outside? My wife and I always place our bird feeders just outside our south-facing kitchen window, so we can catch the warming sun and watch the feeding/playing birds! There are not as many this winter as in past, snowy times but......we do get many of the usual smaller birds like sparrows and we also see bigger ones like quail, pheasant, and even ducks. Those larger species often hang out on the ground under the feeder looking for scraps that fall down. Sometimes I see over 20 birds at one time and it can actually be quite entertaining! Just ask our two cats that sit on the window ledge and yearn to get closer. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! What a great example of what Boomers can do if they put their smarts, determination, and money together. In the North Okanagan city of Vernon, Boomers want to play pickleball.....lots of pickleball year round. The city had land they could use plus $300,000 for 12 pickleball courts in a covered stadium. They had to raise the other 1.2 million dollars themselves.....through small fundraisers, but most of the cash came directly from the wallets of the players themselves. And they did it! Look at the picture and realize that their new indoor bubble could be ready for play by next month; I'm sure the 500 members are estatic. But it helps us realize that we don't have to rely entirely on government to build our new recreation facilities. Many Boomers have their mortgages paid off and some extra money for these types of things. All it takes is courage and coordination! Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in North America and this Vernon complex

Today is your day Boomer! And up early am I like many people to watch the ceremonies surrounding the inaugeration of new US President Joe Biden today. I will remain mostly non-political in my views because that is not the purpose of this blog. But the picture of the Statue of Liberty reminds me that the "rebuilding" of America begins today. The last four years is finished and hopefully a new era of peace, unity, and prosperity will follow. I say this because America is our best friend, our closest ally, and the nation that we most identify with. It is, by far, our biggest trade partner and cultural influencer. It is also the place Boomers love to travel and live, especially in the winter months. As Boomers, we long for the end of COVID and the ability to cross the border again.......to indulge in warmer climates, low-priced shopping, American concerts and sporting events, cruises, Reno and Vegas, and Disneyland! We love the low price of gas for our big RVs, the lack

Today is your day Boomer! This is a week filled with political intrigue....especially south of the border, so I thought I would throw in my two cents. The two recent candidates for U.S. President are well into their 7th decade on this planet.....which is fine. They can represent all citizens, but especially understand the point of view of Boomers. But I think the future of politics is represented in this picture! Younger and diverse politicians are poised to take over the world from the traditional older, wealthy white males. This makes sense because world demographics are moving in this direction, but not quite yet. The Baby Boomer Generation still is dominant in numbers and elected representatives in western nations like Canada and the United States and hopefully they will take care of us as we age. We need lots of recreational facilities to remain active, access to more doctors, shorter waiting lists for things like hip surgery, and more construction of long-term care facili

Today is your day Boomer! Today is actually called "Blue Monday"; it is apparently the most depressing day of the year according to mental health experts. With Christmas over, spring nowhere in sight, and COVID restrictions dominating our lives.....it is easy to understand why many people get depressed at this time of year. Of course many Boomers go south to help alleviate the winter blues, but that is not happening this year. What you need is what I will do today; we need to get "high" on life! And I don't mean a marijuana high, I mean a natural high. Here are two ways:(1) get lots of excercise. It will release your brain's feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins which will improve mood, burn calories, and reduce anxiety. The Mayo Clinic website calls it a "runner's high" and "meditation in motion"! (2) climb something high as part of your exercise, a local hill or mountain or ski up in elevation at your local resort.

Today is your day Boomer! Or it may be tonight......something I recommend you try is a night-time snow hike or snowshoe! Pile on some extra clothes and touque lamps and head out to an area that is white and sparkly. You will be amazed at the winter wonderland atmosphere and the energy you feel in just a normal walkabout. And if you're lucky, it will begin to snow and, honestly, the effect is dazzling! Take some pictures, like this one showing my wife and I, but you will need to use the flash option. Boomers, let's try some different, unique adventures in our retirement. Remember, "variety is the spice of life". Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! I received a rude awakening today; it's called an alarm clock. I had to wake up early to do a radio interview for my part-time job and, I tell you, it was tough! In my semi-retirement for the last two years, this was a first.....and I didn't like it. It made me think of those 40 years of work I put in and why I retired. My point is are you, perhaps like me, starting to take your retirement for granted? Do you cherish all these days when we can sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast, indulge in two cups of coffee, read the news, and watch the sun come up? I usually add a hot tub to my list in the morning, just because I can......In fact, it was a double wakeup call for me today: an alarm and a renewed realization that retirement is just fannnnnnnntastic! And let's appreciate it. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! Today is the start of hockey season! That's right.....finally, the NHL gets skating with the likes of Connor McDavid and Elias Petterson matching up on TV tonight at 7:00pm. It is a dream come true for many male Boomers who have spent much of this COVID winter watching The Bachelor with their wives or endless Netflix series like Virgin River. Of course, time spent with your spouse is very important.....but so is hockey! It is Canada's national sport (along with lacrosse) and is fervently followed by millions of Canadians every day. Many women watch hockey too and this year is a little special. The main negative is you can't attend any games, but the big positive is the new northern "Canadian" division. Teams, like the Canucks, will only play other Canadian teams until the playoffs. That is exciting because of all the rivalries like Montreal vs Toronto, but its downfall is that we won't see great players live like Sydney Cros

Today is your day Boomer! Is it noisy where you live? I live in a rural area in the Okanagan Valley and am surrounded by sounds of animals and birds: natural sounds like quail, pheasant, coyotes, and frogs and farm noises like cows, sheep, horses, chickens, turkeys, and dogs. I thought it might be too much.....especially when we had a dog kennel locate about a block away from us. But, recently, the kennel closed and the noises have now just blended in as a natural part of my life. Even the roosters crowing away at 4:00am don't bother me anymore. But what does bug me is the sound of emergency vehicles, honking, tires squeeling and the general noise of people going about their business. That's why I could never live in a city again and I am reminded of this every time I go to a conference in the Vancouver area. Boomers, I know many of you are moving away from the city for a slower-paced retirement life. You can still expect noise.....just good noise. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! OK, that breakfast looks unhealthy.....but let's dig a little deeper and find out the real story. It is a waffle I had for breakfast yesterday, but it is a waffle made with skim milk, whole wheat flour, and low fat margarine. It features no sugar/no salt natural peanut butter on top which gives me extra protein, a ton of blueberries which are good for your heart, no extra-rich cream topping which you get at restaurants, and 50% less sugar "light" syrup. I chose the syrup but could have easily gone with natural honey as a sweetner. Not in the picture was a cup of coffee without cream or sugar; who needs that when you buy quality coffee and genuinely like the taste of coffee? Healthy food choices, Boomers.....for a long life. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! Is it just me or is this winter becoming more and more like a non-winter? This is great for all the Boomers who couldn't head south because of COVID and are living in RVs all winter. Temperatures are mostly above freezing here in the Okanagan with many days of mixed cloud and sun. It allows for lots of outdoor walks and hikes and a more-positive attitude in our everyday lives, but.....will it mean enough snow in the mountains for the spring runoff? Will it mean enough water for crop irrigation this summer? Will it mean more forest fires in a drier back country? Is it another sign of global warming? I hope not. My Okanagan winter experience 25 years ago always featured three cold spells; ten years ago, it dropped to two, and this winter one cold period is not upon us yet.....and it is already early January! Wow, our world is a changin'. Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! I figured after yesterday's tragic events in the U.S. capital, you would need something to cheer you up. Have a nice dark chocolate and maybe a glass of red wine today(both good for the heart apparently!)and reflect on why we live in Canada and not down "there". Sure, Canada is not perfect......but, the capital attack makes me think more and more about not crossing the border anymore. I know Boomers have many winter properties in places like Arizona and California, but wow....this is another big slap in the face for America's reputation! Okay, don't overreact you may say. Things will get better under Biden, but....let's all take a deep breath and think about our future travels. The U.S. had its worst day for COVID deaths yesterday and perhaps its worst day for democracy. Canada.....I'm glad I'm here this winter. Have a chocolate and cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! But it is still not a day to travel. Health officials are still reminding us that "non-essential travel" is not okay, and I agree. This pandemic is just temporary and pretty soon.....maybe as early as this fall, us Boomers can continue our travelling ways. In fact, friends of mine just booked a flight and cruise to the Caribbean for late November with cancellation insurance and lots of fingers crossed. Airplanes don't look very safe to me anyways; just consider how close you are to other people, even if you are wearing a mask. We need to show patience and hope that the vaccine rollout will work. I believe "normal" times are just around the corner. However, that is one beautiful picture of Italy! We can still dream. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! It is not often that I ask you to watch T.V.. I am usually appealing for Boomers to be physically active in retirement, but today is different. It is time to be "Canadian" today and watch the gold medal game between Canada and the USA on TSN at 6:30pm! It is a MUST....even if you are not a hockey fan. This is the best junior team Canada has had for a long time; last night, we beat long-time foe Russia 5-0 while the Americans squeeked past Finland 4-3. So......today we forget about COVID, forget about all our worries, and just be cheerleaders for the boys of Canada. Grab your dinner, get a cold drink and plunk yourself in front of the T.V. and experience nationalism at its best! If we win, stay to watch the national anthem singing. It will warm your heart and remind you why we live in the greatest country in the world. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! Yesterday I talked the importance of a thirty-minute walk every day....what it does for your physical health. But what about your mental health? Doctors say it is just as important. The fresh air invigorates you, the blood pumping in your body lifts your spirits, and your mind wanders to non-stressful things like snow, sunsets, and your dog. This picture came from a friend who climbed a high nearby mountain to escape the cloud in the valley. What a vista! And I think that's what we, Boomers, should always do. Avoid mental depression by walking every day, seek panoramic vistas in our walks, vary our walk routines, and take a partner like a friend, spouse, or dog. Take pictures.....have fun, seek out sunshine, and breathtaking views, and maybe post on social media(like a blog!). Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! As we begin another new year, many Boomers promise themselves that fitness will be a focus in this marathon time of COVID. Many of you have become too sedentary, too stationed on the couch.....binge watching Netflix series or internet surfing. It is time to get out there.....get outside and get more steps in your daily routine. According to the latest study from the American Medical Association, this is what happens if you increase your daily steps up from 4000. If you double it to 8000, death risk is lowered by 51%; if you raise it three times to 12000, the risk of dying by any cause drops by 65%. Wow, and this was a big study done over ten years following thousands of people. The recommendation is at least 30 minutes walking per day at a moderate pace. Why not give it a try? Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! And it is a new day and a new year! So, what about those resolutions? First off, a relative of mine says don't use that word "resolution". It is too serious, too connected to failure, and involves too much pressure. She says try "habit" and suggests that we all try to improve our habits this year. The suggestion is a monthly small habit that doesn't involve too much committment or time. For example, floss your teeth every night for a month and see if turns into a permanent routine. The next month practice your ukelele every day for 1/2 hour and see what happens long term. Do one different habit per month over 12 months and see if your life changes. I like it! Boomers, we can all make small positive changes in our lives.....cheers and Happy New Year!