Today Is Your Day Boomer

Today is your day Boomer! There is a "good, bad, and ugly" to a kayaking experience at this time of year. Good: it is great to get out there after this long COVID winter, encounter some smooth paddling on sunny days, great scenery, socially-distanced exercise with family or friends, and view nature all around you. Bad: expect wierd, changeable weather in the spring, you might get wet and cold rather easily, most kayakers have to dip their feet into cold lakes or oceans to get launched, creeks and rivers are often too shallow for spring kayaking, and buy some good gloves....just in case. Ugly: not to alarm you, but this is the worst time of year for drownings. People, including Boomers, who accidently fall into cold water naturally follow instinct and breathe in quickly. This often leads to a fast filling of the lungs, cold shock, and sinking. Male fishermen are often drowning victims in the spring and some, like me, use kayaks. Obviously, a life jacket is a MUST! Ha

Today is your day Boomer! Look at this picture and tell me what you see. Do you see a field of beautiful yellow flowers or a yard of weeds? Well, the stressed-out former you of the working/raising kids world would likely kill yourself on weekends trying to get rid of those darn Dandylions. You might have wanted to "keep up with the Joneses" and have the perfect backyard. You might even have sprayed dreaded, poisonous chemicals to eliminate those dirty, nasty yellow things! But....now that you have the Boomer retirement time to do the job, maybe your position has changed. Maybe, just maybe, just like me.....you are starting to appreciate nature more and want to preserve it even more. Is it possible we are turning into environmentalists instead of just capitalists? Might we, Boomers, want a more sustainable, cleaner, natural earth for our kids and grandchildren? I do......think about it before you spray this spring Boomers. Cheers and remember April is Earth Month!!

Today is your day Boomer! And today is your day to head to the store, any store......and update your wardrobe! Take a look at this picture and please tell me you are not still wearing clothes that you bought in the 1970s. I mean, I like the yellow because it shows off the colours of my favourite hockey team the Boston Bruins, but.....this is too much. And when I say wardrobe I mean shoes as well. Try something contemporary and active looking....maybe, something sporty to match all your daily outdoor recreations. And one other piece of advice; I saw a Boomer the other day in a full length spandex, stretchy suit........no, please, don't do this! That's called "overkill" and I would not recommend. Also, check with your spouse on choice of clothes....that's always a good call. So Boomers, I challenge you to a makeover.....if you can afford it. Good luck and cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! How about doing something different today? A sign of spring and a cooperative effort with my son and wife produced a beautiful strawberry/rhubarb pie! The berries, right now, come from California and are reasonably priced. The rhubarb is growing like stink in my garden and the homemade pie crust came courtesy of my wife. If you want a shortcut, you can even buy frozen crust from the grocery store. The recipe is easy: combine equal parts of berry and rhubarb, add about a cup of sugar, a tablespoon of lemon juice, a little cornstarch for thickening, a dash of cinnimon and you are there! Bake for about an hour at 375 degrees and serve warm.....but watch out for your hungry son! He makes the pie disappear very quickly as you can see from the picture. He even has midnight feedings! But it is great to have him home for awhile! Cheers and have a great Boomer baking day.

Today is your day Boomer! We have to think of more inventive things to do during this time of COVID. Maybe, we have to think outside the box once in awhile....spice up our lives and consider some more options! You know how we always opt for a small, light fanny or backpack when we go hiking or mountain biking? Well, how about a shorter trip with more weight instead......say, a nice bottle of wine with good food(not just trail mix!) on a nice sunny day? Don't forget a soft blanket and some music; live it up! Isn't this why we retired? By the way, every hike, bike or walk doesn't have to be about lung busting, high-heart beating, exercise! We can stop and smell the roses, so to speak, and enjoy life more.......Other ideas for picnics? Just drive; use that 4x4 option on that expensive vehicle that you bought but never use, and experience a high mountain view lunch. Rent a helicopter and picnic way away from civilized society! Spend some of that hard-earned money th

Today is your day Boomer! What are you looking forward to this summer? Boomers, let's imagine for a moment we are NOT in the 97th...or whatever wave, of this pandemic and life will soon be back to normal. Let's think about the warm days ahead and the things you really want to do! Make a list like me. Let's see, I know. Get out in my powerboat, with family and friends, and swim, and fish, and cliffjump, and tube, and wakeskate and, and....Oh, number 2: go fishin' for big rainbows in the backcountry with my siblings and my 90-year-old Dad! Number 3: spend those lazy, crazy days of summer at my lake cabin with huge family dinners on the porch overlooking the aqua-blue water! Number 4: going winetasting with another couple and having a big barbeque in the backyard. Number 5: not wearing a damn mask every damn day everywhere! What a dream....what a fantasy. Oh, I have to go now as I am scheduled to watch another government announcement on travel restrictions. Che

Today is your day Boomer! I don't know, I really seem to be into flowers this week. In particular, today's topic is blossoms! It is blossom time in BC's Okanagan Valley and the rural areas are filled with brilliant shades of pink and white. It is absolutely enthralling, and you really don't get a filling for it, unless you walk through it. Following COVID guidelines, you can stick to your own Interior Health region and venture forth. But remember a few things: bring your cellphone or camera for incredible pictures, choose a sunny day, and don't trespass on private property. Many orchardists will allow you on their land if you make a simple polite request and be ready to wear your mask. Or.....at the very least, pull off the road at a safe spot and just take pictures from the edges of, say, a cherry orchard. This is called "agritourism" and it is a big part of what draws people to the Okanagan! One other reminder, the honey bees are now out and f

Today is your day Boomer! It is Earth Day in the month of April, but I believe every day should be Earth Day. You can celebrate by doing something awesome for our planet like planting a tree, disposing of oil properly, digging natural compost into your garden, or not dumping sewage from your travel trailer into the roadside bush. But.....try to include a nature walk as part of your Earth focus and check out the Arrow-leaved Balsamwood in the BC Interior. Right now, it is everywhere, mostly on sunny mountainsides...see picture! It will liven your COVID spirits and make for great pictures on your favourite social media site! The drawbacks I can think of are the following: there are so many flowers, it is hard to figure out which picture to take; it is tick time for your dog, so check her carefully after the walk; it is also bear season as they arise from their winter sleep, so watch for momma bears who want to defend their cubs' safety! By the way, pick a sunny day and enjoy

Today is your day Boomer! And today is my day.....finally! It is my COVID shot day, but first I have to talk about my daughter. Here she is in her "vaccine" picture from Sunday night with a huge smile of relief on her face. She is a teacher in the Lower Mainland where pandemic cases are very high and her school has had several incidents in the past months. Here is a situation where I truly support front-line workers, many of whom are younger, getting vaccines before older Boomers! My daughter has been surrounded by COVID stress for over a year and this should really make a difference in her life! As for me, I went through the proper registration process and am definitely ready for the big shot today. But, I also know that I can't change my personal habits right away and I have to think about all of society. We, including all Boomers, are in this together. Let's all follow health regulations and stick it out! Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! I mentioned in my blog last week that my wife and I are taking a one-year hiatus from camping....but that doesn't mean that you have to. The woods and waterfalls are calling you and I think you should go, but I do have some camping......I mean, COVID camping tips for Boomers this summer. (1) take a look at this picture and see how this new pandemic tent serves a dual function: it keeps the rain out and the virus out (2) camp in the bush far away from crowded provincial sites (3) if you must go to BC government campgrounds, avoid double sites and their close proximity (4) speaking of closeness, stay away from "cheek-to-jowl" sites at private campgrounds (5) use your own bathrooms in your own RVS and stay away from those possibly-infested public washrooms (6) bring disinfectant wipes with you when taking the grandkids to the campground playgrounds (7) watch out for crowded areas like beaches, amphitheatres, boat launches, and main trails.

Today is your day Boomer! We are officially out of the camping business! Yesterday, we sold our 24 foot travel trailer and committed to at least one season of non-camping. This.....after years and years of going through the transition from tenting, to tent trailers, to trailers, and then glamping with a fancy trailer. My wife and I need a break, it seems, and instead have bought a half interest in a summer cabin with a family member. We think it will be a nice change and chance to really figure out if we will miss camping. Here are some negatives that pushed us out: the higher price of gas, the higher price of campsites, the lack of availability of campsites, the difficulty of booking sites, the high cost of taking trailers on BC ferries, and the seemingly never-ending plumbing, electrical, and mechanical issues. Some trips were great and others were real headaches! I know alot of Boomers love to camp.....I see them out there more and more, especially during this pandemic. S

Today is your day Boomer! I am a proponent of facial hair. In fact, I have sported a moustache for about 40 years ever since my early twenties! It has only been shaved off twice...one of those times was a student-led cancer fundraiser when I was a teacher. I see the moustache as part of my identity, my look, my life.....and so do many other Boomers as portrayed in this picture. In fact, many of us take pride in what we look like as we get older and facial hair can bolster our self esteem! It can also hide newly-forming wrinkles, cut down on the amount of sun tan lotion one uses, keeps us warm on colder days, and blends in nicely with certain types of clothing accessories like touques! But more than anything, it means we don't have to shave every day...we can avoid that daily scraping of our skin to face the working world. So.....this means it is also a Boomer male expression of relaxation, retirement, and recreation. And we see more and more examples of incredible beards

Today is your day Boomer! 109 years ago this week, the famous ocean liner Titanic hit an iceberg and sunk off the shores of Newfoundland. The ship was filled with older tourists, many of whom perished in the cold, icey waters. OK, why is this topic in my Boomer blog? Well, I don't know about you but I can't even think about getting on another big ship in the near future. It's not about the fear of sinking, but more about a sinking feeling that I have. Yes, cruise ships are havens for Boomers and many are going back to them this fall. Thousands will live in cramped, crowded conditions for days or weeks and will socialize all day and night. We know many will be vaccinated, but large numbers of Boomers are refusing to get the shot.....I guess, hoping for herd immunity. Or they don't believe in vaccines or whatever reason they may have. Wow. In my opinion, that is quite a risk for both groups of people. But maybe science will prove me wrong and all will be good

Today is your day Boomer! Wow, our generation is really taking a hit these days on social media! If you do a little searching, you can come up with tons of articles and commentaries on how we, the Baby Boomers, ruined the world. We are called rich, self-absorbed, greedy, racist and all sorts of other names from other generational groups. We are blamed for everything from global warming, overpopulation, pandemics, tree destruction to sexual liberty, war, famine, bad grammar, and high house prices. It is a little disturbing, to say the least, because no generation is perfect. But I think we did a few good things; how about rock and roll, how about rebuilding society after the devastating effects of a world war, how about the tech revolution, and how about big families? We even invented the frisbee and jello! So, Boomers, rejoice......stand up for yourselves...if you can get up from your wheelchair, and tell the world we done good. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! As a high school teacher, I taught kids for thirty years. And every day was different and every student was unique. Those kids would surprise me on a regular basis with an action or thought that would blow my mind.....including the four-year-old in this picture who has words of wisdom for us Boomers. Every day is a NEW day, so it's going to be GOOD day! What a revelation, what an optimist.....and this from a child who hasn't even made it to kindergarten yet! So, let's take his/her advice and appreciate these new, good days and make the most of them. The weather this week in my region, the Okanagan Valley, is fantastic.....sunny and warm. Get outside, try something different, challenge yourself, follow COVID guidelines but get other friends involved, and inspire yourself! One example for me: last spring I went kayaking on a sunny day with a thin sheet of ice to paddle through. It was an amazing experience, one I will always remember! Boo

Today js your day Boomer! Yesterday, I talked about the shortage of new boats and increasing boat traffic in the Okanagan. Today.....the focus is RVs and camping. COVID seems to be driving us crazy with a strong desire to get outside and this is fueling a camping craze in BC! Try booking a camping site in this province; good luck. Try buying used RVs because new ones are too expensive; some big RV dealers have only a very limited selection and this is driving prices way up. I talked to a local RV dealer last week and he told me prices have increased about 20%! Also....notice the rise in gas prices? You need more fuel to pull those big trailers and 5th wheels. So, I have a solution. Check out the picture, get out your tools and build a DIY camper or trailer and head out to the bush where camping is free....if you can find a spot. Oh, I forgot....lumber and plywood prices have gone through the roof right now, so you may have to use old logs. Good luck and good camping this C

Today is your day Boomer! Boating season is almost here and I know alot of Boomers have sailboats or powerboats....almost all ready to go! I also know that some of us are waiting for slightly warmer weather as a cool lake or ocean breeze can chill you to the bone. But I have another concern this year. It is boat traffic.....congestion on the water and difficulties getting your boat in and out of launching spots. Just like many other outdoor activities like camping and golf, COVID has pushed people outside in growing numbers.......no, in huge numbers! I heard a news story the other day that one cannot buy a new boat in Kelowna; there apparently is a two-year wait. Another horror story was a five-hour wait one day last summer just to get your boat out of the water after a nice day on an Okanagan lake. Now I am sure it won't be as bad as this picture of boating on a canal in Holland....but it makes me wonder, it makes me concerned.....as this COVID nightmare drags on. Chin u

Today is your day Boomer! The current rage for Boomers who want more exercise seems to be electric bikes. And while I like the idea, me...myself and I, still prefer the old-fashioned mountain bike with no extra power. Great for the legs and great for the heart! But maybe you should look at this picture and consider my other vice....kayaking. I own two small recreational kayaks that are great for simple lake/ocean paddling, small rivers, and fishing. They are easy to carry and transport....I just slide them in and out of the back of my truck, and you can bring a spouse or friend. They are also way cheaper than electric bikes....ranging from about 350-1500 dollars. But I do recommend you pay a little more and get one with a good high, solid, adjustable back rest. Your back will thank you after about a half hour.....and whatever you do, I would not recommend the almost-backless warm water kayaks you see at resorts. As well, kayaking exercises different muscles and provides vari

Today is your day Boomer! This woman may be too old to be a Boomer, but she represents everything that this blog is about. She is likely retired, she is almost certainly an optimist, she is willing to try new experiences, and she is not just sitting at home waiting to die! She is symbolic of this Boomer generation that seems willing to make the most out of their remaining years on this planet, and I like it! It is another sunny, spring day in my part of the world and I plan on using it to the fullest....with activities like three sets of tennis. Yesterday, I witnessed many Boomers golfing, walking, hiking, riding electric bikes, exercising with their dogs, playing pickleball....and basically, just actively enjoying an Easter Monday! So, way to go Grandma.....have a great day on your motorcycle, wear a helmut, and don't go too fast. Cheers Boomers! Our life is all about attitude.

Today is your day Boomer! Want to try something different this Easter weekend.....want something sweet, but different than the traditional bunny or heart chocolate? I say try ice wine and boy do I have a recommendation for you! The best ice wine maker in the world lives in Niagara, Ontario and goes by the name of Bruce. I am proud to say I have known him for thirty years and he is one of a kind. Starting his career in the Okangan Valley, B.C. and winning all kinds of awards as master wine maker for Jackson Triggs, Bruce moved his family back to his roots in Niagara and as master at Inniskillin he has cleaned up again winning best winemaker of the year in Canada and numerous honours at world ice wine competitions; he has even served wine to royalty in London.....that's England, not Ontario. His small bottles of ice wine can be enjoyed this Easter on an outside COVID patio with friends or family and they are just delicious! I recommend the whites...like a Riesling. Here'

Today is your day Boomer! It looks like I may have to change the name of my blog in the near future. If the United Nations gets its way, the world is looking at a name change for Boomers. According to UN Chief Demographer Hiro Shima the organization wants to change our generational name from "Boomer" to "Bomber" to recognize how the world drastically changed from 1946-1965. The focus would be on the Atomic Age starting with the two American bombs used in Japan to end World War II to other wars like Korea and Vietnam and the almost nuclear-war in the Cuban Missile Crisis. The other factor, of course, would be the arms race with literally thousands of nukes developed by nations like the US and USSR....with their pointed fingers ready to use them in the the so-called "Cold War". Shima says we invented and built all these bombs and defined our global destiny with them...so we should be called the "Baby Bombers". Wow. Happy AFD. Cheers!