Today Is Your Day Boomer

Today is your day Boomer! Seek water my Boomer friends.....as in this picture, get close to it and IN IT as much as possible in this heat wave. That's what I am doing as I head off for a few days at my summer cabin on a big, beautiful, coooooooooooooooooool lake in the BC Interior! This cabin has no air conditioning, but the lake next to it does have continuous afternoon breeze, and an ideal wharf for numerous dips in the refreshing water. It also sports a nice tree nearby which affords me with shady spots on that same dock in the hot afternoons. As well, my powerboat is making the trip....so there is more fresh air the faster you go. All this comes after many days mostly stuck inside my house watching the thermometer climb. What a nice change! But it also means a few days without doing my daily blog. Sorry readers, but cool water and vacation come first! See you soon and cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! And maybe the day will come soon when Boomers like us will be investing in NZEVs. What the heck is that, you say? It is a Net Zero Emission Vehicle, which is basically a glorified golf cart. It is low speed(maximum 40 km/hour), all electric, and is designed for neighbourhood driving. There are strict rules, like seat belts, and special municipal zones are setup in towns and cities that support this concept. Towns like Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island and Vernon in the Okanagan Valley are doing this, and let's face it, it is perfect for seniors and Boomers. Many of us are retired, we like to walk or drive short distances for food and entertainment, and we have a focus on saving the environment! A number of Boomers already drive bigger electric cars, have electric carts for golfing, and invest in electric scooters and bikes. This is a natural next step. Pressure your municipal council for the NZEV zoning....apparently, Princeton in the BC Interi

Today is your day Boomer! And today is a good day to stay out of the sun. There is a "heat dome" over most of BC and Alberta and temperatures are soaring to record levels. Lytton, in BC's southern interior, smashed Canada's all-time daily temperature record yesterday with a reading of 46.6 degrees celcius.....that is almost 116 on the old farenheit scale! That is ridiculous....and dangerous. Boomers, we need to take some steps to beat the heat: stay in air-conditioned comfort, drink lots of water, if outside wear plenty of non-expired sunscreen, wear a hat, and cut down the length of your outdoor activities. For example, I will likely golf 9 holes this morning instead of my normal 18. And do your strenuous outside activities in the early morning or late evening when it is a bit cooler. Be smart, be "sunsmart"! Be cool and kool for you and your family. Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! I know these gentlemen are too young to be Boomers, but they could be just like us if we have a part-or-full-time job. Yes, many of us have spent numerous hours in the past 1 and 1/2 years at a desk in front of Zoom, Skype, Facetime, and Teams virtual meetings. I, myself, probably averaged around 10-15 hours per week. I made sure I shaved and had a nice collared shirt on, but often I wore shorts and sported bare feet at formal meetings. I also turned off my camera at key times to do "other things" which would not be appropriate at an in-person meeting. In other words, the virtual world gave us Boomers some more meeting flexibility. It also saved most organizations alot of money; for example, I usually get paid a per/kilometre gas travel rate for my job and there was no expense money paid for hotel, meals, and flights for annual conferences. Wow, that is big bucks saved! I like the virtual world, but still appreciate in-person gatherings mor

Today is your day Boomer! All I can say is be prepared for anything.....any reaction! This after my second COVID shot this week. My first vaccine was a breeze, no bad reaction at all. The second prick was all about fatigue, aches all over, profuse sweating, nausea, a sore arm, and bad sleep! I am just starting to feel better this morning. I don't know if it matters, but I had Moderna both times and I was surprised that just a small shot that I didn't even feel could have such a large impact on my body. But it was worth it. Boomers, now I have about two weeks to let the vaccine work its wonders in my body and I should be good to go this summer.....and I think that's what we all want: a summer with few or no restrictions and a return to "normal". Here's hopin'. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! Day #2 of my blog on powerboating will focus on little things I do to make my hobby more affordable. Speaking of money, you know what BOAT stands for, right? "Bring out another thousand!".....referring to dollars, on a regular basis. Yup....I can prove this as, already, I have two big boat repair bills this spring: one for 300$ and one for 700$. I am not kidding....boats are expensive, so you need a mechanic that you trust and one who knows your boat very well. I have one. Another way to keep costs down is to not moor your boat in a marina; yearly dues are thousands of dollars and you have to pull the boat out of water every year for hull cleaning. That is more money! Also, a marina will sell you inflated-price gas for about 2 dollars a litre; I fill-up at the local gas station for about 1.40$ per litre. It is a sizable difference in price. Finally, savings can be had in ways you use your boat. Obviously, if you bomb around at a high spe

Today is your day Boomer! And maybe, just maybe, this is your day or your summer to buy a boat. I mean a powerboat.....one with a big engine and room for family and friends. I live next to a huge lake, Okanagan Lake in BC's warm Interior and for many years we went without one. As a family, we went camping instead; then my kids got too old for that and wanted something else entertaining. So, I bought a used boat in good shape....and a wakeboard. No, a wake skate. I always get mixed up.....but my kids don't. All three of them, now in their 20's, still want lots of boat time, and, for me, that means family time! The three of them are coming to visit this summer and one main reason is the "boat". I also bring it to our summer cabin where they get more boat time....and they get to bring along their friends which is crucial to them. What an awesome idea for retirement! It is great for Boomer parents and grandparents, and......my wife and I can invite other

Today is your day Boomer! I have three kids and yesterday was the ideal Fathers Day, except for one thing. My children, for the first time, were not with me "in-person". Let me lay out the day for you: the weather(mixed sun and cloud and not too hot) was perfect, I went for an early-morning boat ride with my wife, I watched a little US Open golf on TV, I did one DIY project fixing-up my old sawhorses, I went for a beach stroll/hike and threw fetching sticks into the lake for my dog, my wife and I went for DQ ice cream, and I had a virtual dinner, complete with presents, with my family. There they are in the picture! Don't they look awesome?! So, what's the big deal? I guess I just miss them alot and this Boomer retirement and COVID thing are keeping us apart. However......I am told one, or maybe all three, may come home for visits this summer. Hey, maybe we can REDO Fathers Day in July! Is that allowed? Boomers, cheers to family!

Today is your day Boomer! Maybe, just maybe, Boomers.....you might like to get yourself a job this summer. Yes, I mean a part-time job as the economy opens up again and we continue to recover from the effects of COVID. Some of us may need the money, or just a new interest to create some excitement in our lives. So, I have a few ideas: look at the photo and picture yourself as a dog sitter/walker! Afterall, many people work in the summer or go on holiday and they may need your services. How about a server at a local winery or brewery......with sips on the side, maybe? How about a fruit stand cashier....surrounded by fresh cherries, strawberries, and apples all day? What about a movie theatre attendant....quick peeks at the new films included? How about a tourism operator like a bike rental guy or a boat rental gal? These types of summer jobs actually sound good and many of them will have fringe benefits! But, my advice is don't over do it. You did retire or semi-retire

Today is your day Boomer! OK, OK, I know many Boomers are old fashioned....but cellphones are one item I don't worry too much about. I sport the lowest cellphone bill one can have....about 15 dollars a month, I think. I have an old I-phone, and when it dies I will likely take over another old one handed down from my wife or daughter. And it's fine with me. I use them....I just am not addicted to them like so many younger people. In fact, I still have a "landline" like many of my Boomer friends, and I love the picture of this old phone because it brings back so many memories. Memories like my old phone system where we had party lines, lines with operators, and very shortened phone numbers. When I was a kid, our phone number was 67. That's right.....good ol' 67, and later, I can remember cringing and practically crying when BC Tel told us that we had to start dialing 10 numbers to get a hold of anyone! Fortunately, we are still holding steady at ten,

Today is your day Boomer! Next time you bite into a strawberry from places like California, remember this......buy local! Not only are you supporting local farmers and your community, you are getting an incredible product! We did just that yesterday as a local strawberry farm opened its gate for U-Pickers and what a day it was. The berries were big, red, and firm and extremely sweet and tasty! We picked three boxes for only 2 dollars a pound, then enjoyed strawberries for dinner and my wife made jam in the evening! Next is strawberry/rhubarb pie, sliced berries on vanilla ice cream, and just good old-fashioned eating time. By the way, the experience of "picking" was very important and fun too....your connection to the land crossing one's mind. Then I looked around, and who were most of the other pickers? Boomers! Way to go. Cheers to harvest season!

Today is your day Boomer! Yesterday's blog promised a little more on the benefits of fishin' for Boomers.....so, here it is. Do you want an escape from your everyday life? Go fishin'. Do you want to watch eagles and ospreys sky diving for fish? Do you want views of big loons trying to steal your fish? Want more more views of wildlife like bears, water snakes, beavers, ducks, geese, mountain sheep, and deer? Want to spend quality time on the water with a friend or family member discussing just about anything? Want to focus on things like lake ripples, insects, sun angle, lake weed, the moon effect, cold beer, twizzlers, oars, water temperature, fish stories, and seat pads? Most importantly, do you want to remove stress in your life and recreate like a retired person is supposed to? Catch some fish or don't catch fish; it doesn't matter. It is all about the "fishing experience". By the way, my friend and I caught 162 in three days. Yahoo and ch

Today is your day Boomer! Well, this past weekend was my BIG day! I headed to the mountains of the BC Interior with a friend and caught 162 rainbows at a "secret" lake. That's a lot of fish and....a lot of fun. Now is the time to go Boomers. June is an excellent time for fishing as the lakes are stocked and full, the water is cold, the fish flesh is firm and tasty, and the fish are fighting and hungry! By the way, it is "sport" fishing for me as I only kept two of all those fish and we always fish with barbless hooks. Today, my hands still smell a little fishy and I noticed some slime and blood on one of my jackets.....but my memories are fresh and unforgetable! Tomorrow on my blog, I will share a little more on the benefits of fishing for Boomers and the pleasures of the overall experience. See you tomorrow. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! I have been noticing that many Boomers have expensive tools sitting around their workshops: table saws, impact drivers, and drills just name a few. I, too, have a few....I guess just enough to take on a major project like this one in the picture. Last spring during COVID, you could not buy a truck rack. Like so many things, they were completely sold out. So....I said to myself "why not build one?" A few YouTube videos and much thought led me to the building supply store where I purchased about 75 dollars of wood, screws, and nuts and bolts. A day and a half later, I was done...except for the varnishing, which came a few weeks after and from an old can in my workshop. Voila! A great-looking, sturdy rack that holds my two kayaks plus all my stuff underneath and allows me to continue to pull my travel trailer. Less than a hundred bucks and a great sense of accomplishment. I hope my two woodworking mentors, my Dad and grandfather, are proud.

Today is your day Boomer! I can't help it.....I have to listen to The Beatles music regularly. I grew up listening to John, Paul, George, and Ringo and I just can't stop. It is so simple, at times, and so varied with orchestral assistance in other songs. It has toe-tapping beats, memorable lyrics, and major hits galore. Just think: Love Me Do, Let It Be, Get Back, Rocky Racoon, Come Together, Here Comes The Sun, Eight Days A Week, Norweigan Wood....just to name a few songs. So, I ask, is there anything wrong with us Boomers NOT listening to modern music and focussing instead on the old stuff? Not a chance. It is our lives and we can make personal choices that help us stay happy. By the way.....if you can, go to a McCartney concert. It was, by far, the best concert of my life! Rock on Beatles and Boomers! Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! It is still spring....at least for two more weeks, but there are ominous signs of summer coming up. The weather guy is predicting thunderstorms in my Okanagan region today and he is also projecting a hot, dry summer with "moderate drought". This means less water available and the increased possibility of fire. So, Boomers, on the serious side, we need to get ready: set-up your garden/lawn watering systems to use less water, fire-proof your yard and surrounding area by removing loose sticks and dry needles, have a forest fire "family plan" in case a blaze threatens your neighbourhood, be very careful when out camping, and have someone watch your house when you are on holiday. On the lighter side: buy some beach-style chairs for more " beach time", add sparking water and ice to wine to help cool you down, stock up on high protection sunscreen, buy "light" beer instead of the regular stuff, and invest in extra shorts

Today is your day Boomer! June is a geat month for a Boomer guy like me. I mean I just celebrated a birthday and with three kids, Father's Day is coming up soon. But I didn't realize there were so many "other" days to recognize and celebrate (see picture) and many of them relate to Boomers. Just check out the list for this week: (1)VCR Day (wow.....we lived, ate, and breathed VCR tape recordings for so long Boomers!) (2) World Gin Day (nice, cold drink anyone?) (3)Best Friends Day (I am headed out on my power boat with my best friend this morning!) (4) Visit Your Doctor Day (good advice for those Boomers who seem to think they are invincible and will never get sick!). At the very least, schedule an appointment. And the list goes on. Boomers, it looks like we can celebrate something almost every single day! And why not? We worked a long time, raised many children, and saved a lot of pennies. Enjoy life and happy retirement! Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! I received a birthday video wish yesterday from a family member and just had to share it with you. Check out the related picture and realize that we, Boomers, are taking over the world! We even have rallies, it seems, and other gatherings of magnitude to celebrate our age, status, retirement, and joy! Or so it would seem......then again, look closely and it looks like most of the participants are young and not Boomers. So, this may be a sports college team and their fans celebrating a win. Too bad....I thought maybe we were just having some fun as we, hopefully, are nearing the end of COVID and crowd restrictions. Wouldn't that be nice? Going to a concert or a pro sporting event this fall! By the way, I turned 63 yesterday and seem fully crazed by my Boomer place in society. Don't you think so? Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! Check out this picture and think back to the good old days. You know, drive around to the different construction sites in town and ask for scraps of wood left over from the building process. Most contractors would say yes as to avoid the cleanup and the cost of taking waste to the landfill. Then, we would take those bits of 2x4 and 2x6 and burn them in weekend campfires! Free firewood that you could get easily and mix with regular bigger chunks of fir or pine....or even orchard wood. Well, those days are gone. One eight foot 2x4 in BC is worth 12$ by itself and buying a 2x12 is liking purchasing a diamond ring! This is crazy since we live in the lumber capital of the world and sawmills are very close by. Lumber prices during COVID have increased 250%!! So, what to do? Try smaller campfires with less wood, buy a propane fire setup, or just don't do fires. Or, how about a big candle instead? Yuk. Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! I have an idea....if you can, Boomers, buy and do everything recreational in pairs. Look at the picture and see me with my TWO kayaks and then imagine yourself out on a picture-perfect, calm lake with your best friend, sibling, or partner. I did this yesterday with my retired friend, and we talked and exercised away 2 and 1/2 hours easily. Time went by so quickly and there is always someone to take pictures! As well, it is like having a jogging partner; one person always inspires the other to go, even when the other person has mixed feelings. Tomorrow, I will do the same with another friend....a fishin' buddy, as we will adventure into the wilderness and attempt to capture large, hungry rainbow trout on the end of a flyline. Pack the food, pack the beer, and off we go. I think it is always better to SHARE our Boomer experiences. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! Actually, this Thursday may be your special day because it is World Bicycle Day. And I know alot of Boomers love to cycle....especially on these new-fangled electric bikes. Apparently you can travel as fast as 28 mph on these bikes which is almost 50 kph! And you can go as far as 80 miles, or about 120 kilometres, on a single continuous charge! Why not? As long as you mix-in the "exercise" component of biking and don't treat it like a simple motorcycle. Electric biker Boomer friends tell me you still have to pedal, when the motor is on, so there is lots of huffing and puffing. Good. Prices, I hear, are anywhere from 600-15000$......but the bigger problem, I suspect, is actually getting a new electric bike! Many bike shops are in short supply and you may have to order and wait. No good for World Bike Day.....but maybe, just maybe, you can pull out that old, ratty mountain bike and give it a go this week. Enjoy, enthuse, and exercise B

Today is your day Boomer! I thought so......I just read an article that shows "pollen counts higher than normal" in Canada this spring. I can feel it. Look at the picture and just imagine those nasty, scratchy things in your nose, mouth, and throat! No wonder I suffer from a pollen allergy that makes me sneeze, makes my eyes water, and makes my throat sore. It looks like little particles of green stuff, and it lies all over my truck windshield and seemingly coats everything around my yard. On the golf course, I can see it sifting through trees on a windy day and on lakes it lies like a soft shell on water. Yuk. Boomers, medicine helps....but it makes me drowsy and that is not good because I want to get outside in this warmer weather. What's that you say? Tough it out. That's what I do every spring. Oh well, it beats working. Cheers!