Today Is Your Day Boomer

Today is your day Boomer! It is a sad, sad day for this Boomer as my golf season comes to an end. I have been a member of my local course for over 25 years and this season I golfed about 60 times! Sounds good right? Well, I met a Boomer woman the other day who has golfed over 170 games this year! That is just too much for me and actually it almost sounds like an addiction. I prefer 3 times a week when I am home and I take many weeks off for holidays with my family....and I don't golf on vacation. So, what to do when the weather gets cold in November? I have already started up online bridge two nights a week, I plan to play some pickleball, I can still walk and hike, tennis will happen twice-a-week until it gets too frosty, I have chores, lots of time with my wife, watching sports on TV, writing blogs, working my part-time school trustee job, refereeing basketball, and fishin'. What, fishing? Not ice fishing, but some sunny, cool fishing days this weekend with my fam

Today is your day Boomer! This is a perfect volunteer job for a Boomer. You can join a group called the Okanagan Gleaners which takes unused and wasted food products(like vegetables), dehydrates and packages them, and sends them off to needy people in developing countries. The food is free and is donated to the Christian organization which then organizes a whole bunch of people twice a year to assemble these soup bags. Last fall, they did about 12 million meals.....this year, about 7 and 1/2 million! And judgiing by the pictures, it looks like many of the volunteers are Boomer age.....and there seems to be a big contingent of young people as well! What a fantastic idea especially considering about 60% of Canada's food goes unused. Boomers, we need to do more of this type of activity. Let's face it, we are great at recreation and we are dedicated to exercise....but how many of us volunteer?! Food for thought, so to speak. Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! Are you addicted to your smartphone Boomers? The latest survey of North Americans indicates the answer is yes and we, Boomers, are no longer "Luddites".....meaning we lack knowledge of technology. In fact, the survey found we spend 5 hours a day on our phones and that is very close to Millennials who are at 5.7 hours! Other numbers from the survey may surprise you: one hour per day is spent on Facebook, 44 minutes on Instagram, 43 minutes on email, 30 texting, and 23 on the internet. So it looks like we are addicted to social media, and the survey goes on to state that we are the biggest spreaders of fake news or misinformation! Wow, that is one badge I don't want on my chest. This survey is a little scary. It means we are spending too much time on our butts reading blogs like this one and not exercising and or being active. It is more understandable in the winter....but not in the active other three seasons. It is also a reflection of

Today is your day Boomer! Boomers, it is time for our generation to face the facts. We, are in many respects, responsible for the climate change emergency facing our planet today. Since World War II, Boomers developed industry, burned fossil fuels, exploited nature, and drove more vehicles than any generation in history.....by far. And in the race for a continuing high standard of living, many of us ignored the environmental consequences, buried our collective heads in the sand! Well, this week we have another chance to "do" something about it. And I mean DO and that means ACTION at the annual COP26 Climate Change Summit in Scotland. Represenatives from 197 nations will be there to explore ways to reduce carbon emissions quickly, not slowly. And we need to take a leading role....we have the time, the money, and hopefully the will to do it. Let's be like the global youth movement, like youth leader Greta Thunberg who says "it has been 30 years of blah, blah,

Today is your day Boomer! Nothing like a good ol' DIY with your neighbour! We built this new farm fence together and we did it in "Boomer style". Along with help from two other neighbours, my wife and my brother, we did it slowly over three weeks and saved a ton of money. There was no labour cost....just lots of good advice and sharing of work...and an even 50/50 cost split of the fencing materials: posts, wire, staples, rentals etc. There was no rush, we shared tools, and I even took a holiday to Vancouver Island halfway through the job! Check out the picture. The fence looks great and runs right down the boundary of our property line. It increases the value of both homes and provides proper security for pets and potential grandchildren in our backyards! I like it and I like the fact that we are surrounded by great neighbours who always help each other. It really makes our Boomer retirement house a "home". Do it yourself Boomers, if you can....with

Today is your day Boomer! Okay Canadian Boomers, looks like many of you are getting ready to head south for the winter. Even with COVID still around, you can fly or you can drive through the U.S. starting in early November. So, here are some snowbird popular destinations hot off the press. Check out the picture and realize that Florida, Texas, and Arizona seem to be the most-travelled-to places for wintering seniors. Reasons include affordability, low crime rates, recreation opportunities, high speed internet, and long beaches. By the way, it seems smaller communities are more popular than big cities. If you are looking to buy, Mexico is still #1 followed by America, and then Costa Rica at #3. Puerto Vallarta, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen are the most sought-after housing hotspots in Mexico, while Tamarindo is top choice in Costa Rica. Check out the full details on the Castanet website if you want. So good luck, have great adventures, don't get sick, acquire a nice tan, p

Today is your day Boomer! What would it take to get me back in an airplane? In this crazy world of continuing COVID, I think quite a few of the following measures: (1)reasonable prices for tickets (2)lots of empty seats around me (3)a mandatory double vax policy for passengers (4)increased staggering of flight times at airports to reduce congestion (5)ventilation upgrades on many airlines (6)easy-to-receive ticket reimbursements (7)and of course, better quality snacks and free alcoholic beverages......OK, skip this last one. Well, these are all great recommendations that will not happen....I think. In fact, I know they will not. So, for me it means another winter at home with no flight to the big island of Hawaii and its scenic volcanoes. No trip to Mexico for cenote swims, and no tennis and golf time in Arizona. Hmmmm....pandemic life, Boomers, goes on, and on, and on. Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! It seems like a simple thing, but I think it is true.....very true. Boomers, let's appreciate the little things in life. For example, yesterday was a beautiful, sunny autumn day and I was doing chores in the back yard. I stopped and just sat there for awhile appreciating my land. You can see it in the picture. I have .7 acre, privacy on all sides, lots of greenery, a greenhouse, a trickling stream and picturesque tourist railway just beyond my property line, numerous big trees like my Weeping Willow, farm and wild animals close by, birds like pheasants and quail chirping away, a hot tub, a golden retriever playing fetch, outdoor and covered patios with comfortable chairs, and a beautiful view of a nearby mountain. Wow! Boomers, stop and smell the roses. Winter is almost here, so enjoy the now.......Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! I have to have my say on the old growth forest logging debate in BC right now. As you may know, over 1000 passionate people have been arrested at the Fairy Creek blockade on Vancouver Island and the protests continue. It reminds me of the Carmanah Valley protests on the Island a few years ago and the result was a compromise. After so much anger and yelling, the provincial government decided to allow logging in some areas and create a park in others....including the spot where the tallest Sitka Spruce tree in the world is located. It was a good "sawoff", so to speak, and many people were relatively happy. The protests ended and you can visit the park and big trees to this very day. Let's do the same thing at Fairy Creek....develop a compromise, a good, fair balance between logging jobs and preservation! And looking at the picture Boomers, think of this: what kind of environmental future do you want for your grandkids? I love big trees a

Today is your day Boomer! I must admit feeling some guilt today after my blog last week explaining that I recently experienced my first-ever meatless Thanksgiving. Last week I ate a very good vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner with my family, but I must say I cheated a little. I'll admit now to the world that my wife made me turkey dinner two weeks before Thanksgiving and I ate leftovers for two days after. Then, I happened to find a pub on the Thanksgiving Monday and they served me a full turkey dinner(like the one in the picture!) and then last night I followed up with turkey soup made from the bones of our recent turkey. Okay, okay.....I need more adjustment time. After 63 straight years of turkey, it is hard to go "cold turkey" from turkey....so to speak. But I have promised my family that I will keep trying, and I have greatly reduced my red meat consumption. By the way, it doesn't help much when your family members read all these books about how animals-sla

Today is your day Boomer! Hello Boomers, you may have noticed I have been away from the blogging world for about a week......on holiday, so to speak, from retirement. Hah! But what a trip it was to get to a remote Gulf Island just off the coast of Vancouver Island. It was a 16 hour journey on the Friday before Thanksgiving; it included two BC ferry rides, two short visits with family, and about 11 hours of driving! Wow, I was exhausted......but look at the picture! This is Gowlland Harbour Resort the next morning as the sun came out and my family gathered for the holiday. It was a very special spot(swimming and dancing sea otters is one example) and a family celebration of university graduation, wedding planning, and-of course-Thanksgiving! It was also my first-ever meatless Thanksgiving, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and it included a family hike to the top of the island. Awesome! Boomers, if you choose to do this type of trip on a long weekend....here are my three travel tip

Today is your day Boomer! Many of you may know I am very dedicated to the game of basketball. I played in high school and then in my early twenties in mens league; then I coached for thirty years, including all three of my kids, and now I am a referee. So I think I have a little perspective on the coming NBA season and the Toronto Raptors. Canada's only NBA team won the championship a few years ago, but now has fallen on hard times....missing the playoffs last year and starting this season without its best player Pascal Siakam(injured!) The Raps also traded away their franchise player Kyle Lowry. So I watched them play earlier this week in an exhibition game and I have two ideas to help kickstart their rebuild: (1) go with a lineup of all young, gazelle-like, energized, long-armed, 6 foot 9 leapers and defenders who can fly like the wind....in other words, play a new brand of basketball, no big centre, no defined point guard, no tradional setup. (2) don't pay mega-salari

Today is your day Boomer! It doesn't look like a very exciting picture.....my truck on a gravel road beside some trees. But it actually looked, in person, a whole lot better! Boomers, the concept is what many of you experienced as kids: the Sunday drive. You did it with your parents and maybe it was boring at times, but now you get a chance to do it again! This time, I recommend you hit the back roads and experience autumn in full colour! It is incredible right now as the trees of southern BC succumb to the coming of winter and slowly spread their colour-filled wings. Also, many of you drive SUVs with all-wheel drive or you have 4X4 trucks like me that you use to pull trailers and boats. Use that feature; most of you can afford the gas and the bumpy ride will be much smoother and safer. You will also encounter scenic high-elevation views, animals in their natural habitat, and you can bring along your dog for a walk. It could also lead to an active hike or mountain bike a

Today is your day Boomer! Think back, wayyyyyyy back Boomers. Was there a special teacher in your life that really made a difference in your future? Most of us would say a resounding YES and would be able to clearly talk about that influential someone! On this October 5 World Teacher's Day, that person of interest for me was simply "Mr. G"......a math teacher from my high school years that made learning fun and memorable. In fact, I hated math but he propelled me to many "A's" in the hardest subject in school and I even took calculus in university.....not afraid to because of the confidence he helped to build in me. He was also my school tennis and badminton coach helping me train to be better competitively and socially. I always looked forward to practices, which in itself is a huge compliment! Most importantly, Mr. G inspired me to become a high school teacher and basketball coach for thirty successful years and I still remain in the education sys

Today is your day Boomer! Well, it seems the wildfire season is finally over in British Columbia...even though over 100 fires continue to burn under control. It was very evident yesterday as I drove home from our summer cabin near Lillooet, past Lytton, Spences Bridge, Merritt, and West Kelowna. Those were the sites of major forest fires in the summer....of course, Lytton got the worst of it as virtually the whole town was destroyed. Yesterday, there was no smoke whatsoever on the way home, lots of blackened trees and sidehills, but already green grass and flowers growing in the old fire zones! It was a picture of devastation mixed with hope for the future. Even the birds and animals were back; we saw several deer, mountain sheep, a bear, coyotes, and numerous eagles....the birds were feeding on spawning salmon in several creeks and lakes along the highway. With the colours of Fall and the sunshine out, it felt much better and I surely hope our province makes a comeback from th