Today Is Your Day Boomer

Today is your day Boomer! Yup, those e-cars are great, right? Saving the Earth, reducing use of fossil fuels, quiet, efficient, avoiding high gas prices, and government rebates: what could be better? You need to read a First Person account in CBC British Columbia to understand many of the pitfalls after buying an electric vehicle. I won't give it all away, but here is a taste of the trouble: "Not again. All the electric vehicle charging stations were taken, and I knew I was in for at least a 30- to 40-minute wait. And yet, the app on my phone showed two chargers had been available five minutes ago. I had driven in this pouring rain for nothing, but what choice did I have? My EV needed charging for the next day's commute, and this was the closest station to my home." Yes, it depends on where you live and how many charger stations are close by...it also depends on if you have a personal station. But the negatives are many says Vancouverite Akiko Hara who sums up

Today is your day Boomer! You know Boomers, we want you to chase your dreams....but you have to wonder about this one! 63-year-old Pieter Swart of Vancouver died this week from a respiratory event during his ascent of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world. His co-worker says "We lost Pieter while he was bravely and courageously pursuing his dream of being on top of the world, since he was nine. As many of you know, Pieter had an insatiable wanderlust." He passed on while pursuing his passion and that is, of course, honourable. But the death statistics for climbing Everest are abominable! Well over 300 men and women have died on the mountain and that includes 12 already this year. He also was a victim of what is called the "Death Zone", which according to Wikipedia is where "many deaths in high-altitude mountaineering have been caused by the effects of the death zone, either directly (loss of vital functions) or indirectly (unwise decisions made un

Today is your day Boomer! Sometimes....government actions just make sense. Yes, we all know about government rebates you can get if you buy an electric car, but now we can get them too for e-bikes! In a media release issued Thursday, the B.C. government announced that rebates will be available to residents older than 19 starting next month. Rebates will be based on a person's income and range from $350 to $1,400. And to be eligible, the e-bike must cost more than $2,000 before taxes and be purchased from a participating e-bike retailer after June 1. Good....this means a prediction of 6 million dollars going to people like Boomers, who bike a lot, and about 9000 more e-bikes on the road. Hopefully, this means fewer fossil-burning cars. What does BC Transport Minister Rob Fleming think? "By making rebates available and basing the rebate amount on income, we can make e-bikes and clean transportation more affordable and accessible for everyone." This is incentive for me.

Today is your day Boomer! The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll is gone. Tina Turner died yesterday at her home in Switzerland at the tender age of 83. And while she was not a Baby Boomer(too old!), our generation grew up with her incredible songs, her gritty voice, undying energy, and rebound effect from her abusive marriage. Husband Ike Turner did the worst things possible to Tina over 20 years and she survived and did the impossible....regenerating her fantastic music career in her '40s! According to CTV News, "she sold more than 150 million records worldwide, won 12 Grammys, was voted along with Ike into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 (and on her own in 2021 ) and was honoured at the Kennedy Center in 2005, with Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey among those praising her. Her life became the basis for a film, a Broadway musical and an HBO documentary in 2021." It was the songs that defined her though. Remember "What's Love Got To Do With It" and "

Today is your day Boomer! Never thought I would be a Baby Boomer model! Excited to share that my nephew just launched his new dry bag and I got to be his first and only Boomer model. Check out this new bag. It keeps your gear dry when you are out paddling, hiking or your favourite Boomer activity. It’s not only durable and practical, it’s well designed and reasonably priced. It also comes in two sizes and two colours, blue like I am wearing in the photo, and black. It has openings at each end for easy access to your gear. It also comes with a strap so you can wear it on your back or you can attach it to your kayak or paddle board. I love supporting young entrepreneurs like my nephew. Share with anyone you think might be interested. You can search for his bag on Amazon at “Riptide adventure gear - waterproof dual entry dry bag with shoulder strap”. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! Not to brag Boomers, but this is a picture of me catching a very large fish this past long weekend at a BC Interior lake. Note the expression on my face...sheer enjoyment! And I was joined by many other fishers....and boaters....and yes, even swimmers as hot weather prevailed. I remind you, it is "Super Natural BC" and marketed further as "Beautiful British Columbia"! And there is no doubt. But one other impressive thing I wanted to share is this: engines are out and paddles are in! The number of power boats and jetskis, in my opinion, has decreased substantially in the past few years and been replaced by paddle boards and kayaks. Many people are self-propelling, including a lot of Boomers....and of course, this is so good for you! You get peace and quiet, a more-natural experience, and fitness. My recommendation is to save 75% of your paddle for slow, recreational stroking....then, hit it hard for 1/4 of the time to get the heart

Today is your day Boomer! What are you doing with your time Boomers? Recreating, working, volunteering, babysitting grandchildren: all great ideas and perfect for people in their aging years! But there is a new "senior" movement out there....a move toward political pressure and civic activism. More and more Boomers, like us, are stepping up for positive climate action change and that means pressuring industry, banks, and government. One group is called Seniors For Climate Action Now, or SCAN, which recently held a Toronto protest against RBC....a big bank which invests heavily in fossil fuels. There, they hoisted placards, chanted anti-capitalist slogans and listened to a variety of speakers criticize RBC's investment practices. At one point, a number of SCAN members even donned masks for a bit of street theatre, in which they spoofed a climate debate with bankers. SCAN spokesperson Peggy Lathwell says, "I'm terrified of what we're doing to the environm

Today is your day Boomer! As I head out to my local fitness centre today, I wonder if I could be doing more. Take the example of a 69-year-old Boomer from South Vancouver who has walked 10km every day for 30 years! Yup....read those numbers again. And according to CBC News, "The man's name is Dr. Dalvinder Singh Toor, and he has been walking along the same path in the same park for 15 years. Rain or shine. In sickness and in health." To be fair, it wasn't always 10km, but then he had heart surgery in 2017 and decided to increase his walking distance. It doesn't matter; it is awesome and inspirational for all Baby Boomers! And what do his neighbours think? Lee Iverson says "He's just part of the park; It's nice to see him." I would like to see him too and give him a big handshake and pat on the back. By the way Boomers, notice Mr. Toor is a doctor...so, he knows a thing or two about health and what's good for us. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! Hey Boomers, maybe we can take a few life lessons from a dog. Yes, the picture shows Bobi....the oldest dog on Earth at 31 years of age! He's from Portugal and his family invited over 100 people for his recent birthday party.....hopefully, a few dog friends came too! Bobi's owner Leonol Costa says that the senior pup was in good health and recently received a check-up due to Costa's concerns about the stress of frequent visitors. "There were a lot of pictures taken and he had to get up and down many times. It wasn't easy for him." So, Bobi...Boomers want to know what is the secret to a long and healthy life? Bark, bark, woof, woof.....! The dog says it is the "calm, peaceful environment" where he lives. In other words, a calming, relaxed, maybe-rural area with very little stress. I like it! That's where I live in BC's Okanagan Valley. Next age up for me.....65 next month, soon to rise to 105, I hope. Cheer

Today is your day Boomer! These are my kids with their Mom....as we celebrate a day that reflects the incredible importance of mothers in their children's lives! How about a few short poems in their honour?....My Mother, my friend so dear, Throughout my life you're always near, A tender smile to guide my way, You're the sunshine to light my day......A Mother's Love, Of all the special joys in life, The big ones and the small, A mother's love and tenderness, Is the greatest of them all.....There is no blessing, Quite so dear, As a mom like you, To love year after year. And finally, the shortest Mother's Day Poem of all time.....You're my mother, I would have no other! Boomers, do something special with your Mom today. My Mom is gone, but I think of her every day....

Today is your day Boomer! It is the first big day of boating season in B.C. as the weather warms and Boomers get out onto the water. Our province boasts huge access to water: the vast Pacific Ocean to the west and numerous inland lakes like the large Okanagan Lake. But a warning...a safety warning, as the hot air melts the mountain snow pack and those icey waters reach the lakes. The temperature of Okanagan Lake is just over 10 degrees and is only swimable for a few. It is too cold if you accidently fall-in says a local safety official: "when you jump in either head first or feet first, if you’re not expecting it, what tends to happen is your body will gasp. You’re underwater and you’ll gasp and you’ll suck water into your lungs. At that point, most people panic and then succumb to that panic and they drown.” One Kelowna senior already drowned last week. Other concerns? The usual....too much booze or cannabis mixed with boating and not wearing a life jacket. When it gets

Today is your day Boomer! I would like to say "happy retirement" to another Baby Boomer, but I can't. That's because just four hours before finishing his last work shift, Ken Anderson died in a car accident. The North Dakota resident was a mailman for three decades and according to a local news outlet, his wife Judy "could spend hours talking about her husband. He was his family’s everything – a farmer, plant worker, mail carrier and father of five living on the homestead settled in 1907. He was always there for everybody,” says his daughter, Shannon. So Boomers, we pay tribute to Ken and his very sad story today. But is there a lesson in all of this for us? I say....when in doubt, retire. Stop chasing that extra buck and that extra year of work. We never know when something "bad" will happen....something like an accident or cancer. Sh#@$* happens...So, good luck in your retirement plans.

Today is your day Boomer! Another study.....another study, maybe I talk about these things too much. But, it is getting hot outside and Boomers, we probably drink a little more in the coming summer season. Well, the latest scientific study is from a reputable source....BC Cancer. “Even though I do think that lots of people, lots of British Columbians know that alcohol has some damaging effect on our health, the knowledge that it causes cancer is actually pretty limited in Canada,” says cancer prevention senior scientist Dr. Cheryl Peters. This is how it works. BC Cancer says alcohol contributes to 7,000 cancer cases in Canada each year. The agency says the body breaks down the alcohol into other chemicals that can cause inflammation or damage to DNA over time. This prevents the body from repairing the damage properly. Okay, this means a recommendation of max two drinks a week. Boomers, can you do it? Two helping ideas include drinking water between alcoholic beverages, and....dr

Today is your day Boomer! I recently spent some time away from my blog for "family reasons"....and honestly, there is no better reason to take a break from your normal day-to-day activities. As a family, we gathered at a special seaside resort: walking, hiking, biking, kayaking, playing games, and just....talking. It was so awesome, and then one family member suggested we do this more often. Great idea! Boomers, we spend so much time and money trying to escape to places like California and Arizona in winter. Also, we take tours of exotic places like Europe and Asia....but could we do more with just our families? Is retirement about Boomer time only? I don't think so. How about a cruise with family, not just the two of you? How about glamping in the Rockies...a camp trip for 12 instead of two? The benefits are immeasurable! The time is precious. Think about it. Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! He was 84 and he died this week in Ontario as one of Canada's greatest songwriters and performers. He was Gordon Lightfoot, and Boomers, we grew up with his music...that distinctive guitar and baritone voice. But sadly his only number one single was "Sundown" in 1974, a song I still listen to on a regular basis. Some of the lyrics are shown in this picture. Quotes of significance regarding his passing: Lightfoot-"I like to be kind, I like to be nice to people. I like to be polite.” Ben Stiller-"What a genius, his music is such a big part of my life.” Justin Trudeau--"I was touched by his thoughtful grace and generosity." Jann Arden-"His songs (are) woven into the fabric of our everyday lives." Tom Cochrane-"He helped to define us.” Randy Bachman-"It was poetry, folklore, legend and music." The sun has gone down on the life of Gordon Lightfoot, but Boomers, his music lives on....with us every day

Today is your day Boomer! Remember that Elvis song from 1960? It starts off this way: Are you lonesome tonight?....Do you miss me tonight?...Are you sorry we drifted apart? Yup, great song, but the sense of loneliness you get is just awful. Well, according to a new report, loneliness is just as bad for you as smoking a pack of cigarettes every day! The U.S. Surgeon General says about half of Americans are very lonely....and so I assume the same could be said for Canada. Spokesperson Vivek Murthy says "We now know that loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience. It's like hunger or thirst. It's a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing." Research shows that Americans, who have become less engaged with worship houses, community organizations and even their own family members in recent decades, have steadily reported an increase in feelings of loneliness. The number of single households has also doubled over the last 6

Today is your day Boomer! Remember those long, terrible COVID days of constantly wearing masks? Well, some of us still do....for a variety of reasons. But, the masks may be coming back...at least for some of us. Some of us with heart problems. This medical recommendation comes as forest fire season starts in places like the BC Interior and on the heels of a new health study. The Canadian Medical Association Journal says for every 10 micrograms more of PM2.5 — the primary particle in B.C.'s wildfire smoke — in one metre cube of air, a person's combined odds of experiencing at least one of four heart issues was 5.5 per cent greater. "The four arrhythmia studied are all significant risk factors for heart attacks and heart disease, the study notes, supporting decades of evidence that shows higher rates of cancer, chronic disease and premature death in communities that live with poor air quality." CBC News interviewed a doctor from the BC Interior and she suggests us