Today Is Your Day Boomer

Today is your day Boomer! When I think of global warming, I think cars and industry....the number one and two carbon polluters in our world today. But what about tourism? Biking, hiking, golf, skiing etc. No, not really the activity itself...but the problem is how you get there! Yup, since COVID, air travel is way up and Boomers are very guilty of this. A new report states "that air travel has increasingly become the transportation of choice for many travellers, with 47 per cent of international tourists arriving by air in 2019, up from 34 per cent in 2000." And of course those big jets burn fuel like you wouldn't believe. And how about a cruise ship? Imagine how much gas or diesel is consumed by a 3000-passenger ship crossing the Atlantic? I personally know a Boomer couple going on three flights and cruises this year. We all have to do our part Boomers. Climate change is real and frightening as we head into 2024. Happy new year!

Today is your day Boomer! We are a unique generation....we are at or nearing retirement, and according to wildsimplejoy.com: "Every individual is different, but there are definitely trends within certain generations. Many Boomers at this point in time have reached retirement and are focusing on their grandchildren. In the past, Boomers been criticized for their lack of technology skills, but that is beginning to change as they get more comfortable with smartphones and other technology." With this in mind, here are 8 top New Year's resolutions for our generation: (1) Write a book (2) Learn how to play again (3) Travel internationally (4) Learn to play an instrument (5) Read fiction (6) Take a trip down memory lane...."if your parents are gone, take out the most prized possessions of theirs you own and reminisce. Take a look through some old photo albums, or read some old newspaper clippings. Examining our past can be bittersweet, but it is something that gives us em...

Today is your day Boomer! Yup....another cost of living going up, way up!! The cost of cars in Canada and the U.S. has risen 50% since 2020....that means an average selling price of 60,000$. For a car, come on! That is ridiculous. According to The Globe and Mail Newspaper, "The spike in new car prices mainly reflects changes in the lineup of vehicles available for sale and the impact of a global semi-conductors shortage that continues to haunt the industry." For example, many new vehicles have HUNDREDS of microchips which power the electrical, safety, and entertainment systems. So.....what about other vehicle prices? Lots of Boomers drive SUVs and trucks. They are up in price by only 25%. I guess that is good news. But a friend of mine definitely got sticker shock the other day when he priced out a new Ford F150 hybrid truck at 75,000$ plus tax. Yikes! Think I'll stick with my old F150 with 170,000 km for awhile. Take out your wallet Boomers. Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! Do me a favour Boomers. Go on YouTube and type in "Smothers Brothers My Old Man song". You will laugh, and laugh some more! Remember that folk-singing comedy duo from the 1960s-70s? Well, one of them passed away yesterday....Tom Smothers, who played the dummy died of cancer at age 86 in California. "I'm just devastated," his brother and the duo's other half, Dick Smothers, told The Associated Press. "Every breath I've taken, my brother's been around." Dick was the straight guy in the comedy act, but both could play guitar and sing, and they played off each other very well. They even had TV shows and got fired for stretching the norm on television: one time "particularly when Smothers joked that Easter 'is when Jesus comes out of his tomb and if he sees his shadow, he goes back in and we get six more weeks of winter.' At Christmas, when other hosts were sending best wishes to soldiers fighting o...

Today is your day Boomer! You know we may be a little older, but we haven't lost our creativity Boomers! We do a lot of cool stuff like woodworking and painting, but, maybe just maybe, we can do more on-line....like on video channels. According to YouTube Canada, "As part of the digital generation, millennials and gen z have always been known as trendsetters, but they're not the only ones making it big on YouTube. From travelling and woodworking to quilting and mixology, baby boomers and retirees are turning their passions and hobbies into content creation opportunities. They're part of a growing creator ecosystem in Canada, that's contributing significantly to the local creative economy." Oh, nice. Maybe watch some of their examples....like the one in this picture. Others include "Thrift Store Makeovers", "Mastering the 1/4 inch Seam", "Deddy's Kitchen" and "Glen and Friends". Don't like YouTube? Try Inst...

Today is your day Boomer! Thanks to the many Boomers and family and friends who accessed my blog memories of my deceased Dad yesterday. And thanks to my cousin who supplied this picture of my Dad at his favourite fishing place in the world....Fountain Lake. I forgot to mention one more big thing my Dad helped me with: learning how to run for election and being a politician. Dad had tremendous experience serving as a school trustee(like me), hospital board, regional district director, alderman, and acting mayor....to name just a few. Even in his last few years, he served as head of the Lillooet Water Improvement Committee! So, what did he teach me? Be prepared, ask lots of questions, don't be afraid to challenge, speak with authority and confidence, and respect the people(both elected and staff) you work with. In my five years as trustee, I follow all of these recommendations very closely. As for my Dad, he raised 6 kids, had a full-time business, and still had lots of tim...

Today is your day Boomer! My Dad left this world this week. I was there in-person to say goodbye and, of course, it was very, very difficult. But rather than focusing on the negatives of his downfall, I want to share with you my Dad's many contributions to my life. First off, Harold (Hal) shared his name with me and helped raise me as one of six kids in our family. Imagine the financial impact a family of eight had on his work life and mental state! Speaking of that, he taught me the importance of a strong work ethic and a good education. All his kids have university degrees or trades tickets. He showed me the supreme importance of family gatherings, how to flyfish...even when he was colour blind....how to use tools, play high-level bridge, eat organic foods, he taught me how to drive....even though I ruined the transmission on our old car....he showed me how to sail, save and invest money, have an appreciation for nature, he was a role model for me as I moved through heart/s...