More Travel Tips

Today one of the airlines announced that it will start charging customers $50 for a second checked bag. Some airlines already charge for every checked bag. Airline ticket prices are increasing; peanuts, pretzels and drinks are no longer free on some airlines; and luggage now costs extra.
Many people, particularly seniors who have looked forward to trips during retirement, are curtailing travel plans. But some of us are determined to fly especially to distant places. Driving across country doesn’t hold any special thrill for many of us unless we intend to stop and visit people and places on the way. We must find ways to cut back on travel costs.
Over the years, I learned to pack less and still have what I really need. Planning my wardrobe to allow for mixing and matching blouses, sweaters, skirts and slacks makes it easier to pack fewer items. Working around one basic color means I only have to take one pair of casual and one pair of dressier shoes. Hand washing some clothing at our destination means we can take less. I also put a complete change of my clothing in his bag and he puts one for himself in my bag just in case a bag is lost.
We also pack a change of clothing (at least a change of under garments) in our carry-on bags for the same reason. Lost luggage has happened to me twice, but I didn’t have to buy more clothes. And my luggage was found the next day both times.
Always pack your medications in your carry-on bag (in case of lost luggage) along with a paperback book; a magazine; a crossword, word jumble, or Sudoku book; a hand-held electronic game and/or a Travel Scrabble® or other travel games (to prevent boredom in case of delays). Traveling with parents, children and/or grandchildren offers some challenges which I will discuss in a future blog.

Some Travel Tips

Traveling, whether on short or long trips, requires careful planning. Years ago my daughter told me to keep my bags packed ultimately to visit her at college and at her new home after graduation. We both knew she would never return to our home town to live. My carry-on bag contains cosmetics and other personal items which I replenish immediately upon returning from every trip.
My containers of liquids have been downsized to three ounces and put into a quart size plastic bag to readily pass security at airports. Instead of the small bottles of waterless hand sanitizer, I carry several resealable travel packs of moist antibacterial towelettes because these don’t count as liquids. For each subsequent trip, I only have to check the weather of my destination to know what outer garments to take. Then I pack and go.
Days before a scheduled plane trip, I buy munchables such as salt free or low salt mixed nuts or pretzels, dried fruit, or graham crackers to put into snack size plastic bags because the nuts and pretzels served on planes have a high sodium content. You may also take fresh fruit such as apples, pears or grapes on your trip. However, make sure you are allowed to take fresh fruit where you are going. For example, we couldn’t take fruit into Hawaii. I believe the authorities are concerned that our fruit could contain some type of pests that could ruin their crops.
Remember also to move around in your seat at least once an hour on any extended trips. Some airplane magazines give you instructions on how to exercise in your seat. If nothing else, get up and walk up and down the aisle once an hour.
Okay, okay. So I didn’t walk a mile day before yesterday. To me walking is boring although I need to do it for my health. Of course, walking at the mall is a different story. Yesterday however, I played nine holes of golf. I still can’t believe I’m not only playing golf, I’m loving it. Making a commitment to play golf twice a week in good weather, to dance around the house for 15 to 20 minutes a day and to do sit-ups once a day should start me on my way to a healthier lifestyle.

Vacation or Staycation

Summer vacation trips have been curtailed by many families this year because of high gas prices, job cuts and the poor economy in general. Now “staycations” are the new norm. Short vacations where you “stay” closer to home can open your eyes to the world around you.
Are you a Kentucky resident who hasn’t visited Mammoth Cave? Have you missed Mackinac Island although you live in Michigan? Wisconsin residents have the Wisconsin Dells for family fun, South Dakota residents can visit Mt. Rushmore and Las Vegas residents have the Grand Canyon.
Some Florida residents haven’t visited Disney World. New Yorkers and Ontario, Canada residents have Niagara Falls for beautiful site seeing. Why not go to one of the sports stadiums for a fun day cheering your local team. Or visit the art museum or zoo. Call the visitors bureau in your city or state for information on places to visit close to home. Don’t forget to ask for senior rates, group rates and discounts for families.
If you prefer to actually stay at home, you can still enjoy yourself with a little planning. Why not have a themed potluck for your family and or friends. Games such as Bridge, Monopoly®, Cribbage®, checkers, chess and other board games are fun and good for your brain. You could also have a volleyball or baseball picnic at the park.
Last year, we had a Scrabble® potluck party at our house. Some of our friends had not played the game in years and weren’t sure about playing with regular Scrabble® players. We accommodated them by having dictionaries and two-letter word lists available for everyone to use. We also partnered each beginner with a more advanced player if they desired. We also didn’t bother with challenges where the person would lose a turn. We just helped them make better words for good scores.
Everyone brought a dish, homemade or store bought, to serve. And some guests brought extra Scrabble® games in case we ran short of games. Everyone had a great time.
Even in these tough economic times, we have found ways to still enjoy ourselves without ruining our budget.

Bundle Your Errands

As a retiree, you are free to come and go as you please. However, with gas prices soaring daily, this could cost you more than you realize. Try bundling your errands to save gas and time. In a small spiral notebook, jot down your errands then pick a convenient day to complete as many of those tasks as you can.
For example, one day last week I gassed up my car, went to the bank, then to the cleaners, purchased a birthday present at a gift shop, went to the post office and finally shopped for groceries. Saving gas money on several different trips and freeing up other days to have fun was my goal.
I also cooked three big meals that same day to leave me even more time for fun and games. Making several meals at once usually means baking chicken and making soup to freeze in small portions. (Those are my "I’m-not-cooking-today" heat and serve meals.)
But I also prepared tacos to eat that same day. Sometimes the same day meal will be fresh salmon, spaghetti or pork chops.
As much as I love to cook, I don’t intend to spend my retirement in the kitchen. Today is my day to walk a mile then relax at home with a new book.

The Bucket List

Years ago I hoped to travel to all 50 states and collected a magnet in the shape of each state I visited to complete my Magnetic Collectables, LTD map. When my fiancé, now my husband, saw my map, he said we have to complete the map. I quickly revised my wish list. “Only the states we visited together would be represented on the map.” During the recent fall foliage season, we traveled by car to the New England states (Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut) as well as New York. Now we have only 19 states to go.
We recently saw a great movie, “The Bucket List,” with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. A bucket list is a list of all the things a person wants to do “before you kick the bucket.” Completing the U. S. map was part of our informal bucket list which keeps growing with other things we want to do, to see, to learn.
How many times in your life have you said, “I’ll do that when I have the time”? Now is the time. Don’t put off the things you wish to do. Yesterday I wrote, “You are limited only by your imagination and your attitude.” Someone reminded me that you are also limited by your finances. Taking that into consideration shouldn’t stop you from doing things you enjoy.
Make a bucket list with suggestions on how you will successfully complete each item. Can you travel with a group which may be less expensive? (For suggestions on where to travel, read 1,000 Places To See Before You Die: A Traveler’s Life List by Patricia Schultz.) Find out about group tours, senior discounts and other budgeting plans.
Are there books you haven’t had time to read or movies you missed? Try the library or a used book store.
Do you want to learn to play an instrument? Rent an instrument and find a teacher willing to work with adults. Do you wish to finally learn to swim, speak another language, research your genealogy or surf the internet? Check out recreation centers, YMCAs or YWCAs, or local colleges for classes.
Make your bucket list now and start enjoying your retirement.

Learn Something New

Happy Birthday to me. My celebration will begin with breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants where my husband and I get the senior discount and are treated courteously. We’ll follow that with nine holes of golf, lunch and a movie.
Playing golf is very new for me. I grew up playing baseball, basketball and volleyball in school. I even tried tennis as an adult but never developed the skills to do much with that game. Golf was never, I repeat never, on the list of things I wanted to even consider trying. Even watching it on TV held my interest for about five minutes.
But my husband is an avid golfer and asked me many times over the seventeen years of our marriage to try my hand at the sport. He retired last year and I knew if I wanted to see him on a regular basis, I’d better try golfing. He would golf everyday if he could.
I took six private lessons at the local public golf course last year just before he retired. I learned that I don’t have to be good to enjoy the game. It is absolutely hilarious watching me swing at that tiny ball and miss. Sometimes I even play a few good holes of golf. But always I enjoy myself. I can no longer play other sports because of some health issues, but I can still play golf. The best thing about the sport is that I can play even if I’m 100 years old.
So golf is not your thing. Challenge yourself to try something new. Crafting, country line dancing, ballroom dancing, yoga, hiking, camping, photography, writing your memoirs even if just for your children, gardening, or volunteering for a charity or at a nursing home are some things that come to mind. Also try doing crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and/or Scrabble® to keep your mind active.
Don’t sit at home doing nothing just because you are no longer employed. You are limited only by your imagination and your attitude.

Senior Discounts

For most retirees, there is a significant financial change. My retirement income is much less than my working income; however, my expenses decreased also. My auto insurance premiums are lower because I no longer use my car to get to work. Some insurance companies also offer a senior discount. (Be sure to check your auto insurance policy for these possibilities.) I spend less money on gasoline, automobile maintenance, and work clothes.
I quickly learned to put my pride in my pocket and ask for senior discounts wherever I spend money. Try asking for a discount; it can’t hurt. I live a mile from a gift shop that offers senior discounts on all purchases. I am now a regular customer there.
Department stores, restaurants, movie theaters, museums, colleges and other establishments may offer discounts for seniors but you often have to ask for it. Be prepared to show your ID card. I laughed when I told my daughter that I was “carded” at a local restaurant.
Find out at what age discounts are offered and under what circumstances. Discounts may be offered for people starting at 50 to 70 years of age. Some establishments offer discounts on particular days of the week and/or specific hours of the day. I keep a list of those establishments. For example, the cleaners near my mother offers a senior discount. Between the senior discounts and the use of coupons, I spend considerably less than I did before my retirement.
In future blogs, I will share some of the fun activities I have discovered. Believe me, you can enjoy a great life during retirement. Whether you were forced to take a buy-out or wanted to retire, make the best of retirement both financially and socially.

Retired? Now what?

Life after retirement has been a wonderful experience in which I’ve learned to become a better, more adventurous person. No, I’m not into bungee jumping, but I have tried doing things I never had time for before. Life is good, not perfect, but good. I’ll share some of the things I’ve learned.
A few years ago I retired without a concrete plan for my free time. Health wise, I knew it was time for me to leave my rewarding job as a teacher and begin the next phase of my life. I looked forward to sleeping late, reading, writing short stories, relaxing, taking trips and not having any major responsibilities.
The reality of unemployment didn’t hit me during the first months of retirement because I rarely taught summer school and that summer was packed with many activities. I participated in a large charity fund-raiser, met our newborn grandson out-of-state, attended my daughter’s bridal shower and wedding (both out-of-state), and attended the unexpected funeral of my mother-in-law several states from my home. That was a very sad trip.
Fall found me missing my students more than I expected. I always felt grounded because I had a purpose in life as a teacher. Of course, it didn’t help that my husband was still teaching and telling me about the successes and failures of his students.
Taking Life Long Learning classes, including creative writing, at the local college was the beginning of me discovering who I am without my teaching career. But by Thanksgiving I had serious family responsibilities. My sister and I alternated staying with our parents through their various illnesses. My father died the following spring but not before I wrote an essay about his mother, my beloved grandmother. The essay, “My Grandmother, Little Mama,” was published in On the Shores of Detroit: History through Prose and Poetry published in 2002 by Odyssey Books/The Detroit Writer’s Guild.
Writing became an important part of my retirement activities. In future blogs, I will share some of the things I’ve learned about making the most of retirement.