Smart Senior

Lifelong Learning

Lifelong Learning

Remember when learning was fun?  It can be again.  Now, as a senior you can forget about career planning and career advancement and return to school for the fun of it.  According to an article in the Herald by Brenda Protz (Tuesday, October 10, 2006) 78,000 college students in the

United States

are over the age of 65 and it is steadily increasing.  Reasons for returning to school vary from staving off boredom to just wanting to learn about subjects that weren’t practical for career advancement in their younger days.

We are all worried about encroaching dementia.  Use it or lose it, is a frequently heard adage that refers to your mental capabilities as well as your physical prowess.   Seniors aren’t bored.  Seniors want to learn.  Seniors are interested in exercising their minds.  Marsha King (Seattle Times, May 15, 2007) writes about a new trend happening at University Campuses everywhere, in the form of adult education for seniors.

People easing into retirement are finding that they finally have time to explore subjects that they have always been interested in.  Some motivated individuals like the challenge of working on and obtaining college degrees, but others are more into learning just for the joy of it with programs that feature no tests and no homework.

Taking classes is a wonderful way to stimulate your mind as well as a way to make new friends. 

Bird Watchers Delight (binoculars and more)

Leupold Golden Ring Switch Power Binoculars are a bit too expensive for your average backyard birder, but we can all dream can’t we?  How often have you caught a glimpse of something golden in the distance, or stood across the road from a tree where a Bald Eagle is perched, and wished you could really see more?

Was it a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker or an American Goldfinch?  They move so quickly. It is so hard to focus, find, and identify the tiny birds as they dart through the branches.

The Audubon magazine (March-April 2007) pictured an ad introducing the Leupold Golden Ring Binoculars with Switch/Power Technology (www.leupold.com).  This pair of binoculars scans at 7x, then with flick of a switch instantly changes the power setting to 12x.  The object that you are viewing always stays at the center of the visual field.  The advertisement describes a light weight performance, clear bright optics, fog proof, waterproof integrity (and a Lifetime guarantee), ergonomic design and rubber armor that makes it easy to grip.

Doesn’t that sound absolutely perfect to you?

Volunteer Vacations

Volunteering and “giving back” to the community is all well and good but volunteer jobs are often mindless, boring, and leave you will the feeling that you are just occupying space.  You can probably tell that I’ve been less than thrilled about my initial forays into the world of volunteerism.

I think we all want to be recognized for our brains and skills as well as for our smiles, so pulling down bulletin boards for a busy teacher doesn’t go far when it comes to making us feel “important” or good about ourselves.  So, be prepared to search far and wide to find a project that will give you a certain amount of satisfaction.

I was drawn to an advertising article in The Wall Street Journal (Saturday-Sunday, February 24-25, 2007) by Steve Kallaugher, titled Voluntourism: Good Times and Good Works.  Vacations for seniors no longer need to be about rest, relaxation and acquiring a good tan.  Voluntourism is about learning and doing good deeds for people.  If you are interested in making a concrete connection with the world that is beyond giving just money you might like to give this some consideration.

Voluntourism is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry.  More and more travelers are being drawn to volunteer opportunities, educational experiences, or religious trips than ever before.  Voluntourism is about seeing the world from a first hand perspective rather than as a passive tourist looking through a window.  It is a way of experiencing the country that you wants to visit by working, eating and living with the local residence. It is a way of understanding the culture and challenges of the people who live there.

There is no age limit and more than half of the volunteers are over the age of 50.   If you are curious about the world, are flexible, patient and are willing to work as a team this may be for you.  There are thousands of opportunities in every part of the world, so you can choose the program and place that suits your passion.  Whatever you’re your interests there is a group that would love to take advantage of your skills.

For a start check out (crossculturalsolutions.org), (earthwatch.org), (globeaware.org), (globalvolunteers.org), (greenvolunteers.org), (habitat.org), (imva.org), (volunteerinternational.org) and more.

Foreign Language Study for Seniors

It seems that everywhere we turn we are seeing articles on keeping our minds active. 

Reading

, doing crossword puzzles, and learning a foreign language are all suggested as some of the best ways to keep our gray cells alive and well.

I struggled with French when I was in college and my efforts to learn Spanish as an adult have been rather feeble.  I have tried a number of the audio instruction tapes from the public library but the majority of them were just plain too hard for me.  After a promising introduction they all leap right into the lessons based on the premise that you already have a vast vocabulary and understanding of the subject matter, but still I am optimistic.

An article by Jeanette Borzo (The Wall Street Journal on Saturday/Sunday, February 3-4, 2007) called “Talking the Talk,” sounds much more promising.

Language-instruction software sounds much easier because you hear it, read it, and write the language of your choice.  She writes that computer technology is making self-instruction more plausible and enjoyable.

Three major software programs for learning a foreign language (Auralog, Transparent Language, and Fairfield Language Technologies aka Rosetta Stone) are reviewed, tested and compared.  The three programs were tested on three tasks: freshening up on a language that you have already studied, learning a language from scratch, and learning a language that uses a non-Roman alphabet. 

Recognizing that setting aside a regular time for practice is the biggest hurdle, all three programs offer instruction in small chunks of time. 

The prices are comparable or less than the audio tapes that I have investigated.  All three of the companies get good review, but the author leans toward Rosetta Stone as the best overall approach.  I am pretty excited about giving this instructional method a try.

Educational Cruising for Seniors

I think a cruise is the ideal way to travel and the best possible vacation, but casinos, smoke filled bars, and art auctions get a little boring after awhile.

The perfect solution presented itself in a Wall Street Journal article (Saturday/Sunday, February 3-4, 2007) by Kristi Essick who writes about Cruise Classes.

There are actually education voyages available that are as much about learning as they are about relaxing.  Large cruise lines such as Cunard and Crystal Cruises, as well as groups like Elderhostel and the Smithsonian Journeys are offering educational cruises complete with shipboard classes.

Elderhostel, well know for land-based educational tours for seniors, now operates more than 150 cruises each year. 

Regardless of your interests you can find a cruise to pique your interest. Swan Hellenic cruises will take you from

Barbados

to

Spain

with classes ranging from medieval art to the geology of volcanic island. (www.swanhellenic.com).

Cunard offers a round trip from

New York

to the Caribbean islands with classes as varied as antique collecting to the history of the

Caribbean

. (www.cunard.com).

Crystal Cruises can take you from

Rome

to

London

with language classes, archaeology lectures and a variety of classes of a more recreational nature. (www.crystalcruises.com ).

Geek Cruises will take you to

Alaska

and teach you everything you want to know about digital photography and other software material (www.geekcruises.com).

Smithsonian Journeys will take you from

Anchorage

to the

Siberian

Coast

and teach you all about global warming (www.smithsonianjourneys.org) .

Elderhostel will take you from

Athens

to

Istanbul

with classes on archaeology to the culture and modern lifestyles of

Greece

and

Turkey

. (www.elderhostel.org).

The educational cruises are still a vacation.  Between classes you can still indulge in gourmet meals, spa treatments, and swimming pools.  Sounds great doesn’t it?  I can see one of these cruises in my future.

Lightweight Luggage For Seniors

More seniors are traveling than ever before, and the luggage industry is recognizing that maybe they could be making things a littler easier for them.  Toting belongings for just a two-day trip is enough to strain your muscles and joints (and lets face it, the baggage area is always at least a mile away, or so it seems, from the exit doors or parking garage.

To meet their demands, travel goods manufacturers are placing a new emphasis on form, fashion and function.  Several companies have introduced luggage that is strong but very lightweight.  Some of the newer models are available with easy grip features that will allow seniors and other arthritis sufferers to maneuver luggage easily.  Pushing luggage in front of you is better than pulling it behind you because you can use your whole body to exert force rather than just one shoulder.  Lighter weights and other ergonomic features are being into play once again to offer designs with large wheels, built in seats, easy grip handles and extendable poles that are angled to reduce the pressure on your forearms.

It is time to drag your old luggage pieces (would you believe that I still have a plaid set that I bought at the commissary in the 60S....always liked them because they were easy to find but maybe a little outdated) out of storage and get rid of them.  Start shopping for something that will make your travels a breeze.

Arthritis Today (July/August 2006) article by Mary Margaret Chappell suggests looking at :  Rimowa Salsa Trolly Line (www.worldtraveler.com) for extra lightweight luggage.  Zuca Bag (www.zuca.com) has lightweight bags with larger wheels and a seat.  Heys Lightweight Xcase (www.ebags.com) with T-handles for an easier grip and is ergonomically designed to reduce the pressure on your forearms when pulling or pushing.  Victorinox Swiss Army Werks Traveler (www.luggageonline.com) has a swivel handle, comfortable grips and more.

What are you waiting for?  Summer is here and it is time to go on vacation!

Birdwatching For Seniors

Birdwatching is the fastest growing outdoor activity in America, and it is an activity that you can keep on doing all of your life.

You can birdwatch in your own backyard, at the local park, or anywhere that you care to travel.  Birdwatching is so popular that you can find groups everywhere, and even find travel tours that will take you to exotic locales.

Most of my birdwatching is done from my easy chair. Without leaving home I can watch as many as nine different kinds of birds visiting my bird feeder.   My husband haunts the local parks and dog watching areas, and when we go hiking he is always eager to point out Yellow Bellied Sap Suckers or elusive Goldfinches. 

You can birdwatch on your own, but joining a club and walking with other "birders" can be a lot of fun.  Subscribe to a bird lovers magazine, buy a bird books and treat yourself to a good pair of binoculars.

What do you need to get started?  A field guide, which is a little book with all sorts of information about birds in your area.  A hat to protect you from morning mist or too much sunshine, and a birding vest (one with tons of pockets so that you can have everything you need close at hand).  A notebook so that you can record and describe what you see isn't a necessity, but  it will help you focus in on details and help you keep track of special sitings. Last but not least you will need a good pair of binoculars. Birds move very quickly so it is to your advantage to have a pair of binoculars of your own.

Binoculars are probably the most import item because it is pretty hard to really see something the size of your thumb, up close and personal, without them.  You need a pair that is light weight enough to carry with you but sturdy enough to survive a lot of use.  They must be easy to hold steady and easy to focus.  If you have to fiddle around with the controls you won't be able to see anything.   Believe me, if it takes too long you will be lucky to even find the tree branch where said bird had been siting just seconds before.  Your binoculars must focus quickly and they  must show the whole picture.  Be sure that the binocular are dust and moisture proof and work well even if you wear glasses.

Try out a number of binoculars in person.  This is the only way to figure out how much magnification you can hold steady,  how much weight is comfortable to carry, and if they are are comfortable and work well if you wear glasses,

Audio Tours for Traveling Seniors

I've traveled throughout Europe several times, but this next time I'd like to try something a little different.  My first trip included bicycling and train travel,  the second a tour group and on the third one we drove a car and tried to wing it on our own.  All three trips were wonderful, but we always manage to see pretty much the same things.  Independent travel is always a bit more relaxing.   Still, you don't learn as much because you have to either walk with your nose in the guidebook or link up with a tour in order to learn anything.  I am really interested in trying some audio tours so that I can combine some of the best features from my previous visits but be able to turn my program off if a sidewalk cafe beckons.

Sarah Nassauer wrote up a review on Audio Guides that can be downloaded onto your IPod  (Wall Street Journal on Friday, April 21, 2006).   Yes, it looks  like we will have to stop resisting modern technology and break down and buy one of those pesky little things.

You might want to try a local tour first to see if these informal junkets are your cup of tea.  Starter companies and more serious publishers are getting on the bandwagon and putting out quite a variety of tours.  Many of the more polished tours have timed their programs so that listeners can walk for hours without a map (Soundwalk Tours).  Ten Toe Tours has current guides covering cities such as San Francisco and Washington D.C. and are coming out with a line of shopping, culinary and literary guides.  Audissey Guides will be releasing tours of Seattle, Hollywood and Miami Beach.  Frommer's company is introducing a series of tours to accompany a new set of day trip itineraries.

I've used a similar type of gadget when touring an aquarium in Maui, and really liked being able to drift around at my own pace getting information about the various displays in front of me.  The good thing is that the clunky remotes and tape machines have given way to tours that can be downloaded to Mp3 Players, heard on CD or dialed up on a cell phone.

I am tempted.  How about you?  Listen to excerpts from audio tour's of New York, Paris, Glasgow and other cities at WSJ.com/Weekendand Leisure.

Cruises for Seniors

I am a veteran of two cruises and I love the fact that my room, meals and entertainment are all pre-paid before I leave home.  Prices are all inclusive except for a few things like tips (even that is worked out by some of the cruise lines, so that it is added into your bill instead of leaving you with questions about who to tip and how much), alcoholic beverages, and off-ship tours that you may want to take. 

Cruises are the perfect vacation choice for seniors.  You only have to pack and unpack once, you take your hotel room with you and no driving or long periods of sitting.  If you are traveling alone the cruise line will find you a roommate so that you can take advantage of the lower prices offered for pairs.

There are cruise options available that will fit every budget, and the freedom of retirement means that you can take advantages of last minute promotions that are often offered to fill quotas.

If you are a loner and not really into mingling you can dine at a table for one or two, but sharing a table with someone different each night can be fun too.   You can opt for room service and relaxing in your room or you can take advantage of computer terminals, swimming pools, sauna, gyms, dancing, gambling, nightclub entertainers and more. 

If you haven't traveled a lot this is a chance to see the world, relax and be treated like royalty at the same time.

The service is superb, the food first rate and the entertainment is great fun.  We are already planning our next trip.

Popular cruise lines include Carnival Cruise Lines,  Holland America Line and Norwegian Line and Princess Cruises.  http://cruises.affordabletours.com/Info/seniors.html

Volunteer Vacations for Seniors

If you long to do more on your vacations than relax in the sun, and have done enough sightseeing to last a lifetime, consider joining a growing number of seniors who are opting for volunteer service vacations.

Numerous organizations offer short term volunteer projects lasting anywhere from a few days to a few months.  Common job descriptions include teaching English, working with at-risk children, and assisting scientist with environmental research.

Over-all the cost of a volunteer vacation is often lower than a traditional one, and if the organization is a non-profit one you can recover a share of the total cost via tax deductions.

What organizations welcome senior volunteers? 

Global Volunteers.  While Global Volunteers is open to people of all ages, more than 60% of its volunteers are 50 or older.  Remember that all program costs and airfare are tax deductible. www.globalvolunteers.org.  Opportunies range from tutoring children to assisting with enviromental projects.

Elderhostel.  Elderhostel leads volunteer service programs to its more traditional learning vacations.  Only a portion of the program frees are tax deductible because their tours include educational field trips and lectures in addition to volunteer services.  Check out the Elderhostel website.

i-to-i.  The international volunteer organization has a diverse selection of programs.  This organization is a a for profit one so that the trips are not tax deductible (really interesting tours though, so be sure to check out their website).

Peacework: (www.peacework.org).  Work with orphanages, emergency relief efforts, schools and clinics around the world.

Earthwatch Institute:  www.earthwatch.org  Assist with archaeology, marine or ecology projects worldwide.

Growing older and anticipating retirement can be a magical time.  If you are worried about no longer having worthwhile things to do with you life, you might want to try a volunteer vacation.  You can have an adventure and help others at the same time.  Hundreds of organizations in the United States and abroad offer volunteer travel.  While some organizations expect you to work pretty hard, there are others that are tailored to those with more limited mobility.  If you have special needs, always ask the organization if they are able to accommodate you as well as use your services before making a commitment.