The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Let’s celebrate our democracy on July Fourth

Happy Fourth of July.

It’s a good day to celebrate our democracy and remember that it needs to be cherished and protected.

In America, we’re free to take part in government and make our voices heard, or not. We can write letters, join organizations that lobby, and protest, or not. We also can run for office, or not. We can vote, or not.

Although it often seems like things have changed in Washington, D.C., recently for the worse, we the people are the government. It’s ours. Rather than railing against it, as the right-wing media advocates, citizens need to participate and help to make government as strong and productive as possible.

Decide today on what action you can take to help make our democracy work well for everyone.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

Top places to travel for July Fourth 2019

For a list of unique places to celebrate the Fourth of July, see Trip Advisor’s “10 Ideal July 4^th Destinations to Celebrate (With or Without Crowds).”

1. New Orleans
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
4. Boston
5. Philadelphia
6. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
7. Sonoma, California
8. Newport, Rhode Island
9. Camden, Maine
10. Brian Head, Utah

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Personal Finance Writer

Think safety this summer

As summer begins, millions of Americans are enjoying more outdoor activities. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges consumers to keep safety in mind around pools and at the beach, on the playground, when cooking on the grill, when mowing the lawn, and while riding on bikes, scooters, and ATVs or ROVs.

Pool safety

Drowning remains the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages one to four and the second leading cause among children ages five to 14. Drownings can be prevented by following some simple safety steps:

• Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa, and keep them away from drains.
• Learn how to swim, and teach your child how to swim.
• Ensure any pool and spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal safety standards. Children can get entrapped by the suction in older, non-compliant drain covers.
• Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults.

Best wishes on Memorial Day

Three years after the Civil War ended on May 5, 1868, a Union veterans’ organization leader established Decoration Day on May 30. It was a time to decorate graves of the war dead with flowers. In many places, tributes to the Civil War dead had already occurred in the spring.

By 1900, ceremonies were being held on May 30 across the nation. The name of the holiday gradually shifted, with Memorial Day becoming more popular in the 1900s.

After World War I, Memorial Day was expanded to honor those who died in all American wars.

Best places to travel for Memorial Day 2019

Nearly 43 million Americans will be taking a Memorial Day weekend trip. The unofficial start of the summer vacation season, Memorial Day will see the second-highest travel volume on record since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000, with the highest set in 2005. Compared to last year, an additional 1.5 million people will be traveling on Memorial Day, a 3.6 percent increase.

Most of Memorial Day travelers will be taking trips by automobile: 37.6 million, a record, up 3.5 percent from last year. For air travel, 3.25 million people will be flying, up 4.8 percent from last year. For trains, buses, and cruise ships, 1.9 million people will be traveling, an increase of 3.8 percent over 2018.

For holiday travelers who will drive to their destinations, travel delays on major roads could be more than three times longer than normal during evening commutes.

Happy Mother's Day

Daughters are about the best thing that a mom can get. I was lucky and got two of them.

I love celebrating Mothers' Day with my daughters and grandchildren. I like having the special day to remember how fortunate I am to have them and all the memories that we've made along the way. 

It seemed like no time at all that it took my daughters to grow up and leave home. Now, it's happening to my grandchildren. My oldest turned 18 and is headed to college. The twins are 15 and are amazingly tall. They'll be in college, too, before we know it. 

So, I'm thankful today for my daughters and grandchildren. They're strong new generations, making a way for themselves in a challenging world.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Personal Finance Writer

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to you and your loved ones if Easter is a day you celebrate.

Seventy percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians, and 49 percent of Americans say they plan to attend church on Easter Sunday.

My wish for today is peace and harmony in the world. With the rise of right-wing hate groups, even in the United States, we all need to keep on working for equality and justice, both economic and social. We need to have hope that we can help bring about change and a better life for all.

So, on Easter Sunday, I wish everyone love, peace, and joy. May you, despite discouraging daily news, be able to experience some joy every day.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Personal Finance Writer

What presidents are celebrated on Presidents’ Day?

What are your plans for Presidents’ Day? Enjoying a day off? Exercising? Reading? Binge watching TV programs? Shopping? Working? Cleaning house?

I bet not many people are thinking about their favorite president today or about citizen participation to help our government work better.

Again this year, I’ve been seeing the Mount Rushmore presidents on a Presidents’ Day articles. In addition to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, many people are adding the two other Mount Rushmore presidents, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt, to honor.

What are the best chocolates to buy for your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day?

Like most people, I love chocolate – any kind of chocolate. A box of chocolate from the supermarket or drug store are fine with me. However, I really enjoy Belgium chocolate when I visit my daughter in Madrid.

So, since I’m not a chocolate connoisseur, I read a dozen articles that recommended the best chocolates.

Most often rated highly in the articles are Godiva Chocolatier, Jacques Torres Chocolate, L.A. Burdick Chocolates, La Maison du Chocolat, Lindt, Michel Cluizel, Recchiuti Confections, and Vosges Haut-Chocolat.

Boomers: Still keepin’ on

 

Fifty years ago, 1968 was a tumultuous year for baby boomers. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy were assassinated. Students all over the world protested the Vietnam War, and Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon.

Next year, will be the 50^th anniversary of Woodstock. How time flies.

Meanwhile, boomer bloggers keep on writing. This week they’re reporting on how to deal with trauma, change and how to keep a positive attitude, inexpensive ways to reduce your environmental footprint, how airport travel is all about hurry up and wait, nontoxic skin care, and healing candles infused with crystals and botanicals.

Carol Cassara of Heart·Mind·Soul describes these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #556. Click here to get the links to the articles. And, be sure and join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.

Copyright 2018, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist