The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Baby boomers ponder these times

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America is in turmoil. Millions of Americans are pouring out into the streets to protest the death of George Floyd, a black man who was murdered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, when a police office pressed his knee on his neck until he died. All this in the middle of the covid-19 pandemic. 

I'm stressed. I don't know what's going to happen next. Police reform? I hope so. Millions more getting the coronavirus and thousands more dying of it? I hope not. 

I've decided what I'm going to do in these challenging times is make a large contribution on an organization that works to improve my community, including working on homeless issues.

Our boomer bloggers are writing about what's going on in America and what's going on in their lives:

Black Lives Matter

The Black Lives Matter protests are swelling throughout the nation. As she reached out to her friends of color, Carol Cassara of Heart·Mind·Soul has learned more about what it means to be an effective ally. In "How Much Do Black Lives Matter to You?" she relates an impactful dialogue she had with a female friend; one that made even more vivid what people of color face every day of their lives. 

Jennifer Koshak of Unfold and Begin has been struggling with a lot of emotions lately; sadness, anger, and outrage, to name just a few. She was sickened by the casual way in which a cop murdered George Floyd, and while she doesn't know exactly what to say, she does have something to say.

Something that happened to Laurie Stone of Musing, Rants & Scribbles five years ago seems as relevant today as it did back then. She was in her neighborhood grocery store when she encountered a tall, middle-aged African-American man stocking shelves. He had a cart full of product and part of it blocked her way. She looked at him, smiling, saying, “Excuse me.” He turned and gazed at her, his eyes hard, face tight and unsmiling. And that’s when she saw it.

Travel

Rebecca Olkowski with BabyBoomster.com attended the American Travel Trends Forum online with guest speakers Peter Greenberg, Samantha Brown, Andrew McCarthy, and others. The tourism industry has been heavily impacted by the pandemic with over 100 million out of work. What does it need to do to come back? Rebecca reports on some of their thoughts and findings.

Bathing suits

Quarantine, recession, protest marches. It has been a long week. But it is also summer and time to relax a bit and enjoy the season, the weather, the warmth. Meryl Baer of Six Decades and Counting obliges with an upbeat post about swim suits. Summer’s here and that means bathing suits.

Social Security

Tom Sightings at Sightings Over Sixty had occasion to check on his Social Security benefits – which we all know can often be complicated and sometimes confusing. So he turned to financial guru Jeremy Kisner to find some important Social Security FAQ's ... which will answer (almost) any question you ever had about Social Security, including if and when it will go bankrupt.

These articles make up the Best of Boomer Blogs #653. Be sure to check out the articles and leave a comment. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.

Copyright 2020, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

Happy New Year

Happy New Year.

I spent most of yesterday working on an article about the top consumer stories of 2019. Today, I'll be working on the top consumer stories of the decade. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

The United States of America has such potential. It's a big, diverse country with tremendous resources. But, time and time again, we miss the mark. The opioid crisis. Mass shootings. Climate change inaction. Barriers for minorities and women. Ongoing wars. A lacking health care system.

But, as a consumer writer, the thing that bothers me the most is the continual favoring of corporate interests over the public interest. One of the biggest stories of the decade, in my opinion, is the increase in income inequality. I read about it on social media every day. Families struggling to get by, living paycheck to paycheck.

Baby boomers contemplate winter solstice, feeling different, aging, money, and Christmas trees

It’s the holiday season. The New Year will be here soon with new beginnings and old challenges yet unresolved. To inspire you, here are the latest thought-provoking articles and practical advice from our boomer bloggers, as reported by Laurie Stone of Musings, Rants & Scribbles in Best of the Boomer Blogs #628.

The articles include:

• How to appreciate those who are different and ourselves more fully.
• How to buy gift cards and the return policies for 48 retailers. 
• Why the holiday celebrations are so nice before the somber, cold and quiet of the rest of winter settles in.
• How to plan your goals better by exploring five-, three-, and one-year goals.
• Aging isn’t so bad because we’re happier, smarter, and sexier than we’ve ever been.
• How to have the money talk.
• How to have the perfect Christmas tree.

Click here to get the links to all these articles. And be sure to leave comments. We love to hear from you.

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

Baby boomers bundle up and keep writing

Burr. An early chill descended across the county, and Jennifer Koshak of Unfold and Begin said they were even feeling it in Florida. One day, the daytime temps didn’t get out of the ’50s. Sigh. Although we don’t often have snow here in the Seattle area, it’s been cold, cold, cold.

However, the cold isn’t stopping boomer bloggers from their work. Last week’s articles include:

• Favorite recipes for Thanksgiving.
• The number of retirees with mortgages dramatically increasing.
• Thrift shop shopping.
• How to change your life when you have obligations.
• A mini-vacation to get out from under the November gloom.
• How to get rid of a ladybug infestation.
• A way to support someone who’s grieving or facing a health challenge.

Jennifer Koshak of Unfold and Begin writes about these articles on the Best of Boomer Blogs #623. Click here to get the links to the articles. Then grab a blanket, bundle up, and enjoy these great articles.

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

Number of retirees with mortgages increases dramatically

Retirement is different than it used to be. Many more retirees are still trying to pay off their homes.

One of four homeowners 30 years ago who were in their late 60s and 70s still had a mortgage. These days, nearly half have one. When people turned 80, mortgages used to be unusual, with just 3 percent being mortgage holders. These days, one in four of these older seniors have mortgages, according to “Housing America’s Older Adults 2019,” a report by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. 

Seniors who have paid off their homes have more money to spend, which improves their standard of living in retirement.

Don't be pressured into buying or switching to a Medicare Advantage plan during open enrollment

It’s that time of year again. Advertisements for Medicare Advantage plans are flooding my mailbox and email. I’m even getting phone calls about the plans. And, every time I turn on the TV, there’s another ad about Medicare advantage, with infomercials to be tolerated, too.

From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, people on Medicare can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan or vice versa.
• Join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan if they are on Original Medicare.
• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan if they are already on one.

Baby boomers ponder retirement, health, and responsibility

Fall is well underway and I’m eating the last few items from my garden – cucumbers, lettuce I planted in August, and kale. I was able to have a few servings of collards, but something was chewing on them, which reduced production. I used the kale in a crockpot stew, and it was much better than my usual kale dish – kale sautéed with scrambled eggs.

The photo is my next to last cucumber sandwich with bacon, lettuce, and a fried egg. I splurged and bought a croissant for the occasion.

Meanwhile, baby boomer bloggers are writing about a variety of topics:

Retirement

Some realities sneak up on you over time, and that's been true of Carol Cassara's love affair with California. Now in semi-retirement, she asks “Is My Love Affair With California Over?”

Health

Everything from minor aches and pains to major illnesses afflict folks during their lifetime. Unfortunately for most of us, the incidents of ailments increases as we age. Meryl Baer of Six Decades and Counting is currently dealing with a new issue – new to her. She discovered lots of people suffer from her current complaint, and writes about it in “Golden Years Bring Tears.”

You say you’re anxious or down? Oral surgery may be your solution. This phenomenon happened to Laurie Stone of Musings, Rants & Scribbles recently when she had to get a tooth extracted. And even though this was hardly open-heart surgery, she  was terrified. 

Jennifer Koshak of Unfold and Begin is continuing her year-long study of the “Art of Extreme Self-Care” by Cheryl Richardson. Each month has a focus and Koshak creates a calendar of activities to help process what’s being learned. In “How to Use Your Voice When You're Angry,” people learn how to address their anger instead of pushing it aside in order to avoid conflict.  

Responsibility

Jury duty is a civic duty but sometimes it isn’t convenient especially if you’re self-employed or dealing with other challenges. Rebecca Olkowski with BabyBoomster.com was on call for jury duty last week. She didn’t have to report, but each night checking in was stressful. See “Jury Duty – A Civic Duty That Isn’t Always Convenient” for her thoughts.

At Sightings Over Sixty, Tom wonders if men deserve the credit – or the blame – for all the troubles in the world. Go to “In Defense of Old White Males” to see if you agree, or disagree, or have a completely different view of responsibility.

This is the Best of Boomer Blogs #617. Click on the links to read the articles. And be sure to join in the conversations. Baby boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.

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

Baby boomers get ready for fall

It’s officially fall and time for leaves to turn golden and the weather to become brisk.

Our Best of Boomer Blogs writers are settling in and getting ready for pumpkins, spiced lattes, and apple cider. They’re thinking and doing a variety of things and writing about what’s on their minds. Articles include:

• Attending “Downton Abby,” the movie.
• Going to Emmy events.
• Staying healthy and fit at age 85.
• Growing a great vegetable garden.
• Determining when it’s time to retire.
• Reconnecting to your creativity.
• Considering the different expectations for men and women.

Rebecca Olkowski of BabyBoomster writes about these articles on the Best of Boomer Blogs #615. Click here to get the links to the articles. And be sure to join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.

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

Baby boomers seeking inner peace and keeping active

Baby boomers are writing about what keeps them steady – not only in this crazy world – but also during this, at times, challenging stage of life.

Articles include:

• Four easy relaxation ideas.
• A new mantra for meditation
• How an inspirational blogger found her purpose on vacation.
• How being retired can make you wonder, “What’s Next?”
• Why the TV program “Law and Order” popped up in thoughts during the latest presidential debates.

Laurie Stone of Musings, Rants & Scribbles writes about these articles on the Best of Boomer Blogs #614. Click here to get the links to the articles. And be sure to let the bloggers know your opinions. They enjoy hearing from interesting readers.

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

Baby boomers focus on change

The leaves are already beginning to change here in the Seattle area, so change and fall are in the air. Fall is definitely just around the corner.

Laurie Stone from Musings, Rants & Scribbles is happy. Yes, spring is lovely and summer’s fun. Even old man winter has his icy grandeur. But nothing compares to fall’s beauty and poignancy. And though this season comes at a price, Stone still loves it for leaves, crisper air, school supplies, the good shows that come back on TV, and candy apples.

Other boomer bloggers are writing about: