My wife and I love Texas Hill Country.  If you have never driven through this part of the state, you are in for a treat. Whether you take Hwy 87 or 290, you will pass through smaller towns that team with rolling hills, lush green landscape, lakes and rivers and picturesque scenery around every corner.  Check out Bandera on the map above that is known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World,” and Bandera is just the place to order a chicken-fried steak bigger than your “haid” and dance to live country music. Don’t forget to pick up a must-have rubber tomahawk from the Frontier Times Museum. The Hill Country of Texas is known as the backyard playground for senior Texans that like to have fun, enjoy nature, hang out, live and retire.

The Hilly Triangle

This map shows the many interesting sites that seem to form a triangle going west from San Antonio, North to Austin and back West to Kerrville, Texas. You will find plenty to see and do in the Hill Country as you read through this link. See if you can find Luchenbach on this one as Waylon Jennings sings a song about this town.  Johnson City is also quite famous as former President Lyndon B. Johnson called it his boyhood home.

Are Five Million Visitors Impressive?

The Hill Country can be no longer be considered one of the nations’ biggest “hidden” secrets. This spectacular area welcomes over five million visitors a year. Still, only a small percentage of seniors are lucky enough to discover such a beautiful countryside within a genuine “down to earth” community. The picturesque landscapes are more than enough to make even the most seasoned Hollywood photographers jealous! All senior travelers, both seasoned and beginners, leave with a once in a lifetime experience that can only be found in the Hill Country of Texas. Made up of a vibrant community of over 55 cities/areas, the Texas Hill Country offers a variety of beautiful rugged hills and romantic sunsets. The mild winters and warm summers make it a viable year round vacation destination for everyone. Select a few cities/areas above and you will soon see for yourself that this is one spectacular area of Texas that offers unparalleled diversity.

For us, it’s Fredericksburg and One Charming Town After Another

My wife and were driving through Hill Country enjoying the roads and countryside as we passed through Fredericksburg where just over 10,000 folks enjoy daily life.  We just had to stop and stroll along on the sidewalks.  As we did we passed a store called Dogologie that carries our family business (Dog Treats) called Dr. Becker’s Bites (That’s my daughter, Karen, the Vet).  We stopped in and had a great conversation with the owner.  Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 and named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. Old-time German residents often referred to Fredericksburg as Fritztown, a nickname that is still used in some businesses. The town is also notable as the home of Texas German, a dialect spoken by the first generations of German settlers who initially refused to learn English. If you happen by between October 5-7, 2012, you can experience OktoberFest in Fredericksburg.

And Some Great Vineyards

The local chamber of commerce and the town’s “official website” invites seniors to bring along a wine glass at the Becker Vineyard …yes, but unfortunately it’s not our family business, but great wine is just east of Fredericksburg.  There are several other vineyards to visit and each is a special treat. Check out this wine tasting tour by bus Texas Style as you sample “liquid treasures crafted by passionate vintners.”

Wildseed Farms and Enchanted Rock

Being a Master Gardener myself (Iowa State University) I love flowers of all kinds and this site was a special visit for my wife and I. Wildseed Farms is located in the beautiful Texas hill country, just seven miles east of Fredericksburg, Texas. They have 200 acres of wildflowers in various stages of development on the farm. Springtime visitors will likely see Texas bluebonnets, red corn poppies, phlox, and a gorgeous array of other spring flowers.

So plan to bed down in Hill Country and spend a few days just relaxing and enjoying the many sites and activities. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area consists of 1643.5 acres on Big Sandy Creek, north of Fredericksburg, on the border between Gillespie and Llano Counties. So work on your “Texan Drawl” and mosey on down to Hill Country, Seniors. You’ll love it. jeb

Baby Boomers today are beginning to consider downsizing their homes and the complications in their lives. Homes require a great deal of responsibility, care, and attention. Boomers today want to travel, explore, and play. The tiring responsibility of a large home and upkeep may no longer be appealing. Constant care and attention to lawn maintenance, house maintenance and high home tax is draining. That is one reason that senior living communities are becoming such attractive options for Boomers who are not ready to sit quietly in the corner knitting away their golden years. This leads many baby boomers to the question of what they should look for in a senior living community.

Lifestyle Considerations

More and more senior living communities are beginning to acknowledge that today’s seniors are more active than ever. Not only are they interested in a better quality of live but they also plan to squeeze out every ounce of fun from it. For this reason, it is important to find senior living communities that offer planned activities daily and weekly. The more activities and adventures you can enjoy in your golden years, the happier you will be. One common trend is to find senior living communities built on or around golf courses so Boomers can enjoy a daily or at least weekly round of golf.  Some Boomers prefer gardening activities, jewelry making classes, tennis, swimming, walking, yoga, Tai Chi, and even ballroom or  square dancing.

Traveling and experiencing all that life has to offer is a dream for many. The problem is usually the responsibilities that hold us in one place such as home ownership and home maintenance issues. Many Baby Boomers enjoy traveling a great deal. They do not want to have to stay home so they can shovel the walk, mow the lawn, and tend to the flowers at all times of the year. While these things may bring a baby boomer pleasure on occasion, a regimented lifestyle during retirement is not as appealing. They want to be able to fly off to Hawaii at the drop of a hat or visit the grandchildren for a week or two in winter.

Personal Space and Freedom

The other major consideration you should keep in mind as you check out retirement communities is the amount of personal space you need to feel comfortable. There is a bit of an adjustment when moving from a home of your own into a garden apartment in a senior living community.  Some might call it downsizing. To some degree it is. Most senior communities prefer to refer to it as “simplifying” your living arrangements. When you think about it, you are reducing the amount of home you must care for. That is not always a bad thing if you are interested in adopting a “no strings attached” lifestyle for your Golden years. Whether you are interested in the social and lifestyle aspects of senior living communities or more interested in downsizing your commitments as you approach your Golden years, Baby Boomers today have many great choices available for living the lifestyle they want to live in their retirement years.

Last week we took a week off and found ourselves cast in a new environment where routine and relaxation were given new definitions.  It was a holiday of complete and utter relaxation where eating out became the norm and sleeping in was everyday possible.

It was a time to be with family, a chance to do some exploring, an opportunity to be carefree.  Not often enough do we give ourselves permission to be so free.  Not often enough do we open ourselves to such casual and unencumbered expenditure of time and energy.

Magic holidays are moments for total release and complete disregard for set agendas.  Finding that one can be released from day to day demands that are often habits, and not always good ones, is a way for one’s body and spirit to find new vistas to enjoy. We have all been well-schooled in the very direct relationship between body and spirit, and the influence each has on the other.  Senior healthy living means keeping both body and spirit in a good place… healthy.

Retirement – Every Day is a Holiday

My mother in law, in retirement, has long declared that “everyday is a holiday”.  It can be.  In some cases, and over some periods of time, it needs to be.  If life in retirement is not an occasion to find new worlds to explore, then why retire? Retirement is a state of being which requires some discipline, in the best sense of that word, for maximizing the time, finding ways to invest your resources of energy, and creatively developing a persona that fits your new-found freedom. All kinds of possibilities beckon.  All sorts of new and vivid releases await.   You don’t have to do tomorrow what you did today.  You can open doors and windows that let in all kinds of unexpected wonders.

The magic of holidays in retirement requires a willingness to fight back too much routine, to dispel boredom, to be open to the unexpected.   Doing so can give your health a new boost, your attitude a kick start, your frame of reference a whole new category of experiences and wonders.

Create your own magic by going and doing and finding and opening yourself to the wonders of this age, just as you did as a child.  This is your second childhood moment when magic can happen all over again.

Little Rock, Arkansas is not so little, as senior visitors will learn,  in fact it’s the capital and the largest city of the state. So where did Little Rock get its name?  Located near the geographic center of Arkansas, Little Rock derives its name from a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River called la Petite Roche (French: “the little rock”). The “little rock” was used by early river traffic as a landmark and became a well-known river crossing.

The “little rock” is across the river from “big rock”, a large bluff at the edge of the river, which was once used as a rock quarry. This dates all the way back to 1722  when French explorer Jean-Baptiste Benard de la Harpe landed near the small rock formation on the south bank of the river. Established in 1814, Little Rock became the state capital in 1836 and boomed as the commercial and administrative center of a growing state.

Senior visitors and new residents will appreciate the bonus that Little Rock is one of the most affordable cities in the United States. Little Rock offers meals, lodging and transportation for all budgets and tastes.

The Bill Clinton Library

Little Rock is the geographical, political, and financial center of Arkansas and is at the meeting point of the state’s two major regions, the northwestern hills and the eastern Delta. The town today has a relaxed, open feel, a far cry from the dramatic time of 1957. You will want to take in the city’s newest attraction, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum

Downtown Little Rock Attractive to Seniors

Downtown LR resembles a friendly small town with some dynamic big-city characteristics, and it’s as multicultural as Arkansas gets. The burgeoning River Market district brings a level of sophistication to the staid city center. Across the river, North Little Rock, a growing enclave of shops and restaurants, stretches alongside the extensive riverfront park. Riverfest brings the arts, music, and fun to downtown Little Rock over the course of a long weekend at the end of May. The annual festival takes place on both sides of the river, giving you the chance to double your fun and enjoy one of the biggest events in Arkansas.

The Market

The historic River Market area has been part of the rebirth that has been taking place on Little Rock’s riverfront over the past decade. The Market offers all types of fresh local produce on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Perhaps the most famous of the area’s establishments is Juanita’s, a favorite of President Clinton.

If you are in the River Market area, there are plenty of choices. Stop at Big on Tokyo and try the Japanese Hibachi-grilled lunch special. You can also take home ingredients from the restaurant’s grocery store and try a little Japanese cooking yourself. For casual dining, walk up to the counter at Shaka Smoke Lodge , a popular place for breakfast among locals. For a fun atmosphere and a mixed-bag menu, try Chit’s. A popular after-work hot spot, it is definitely not the kind of place where you are expected to wear a coat and tie.

A Guide and Much More for Senior Visitors

About.com is always a great site for searching for attractions as well as events and things to see and do.  In the area you will want to take in the Old State House. The current Capitol Building is downtown as well.  Clinton Presidential Library, Heifer International and the famous Peabody ducks all call this area home.

If you’re in to local history, the Historic Arkansas Museum is located here as well. You can even stroll through Riverfront Park to La Petit Roche Plaza and see the little rock Little Rock is named after.  Downtown also hosts the Arkansas Arts Center and the MacArthur Museum of Military History. If you like driving through a university campus as my wife and do, the U of LR has a beautiful campus.

Fodors has a blog of folks who have experienced Little Rock with lots of advice and suggestions for seniors.

Dubbed “The Natural State,” Arkansas features first-class parks and recreation areas. Outdoor enthusiasts will find more activities than anyone could hope to fit into one vacation. Frommers adds to the historic city with more to see and do… a good guide with maps, tours, and great shots will entice seniors to take in a great city.  Enjoy Little Rock.  jeb

I would have had no idea where Xiamen was located or anything about this city in China, except that my wife and I have friends who just returned from  Xiamen after spending four months living there.  They showed us many slides of their apartment, friends they made there and views of the city. Bill told me that many chinese cities and words start with an ‘X” that is pronounced as an SH in Chinese. Xiamen would be pronounced something close to Shamen. Not only have senior travelers been coming to Xiamen, but people from the Xiamen area have been moving to other countries for hundreds of years so that it is said that 400,000 Chinese living overseas are of Xiamen descent.

Legend has it that Xiamen Island used to be the nestling place of the egrets from which came the names of “Egret Island.” Today, it has become a Special Economic Zone in China.

Attractions for Seniors in Xiamen

Xiamen, traditionally known in the West as Amoy or ‘the Garden by the Sea’, is a surprisingly pretty city, its streets and buildings, attractive shopping arcades and bustling seafront boasting a nineteenth-century European flavor. One of China’s most tourist-friendly cities, Xiamen is the cleanest and, perhaps, most tastefully renovated city you’ll see anywhere in the country, giving it the feel of a holiday resort. Compounding the resort atmosphere is the little island of Gulangyu, a ten-minute ferry ride to the southwest, the old colonial home of Europeans and Japanese, whose mansions still line the island’s traffic-free streets. With a population of 3.53 million, there are many things for seniors to see and do in Xiamen,  from bonsai parks, beaches, lakes, a skating rink, temples and nearby mountains.

Joined to the mainland by a five-kilometer-long causeway, the island on which Xiamen stands is located inside a large inlet on the southeastern coast of Fujian province. The built-up area occupies the western part of the island, which faces the mainland, while the eastern part faces onto Taiwanese Jinmen Island. The area of most interest is the old town in the far southwest, and Gulangyu Islet just offshore.

If a visit to Xiamen is your first, do be well prepared before stepping foot into China.  This site is full of great information complete with a travelchinaguide.com map. Travel tips of all kinds are always helpful, provided they are authentic and this one will provide some good information.

Major tourist areas of Xiamen

Xiamem enjoys a pleasant climate and beautiful natural environment.  The city claims to be a city in the sea and is renowned for its various scenic spots and cultural relics.  Among the most attractive place should be the Gulangyu Island, which prohibits motor vehicles. With rich resources of intriguing scenery, historical relics and architectures of varied styles, the Gulangyu is promising to be an AAAAA national tourist attraction and surely is a must-see during your trip to Xiamen. The Sunlight Rock, which claims to be Xiamen’s highest point and the Shuzhuang Garden are highly recommended. As the saying goes “You can not say you’ve been to Xiamen without climbing to Sunlight Rock”. Sunlight Rock is one significant attraction of Gulangyu, which consists of Sunlight Rock (Riguangyan) and the Piano Park. A huge stone with over 40 meters in diameter stands on the peak of Sunlight Rock, as a symbol of Xiamen. Haoyue (Bright Moon) Park and the Piano Museum are also appealing to visitors. As you know by now, I like to suggest a tour of any major city to get to know it before you start strolling around. Good solid information is always a must in China.

Though it isn’t a big city in China, both its port and its airport are among China’s top twelve.  Just like our friends, I feel that you will enjoy your visit, or even as they did for a short period of time, moving to Xiamen.  Do seek a little more background in the language, customs, etc. on my Best Chinese Websites and have a great time in Xiamen. jeb

It is a fact of life that senior citizens do not nurture friendships as we might. It is so easy to find and maintain contact with people these days.  It is sad that with the multitude of demands and interruptions, we don’t.  I have cousins whom I have not seen nor communicated with in 20 or more years.  Sure, we may not share today’s life agendas in common, but it does seem an occasional drop in hello would not be too much.  My responsibility, not theirs.

Almost without exception when reconnecting with old friends and long lost relatives or someone met casually, the experience is one of delight and pleasure.  Regaling together over old and long misplaced stories is one of the benefits.  Repeating a phrase or prompting a habit suddenly remembered, conjures up happy memories, good times, happy occasions.  We thought they were forever gone, but no there was someone out there who shared them with us and tucked them away for that day when the relationship could be resumed. How precious! How treasured! How delicious!

Make Time for Old Friends

It is, as the years move so quickly from a few to a full decade, mightily incumbent upon us to find some push that enables us to hold on to those times, those persons, those recalls, those moments that presented us then with a gift that we could, in fact, keep forever. There is no reason to surrender those well preserved memories, those specially guarded times that made for its own brand of happiness and joy.  Reconnecting is a possibility. When it happens, it can be another slice of time that, in the future, may create another memory that is savored.  Making such times in our lives is what helps keep us vital and vigorous and even victorious over mourning the sadnesses of our past.

Whether an orchid or chocolates, a card or an epistle, a phone call or a Skype contact, today is a day for a flood of intimacies communicated and shared.  Across miles and oceans, the messages come.   Over airwaves and by snail mail, the intentional signal of affection and love is sent.  There is about children and their mothers some strange mystique that happens today, this special once a year day when the connection is acknowledged and made stronger.

Because the bond is so strong and the need to signal that affection so real, persons who do not give much thought to this mystical link, do so today.  Crusty characters whose ability to show love come through with strange sentiment.  Indifferent individuals who are too busy to be bothered stop to say what needs to be and must be said.

The Parent-Child Connection

For some, perhaps, at no other time is the emotional tie so strong.  Perhaps on no other day is it okay to weep with the joy of thanksgiving and celebration.  Other occasions come and go.  Other special days deserve their recognition.  But none carries with it such a deep and abiding sense of connection of child with parent, of offspring with the one to whom life has always been joined.

So today on this extra special, incomparable, unmatched occasion may child and parent, mother and son or daughter be linked together with the strong bond that helps us be the human being we are and the individual we have become. May child give and parent receive the best gift of all, the gift of gratitude for all that has gone before and all that will come after.

Happy Mother’s Day to mothers everywhere.

1. The most traditional plan is the purchase of a long-term care insurance policy.  We have yet to find planning experts who do not recommend purchase of a long-term care policy.  They need to be researched carefully, and the exact terms of the policy need to be reviewed… one by one. Seeking the help of an expert who does not sell policies is a good idea.  They can help you walk through the options and determine the best plan for you.
2. With the assistance of a long-term care policy, you may have the option to move to an assisted living facility or a nursing home in the event you are unable to care for yourself.  Some policies also provide in-home care and/or care in a small group home. These options need to be clearly identified in any long-term care insurance policy you review.  Assisted living is just that; assistance is provided for activities of daily living (ADL) such as bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, etc.  Nursing home care is skilled nursing; residents of these facilities need skilled nursing care for medical reasons.  In-home services are generally prescribed by a physician, and can include such things as preparing meals, light household cleaning, bathing, and other personal care the patient is unable to provide for him/herself.  Care in a small adult group home is very much like assisted living, with the number of residents small (usually 8-10) as compared to a larger ALF that may have as many as a hundred residents.
3. One of the options you may want to consider is a move to a retirement home/center that provides the full gamut of elder care, so you will not have to ever move again. This can begin with independent living where there is no elder care whatsoever, with the possible exception of housecleaning and meals provided.  The various levels of care beyond that include assisted living (described above), skilled nursing care, and hospice care for one’s final days.
4. Staying at home with caretakers coming in for various services may be another option for some seniors.  This generally is coordinated with one’s primary physician, social services and in-home nursing care.  In-home monitoring services (such as Rest Assured®)are relatively new on the market, and a service SCJ highly recommends investigating.  The place to begin for this kind of elder assistance is with your physician.
5. Finally, the option of a program that brings a portable home onto a property (such as one’s adult children) in which the elderly may live in close proximity to caretakers is worth exploring.  SCJ described Med Cottage in a previous article a couple of years ago.  This kind of ‘assisted living’ can be coupled with in-home care that the elder person may require.  The cottage is designed for maximum comfort and safety for senior citizens.

Increasingly Baby Boomers and seniors everywhere will be looking at options for their elder years.  The list provided in this article will only continue to grow as senior citizens explore and create senior living opportunities.

Women are still the primary house-keepers in most senior households. However, if you know men to whom this concern might apply, be sure to forward this article to them.  Today we are concerned about germs that hide around the house.  The germs that worry senior citizens most are salmonella and E. coli. These two monsters lurk in all kinds of places in your home.  You won’t ever completely get rid of them, but you can protect yourself from the illnesses they create in your body.

SCJ editors did an Internet search about household germs, and here is what we found:

• Your kitchen and bathroom sinks are full of germs.  The sinks need to be cleaned with a bleach solution at a minimum once a week (many seniors use bleach towelettes and clean their sinks daily).  A lot of household cleaners on the market today contain bleach.  A green alternative is to identify an organic product that is a disinfectant.  Enter “organic disinfectant” in your favorite browser window and over 400,000 options will pop up.  Ordering them on the Internet is easy.  I put my organic disinfectant in a spray bottle and keep one under each sink in the house.  Makes it easy to keep them germ-free.
• Dish rags, sponges and hand-drying towels are equally full of germs.  Most of us know sponges can be sanitized in the microwave (about two minutes is enough).  Dish rags and hand-drying towels need to be laundered daily.  Get a good enough supply that you can keep them clean and not run out.
• Cutting boards are another place where germs congregate.  They need to be washed thoroughly after each use; that means washing several times if you use it to chop meat and veggies and fruit for a meal.  It needs to be washed after each food item.  Plastic boards and sheets can be put in the dishwasher; wood boards need to be sanitized with a bleach or disinfectant solution.
• Here’s one I hadn’t heard about…   germs can gather in water lines that sit for a while.  Be sure to run water from faucets for a minute before you fill a glass or start your shower.
• Clean TV remotes, computer keyboards and telephone handles regularly.  Again a disinfectant needs to be used to sanitize these items.  Good spray devices are available for cleaning keyboards.  Wiping the keys with a towelette helps keep the keys clean.
• Toothbrushes. Have several on hand and take turns using each of them.  Sanitize them in your dishwasher weekly.  And don’t forget to sanitize the toothbrush holder.
• Tabletops. Use a good household cleaner on your table tops, including nightstands, coffee tables and anything on which you place food items.
• Use liquid soap instead of bar soap at your sinks.  Germs can congregate on bar soap.  Be sure to wipe down the liquid soap container weekly to keep germs from living on the jar.

Seniors can be much safe in their own homes if care is taken to keep it as germ-free as possible.

Smithsonian Magazine voted Mill Valley, CA as the #4 most popular town in the nation. Mill Valley is known throughout the San Francisco Bay Area for its natural beauty and cultural events and is reminiscent of a charming European village. Located in Marin County, just north of San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge, it is a special place full of friendly residents. Today Mill Valley is one of the most desirable locations in Marin County being surrounded by national parks, San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The natural wooded areas bordering the Pacific Ocean attract a plethora of senior visitors.

Stats on Mill Valley

I enjoy checking a city using City-Data, and Mill Valley is no exception. The population runs just over 13,000 and you will notice that the median house or condo is about $1million.  No surprise with SF so close. I found this map and like it very much as it is in four formats. The link About Mill Valley is loaded with information that attracts senior visitors. It is well done with everything from a Welcome link to History and Weather.  Those who have been to Marin County find it exceptionally attractive and here lies Mill Valley. An acquaintance made this short video and Busy Beth always features neat scenes and interesting facts.

A Photo Gallery

Mill Valley has many reasons to be proud and these photos are a good example. The auto-running slide show adds more to the attractiveness of the Valley. Don’t miss reading the early history featuring a scenic railway, mud baths, and opportunities for hunting and camping that made Mill Valley a popular summer vacation locale and where many summer homes were built.  I liked the part about the mud baths. Wonder what that was all about.  Surrounded by national parks, including Muir Woods, an ancient coast redwood forest, Mill Valley’s lush landscape of hills and canyons is a favorite place for senior visitors who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, golf and running.

Additional Attractions in Mill Valley

There are a host of top-rated things to see and do in and around Mill Valley. The Muir Woods National Monument ranks high along with the Mount Tamalpais State Park. TripAdvisor will fill in the blanks for your itinerary and visit including some great hotel values. This site suggests fifteen additional guides you may like along with more information on Muir Woods via the Bootjack Trail. The Mill Valley Travel Guide expands further the many amenities of the region. The Throckmorton (love that word) Theatre is founded on the philosophy that theatre, music, dance, film, poetry, visual and related arts are essential components of a rich and rewarding life, and an indispensable part of human inspiration and education. The theatre along with the Marin County Theater Company are important elements of life in Mill Valley. So when you are back in SF, drive up Hwy 101 and spend some time in Town #4 and you will see why Smithsonian Magazine rated Mill Valley so high.  jeb