Your visit will probably commence with Moscow. Moscow is unlike anywhere else on earth. There are about 12 million inhabitants. It’s the wealthy economic nerve center for one sixth of the world’s land mass and has over 120 ethnic groups and nationalities. It’s a diverse and vibrant city with a strange combination of ancient traditional Russian architecture and newer Soviet tastelessness.  And Red Square.  Although the Square is no longer witness to the imposing parades of May Day, it remains a profoundly impressive space. Delimited by the stark severity of the mausoleum, the expansive facade of the world-famous GUM department store, and the exuberant colors of St. Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square is, and deserves to be, the requisite first stop for any visitor to Moscow.  Small groups of 12 or 15 people at a time are let in to see Lenin’s Tomb.  Don’t miss this one.
 
The famous St. Basil’s Cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible and built on the edge of Red Square between 1555 and 1561. Legend has it that on completion of the church the Tsar ordered the architect, Postnik Yakovlev, to be blinded to prevent him from ever creating anything to rival its beauty again.
 
Moscow’s landmarks include Red Square, The Kremlin, St. Basil Cathedral, Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Moscow Subway, Victory Day Parade

Now we are off to St. Petersburg.  St. Petersburg is located on the banks of the Neva River, which flows into the Gulf of Finland. It is the northernmost city, with over four million inhabitants. It is also one of the world’s most beautiful destinations, with lavish palaces, beautiful parks and canals, hundreds of bridges and world-class museums that hold the treasures of Russian emperors and the history of the entire nation. Millions of travelers head to St. Petersburg each summer making it one of the top 10 travel destinations in the world.
 
St. Petersburg Landmarks include The Hermitage, Peterhof, Catherine’s Palace, Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaak’s Cathedral, Savior on the Blood.

One of the most special regions in Russia is the famous ‘Golden Ring’ of cities to the North East of Moscow. This is the ancient heart of Russia and the old whitewashed walled cities filled with venerable onion-domed churches fulfill everyone’s imagination of medieval Russia.  Golden Ring Towns include Uglich, Yaroslavl, Kostroma , Suzdal.

Lest we forget… Secretary of State William H. Seward agreed to purchase Alaska from Russia for only $7.2 million in 1867. At the time, critics referred to this as “Seward’s folly”, “Seward’s Icebox” and “[President] Andrew Johnson’s polar bear garden”.  With approximately 365 million acres, that amounts to less than 2 cents per acre. Still, critics thought Seward was crazy, and the deal only passed the Senate by one vote.

I conclude with some travel tips; be sure to see the 5 essential Tips for Booking Travel to Russia on this page. Спасибо и до свидания (Thank You and Goodbye!).
Oh yes, do bring up my Best Russian Websites page and check out lots of other helpful links.    jeb

But those who do come, will come with expectations of a momentary lift and a pleasureable encounter.  It is they to whom attention must be enthusiastically given, particularly those with whom closeness was not an ordinary experience.  Those of us with courage to go will need courage.  Some will wave their banners of success.  Others will stand aside, humbly watching.  Isn’t it a little late for banners?  Isn’t it time just to say it was my pleasure and joy to have known you when we were here together.  Bombast and inflated egos are for another place and time.  Not here, not now.  Each of us is, after all, fortunate to be able to accept the invitation.  Some won’t be here, because they are a part of the memorialized.  We will miss and wonder at what their life was like, hoping it was good. 

I want especially to see persons whom I remember as having made a difference in our time together those 50 years ago.  I want particularly to remind a few how, without their knowing it, they left an impression and a lasting impact on my life.  It is somewhat difficult to conjure up all those special moments, but, with nudging, they will come.  I want to find out all the good things I can that helped make life productive and full for those with whom I chat.  I want to be sure my dear spouse is included, for she was not a part of that experience then and there.  I will want my old friends to know my best friend and how she has made such a difference in my life.  I likewise will want to extend the courtesy of thoughtfulness to other classmates who have brought their spouses along from other schools and lands. 

This argument I am having with myself is mostly about being thoughtful and courteous, gracious and kind.  The impression we leave with will be the one we have for the rest of our lives.  Hopefully it will be a good one.

In San Francisco recently, we took advantage of a City Tour of one of the prominent buildings of old San Francisco.  The guides are well trained volunteers who love their town.  They want to share that love with others.  Couldn’t that be the case of almost any town of almost any size?  Docents and guides are people who share the energy and inspiration of what makes a community vital.  There is no reason to complain of boredom or allege there is nothing to do.  Why every community is a treasure house of well hidden stories and unknown accounts of events and personalities whose particular contribution is just waiting to be told. 

Some complain, particularly in smaller towns, that the young folk don’t come back.  Why should they?  No one ever taught them about the uniqueness of the place that has made them who they are.  Some communities commiserate that their town has nothing unique to offer.  Spend some time in the library or the archives of the court house or city hall, there are liable to be mysteries there waiting to unfold.

Holidays and vacations aren’t necessarily for going somewhere else.  Find out the people whose notable contributions have never been lauded.  Maybe some of the heroes are now deceased, but go about uncovering those who might be aware of their quiet, humble history.  This may open up, like the blossoming of a beautiful rose, into something never envisaged before. 

If nothing else, start with a collection of old newspapers from your local paper’s archives.  Flip through until that sudden awareness strikes you that there is a story here.   Allow yourself the experience of discovering something no one ever quite caught on to before.  Give yourself the chance for some a-ha moments that may bring others to an appreciation of their community they never had before. Likely, the ripples from your curiosity will spread to others.  Likely, whatever had you anchored down to your favorite chair will nudge you up and out and away.  Likely, your world will become suddenly larger.

So where do you want to go? Their comprehensive travel guides to popular and off-the-path destinations around the globe can make your travel search much easier. Start by finding cheap flights and low hotel rates. Check out their guides for maps, weather, tips and attractions. Then, make the most of their hand-picked deals and expert advice.  One of their Daily Deals offers Virgin America One-Way Domestic Flight Sale from $59.  Keeping pace with the competition, Virgin America has launched its own fall, one-way flight sale with fares starting as low as $59! Experience the last leg of summer and all of autumn in the gorgeous west coast cities of San Diego, Seattle and others. 

Their Cheap Flights section can help with hotels, packages, cruises and cars.  Their Top 25 deals has a space where you can get the best travel deal delivered to your inbox every week plus Quick Links and Site Information.

I enjoy taking a closer look at luxury travel and if you are so inclined, give these a try.  Sherman’s also offers a variety of travel guides.   Their Smart Luxury includes the best travel deals and advice on four- and five-star getaways. Their editors publish the best smart luxury deals and recommend luxury vacations that seem to be worth the splurge. They also offer links to travel blogs.

Want to browse a region?  First check out the USA.  Then…

As the nation’s intercity passenger rail operator, Amtrak connects America in safer, greener and healthier ways. With 21,000 route miles in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day — at speeds up to 150 mph — to more than 500 destinations. Amtrak also is the operator of choice for state-supported corridor services in 15 states and for four commuter rail agencies.  Fact sheets, documents and information about Amtrak’s trains, corridors and improvement efforts are available online.  And FYI in a report issued in 2009 (Oct. 2008-Sept. 2009), we learn that Amtrak welcomed aboard over 27.1 million passengers, the second largest annual total in Amtrak history.  More and more seniors have decided to take AMTRAK on their journeys.

If you have a question that is not answered here, visit the travel agent contact page for more information. Check out Amtrak’s special deals and savings with everyday discounts, limited-time specials and unique passes and travel programs. Saving couldn’t be easier.

Amtrak offers weekly specials on selected Amtrak routes. Weekly Special purchases are non-refundable and may not be exchanged. Weekly Specials are subject to availability and may change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. USA Rail Passes are also available in three types with varying travel durations for travel through out the entire United States. Read the USA Rail Pass terms and conditions for travel, reservation and ticket requirements.  To make reservations for accessible space, please call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).  Trains have neat names like Blue Water, Empire Service, San Joaquin, Carl Sandburg, City of New Orleans, California Zephyr, Wolverine, Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Cardinal.

Hey seniors, check out taking the train from New York to Chicago to Seattle to L.A., a 3,582-mile journey on some of America’s storied trains, including the Empire Builder and the Coast Starlight. From the magnificent to the mundane it’s just one fine and easy way to see the country.  Here is a special link called AMTRAK Vacations.

The World’s Classiest Trains take you back to the golden era of luxury train travel, with dining cars set with fine linen and crystal, and observation cars offering panoramic views. Train tours roll through some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. Trains can travel where cars cannot, so passengers on train tours marvel at scenic vistas that would otherwise be inaccessible.  Most of Amtrak’s long-distance trains use double-deck Superliner equipment, but those cars won’t fit through the tunnels into New York City, so overnight trains fanning out from there  to Florida, New Orleans and on two routes to Chicago — use single-level equipment. Sleeping cars are Viewliners, so named because the two levels of windows provide views from upper and lower berths. Dining cars are in the Heritage Fleet, a creative euphemism for old care that remain perfectly functional, even attractive, and they are a source of nostalgia for longtime train riders.

All aboard: America by Amtrak train provides a nice overview of a trip by train with some personal stories told by riders. On board there are books to read, people to meet, naps to take. Both urban and small-town America scrolled past my windows, along with less-peopled spaces in between. The most spectacular — the Hudson River, the Rockies and the Cascades, Puget Sound, the Pacific — prove unforgettable.     jeb

Surprises are more rare it seems as we age.  Experiencing shock or suddenly being taken aback are more and rare.  When a young woman, attractive and poised, offers me a smile, I must admit, at my age, I am surprised, but pleased.  When someone asks my opinion, I am taken aback.  Doesn’t happen much anymore.  When met with someone I haven’t seen in a very long time, it is so rewarding to feel the pleasure of that person’s company and they tell you so. Surprises are pleasures of life that can so quickly escape us.  They happen less, perhaps, because we are less prepared for them.  But then, that is the nature of surprise and serendipity.  You can’t expect it for it to be genuine.

 Yesterday was our 35th anniversary.   It didn’t come with too many surprises or unexpected gifts.  It just came and slipped by and was pleasant and quiet and reassuring.  We did the right thing, you know.  We aren’t surprised that all the years and tears that have now past have accumulated in this moment of reward and satisfaction and perhaps the surprise of  some that we made it this long. 

Life can be like that, the surprise is in the moment of assessing just how it is that a day, somewhat like any other day, is met with the surprise of fulfillment.  A large bouquet wouldn’t really be a surpise, although it would grace the house with temporary beauty and a dashing reminder of what it means.  A box of candy would only add unwanted pounds.  Whatever the appropriate gift for the occasion, the best surprise is the continuing affirmation of love and respect, of genuine regard for one another, of no regrets. 

So here we are in the waning hours of our anniversary.  No candles, well maybe a few, soft music, Rod Stewart is always nice, maybe a toast over wine, and fulfillment.  No surprises, just satisfaction.  And when the surprises come, whenever they do, however they come they will be all the more special, but no more incredible than the simple pleasure of a day, 35 years later, spent together in the peace and fulfillment that is known and experienced as love.  Accept the surprise of still being able to share that with an embrace, a smile, a kiss and loads of memories.  Thanks, my dear,  for all the surprises!

Another digital measurement company, comScore, found 27.4 million people age 55 and over used a social networking service in the month of July; that’s up from 16 million a year ago.  Nineteen million of those people used Facebook in the month of July alone.

It’s understandable that seniors are becoming more computer literate.  We have more time available to learn how to use new technology, and there are a lot of resources in most communities that provide assistance learning about computers and web sites and how to navigate the world wide web. 

Are you dreaming of a certain destination? Do you prefer land tours? Or maybe you’re intrigued by the popularity of river cruising. Whether you’re looking for a summer vacation or winter getaway, a short jaunt or a grand tour, a value-priced ocean cruise or luxurious indulgence, there’s sure to be a Vantage travel program that fits the bill. Of course, if you’d like more information about any Vantage program, feel free to call  for catalogs and information at 1 800 786-1989 or for reservations at 1 800 322-6677. 
Choose by destinations:

• Europe
• The Middle East
• Asia
• Africa
• South Pacific
• North America
• South America
• Trans-Atlantic
• Antarctica

Or choose by type of travel:

• European River Cruises
• Escorted Land Tours
• Ocean Cruises
• Small Ship Cruises

And here is another of my personal favorites… an around the world opportunity; Around the World trip with Vantage offers extra exclusive features on this around-the-world cruise. Enjoy an included two-night hotel stay in Fort Lauderdale with private limousine service to your hotel and the lowest airfare offered. Embark on this voyage of a lifetime aboard Holland America Line’s Four-Star ms Amsterdam, and let your world view expand exponentially as you explore 43 ports in 27 countries filled with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, iconic cities, and maiden ports. Not surprisingly, this once-in-a-lifetime voyage is in high demand, and with just one departure — January 3, 2011 — and this cruise is sold out!  Watch for Vantage’s around the world cruise posting for 2012. 

You already know of my interest in World Heritage Sites. The World Heritage List includes 890 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.  These include 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed properties in 148 States Parties. As of June 2010, 187 States Parties have ratified the World Heritage Convention.
nota bene: I do not endorse Vantage Travel; I merely share what I find interesting in their publication and hope that these may be of interest to you as well.  More contact is available on both twitter.com/vantagetravel and facebook.com/vantagetravel.          jeb

“Alf Landon, the Kansas governor running as the Republican Party’s 1936 presidential candidate, called it a “fraud on the working man.” Silas Strawn, a former president of both the American Bar Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said it was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s attempt to “Sovietize the country.” The American Medical Association denounced it as a “compulsory socialistic tax.”

What was this threat to American prosperity, freedom and democracy they were all decrying? It was Social Security, which Roosevelt signed into law on Aug. 14, 1935 _ 75 years ago Saturday.

The opponents of Social Security were not right-wing extremists (the counterparts of today’s “tea party”) but the business establishment and the Republican Party mainstream.

In the early Depression years, more than half of America’s elderly lived in poverty. But most business leaders and conservatives considered the very idea that government had a moral responsibility to help senior citizens retire with dignity to be outrageously radical, a dangerous trampling of individual liberty. They predicted that the Social Security tax would bankrupt the country.

As New York’s former governor, Roosevelt knew that business groups had opposed the most important pieces of social legislation on that state’s books, including the factory inspection law (passed as a result of the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waist factory fire that killed 146 women), the law limiting women’s workweek to 54 hours, unemployment insurance, pensions for the elderly and public works projects to put people back to work.

Once elected president, FDR viewed Social Security as part of his broader New Deal effort to humanize capitalism. Born to privilege, he understood that many wealthy people considered him a traitor to his class. They were, he thought, greedy, unenlightened and on the wrong side of history.

FDR outmaneuvered Social Security’s opponents, using his bully pulpit to explain why they were misguided.

“A few timid people, who fear progress, will try to give you new and strange names for what we are doing,” he said in a June 1934 “fireside chat” on the radio. “Sometimes they will call it fascism, sometimes communism, sometimes regimentation, sometimes socialism. But in so doing, they are trying to make very complex and theoretical something that is really very simple and very practical. … I believe that what we are doing today is a necessary fulfillment of what Americans have always been doing _ a fulfillment of old and tested American ideals.”

Most Americans agreed. Running for re-election the next year, FDR beat Landon in a 60.8 percent to 36.6 percent landslide.

Today, Social Security insures families against the loss of income caused by retirement, disability or death. It provides more than $600 billion in benefits to 51 million people. It lifts more than 35 million older Americans out of poverty. One-third of Social Security’s beneficiaries collect survivors or disability insurance, keeping millions of families with a disabled or deceased breadwinner from destitution.

Americans view Social Security as a central component of the nation’s social contract. It is probably the most popular federal government program. Not surprisingly, when President George W. Bush tried to privatize Social Security _ essentially asking Americans to put the security of their future in the stock market _ the people considered it a preposterous idea, especially after they had watched thousands of Enron investors lose their savings and saw the stock market lose 38 percent of its value between January 2000 and October 2002.

Today, 77 percent of Americans _ even 68 percent of Republicans _ believe that policymakers in Washington should “leave Social Security alone” and find other ways to reduce the deficit, according to a national poll in June by the University of New Hampshire. In fact, 75 percent of tea party supporters favor Social Security and Medicare, a New York Times/CBS News poll found in April.

There are still a handful of Americans who bash Social Security. They dress up their arguments in different clothing, but their views haven’t changed much from those of their counterparts 75 years ago. We can’t afford Social Security, they say. It’s going bankrupt. It will destroy our economy and our society.

America, one of the world’s wealthiest nations, can afford to provide an economic cushion for the elderly and the disabled. By making some minor adjustments, Social Security will remain vital and solvent for this and future generations. Economists say that raising the income ceiling on the payroll tax, applying the Social Security tax to nonwage income or adding a modest increase to the payroll tax could add decades to the health of the Social Security trust fund.

In retrospect, it is obvious that Social Security’s Depression-era opponents engaged in fear-mongering, not economic reality. Their opposition was based on a free-market fundamentalist ideology that abhorred any attempt to use government to improve Americans’ living conditions.

Just as the early battle over Social Security wasn’t really about old-age insurance, current fights over public policy are really placeholders for broader concerns. They are about what kind of country we want to be and what values we consider most important. Today, business groups and right-wing zealots oppose healthcare reform, tougher financial regulations, stronger workplace safety laws, policies to limit climate change, higher taxes on the rich and extension of unemployment insurance to the long-term jobless. The issues vary, but the mantra is the same: This policy will kill jobs, undermine the entrepreneurial spirit and destroy freedom.

The White House and progressive activists should aggressively challenge assertions about the disasters that will befall us if government protects consumers, workers, seniors, children, the disabled and the environment. Throughout our history, progress has been made when activists and politicians proposed bold ideas and then won a series of steppingstone reforms that redefined the social contract.” 

1. “Focus on dividends. Invest in stocks that pay dividends. Your options should continue to expand — more companies are paying dividends, and many of the elite dividend-paying members of Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index are upping their payouts to shareholders. True, dividends do not guarantee that a stock will be a winner. Some failed big banks used to pay high dividends, while high-fliers Apple and Google don’t pay a penny. But during periods of market volatility, when stock prices tend to bounce around in reaction to political and economic gyrations rather than accurately reflect corporate fundamentals, dividends can provide a predictable income stream.”  To this we would add consider talking with your financial advisor about investing in bonds for the same reason, and that is they provide a predictable income stream.
2. “Personalize your emergency fund. The standard advice is to keep enough in savings to cover three to six months’ worth of expenses. But a lot depends on the stability of your job and the predictability of your income. The greater the risk your income could drop, the larger your emergency fund should be. If you think your job is in jeopardy, aim to save at least a year’s worth of expenses; ditto for individuals with erratic incomes, such as those who work on commission. Retirees should keep two to three years’ worth of expenses in money-market funds, short-term CDs or other liquid investments” (emphasis added).  Money market funds offer very little interest, so you might want to talk with your financial advisor about staggering short-term CDs so that they mature at regular intervals in the event you need the money.
3. “Age 66 is the magic number. Although you can begin collecting Social Security benefits as early as age 62, your benefits will be reduced by 25 percent or more. Better to hold out for full benefits at your normal retirement age — 66 if you were born between 1943 and 1954; older if you were born later. Once you reach your normal retirement age, you can continue to work while collecting benefits without fear of bumping up against the dreaded earnings cap, which trims $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn over the prescribed limit. In 2010, the earnings cap is $14,160. If you’re willing to wait until age 70, you can collect the maximum retirement benefit for you and your surviving spouse.”  Your financial picture is the determining factor for when you begin collecting Social Security.

There are several more suggestions which we will take up in the next Senior Finance article, Part 2.