Kids are not allowed in the casinos, but one hotel has an entire floor dedicated to families, particularly the children.  There are rides from those fit for toddlers to really scary roller coasters and others that will test your courage and the condition of your stomach at the same time. 

In addition, there were games of chance and skill everywhere.  While some of these are high-tech, most are the same or variations of the ones we New Seniors played as kids when the carnivals or fairs came to town or we took a trip to the amusement park or went up on the boardwalk at the shore.

The games I was familiar with included: knock the iron milk bottles off the table, shoot the ducks, break the balloons with a dart, ring toss, fish pond, land the pennies (now quarters) on the numbers, ski ball, horse races and many more.  Our kids spend several hours strolling around watching the circus acts and playing various games the first night we arrived.  They had a great time and asked to go back one more time before we left.

There was one problem; we had eight stuffed animals of varying sizes joining us for the ride home.  So the backseat was very crowed, but the kids didn’t seem to mind one bit.  Compared to what we spent for shows, restaurants and everything else on the trip, hour for hour this was the most cost effective part of all.  And the kids sure loved it.

On the drive home, I got to thinking about how I liked doing what the grandkids had just done.  The carnival that made a lasting impression on me came to town the year after WWII had ended.  It was held on the grounds of the American Legion, the same one where my family tended to a Victory Garden for several summers before.  This time everyone was home and the Legion brought in the carnival as a fund raising effort.

I never saw so much activity jammed into such a small space.  And, unlike the other road shows that came to town, this one did not have rides.  The veterans manned the food booths and supervised the games.  There was one act, a man that dove from a super-high tower into a shallow pool at ten each night of the five-day event.  So my friends and I, all ten year olds, were allowed to wander around and play the games with money we had saved.  Our parents allowed us to do this because the money went to a good cause.

Probably what I remember most from the carnival at the Legion was to unbridled joy, the laughter and the overall feeling that with the war over good times lay ahead.  Now, another war has officially ended.  Hopefully, the other one will improve.  Then, maybe the American people will have more faith in the future like we did 65 years ago.

Image by striking_photography via Flickr

New Seniors have much to offer trailing generations as we continue to travel the road of this great adventure called life.  If ever there was a time for truth and wisdom in America it is now.  That’s why if you’re 65+ you must be willing to give back to the country that was so good to you through a commitment to service.

However, there seems to be a resistance to making waves or getting involved in unfamiliar areas at this phase of our lives.  Sure, New Seniors continue to serve on church boards, participate in the activities of service organizations or engage in some other ongoing volunteer work.  But, you may say, “It’s only natural after 65 to resist tackling something new.”

New Seniors who are making a difference in their communities are finding this kind of thinking to be far from reality.  After all, you’re 65, you’re retired (or soon will be) and you’re capable of doing just about anything you put your mind to.  So ask yourself, “What am I going to do with the remaining third of my life?” 

You have lots of experience, lots of energy and plenty of time that could be devoted to worthwhile ventures.  How much golf can you play, how many books can you read, how many trips can you take and how much television can you watch before getting bored and asking the question, “Is there a meaning and purpose in life after 65?”

More than any time in your life, this is when you can dream about what you’d like to do and then go do it without restrictions.  And the beauty of service work is you are helping others rather than focusing on yourself.  The sense of accomplishment expands when you help another person, and it may well be the incentive to cause that individual to help some one else.  And the chain gets longer and stronger.

If you’re 65+ think about what you learned from parents, teachers, coaches, clergymen, bosses and other leaders – those things that were so freely given to you.  Then consider where and how you can apply this knowledge to make life better at home, in the community and across the country.  All that remains is for you to take the appropriate next steps.

These kinds of commitments are what constitute the New Seniors movement.  It’s not an organized effort, rather it’s people like you and me trying to do the right thing and make a difference in the lives of others.  If you’re already doing your part, tell us about your activities.  If you haven’t started, investigate the possibilities and don’t be afraid to jump in.  You’ll find lots of other New Seniors ready to help you be of service.      

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Two years ago, at just about this point on the pre-election calendar, people of all ages were wearing pins , donning T-shirts and slapping stickers on their cars in support of the idea of hope and change as the battle cry for fixing whatever was wrong with America. 

Today, there is growing anger among many regarding the attitudes and policies of those they elected.  Recent pools indicate that two-thirds (66.6%) of likely voters believe we’re on the wrong track, yet the train keeps on rolling faster and faster toward possible disaster.  How could things go so bad so quickly?

Of course, we all recognize there’s a difference between how well politicians campaign and how well they perform in office.  I voted in my first election the year Jack Kennedy ran, 1960.  You had to be 21 to vote back then.  As with our current president, JFK had charisma, he excited people (especially younger ones) and he was a breath of fresh air in staid, old Washington.  However, his work was cut short by an assassin’s bullet.

In 2008, the idea of change appealed to the majority of voters on election day.  But the concept of change means different things to different people.  To some change was a promise to clean up Washington and make it more transparent.  Others believed change to mean giving the government back to the people by listening to them and trying to meet their expressed needs.  And for another group change meant fixing the nation’s problems, real and perceived, which would require some restructuring of the current system. 

Most citizens did not understand that change would mean out-of-control spending, a worsening economy, increased unemployment, collapse of the housing market, higher taxes and running up a national debt that’s so big our grandchildren and great grandchildren will be paying for it throughout their entire lives.  And, while all this was occurring, we were fighting two long-standing wars, found ourselves unable to handle home-grown disasters like the Gulf oil spill and were not able to stop the flow of illegal’s at the borders let alone deal with those already in this country.

The above problems, as well as others too numerous to mention, were not created by one person, or even one party, and did not all happen within one year.  However, as in the past, those in power get the accolades as well as the blame.  This is why so many incumbents or establishment candidates from both parties are in real trouble this year.  Because it is not a national election, past voting records and current issues will be viewed more carefully by state and district voters.  And party preferences can be trumped by candidates deemed more trustworthy and better qualified to tackle what’s facing us.

So, a big change can be expected this fall, in the U.S. Congress and in many state houses across the country.  It will be a people’s election, one where change will be instigated from the bottom up instead of from the top down.  And, one thing is certain, if the newly elected representatives don’t get the people’s work done to our satisfaction, these politicians will be voted out of office the next time we go to the polls.  Because in the United States, government is supposed to work for us not the other way around.     

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No matter what you say or how valid your points may be, these folks are unlikely to hear, let alone accept, your rationale.  Expect a personal attack rather a logical and fair response, if the other party is even willing to address the subject.  “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind is already made up” is the prevailing attitude of many these days.  If you believe that prejudice is best described as contempt prior to investigation, then the one who derides you based solely on their personal philosophy is the one whose motives should be challenged.

Like the overwhelming majority of Americans, New Seniors (those born between 1930 and 1945) support protecting the southern border, placing greater restrictions on hiring and not rewarding illegal immigrants by offering them government services.  A nation is defined by geographic borders, its constitution and laws.  If you agree, does this make you a xenophobe?

Upholding the concept that marriage is between a man and a woman is not new, so it really doesn’t need to be defended.  However, if some factions have their way we will abandon the accepted definition of marriage in favor of their ideal.  Most folks 65+ are open to unions but draw the line on making gay marriage the law of the land.  New Seniors simply have a different point-of-view from those who would erase all lines.  If you agree, does this make you a homophobe?

The New York mosque pushback is not intolerance or an effort to take away freedom of religion or the right to build a place of worship for Muslims.  However, the question is why must the mosque be located so close to ground zero?  This displays insensitivity to the families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 terrorist attacks as well as the nation as a whole.  If you agree, does this make you an Islamophobe? 

The above examples are just the beginning.  Detractors of health care reform legislation are considered cold hearted, because 32 million uninsured individuals would be denied coverage if the government had not pushed through a plan late last year.  Belief in the right to life is met with cries that such a position is anti-women, anti-poor and out-of-touch with today’s enlightened social mores. Opposition to the redistribution of wealth is supposedly motivated by personal greed and a lack of compassion for others, yet New Seniors know from experience this is not the way to build a stronger America.

If you’re 65+, don’t be intimidated by people wanting to change the American standards in which you have always believed.  We must stand up for the values, traditions and morals that made this country great.  Our nation’s future depends on you defending them.        

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There are so many good memories connected with the things we smelled.  The best ones were in the kitchen.  Coffee brewing, eggs and bacon frying, bread being toasted on a wintery morning made getting out of the snug, comfortable bed worthwhile.  At lunchtime I could tell what soup we were having when I walked in the back door.  My favorite was Campbell’s tomato, and it still is. 

Oft times, the aroma of a roast or other wonderful dish cooking in the oven wafted into the back yard were I was playing.  I could hardly wait for mom to call me in for dinner.  And, of course, there were the festive smells of Thanksgiving dinner and the cookies baking for Christmas, which was enhanced by the strong fragrance of a blue spruce in the corner of the living room.

In the bathtub was a bar of Lifebouy soap that had a distinct smell, so after using it everyone knew you had just taken a bath.  Down in the basement, by the laundry tub, was a brown bar of Fels-Naptha soap that had a particularly pungent odor.  Mom used it to scrub out stains, and it came in handy as a treatment for poison ivy as well.  On the shelf were boxes of Rinso for the heavy wash and Ivory Snow for gentler things.  These were granulated soaps and had a pleasant, clean fragrance unlike today’s harsh detergents.

I can recall one uncle smoked a pipe and the tobacco was aromatic.  The brand name was Holiday; and, in my mind’s eye, I can still see the ship on the label steaming off for some exotic far away place. 

Every time we drove over to the Jersey Shore from Philadelphia, I knew we were getting close when the stagnant stench of the backwater marshes crept into the car through the open windows.  Then the bay, with its distinct odor, signaled the causeway was near.  And once on the isle of Ocean City the fresh, sharp bite of the salt air indicated we had reached our destination, at last.

There were so many other enjoyable smells.  Take restaurants, for instance.  The seafood places always reminded me of French fries, because the popular priced ones served fried fish and fried everything else.  I still love those fried seafood dinners but try to stay away from them these days.  Italian restaurants smelled like my neighbor’s house, and steak places reminded me more of my house.  Chinese restaurants had their own unique smell and didn’t remind me of anyone’s home.  It was all good, and there was so much more.

Do you have smells you liked from your childhood?  If so, please share them with us.

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Look at the problems out there: major unemployment, out-of-control spending, investments and savings going nowhere, deflation or inflation  ready to strike at any moment, tax increases looming, medical coverage rates up with services down, more taxes to come, unprotected borders, foreign forces threatening America and more.  On top of this, the foods we love are killing us.  Hanging on to the barrage of negative information slung at us each day is having faith in the worst rather than the best life has to offer, which eliminates of hope.

Expecting negative outcomes allows one to predict the future, control the results and then say, “See I told you things were lousy.”  To make this self-fulfilling prophecy become a reality, requires ignoring the good that surrounds us.  These blessings are abundant, even if we refuse to see them.  Only by letting go of the negative are we free to open our hearts and minds to the positive things that come into our lives.

This sounds simpler than it is, because we live in a “problem/solution” world.  For years, we’ve been instructed to identify the problem, analyze it, develop a plan and implement it in order to solve the problem.  This causes us to focus on problems rather than live in the solution.  “What’s that,” you say?  Everything we encounter is not a problem.  Look at them as situations, because if you can’t make a direct contribution to resolving the matter, it’s probably not your problem.  It belongs to someone else.  Situations don’t demand your personal attention the way problems do.  So why worry about it?

Don’t think for a minute that this is a head-in-the-sand approach to living comfortably in today’s world.  Nothing of the kind.  It is a common-sense way of being able to make a difference where and when you can while not being bogged down with problems that you can’t resolve.  This is more a tend to your own knitting way of participating in life.  Your job is to sort through the situations until you find a problem that deserves your attention and your involvement can make a difference.

The place to start is at home, then branch out to friends and eventually the community in which you live – like dropping a pebble in the pond and following the concentric circle as the move out.  Being of service is a concept that works.  It will allow you to get outside yourself  by helping others with their problems.  The more you do this, the fewer problems you seem to have.  And if you think the government is a problem, vote for someone who you rely on to fix things.  In the meantime reach out and accentuate the positive, chances are you’ll find real solutions for living.   

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These attitudes make for an interesting mid-term election.  The movement to oust incumbents continues to garner supporters.  Unemployment, while a big concern, is overshadowed by the bigger question of “where is the economy headed?”  Slow recovery could be acceptable if there was an indication that someone in the federal government understood the plight of the people and had a plan to fix the problems.  Instead, the government continues to throw good money after bad in a desperate effort to make something – anything – happen.

This failed strategy of out-of-control spending may please some special interest groups but does not cut it with the average citizen, particularly those 65+.  This is apparent when taking an inside look at the recent Rasmussen study mentioned above.  This shows 62% of New Seniors believe Congress is too extreme, 5 points higher than the average.  Greater differences were reported for Congress being more liberal at 64%, a difference of 8 points, and too conservative 34%, also a spread of 8 points from the norm.  And, 65% of those 65+ thought the President to be more liberal than they are compared to 57% of the overall respondents.

New Seniors tend to be more conservative with age, but they have a different point-of-view regarding entitlements that affect them.  They worked hard at their job, raised a family, provided them with food and housing, saved for the kids’ education and tried to still have enough for retirement without depending on a handout to get by.  However, this group paid into Social Security, as did their employers and through taxes contributed to Medicare since its inception.  So they have a right to demand what was promised them.

Now, inside maneuvering is quietly taking these benefits away or changing the way they are delivered.  The two-year freeze on COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) is the first time this Social Security benefit has been stopped for a multi-year period.  Has the government considered the fact that basic costs that are not part of the inflation index have increased and those on fixed incomes are left with less disposable dollars in their pockets?  Medicare cuts, to the tune of $500 billion, are starting to be understood, and the result may well be fewer providers accepting the plan, longer waiting periods and lower quality care.  None of these are acceptable, but it could be that all of them will apply in some way to all New Seniors.

There are many more reasons for those 65+ to have a disconnect with those in Washington.  But one thing is clear, New Seniors are not happy and are expected to express their dissatisfaction at the polls in November.

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Fear does not necessarily relate to reality.  However, there are many warning signs as we travel the road to the next phase of life.  Some of these facts may suggest we are on the threshold of a pending crisis.  America’s top 100 corporations were found to have pension plans that were underfunded by over $200 billion.  The number of pension funds considered at risk inside falling companies has tripled.  And, in the last year, a quarter of those in the workforce who were ready to retire have put it off until later.

Government workers are usually guaranteed that any shortfall in their pension funds will be made good by the taxpayers.  Financially strapped states and local governments are revisiting this practice and are making efforts to renegotiate labor contracts, but this will be fought to the bitter end by the unions.  Unfortunately, the general public believes these workers should not be rescued at the expense of taxpayers.  It is unlikely that retired government workers will be affected, but younger ones have plenty to worry about.

Some 60% of non-retired Americans believe Social Security benefits will not be available to them when they stop working.  They have good reason to believe this, since this is the first year when Social Security will pay out more than it takes in; this had been projected to occur in 2016.  Currently 35% of those 65+ depend solely on these benefits for their retirement income.  But the situation will not improve because the number of workers paying for each retiree is 3.3 and will worsen by 2025 to just 2 workers for each one receiving Social Security.

The ever-increasing interest costs on the national debt coupled with the rise in spending for entitlements means that by 2019 more than 90 cents out of every dollar in federal revenue will be required to support Social Security and Medicare, as we know it.  If we ignore these disturbing facts, each of us is headed for financial disaster as the United States goes bankrupt.  This can’t be allowed to happen to the greatest country on earth.

It is imperative that we start a national debate about all entitlement programs.  Our elected official will be required to state their positions and we will demand that they listen to our thoughts.  The problem won’t be fixed overnight, but a dialogue can be established.  Through this process, we will get to know what the politicians believe and what their willing to do.  Then, we can decide who will represent us in the future.

In the meantime, stay calm.  Help others needier than you.  And, be sure to be of service to your family, friends and community.  This sure beats worrying.         

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My friend was a neighbor when we met.  We got to know each other by working on a community project together.  To discuss the work, we had lunch several times and soon discovered we had plenty more to talk about than the project at hand.  He had been the founder and manager of several businesses.  His experiences as a youth, then struggling through the Great Depression and serving in WWII before finally getting the opportunity to succeed in the recovery period in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s helped make him a man I admired – much like my father only in a different way.

His stories were enlightening and often funny.  But there was always something to learn from the memories he shared.  The way he sacrificed to pursue his dreams.  The manner in which business relationships were built and sustained.  And the things he wished he had done differently where all laid out on the table for discussion.  It was obvious that he was smart; but more important he was, and still is, honest.  This meant I could question decisions he made without fear of upsetting him or not getting a straight answer.

What a refreshing change of pace he is from the guarded, uptight ways of many modern business people.  Through our relationship, I learned how to enjoy retirement and seek out something meaningful to do with my God-given talents.  That’s what brought me to become an advocate for those 65+, start my blog and later found the online magazine, NewSeniors.com.  At the same time, I was able to help him through the decision process of moving to assisted living.  And, recently, we talked about him giving up driving.  He already stopped driving at night but fears this next step would substantially restrict his freedom.  So I related how my father did it.  This seemed to help.

Mentoring each other seems natural as we grow older.  There’s nothing to prove.  No control issues.  And no financial considerations.  Just open, one-on-one discussions about whatever is on our minds.  The results are wonderfully therapeutic and amazingly helpful.  So I suggest all New Seniors be open to this kind of relationship.  There are many people from the Greatest Generation who would welcome the opportunity to have us as friends.

There are people at your church or temple, senior centers, study groups, community organizations and anywhere people volunteer to help others.  Maybe the most significant help you can give is to be available for the folks from the generation that give us so much.  They won’t be with us forever, but the time you spend together will create memories that last forever.      

Image by Valerie Reneé via Flickr

Online games are second, accounting for just over 10% of the users’ time.  The only other activity showing an increase was video/movies ranking sixth at almost 4%.  In June 2010 a major milestone was reached when the number of online videos streamed surpassed the 10 billion mark.  Consumers in this country spend an average of 3 hours and 15 minutes viewing videos each month.

All age groups are increasing their usage of the Internet, but how they use it and the way the medium is accessed varies.  For instance, early adopters tend to be younger people while older Americans are still getting comfortable with computers.  This may explain why the game sector increased.  E-mailing, a favorite among older users, is third in time spent with 8.3%, but its share has fallen by 28% — the biggest change of all sectors.

Part of the drop in e-mail share was the shift to mobile phones for instant messaging, which had a 4% share of time, but was still off 15% from the previous year.  However, within this sector e-mail leads in time used with 41.6%.  At the same time, social networking on mobile units experienced a 28% rise.

The big unknown is the 34.4% share attributed to the “other” category, which has declined in share by 8 points this year.  Nielsen analyst Dave Martin said, “Despite the almost unlimited nature of what you can do on the web, 40% of U.S. online time is spent on just three activities time spent – social networking, playing games and emailing leaving a whole lot of other sectors fighting for a declining share of the online pie.” 

Trends suggest that for the most part, people — even those addicted to the Internet — exhibit the basic need for contact with another human being.  This is hardly a revelation to New Seniors, those born between 1930 and 1945, or the boomers turning 65.  Interacting with others has always been our preferred means of communicating.  But this need may be amplified with the way younger Americans are willing to embrace new ways of using the Internet for a way to bridge geographic gaps and to get as close as possible with those receiving messages, even though personal contact was restricted.

At NewSeniors.com, we make it simple by using new technology to connect with those 65+ in order to provide news, information and entertainment as well as a forum for expression and the exchange of ideas to the fastest growing segment within the U.S. population.  Many of us are new to the Internet, but we are learning and enjoying the experience.  If you’re reading this, you are ready to be part of our online community.  So tell your friends to come to our neighborhood where they discover that being 65+ ain’t what it used to be.  That’s why there’s NewSeniors.com.