Retire In Style Blog

What If You Get Sick-Travel Preparedness

2012-01-27T11:10:00.002-07:00

Travel has its risks...take precautions before you leave home.
Sapa, Vietnam (photo by E.)

Here is a problem that I have never talked about: How to be prepared when you are on the road and get a cold or worse yet the flu? Yikes! Now this does happen boys and girls. As optimistic as I am you would think I would just not worry about this but I do. It can be a big problem. While I don't have all the answers I do have a few steps you should take before you board a plane, set out on the road in a car or a motor home. Be prepared! (PLEASE leave a comment if you have more or better ideas. I will link to a blog post if you have written about this too.)

We are going to make the assumption that you have insurance or are on Medicare.

Before you drive pack your bags be sure to contact your doctor and let them know what you are up to. I suggest that you go to the office and get a quick going over just to make sure you are good to go.
Get a flu shot far enough in advance that it is effective If you are leaving the country be sure to ask your doctor about any other needed immunizations. Hepititus seems to be a major problem.
Ask the doctor for prescriptions for illnesses that can crop up.Urinary track infections, asthma can be examples of a easy fix if you are prepared. If you are traveling overseas fill the prescription before you leave home.
Take all the usual cold medications, inhalers, tummy ache stuff (Imodium) and head ache pills. It will give you peace of mind.
Check with your insurance company to see what they are going to do if you are hospitalized or need to visit a doctor while traveling. Our insurance company covers us when we travel but if yours doesn't, there are companies that do. Go over what you are suppose to do in the worse case scenario. Visualize what you will do if this happens.
Always travel with both your supplemental insurance card and your Medicare card. In my case I never use the Medicare card at home but when we are not at home they do not know my insurance company and are very suspicious. (I have had this happen.)
Carry any medical records, prescription lists and personal contacts (children and doctor's number?). Also carry your living will or anything else that might be needed.
Talk this over with your spouse/partner. Miscommunication can be a huge problem. Always know where the other's wallet or purse is and how to find their cards, etc. If you are in a relationship where your are hiding medical conditions from each other, make an exception and come clean with each other.
If one of you should become ill, remember that the partner standing needs to rest and eat. Nothing can be worse that the well person getting ill because they tried to do too much.
Let your family know what you plan it. If you don't they can even be a problem.b

Wash your hands...a lot. Drink a lot of water. Stay well. I don't want you to need this list...ever!This is important so don't blow me off. I know what I am talking about!

Wash your hand...a lot. Drink more water than you think you need. Stay well. I don't want you to need this list...ever! This is important so don't blow me off. I know what I am talking about.

b
Note: I need your comments. Please let me know if you have more information or personal experiences you would like to share.

Do You Have the Flu (assessment from Mayo Clinic)

How to choose the right RV park! 10 Ideas

2012-01-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

I saw an article yesterday talking about how a person can regret their choice of apartments. No electrical outlets, noisy streets, dark rooms and shrinking space that become more apparent after moving in can send renters over the edge. Renters remorse sets in but a lease has been signed so the tenant is stuck. Finding the right resort to spend the winter in can be just as hard. I have some ideas that will help you narrow down that long list of "perfect" snowbird locations.

Okay I'm here. What do I do now? No matter how fancy a RV resort is it cannot be a stand alone location in most cases. You can sit in the sun for just so long then you are going to want to get out and enjoy the area. I for one do not want to be parked in the middle of the desert with nothing to do. Think about that when you decide to settle into a location.
The railroad tracks are where?You can only hide the railroad tracks for so long. Then that ugly beast with rear it's head at the most inopportune time. Just ask about railroad tracks and freeway noise before you make a reservation. Maybe you won't mind but at least don't be surprised.
I don't know anyone. If you decided to spend the whole winter in one spot you might consider finding a place where you have an acquaintance or two. I say this especially if you are new at the experience. Friends can help make your winter experience more enjoyable. If you like to golf for example, it is nice to have another couple to play with. I don't see this as an absolute necessity but it is nice.
Cars are not welcome? We stayed in an RV resort in Needles, California one year. The owners didn't like for their renters to have visitors and would not let them park near our motor home. If a visitor pulled in behind our car the owners would come immediately and make company move. It was such an unfriendly atmosphere. I think if we had asked if we could have company or invite people for dinner in the beginning we would have saved ourselves a lot of grief. We didn't even consider that when we committed ourselves. It was a beautiful park.
Pets are allowed where? Pets can be a contentious point when you live so close to other people. A park that does not assign a special section for pets is inviting problems. A dog that barks night and day can drive the neighbors nuts. Check on that. If you are a dog owner remember to be considerate of others.
You cleaned the laundry room last year? Take a look around before you commit yourselves to an extended stay. A filthy laundry room or unkept pool area can be a deal breakers in my book. We have stayed (one night) in some pretty iffy places. Thank heavens we did not commit ourselves sight unseen.
Where is the pool, pickle ball, bocce ball? When you look at Camper Life or an online website to see what is available at a park, be sure that the activities you enjoy are available in the park. If you golf a course should be close by.
Quiet hour starts a 7 pm? Unless you are dead you are going to want to talk or even dance in the street once in a while. Remember that! If the park is designed for very old quiet people think about whether that is going to work for you.
It gets how cold at nights? Just because a location is in the southern United States does not mean that it will be warm. Check into the weather, average temperatures, wind/rain before you rent a park model or commit to a month in one location. You will not regret it.
The grocery is how far away? Is there anything worse that being stuck in a place that has no services? I mean I like solitude as well as the next guy but no grocery store save the one in the RV park does not work for me. It is just a thought.

Do you have any suggestions. I would love to hear them.

Stylish Simple Living...what should you keep!

2012-01-24T18:39:00.001-07:00

Bob Lowry wrote a post the other day about living simply but not having a simple life. He spoke of people going over board with the "simple living" principal stripping their life of all those things that are not needed. I began to think about that idea.

Rooftops of Sapa (edited with Snapseed on ipad)

We have just returned from a trip to Viet Nam where we visited a community in north Vietnam called Sapa. Here children played without shoes or even pants on days when I was wearing a coats and scarves. The people that lived in the countryside lived on the bare minimum. But, they still gathered things of beauty around them. Native costumes with lively colors adorned the women and they spent their days weaving and embroidering things that they sold in markets. In fact, beauty surrounded them. On some level it was as though the difficulties of their life was made more bearable because of the colors that they embraced. I think that we can take a lesson from this. Not all the things in our life are disposable. There are things we should never get rid of; beauty, cleanliness, friendship, learning and family.

Native Women bartering!

Bob talked about the person that rid themselves of all but 15 things. He thought it was a bit "silly". I think that if you are going to take away all but 15 things, the 5 things I listed above had be the things that stay. So of all your personal possessions that you can live without, those things that make your heart sing because they are beautiful should not be let go. Hang on to what you can because, even when things get bad, they will make your life better.

I invite you to read Bob's article and see what he has done. Simple Living Can Become Silly is one of the best I have seen recently.

I live with a cat....sigh!

2012-01-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

RV the CAT!

Living with a cat has got to be one of the most frustrating experiences one will ever have. I live with a cat and a husband. The husband loves the cat. As a result I do not have any control in my world at all.

We traveled with the cat in a cage this fall...well for a while. Then the cat demanded to be let out so we did. There was no choice. The cat can be a little whiny and besides that he will scratch me if I don't obey his every command. Not when I displease him but later in the day...in the dark. I don't like that at all.

Now he lives with us in our park model. This cat was wild when we found him and still does not like to be in a small space. We, however, live in a part of our RV park that does not allow pets outdoors...RV the Cat doesn't understand and escapes as often as possible. I don't suppose he can help himself. I don't think he knows that there are places in the RV resort where he could be on a lease outdoors yet. When he runs away, I will call and call but he doesn't come. Then when I am not looking he will sneak in and hide where I cannot find him. He doesn't care if we get in trouble and we do get in trouble right along in this place. I know that can happen. If the residents didn't like it when we danced in the street a 8 pm, imagine what they will say when my big black very spooky looking cat is seen wandering around.

I am a little worried that the cat will find out about Cat/Dog Street. Please don't tell. I told my husband that I have put my foot down. I am not moving to a new location and I'm not letting my husband move either...the cat on the other hand....!

b

Frugal Travel....Vietnam might be the place!

2012-01-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

I was reading the Frugal Traveler this morning. Author of the column, Seth Kugel, writes for the New York Times and is the "guru" of cheap travel. You remember him...he was the one that blasted this blog out of the water last spring. The article today is about Portugal. Now that really is a place I would like to visit. But.....

In my world the Far East (excluding China) is by far the best buy for the frugal traveler right now. We just returned from a trip to China and Vietnam. We visited Sapa, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the island of Phú Quốc in Viet Nam and Shanghai in China. If I were looking for the most frugal of all adventures, Vietnam would be my choice right now...that is what I know so indulge me.

Flight: $1450 (from Tucson AZ)
Rooms: $20+ Sapa Boutique Hotel, $140 Grand Hotel Ho Chi Minh City, $20-$100 Hanoi, $150 Cassia Cottages Phú Quốc (included breakfast). This is a resort so the price is higher but in this case I think it is probably a very good choice.
Trekking: We booked our day hikes in the hotel we staying at. We booked the guide after we had arrived. There are websites for treks with overnight stays in villages. 2 days 3 nights will cost around $170.
Overnight train fare from Hanoi to Lao Cai $25-$78. Connecting Bus (1 1/2 hr.) $2 one way.
Note: A trip to Halong Bay could be another place you should put on your list.

Sapa Rooms Boutique Hotel Lobby/Restaurant

Night Train to Sapa from Hanoi

Valley below Sapa on the slope of the Hoang Lien Son range of mountains
at the eastern extremity of the Himalayas.

Trek to Cat Cat Village

Cassia Cottages, Phú Quốc

I don't know when you last stayed in a $25 hotel room but it had been a very long time for me. We stayed in a very small hotel in Hanoi called Hanoi Gecko. The rooms were clean and the hotel was extremely small. The hotel owner was there to greet us personally and the breakfast we were served in the morning was in a dining room off the lobby. It was all just fine! On the other end of the spectrum, we found the resort on Phú Quốco be very luxurious in Vietnam's terms and within a few years the price will probably be beyond our reach. Our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City was indeed very nice but was not a 5* hotel. All in all the trade off we made for the cheap rooms allowed us to upgrade in other locations.

Shopping Viet Nam is still very affordable and Hanoi Old City is very much like it has always been I think. The charm of the way of life that reflects how the Vietnamese really live is still alive here as it is in Sapa. The farther you go south the costs seem to go up.

Market Place, HCMC

HCMC from the air.

A young frugal traveler that is willing to stay in less than *****hotels will find this to be a winner. At least that is what we found. Save up all your credit card points, keep a look out for cheap airline tickets or special...this could be the trekker adventurer's trip of a life time.

b

Stein Mart Coupons and ME!

2012-01-21T10:08:00.001-07:00

Link Here

Stein Mart here in Tucson (and maybe nationwide) is having a sale today (1/21/12). Valentines day is coming. We are going dancing next week end. Did I mention...I love Stein Mart! This is the store designed for women that like classic, beautiful, stylish, and inexpensive clothes. It is a wonderful stop even if they are not having a sale. Doesn't that describe you? Really, this store is just perfect. In fact, walking in the door will have your heart pumping. At least that is what it does for me.

I love a good sale and I LOVE STEIN MART! That is all I have today.

b

How Old is Your Retirement Financial Advisor?

2012-01-20T13:46:00.002-07:00

If I were a financial advisor I would really want to be near the age of the person I was advising or have dealt personally with the problems of a family member or friend that was retired! The internet is filled with ads for people that want to tell others who are retiring how to invest their money and how much retirement income they will need. But, unless they have been personally and emotionally involved in the finances of a senior, they probably know zip!

I was reading an article put out by a leading financial group the other day saying the same thing. According to the person writing this article, the thing most advisors are forgetting is the emotional and financial cost of maintaining our bodies (health care). The money figures they quoted were staggering.

According to the estimates in Figure 2, a man age 55 in 2009 would need between $144,000 and $290,000 by the time he reached age 65 in 2019 (depending upon his use of prescription drugs in retirement) to have a 50 percent chance of having enough money to cover premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for Medigap and Medicare Part D
Women age 55 would be able to save the same $46,200 as 55-year-old men if interest rates were 1 percent, but would need between $210,000–$406,000 by the time they reach age 65 in 2019 to have a 50 percent chance of having enough savings to cover premiums and out-of-pocket expenses in retirement.

These figure released in 2010 by the Employee Benefits Research Institute are the latest I can find and probably don't take into account new benefits or loss of benefits that have been instituted over the last 2 years.

Living for six month of the year in a 55+ community has giving we some insight to the good and bad of health care choices. For example, we see people that do not have the benefit of physical therapy after surgery. Recovery takes so much longer and is not complete. In other cases we witness the effects of poor dental care and all the problems it brings. Many people are dependent on the Veteran's Administrations for care and it has been a disaster. In some cases all of these come together to create the perfect storm. On the other hand, those with good health care benefits can live a very long and healthy life.

Living by the seat of our pants is not a good thing. Find a good retirement advisor be sure he/she is good because they truly understand the emotional side of living with the spektor of poor health care for the rest of your life.

Just a thought.

b

Note: Be sure of the cost before you enter into an agreement. In 2006 Kiplinger said:

A commission only advisor can offer you the advice you need and the cost will be amazingly low. this is because they are still early on in the "learning process". Dont let that scare you - if you go with a big firm, they will likely have a strict review process to ensure you are getting excellent advice (and doing nothing stupid).

Read more: http://forums.kiplinger.com/showthread.php?6561-Financial-advisor-costs&s=4f5052f5c810348950a19683e2c0c1db#ixzz1k28Ib3B5
Become a Fan of Kiplinger's on Facebook

You Don't need to be Bored in Retirement! Hobbies

2012-01-16T13:20:00.001-07:00

Note: I welcome you to become a follower, comment or even click the twitter button to share with your followers. Thank you for stopping by.

Learning to draw on my ipad!

I heard from a Keith of Keith's Ramblings the other day. He has just retired and commented on his own blog that he was already bored! Being the helpful person I am, I suggested he become a clown. He could join the circus!

Even though I was only joking, in some small way I was serious. Have you ever dreamed of being a clown...or a writer or a pro-golfer? Retirement is the time when you can pursue those dreams. The fact that you do not need the income frees you to do what you want without fear of starving! All you have to do is start. But being bored really should not be a choice. You may have a little let down when you retire but before long you will begin thinking about what you will do next. Retirement will last a long time so "next" is the key word here.

I always wanted to be a writer. I woke up every morning for years with the first line of the next great American novel on my lips. My regret now is that I didn't keep a list of those "first" lines. Peanut's Snoopy and I could have compared notes. When my husband and I retired, my son suggested that I begin blogging. We were traveling at the time so I just began talking to my grandchildren by way of the internet. That dream blog evolved into stories, poetry and eventually this blog about all that retirement holds.

Would you believe that the thing that bothered me the most in the beginning was my keyboarding skills? I wanted to publish what I wrote immediately but being my own editor was harder than I ever dreamed. Those first few years of writing look so shabby to me now. I am sure that what I write today will look that way to me in a few years too.

What I have learned is that I am happier when I am busy. I can still learn with practice so new things don't frighten me anymore. If for no other reason than happiness, starting a new thing that you can become passionate and even a little obsessed is a good thing. Being involved will keep you off the streets. Last of all, practice will make you better, stronger and more confident.

Don't tell me you are bored! Didn't you always want to be a clown? Today is the day!

b

Technorati Tags: happiness, ipad, blogs, avocations, bored

How much do your children love you?

2012-01-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

How much do your children love you?

In an article written for the New York Times on their Sunday Review Opinions page, Hendrik Hartog, professor of history at Princeton wrote our current financial picture in relationship to the care elderly people are receiving now in comparison to the time before Social Security. The article called Bargaining for a Child's Love is part of 10 years of research that Hartog did on the role families played in the caring for family members.

This story takes place sometime at the turn of the century. As was common at that time a daughter had remained in the family home to care for the parents even after she married. According to court records from New Jersey, in 1904 this daughter was finding it impossible to be the devoted daughter and a wife and mother. She left the family home with her husband and daughter and moved into a house nearby. It turned out the father suffered from syphilis and the mother was "crazy". The father first ordered her to return and then tried to buy her love with the promise of his Civil War Pension and the property he owned. All he asked was that she move back home. She did not move back permanently but continued to return home frequently to clean. In the end the daughter did get the house after returning to care for the parents for a short period of time but was then sued by her brothers for a share.

The image painted in this story is one that does not agree with that "it was better back in the old days" we hear about so often. Hartog talks about the romantic notion that things were better back when touted by those that are proposing that we abandon Social Security and Medicare in favor of privatized care.

Once upon a time, the story line goes, family members cared for one another naturally within households, in an organic and unplanned process. But this portrait is too rosy. If we confront what old-age support once looked like — what actually happened when care was almost fully privatized, when the old depended on their families, without the bureaucratic structures and the (under)paid caregivers we take for granted — a different picture emerges.

I recall stories told in my family about how the old felt about living in the same house with their children. My great-grandmother on my mother's side believed strongly that there was not the house big enough to let a blended family live together in peace. She lived alone until her death. My mother cared for my grandmother on my father side until that grandmother became so untrustworthy and mean they placed her in a nursing facilities...far away! This grandmother lived on welfare paid for indirectly by my parents. I think that Grandmother did not want to be in the same house with her son and daughter-in-law. The house was not big enough and maybe no house would have been. It is not a pretty picture. I know that. But, it is in fact the way things were.

Hartog ends his article with the statement "We may not love the bureaucracies and the institutions that shape our lives today. But would many of us really want to live in a world without them?" Financial speaking it is a valid question.

So the question here is what bargain would you make with one of your children so that they would care for you? Would you share that information with the whole family before making a final decision? In many cases the final question would be how much do your children love you? If our politicians have their way, we may just get to find out. It is a little frightening isn't it!

Just a thought!

Technorati Tags: NYT, Privatize, Social Security, Family, Care Givers, finance

A Day in the Life of a Senior: Death

2012-01-13T15:08:00.001-07:00

To live in hearts we leave behind

Is not to die.

~Thomas Campbell, "Hallowed Ground"

I just want you to know that not all of our days are wonderful. But then isn't that true all of our lives? It is not whether or not something bad happens. It is how we live with the bad.

Grieving
My dear friend Phyllis's youngest son was killed in a snowmobile accident yesterday. He was 44 years old and the youngest of 6 children. I don't even know what to do about this but give her all my love. She is very deeply religious and it is carrying her through for the time. The loss will come later I suppose.

My only thought was, of all the people on the face of this earth that are ready to die, a great many live within earshot of my park model. It seems so unfair. What I pray for her is that she be given the strength to accept what she cannot change.

b

Advertisement for Seniors...the good and the depressing!

2012-01-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

About Page
on Agency five0

The Good:

An ad agency called Agencyfive0.com markets to the people those over 50. I think this site is a feast for the eyes. Their about page gives you a sense of the power that the 50+ set has. They are the people that created the L'oreal L'50 ads featuring Diane Keaton and Andy McDowell.

The Depressing:
They Just Don't Get It: Fab Over Fifty has given women over fifty a voice...and a powerful one at that. Geri's Blog over at Fab Over Fifty posted this article as a result of an invitation from Prudential to view their new TV spot. I think that the people that asked her to watch did not realize how smart and well informed these women are.

It turns out the advertising industry really has no idea what is going on in seniors heads. This is a quote from one of the owners of the advertising Agency 50:

If Prudential wants to get pre-retirement FOFs into using its financial planning services, why does it resort to portraying those who are newly retired in such a sad light? ”Take a look at the video about a man named Mujahid. It makes you want to just put a bullet in your head instead of retiring,” Brent said. “It’s almost like he’s serving his first day of prison.” Is the campaign designed to scare 45 and 55-year-olds into thinking, ‘I don’t want to be like that when I’m 65!’

Honestly it was not so much what they said as it was how they said it. Funeral style soothing music and audio by a man that seemed not so much happy about retirement as resigned to it, left me wanting to run into the street. Please people there has to be a better way!

Are YOU ready to stop driving? Of course for every article empowering seniors there has to be one that points out our limitations. It is the job of everyone that serves this segment of society to help us realize that we are not as young as they are. I hate it but what is is!

Liberty Mutual created this depressing video for their customers. It is interesting that they found the need to make a video pointing out that young people need to take the wheels away from old people at all. Aging successfully is all about being realistic when it comes to our limitation as well as our capabilities. But then hasn't that been true all of our lives? It turns out they think we need to be reminded that we cannot drive forever. I hope most seniors and their families have enough sense to have this conversation.

I just wish that the video been about the choices available to people that are not driving for what every reason. Aging is only one of many reasons people need to stop driving. Did they need to talk in that "insurance adjustor" tone to remind us all how really old we are or are going to be? I hated this one too.

That all for today folks!

b

10 Small Gifts for Her ...Tuesday Gifts!

2012-01-11T11:40:00.001-07:00

A picture of a special occasion is perfect!

Let me explain...a Tuesday gift is one you give for no reason at all and in my world it is a "small gift for her". It can be a chocolate or a piece of silver. The gift is not what matters. The thought that someone thinks of you for no reason but that they like you does. Here is a list of my favorite Tuesday gifts:

Packet of certificates for a car washes. I received this as a gift. I actually keep them in my glove compartment and when one of my older grandchildren stop by I give them one. They really like that. It is the gift that keeps giving.
Book Marks. I have magnetic book marks, ones that have been given to me as gifts by merchants, ones I have made or even bought. I include them in a thank you card or a book I am lending for the person to keep.
Packets of blank cards. These are so handy. If a stamp is on the envelop so much the better.
Seeds. All my friends garden in pots or small beds. It is so fun to pop them into the ground and have the gift show up weeks later.
A single chocolate. All girls love these and one is the right amount!
A recipe in your own handwriting.
A printed picture of a special occasion you have shared with the person. (Our computers can be our best friend.)
A book that you have read and want to share. I love a used book better than anything. Be sure to write a note in the front and encourage the person to do the same when they pass it along.
A loaf of homemade bread or anything that is special from the kitchen.
And one of my favorites; a rock I use as a paper weight...a friend brought it to me from a famous golf course.

I was given a Tuesday gift several years ago. The idea is one I have embraces with enthusiasm. The idea was probably the best gift of all.

Seniors: How do your choices affect others?

2012-01-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

I think one of the universal truths is that "it is never all about me". In this world every decision we make plays out not only in our own life but in the lives of those around us. This applies to all that we do everyday.

Yes, that is the bottom in the distance!

Cat Cat Village at the bottom of the canyon

This bird came home to rest when we were in Sapa, Vietnam. My husband and I were invited to walk with our family and a tour guide down the mountain to Cat Cat Village. The walk began with a descent into the valley below first on a rocky road that soon turned into a long secession of steps...it felt like 2 kilometers down and as many back. The information we were given said it was an "easy" walk of only 2 kilometers. I learned a very good lesson. Be sure what you are doing before you begin. I could have fallen and did stumble several times. I could have been unable to complete the walk. Neither happened but I did slow the group down considerable. I really did want to go on that walk so I made a childish decision. My pride did not allow me to face the truth. For a short few minutes I forgot that universal truth...it is not all about me!

So this is the lesson we should all take away from this. When we choose to ignore doctors orders we will not be the only one to suffer, the people around us will suffer too. When we choose to be irresponsible financially, others will pay the price for our selfishness. When we choose to travel when we are not able, those people around us will suffer the consequences of our actions. Ripples on the water will rock all the boats in the pond...your boat will not be the only one that sinks.

It is just a thought.

b

Related articles

Saying Goodbye to China!

2012-01-06T14:08:00.000-07:00

Aging has not changed me that much. I have always loved to come home after a vacation. My own bed, bathroom, soap and night lite give me comfort after living away. For me it has always been so. But this time away was different somehow. For the first time in this lifetime of travel I have seen beneath the surface and it has left me grateful for what I have.

We returned to Tucson last night around midnight after 17 hours between Shanghai and Arizona. Seventeen hours is not that long but time really has no meaning when we are talking about two cultures born of different history. I have a hard time making my mind jump the gap.

I love China and all it has to offer. I love the juxtaposition of old with the new. They are in so many ways ahead of the United States and centuries behind at the same time. The lack of freedom to communicate with the outside world for most Chinese is screaming to be remedied while their ability to construct freeways, buildings and in fact whole communities of people is amazing.

The Old

The New

American Roller Skates come to China!

Today I switched on my computer here in Tucson after a month of using a laptop that belongs to my husband and my family's personal computer in their home in China. I was astounded at the speed that my internet came up on the screen and the selection of websites I could simply click on without a message appearing telling me that the site was not available. Facebook, Twitter, Blogger and so many more are blocked in China so we were not able to have that instant communication with family that we have become accustomed to. I am waiting for Four Square to be blocked or it may already be. The fact that, in our family at least, we have quit using email and instant message or post on Facebook was a problem for me as we traveled.

Henry (in the vest) living the dream!

Business with no Name....Henry's Dream come true!

I had my hair cut yesterday by a young man that has been learning computer skills and English from my daughter-in-law. I told him that I wanted to bring him home with me because he did such a good job. The words that came out of his mouth did not surprise me..."I want to come to America" he said, "but visas are very hard to get." I could only think that he did not realize that he was living the dream. He had managed to climb up by hard work and seeking knowledge and was now a business owner. In America when we can be successful on that stage, we are living the dream. It turns out that dreams are coming true in China too. Beneath the surface we are not all that much different on many levels. Now if freedom of speech was not such a threat to the Chinese way of life their world would be almost perfect.

Just a thought.

b

Technorati Tags: China, business, travel,

Life in Shanghai...I wish I had a paper map! 2012

2012-01-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

Shanghai 2011

Here is just a thought...why don't I have a paper map of Shanghai, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City? Really, I know I am a technology geek and like to to get my gadgets out but this is just silly.

Yesterday we went into the city to buy pearls at a market located in Pu Xi. I would love to tell you where that is but I really do not know. Back in the day I would have had my nose in a map located us and even telling the person that live here year around how to get where we are going. But now? My goodness do you think I threw out the baby with the bath water?

We wondered what we were doing out yesterday at all really. The girls asthma is acting up and the air quality was so bad you could have cut it with a knife. After a drive across the city, lunch at Blue Frog and a walk to the market to buy a scarf ($12 today) I commented that it was the perfect day. Lunch, shopping and fresh air. My daughter-in-law was hysterical at the "fresh air" part. Really, when you looked out the windows of the car, you wanted to hold your breath.

Rural China

I wonder about Shanghai, maybe even worry a little. They say the China is experiencing the largest migration on the planet right now as the Chinese migrate from rural communities to their cities. When I look out across the landscape, I wonder if one day it will all fold in upon itself and sink into the muddy ooze that lies beneath this city surrounded by water. It seems like a Sim City built with Legos on a paper raft!

We drove by the small cove nearby my son's home. Boats dock here at night. The people's road was being used by fishermen to repair nets and scooters drove on both sides of the road. We had seen rice being dried on the road earlier in December. The road had been recently paved so it was much improved in the time we were in Vietnam. At least the pot holes were gone. This small community is near the airport and Chinese hotels line the way. When we were here before I saw a dog being slaughtered either for it's meat or fur. I have not seen that this time.

Online map of Hanoi

We do not drive through the migrant village just outside the gates of this private community anymore but my son took that route one day when we first got here. He commented about the improvement on that road but it was not evident because the village is growing everyday and people filled that people's road from curb to curb. Some sewage problems have been taken care of but it is still the most basic of lives for those people. Small gardens line the canal that borders the road.

The Outer Ring Roads that circle the city were constructed the year before the Expo was held here in the city. If I had a big paper map I would be very certain about how it looked. The Chinese completed it in less than two years we were told. It is a miracle for traveling from this location near the Pu Dong airport into the center of the city. This freeway proves that all things are possible when you have such a large labor pool and a communist government with a goal in mind.

Watch China very carefully in the coming years. The inflation we see here is bound to seep down into the market that produces goods we buy in the United States. I cannot imagine that the cost for labor is not going to explode one day soon!

In fact if I had a paper map, I would want it to include a path not only geographically but economically as well! Just a thought!

b

Technorati Tags: China, economy, travel, culture

A Month in China...China then and Now!

2012-01-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

Barbara on New Year Eve in Pu Dong China

I am always telling you that I am not an expert on financial matters. What I know is what I see and read in the papers. Believe me this is not a accurate way of accessing the situations. Especially in China.

My husband and I have been here in the Far East for a month now. We have driven up and down country roads, used the subway, ridden on small planes and marginal trains to remote areas in Vietnam. I have shopped in Hanoi, Saigon and Shanghai. What I see leaves me wondering what is really going on.

Vietnam is at the place where China was when we were here 5 years ago. Shopping is fun and goods are affordable for tourists. The people in the cities live much like they did in the villages they came from. Vendors show up on the street very early in the morning as businesses begin to open and disappear as quickly as they appeared.

When we visited Chinese in 2007, the Chinese people were doing fine but the evidence of extreme wealth was not evident. Expats hung out at classy hotels and in the upscale alleys that dot downtown Shanghai. Shops filled with beautiful good were not expensive and a dollar went a long way. Pashmina cashmere scarves could be purchased for a few dollars and antiques were easily found at a price that made shopping fun. In all cases the market for the luxury goods was aimed at foreigners.

Flash forward to 2012. We visited Taikang Lu yesterday to grab a bite to eat and do a little shopping in a labyrinth of alleys that connect main thoroughfares. This time, beautifully dressed Chinese citizens filled shops and restaurants. It is the New Years holiday here so this neighborhood was very busy. Good were so expensive that I could not even consider bargaining for a Pashmina...$100+ each was just so much I wondered about wrapping it around my middle class neck. Young people were dressed fashionably and very much in the public eye. Young men wore funky hair cuts and swaggered better than any rock star. Times are changing at the speed of light.

It seems that the more the people know the less they are allowed to communicate with the world on the Internet. Here in Shanghai I am writing online with the use of a computer equipped with a VPN service. I am not a revolutionary nor do I see a need for political changes. The Chinese people will work things out in their own way. Yet the firewall around this country has gotten to thick and high it is almost impenetrable. While they are keeping the bad out they are also keeping all that is wonderful about the world out too. It is very sad.

I asked my son about the Chinese people that I have been seeing everywhere we go. Were they first generation educated rich? Where were they 5 years ago? His thinking was that they are repatriated Chinese working in the country after living in Canada or even the US. Maybe. I did not ask questions on the street.

On the other hand when we drive down the elevated Outer Ring Rd from Pu Dong to reach the west side of Shanghai we can see every piece of land that is not built on planted with winter vegetables. People are stilling hanging on to small ponds and shacks where they dwell so they can grow vegetables and stay alive. Small villages have street lined with shops that hold not only what the people are selling but also the mattress they sleep on. They are going about living life out in China where the "real" citizens live.

I could only wonder which of these two worlds is the real China? It is the Lego block city that clings to the massive core of this city or is it the rural world that lives so near and yet so far away?

What is the point here? The ancient culture of people is slipping away, at least in Shanghai! We still see evidence that the citizenry views the land as theirs. They dry rice and repair fishing nets on busy streets. I can only thing that it will be all gone before we return next time. Prosperity has come to The People Republic of China but the price they are paying is huge in terms of the loss of their culture and it's tapestry. At least in their cities. It will be increasingly difficult for westerners to find what we found only 5 years ago.

Just an added thought...when we look at our world now we are finding it to be flatter than ever. Our comfort is a perfect barometer of the loss of diversity we are finding and we are very much at home here in China! It is really sad!

b

A Letter from China!

2012-01-01T00:16:00.000-07:00

Happy 2012!

Hi everyone. It is New Years Day in China. Believe it or not we are sitting around watching football.

We celebrating New Years Eve at a place called "The Brew" last night with a Chinese rock band singing Justin Beiber songs. Earl was giving a special brew master's tour of the facilities and we ate risotto truffles, blue cheese and barbecued ribs. I had a meringue with a strawberry filling. Nothing primitive about the expat lifestyle.

I cannot write online using Earl's computer because the Chinese have blocked Blogger. It is very frustrating for me. I did have a VPN but they have also blocked that service. I will wait to use a computer somewhere else or back at home. I guess there is no way for them to sort the good people out from the bad.

Air quality has been very bad but the wind is blowing off the China sea today so I guess the muck will be circulating the earth before long. It has not rained since we arrived and every leaf on every plant has turned a dusty brown color.

After a drive yesterday it occurred to me that sewage may be a problem especially with so much standing water. In this largest city in the world the millions of people do have a hard time disposing of their waste. Andy tells me the largest sewage treatment plant in the world is located out here in Pu Dong close to their house. As for the garbage, trucks are hauling huge loads out to use as fill for the new runways they are building out in the sea at the Pu Dong International Airport. Amanda keeps saying garbage is making China bigger really fast! It is so amazing to see.

The trip to Vietnam was just as wonderful as we thought it would be. We traveled from the far north very near the China border on the eastern slope of the Himalayan Mountains to the southern tip of the country where a fishing village was surrounded by house boats on the southern island. The smell of Vietnamese fish sauce lingers in my nose and I feel that I smell like fish still. The food was delicious and it made my life of dealing with celiac easy. I lost several pounds just because there was nothing to snack on.

We traveled on the night train to Sapa in the north as well as taxis, vans, planes both big and very small. I saw silk sleeping bags in markets but could not understand what they were for until we saw trekkers beginning their journeys through the mountains to do home stays with H'mong families. I wished I'd had one on the train. In fact, when we arrived back at Andy's house the first thing we did was wash everything we owned. Amanda just threw many things away. We all were sick at one time or another but nothing serious. My hands were raw from washing.

We will be leaving on the fifth (Thursday) and arrive home on that same day. That international date line still is hard for me to wrap my mind around! We miss you all.

Love you,
Barbara

10 Days in Vietnam...planes, trains and automobiles!

2011-12-28T23:02:00.000-07:00

Wonders of Sapa...Hmong Woman and me

I am not the sort of person that orders a hamburger when I travel. Honestly, I have never liked them anyway so why not experience the food that local people are eating? But this morning I am questioning that decision.

Day before yesterday we decided to take a boat excursion so the family could snorkel and everyone could fish for their lunch. The wind blew but it didn't seem to dampen anyones spirits as we baited hooks to fish then donned snorkel masks to leap off the boat and paddle around rock to see Angle Fish in Vietnam waters south to Phu Quoc Island.

The fish was cooked in the kitchen of the boat by a woman that cleaned up after we had eaten (Note: I was sick last night!) But it was worth the experience and everyone seems to be just fine.....

I also am all about the details...a prison on Phu Quoc Island held captured Viet Cong for the French and then the Americans. We drove by the prison walls and the memorial site when the Vietnamese prisoners were held. Many died during those years. In fact the prison yard is visible from the road. It made me feel very sad.

Did you know that in Vietnam they have a floor 13. I didn't notice if any numbers were missing because their "bad luck #" is different from ours. Hotels here have casinos and the Grand Hotel where we are staying has a beautiful elevator to take gamblers to the tables.

People live on the fish farms that keep a price catch ready for the right boat to come and purchase them. We cannot even imagine the living conditions where children are raised and adults spend all of there lives. The people are cheerful and laugh with each smile. Americans are treated with respect and here in Ho Chi Min City we are not assaulted on the streets by vendors. We drove by the American Embassy that stands as a monument to the "American War" with the helipads preserved so that tourist can see.

This journey from Shanghai to Hanoi, Hanoi north to Sapa, Sapa south to Hanoi, Hanoi to Ho Chi Min City (Saigon), HCMC to Phu Quoc, Phu Quoc to HCMC, and finally back to Shanghai has been one of the most amazing of my lifetime. It has brought new meaning to "planes, trains and automobiles" because we have traveled in them all. I honestly can say I am writing From Vietnam with Love.

Hanoi Street Scene

Phu Quoc Harbor

Sapa Tour Guide (Su, was featured on Luke Nguyen Vietman Cooking Show)

Amelia goes Snorkeling

Beach hopping on Phu Quock

Grandchildren, Vietnam and Swimming!

2011-12-27T19:28:00.002-07:00

Remember...it is always safety first!!!!

Trader Joe's Perfect Dripless Candle Discontinued

2011-12-27T19:10:00.005-07:00

I know you have been looking for these candles but were disappointed when arriving at the store. Here is the letter I received from costomer relations at Trader Joe's. (Previous article)

Barbara,

1. Our Trader Joe's Danish Dripless Candles have been discontinued due to slow sales in all of our stores. Our TJ'S White Danish Candles were only available in specific Midwest and East Coast stores due to a limited amount of stock found in our warehouse.
2. These products are specifically manufactured for us, therefore they are not available under any other name at any other retailer.
3. Trader Joe's and it's private labeled products are privately owned, therefore we follow a very strict disclosure policy along side our suppliers. Due to this policy, we do not disclose any of our supplier information.
Many thanks,

Nicki K.Customer RelationsTrader Joe's

A day on an Island...Phu Quoc, Vietnam

2011-12-25T21:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am here...family photo taken at Christmas Eve Dinner on the beach!

I want to let you in on a secret…writing about our travels here Vietnam and in China can be very difficult. In some cases, a VPN service is necessary to do some of the most innocent things. For example, access to Facebook and Twitter or even 4Square can be blocked because someone has abused the privilege of connecting with the world. In the United States, we call that freedom of speech but out here in the rest of the world it doesn’t work that way. What is is!

I am writing now on a word processing program because the internet service here in our resort is “sketchy” this morning. I don’t know if it is the ocean breeze or the fact that the guys are connected to the net so they can watch Green Bay play Chicago. Anything is possible.

Night before last we had dinner on the beach with the owner of the resort, his wife and son along with residence from 20 other rooms. It was a gala affair.

We took a taxi out to the night market last night and ate dinner cooked on charcoal grills in restaurants set up each evening, taken down at the end of the day and reassembled on the next evening. The cycle goes on every day of the year. Fishing boats dock in the river and scooters fly over a bridge that lowers into the water so the boats can pass. Back streets empty when dark falls and even the ridgeback dogs that run wild on the island take a rest.

Dinner at the night market.

Here on Phu Quoc there are no beach vendors save one lady that comes by with a basket of fruit in the morning. The squid fishermen fish from boats at night with huge spot lights but it appears that they need very calm waters or the squid migrate because we have not seen them for several evening.

We are savoring the quiet breezes and leisurely pace of this secluded place. Cassia Cottages provides an experience worth the flight around the world. I think of home and family left behind at this holiday season but we will share our stories after New Years.

I haven’t come up with my goal for 2012 yet but trust me, in this life of retirement, goals are more important than ever. Life could slip away and we would have nothing to show for it.

Be well.

Life on a boat in Vietnam

A Bridge that goes down so boats can pass.

Traveling with Grandchildren in the Far East!

2011-12-25T00:53:00.001-07:00

We are now on Phu Quoc Island just off the island of Vietnam and Cambodia. My husband and I are traveling with our son's family and his friend. We had 4 children in tow....10, 8, 4 and 4. We are staying a resort called Cassia Cottages. There is no TV nor is there a "recreational director" to amuse the children. This resort is rated #2 on Trip Advisor for the island. I can see why. Everything is really, really perfect!

I am not as experienced at this type of travel as my son's family is so I did expected there to be some difficulties. Food choices, things for children to keep them happy and a general need for entertainment seemed to lurk as possible obstacles to be over come. As it turns out, there are no problems. The reason may be that these people know how to pull this off without a hitch. Here are some things that I have observed.

Sharing a two bedroom suite with another family makes things very affordable
An ipad for each child fills enough of the time that they do not miss TV.
Food is very tasty and everyplace we have visited from Sapa to Phu Quoc has American things on the menu.
Trading off for "child care" time between our group allows everyone some "adult time".
Trip Advisor provided information about "family friendly" resorts.
Food here is so cheap that we have eaten exotic food without wincing when we looked at the tap.
Children are very strong, resilient and willing to partake in adventures. These children walked through the rice paddies in Sapa for 6+ k and didn't miss a beat.
People here love children so even children that are noisy are not a problem

We celebrated Christmas morning with a cup of green tea. The children opened stocking filled with simple things like bubble bath, M&Ms and playdough. They were such a simple beautiful things and they were thrilled.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope your day is as joyful as ours has been.

5 Great Ideas for Holiday Fun with Grandchildren

2011-12-25T00:33:00.002-07:00

The winter holidays are the most wonderful time of the year not for the lights, the presents, or even
the copious amounts of food that are hallmarks of the season; they are truly wonderful because of the
time you get to spend with your family. And if you’re going to have some time with your grandkids this year, you may be racking your brains to come up with some activities that will keep them entertained.

So here are just a few ideas that will help you to connect with your grandchildren and make some
wonderful holiday memories.

1. Outdoor fun. You don’t necessarily have to labor at building a snowman or taking your
grandkids skiing in order to enjoy the brisk weather. Take a stroll at twilight to check out the
holiday lights and decorations in your neighborhood or consider some good old fashioned
caroling to get everyone in the spirit of the season. Then come home for some hot cocoa by the
fire!
2. Holiday crafts. If you have some time on your hands, you and the kids can spend it creating
seasonal crafts to decorate your home. You may have some ideas on your own, but if you need
a little inspiration, look to nature. An outdoor hike in the park could result in some fantastic
finds, like fallen branches and pinecones or interesting rocks that you and the kids can bring
home and decorate. Use ribbons, pipe cleaners, paint, and glitter to make them sparkle and
then arrange them in a pretty bowl for a centerpiece or a mantle decoration. Of course, you can
also find tons of great ideas for holiday crafts and décor online.
3. Cooking classes. Your grandchildren probably have some favorites when it comes to seasonal
dishes and desserts. Use your time with them to teach them the secret family recipes they
love, from scratch. You’ll pass on some treasured knowledge, teach them a useful skill that they
can take with them when they return home, and have some fun times and amazing food in the
process.
4. Pull out the board games. When you’re stuck indoors because it’s snowing and blowing outside,
a good way to keep everyone entertained is by dusting off the old board games. But if you’re
worried that modern kids won’t be keen to play classics like Monopoly, Scrabble, and Mystery
Date, head to your local toy store (or Amazon) for some fun new board games like Pictureka (a
picture spotting game), Apples to Apples (a word matching game), Once Upon a Time (a story-
telling game), or Bananagrams (like Scrabble, but in a cool banana bag). You could even get
cooperative games like Forbidden Island or The Secret Door so that a collective effort wins the
game (and competition doesn’t spoil the fun).
5. Try video games. Modern video games may be a little outside your wheelhouse, but if you have
your grandkids bring their game station and a few multiplayer games, you could engage in an
activity that you know the kids love and give them the opportunity to teach you something new,
giving you another chance to connect at their level. Who knows? You might end up loving it!

Evan Fischer is a contributing writer for Comfort Life, a site dedicated to helping seniors find the best
retirement homes Canada .

10 Things about travel in Vietnam..2011

2011-12-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

Cassia Cottages

FYI:

Do not worry about not speaking the Language
Taxi service is very good and not a problem.
You do not need to be fearful for your safety.
The cost for food is ridiculously low.
The food is delicious but if you want to pretend you are back home, you can probably order food just like mom cooks.
If you suffer from celiac disease this is the perfect place for you. Food can be very salty so ask for no salt if you need to.
Travel with hand cleaner even though the accommodations are very clean.
Drink lots of water before and after the plane flight.
Carry small packs of kleenex...and do not put toilet paper or kleenex in the toilet.
Always bargain with the people on the street and remember that store owners have a set price. Offer half what they ask but you will pay 1/3 less usually. If you cannot afford the price just walk away but remember that if you touch an item or look closely, the vendor will think you are going to buy. Expect to be beckoned in to the stall...get over the fact that you are not used to the practice. You are not in Kansas anymore!

We are on Pho Quoc, an island off the coast of Vietnam and Cambodia. We are staying in a resort called Cassia Cottages on a beach lined with other small resorts. We did not make arrangements for this vacation so I wondered about the process of making our stay in Vietnam happen. How do you find the perfect resort? I asked my daughter-in-law. She then told me about the website she used for this particular trip called Trip Adviser.

She used this website for the hotels in Hanoi, Sapa and Phu Quoc. The hotels are ranked by people that have stayed in them so finding something that meets your requirements is just not that hard. When you read the comments related to the resort you think might interest you, they are separated by family, couples or business. This will give you a very clear vision of how people like you see the resort. For example in Hanoi we stayed in Hanoi Gecko with bigger rooms so that we could put three beds in the rooms that needed them. The owner actually went out and borrowed what he did not have. In Sapa we stayed in Sapa Rooms but arrangements for our train trip was made through Six on Sixteen, a Sapa Rooms sister hotel in Hanoi. We stored extra luggage their when we traveled to Sapa and they opened the hotel early so we could wait in comfort for our plane flight out to Ho Chi Min City.

The small hotels and resorts are run in a very personal way. The Six on Sixteen in Hanoi and Sapa Rooms are owned and run by an anthropologist/business man. Amanda contacted him daily for a long time. The personal care we received from him was amazing. He is in the business of running hotels that give back to the Hmong people living in the Sapa region. On Christmas day he will host a dinner for locals people and the guests in the hotel will wait tables and contribute to the meals.

We flew Vietnam Airlines directly from Shanghai, then from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min City and added a short hop over to the island. Service was okay in all the cases. I would advise you to eat before boarding the planes. The food is marginal at best! Really, looking inside the sandwich at the gray meat will give you a subject for conversation for quite a while.

More tomorrow. The ocean is calling my name!

Phu Quoc fishing boat

Vietnam...Selling to the Tourist from Hanoi to Sapa

2011-12-22T01:56:00.004-07:00

Recently dyed fabric hung to dry.

Well, campers, out here where the rubber meets the road things are always happening. You can read the travel books about Vietnam till the cows come home but until you have actually have the shoe shine man take your shoes away from you you don't know a thing.

Hanoi
I have aways found that no meant no in most languages. However, in the far east, the shoe shine guys are polishing your shoes as you walk down the street...even in China. No has no meaning for them. I have pulled my foot away many a time and have even walked around with shoe polish all over my shoe because I escaped. But this time I did not get away. My shoes were polished, repaired and even resoled as I looked on helplessly. My feet were slipped into slippers and I leaned against a building waiting for the guy to finish. When the calculator came out and the price was quoted I gasped but nothing we said would make him go away. It seemed even worse because the Dong is 21,000 to each $1. I told my family they would need to bury me in those shoes because they were so valuable!

Sapa
Live on the street in Sapa is much the same. The indigenous people of the Sapa region are call the Hmong people. They are a separate culture from the Vietnamese and treated as less valuable citizens in the country. The government educates them to a lesser degree and their role on the streets of Sapa is much different from the role of a business person selling from a store. When speaking to them one on one, I realized they do not think of themselves as "Vietnamese" at all. They are a very cheerful people leading a difficult life. Tourist are not an easy sell in many cases but they are managing to survive. They have learned to sell their wears using the "dripping water torture". It seems that they are very successful at wearing tourists down so they will buy what they do not know they want.

We were staying in a boutique hotel called Sapa Rooms. We could lounge inside a heated restaurant area with windows looking out in every direction. One felt a bit like a caged animal as the Hmong women stood in groups and watched our every move. I could only smile as they descended on everyone that stepped out the door. We discovered right away that timing was everything in this dance with the Hmong women. Escaping was not easy!

It was a shock to us for the first few hours. Of course, as with most of the places we visit, it takes us a day or two to get the hang of things. In this case we only stayed for two night and one of the days we told that long walk I talked about in a previous post.

Dyed fabric ready to sell.

Dye vats.

I did manage to get some beautiful blue textiles and a piece of the native garb they women wear from our guide's mother and another vendor in the same section of the market place. The people harvest, prepare the hemp thread, weave the fabric and dye it a beautiful indigo blue. Women's hand's are permanently colored from the dye. On our hike we saw dye vats and the fabric hung to dry outside the huts. Was I awed by the beauty and uniqueness of this world. You bet I was. In the real world when you walk the trail, smell the air and here the gentle hopeful voice almost begging you to share your wealth, you just have to be humbled and amazed.

We are now on the island of Phu Qoc in the Sea of Thailand just south of Cambodia. I will post more tomorrow. We are well, the food is wonderful and we are loving this vacation.

b