SMART New Year's Resolutions

The start of something new has always been a great motivator for self-improvement whether it be the new calendar year, new school year, new job, move to a new home, and so on.  Hence, the desire to make New Year’s Resolutions.

Most people MAKE New Year’s resolutions, they just don’t stick to them.  Usually, lack of success in achieving your goals has little to do with willpower and motivation and a lot to do with strategy.  New Year’s resolutions are nothing but self-improvement goals.  About half of all Americans make resolutions and about 10% of those keep their resolutions.  So what’s the secret in keeping your resolutions, in other words, achieving your goals?  I am a big fan of the classic SMART goal system:  Make your goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.  

Specific:  Stating your fitness resolution as, “I want to go to the gym more often” is not specific enough.  Instead, you might say, “I want to go to the gym at least 3 days/week”.  Also remember that how you intend on achieving your goal should also be specific.  If you intend on going to the gym 3 days/week, you need to schedule the workouts just like you would your Dr. appointments - put them in your phone, datebook, etc.

Measurable:  If something can be measured, it can be changed.  “Be a better person” may be difficult to measure whereas “increase my charitable donations” is measurable.  As you measure your progress, feedback helps you adjust, which moves you toward success. 

Achievable:  Is your goal within reason?  It doesn’t have to be easy, but it should be something you can achieve.  If you say that you want to have all of your closets organized and cleaned by the end of the week, that may not be achievable.  But if you set your goal at one closet/month you are more likely to accomplish it.  

Relevant:  Are your resolutions relevant to YOUR life or someone else’s? If your goals are truly ones that YOU want to achieve, ownership will contribute to success.  

Time-bound:  Although most people like to make New Year’s resolutions that last all year, a year-long goal can be quite daunting.  Instead, start out with one short-term goal for January.  Once you achieve it, make another, and so on. 

More helpful hints:  Get social support by sharing your goals with family or friends, maybe even partner up with someone with the same goals.  I never cancel a workout when I am meeting a friend at the gym.  At least get an “accountability partner” who will check in with you weekly.   Lose the “all or nothing”mentality.  Something is better than nothing.  If you can’t eat healthy every meal, start with one and work up from there.  Most important, when you fail, get right back up.  Don’t turn a temporary failure into an excuse for giving up.  Get right back up and start again.  I was definitely off of my healthy eating regimen Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (and probably a few days before) but by December 26 I was right back on.  

Will 2017 be the year you stick to your New Year’s resolutions?  Happy New Year! 

Push Reset On Your Holiday Decorations

I was shopping the after-Christmas sales years ago, before it became extremely popular.  At first, it was just Christmas wrapping paper, ribbon and tags.  Within a few years, I was adding Christmas decor to my seek-and-find list as I carefully updated my holiday decorations.  I remember purchasing my Dickens Village the day after Christmas one year at 75% off.  Now, the popularity of the after-Christmas sales has forced merchants to start even before Christmas.

When we first built our home, the ever popular forest green and burgundy dominated the color scheme of my Christmas decor.  With two young children, many of our decorations were also handmade treasures, compliments of my two little artists. Additionally, pets and little hands guaranteed that tree ornaments were unbreakable (at least the ones on the lower branches) and many of my decorations were soft - stuffed animals and throw pillows.  Our environment of pets and toddlers seemed to dictate my decor.  

The forest green/burgundy theme was later replaced with a Victorian-themed tree as well as Victorian Christmas decor.  Remember that trend?  With that change, I put up a second tree displaying the many “kid ornaments” in our newly finished basement since the kids spent a lot of time there with their toys and friends.  I am sure many of you remember the “tree in nearly every room” movement.   

Each year since birth, my children received an ornament from my husband and I with full intention of gifting them all of their ornaments when they left home so that they could start their first tree (for some reason, this has offended them, like we were divorcing them or something).  I'm pretty sure that I thought it was a cooler idea than they did.  Regardless, they took the ornaments, displaying some of them on their new trees.  BTW, my suggestion this year to replace our current mismatched stockings with all matching ones next year, as our family is growing, has met with the same shock and appall.  

As my children got married and left home, it was time to retire the “kid tree” in the basement along with our Victorian-themed flocked tree and purchase a more natural looking pre-lit Monroe Fir (complete with pine cones) and shop the 50% off ornaments and decor sale at one of my favorite shops, Pottery Barn.  These rustic luxe ornaments and Christmas decor suit the current decor of our home.  With two grand babies on the way, I have also incorporated a fun Santa collection.  

Remember, you don’t have to pull out your wallet to reset your decorations.  Try incorporating some of your older treasures, especially ones with sentimental value.  The old ceramic tree that I made for my grandmother when I was a pre-teen still sits in my front entryway every Christmas.  The Longaberger basket that belonged to my mother holds pretty seasonal pot pourri on my coffee table.  Keep your sentimental pieces and offer your retired decorations to your kids or give them to charity.  Years ago, when my daughter moved into her first apartment, many of my former decorations really helped her get started on her collection of Christmas decorations.  

Some of my favorite stores to shop great sales for pretty decorations include Pottery Barn, Home Goods, Joann Fabrics and Kirklands.  Although it may be easy and comfortable to use the same decor in the same places in your home year after year, try a change up every few years and incorporate new holiday decor to spark up your holiday decorating.  I know someone who removes his Christmas ornaments from his tree after Christmas and replaces them with New Year’s ornaments.  I’m not quite there yet, but sure sounds like a lot of fun for a New Year’s party! 

Remembering Loved Ones With Christmas Traditions

Does your family have Christmas traditions?  I find it interesting to learn about the different ways families celebrate Christmas and how their traditions began.  In most families, some traditions were started many, many years ago and the generations carry on the traditions.  As children get married and have families of their own, they start a few of their own traditions.  Even grandparents start new customs with their new grandchildren.  

One Christmas tradition started by my mother with me and my brothers was the reading of The Littlest Angel on Christmas Eve.  When I had children, I carried on the tradition and my brother did the same with his children.  My grandbabies, great nephew and great niece were gifted this beautiful story by my father in hopes that they too will learn to love it and keep my mother’s memory alive.  

Another fun Christmas ritual is our annual Christmas Eve party.  Sharing Christmas celebrations between our kids’ paternal and maternal grandparents, we found ourselves home for Christmas Eve every other year on the years we celebrated Christmas Day with my husband’s family.  On those years, we had a Christmas Eve party, serving tortellini soup, spiral ham, appetizers and the homemade Christmas cookies I had been baking since mid-December.  We would attend the Children’s Mass (the kids were usually participants), and the kids would open one gift before putting out milk and cookies for Santa and the reading of The Littlest Angel.  Now that our children are married and divide their time with their spouses’ families, we still have our annual party, having our celebration with them on Christmas Eve.  

A tradition that is a favorite with the kids (defined by my adult children and their spouses) is “Find the Pickle.”  This Christmas tradition gives the finder of the pickle ornament a special gift.  The kids practically knock each other over searching for the pickle.  For them, it’s not about getting the extra gift, it’s about beating each other out for the prize!  It’s a lot of fun - can’t wait for the grand babies to be old enough to compete with their parents!

Another favorite tradition is our "Christmas in the Country" celebration with my dad and my brother's family the weekend before Christmas.  We all travel to my dad's home in the country, a real treat for my urban kids, complete with matching pjs, activities with the cousins, and an evening of game-playing.

Finally, the most meaningful tradition that I hope to instill in my family during the Christmas season is the tradition of giving.  Each year, we contribute gifts to families in need through The Giving Tree in our parish.  Additionally, as I purchase gifts for my family, I like to choose some that benefit others.  This year, the kids all received screen cleaners in their stockings, proceeds benefiting the Riley’s Children’s Foundation.  It’s important to me to stay grounded and remember the true meaning for the season.

After my younger brother passed away many years ago, my mother never talked about death.  She always spoke in terms of life and eternal life.  When you carry on family traditions, you carry on the memory of your parents, their parents, and so on.  We are all a beautiful mix of generations that lived before us.  What better way to honor and remember them than to carry on traditions that were important to them.   What better way to guarantee that traditions never die.  

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Christmas in Virginia

With two babies coming in January, it was necessary to get creative with our Christmas celebrations this year.  Since none of the kids could travel, the only option was to have two holidays - one in Virginia and one in Chicago.  The first would be with my son and daughter-in-law at their beautiful new home in Virginia.  Since purchasing in September, they have begun to transform their abode into a charming east coast home starting with the amazing farm table they built together during the Thanksgiving holiday.  Using wood purchased at the local lumber company and a lot of time and determination, they created a piece of art that will be the center of their growing family for years to come. Their beautiful Christmas tree that shines through the front window is adorned with vintage ornaments (many from their childhood), Virginian painted pine cones and a handmade ruffled tree skirt.     

Since we were going to be staying a week, I thought it would be a good time to check out some of the sights around Colonial Williamsburg and Norfolk.  One favorite was the Dominion Garden of Lights at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.  We enjoyed a 2-mile drive through a million sparkling lights and were in awe at how the Botanical Garden was transformed into a winter wonderland.   The best part - no need to get out of the car.  We could have even gone in our pajamas!  Another fantastic light display was “Christmas Lights at the Beach,” also a 2-mile drive-through, but this time it was on the Boardwalk in Virginia Beach.  At 6 PM, the Boardwalk closes to pedestrians and it’s open for a beautiful drive along the Atlantic through a Christmas light display.      

A spa visit is always on my “to do” list while traveling.  I booked a spa day for my daughter-in-law and me at the Greenleaf & Pebble Tea Spa in Virginia Beach, one of the best on the eastern seaboard.  We took advantage of the “Two Hours of Bliss” special with facials and massages.  Our spa experience began and concluded with tea chosen from about 100 different brews from the Tea Lounge.  These organic loose teas from around the world have benefits ranging from stress and anxiety reduction to prenatal/post-partum to anti-aging (I’ll take that one!).   The staff was amazing, prices were great, and the Tea Lounge is a terrific feature.  

My Virginia kids always find a great trendy seafood restaurant right on the sea that features fresh catch.  We were definitely not disappointed with Chick’s Oyster Bar, a little restaurant paradise right on the bay.  Not only will you find fresh seafood at Chick’s, but also over a dozen beers on tap and Chick’s Gear honoring our brave military.  

A trip to the Yankee Candle Village in Williamsburg was a smart option for one cold and rainy day during our trip.  If you love Christmas, you will love Yankee Candle Village.  Within the many shops inside the village, you can shop for decorations, ornaments, candy, toys and (of course) candles.  If you have kids or grandkids with you, they will love activities like making a wax mold of their hand, creating a jar candle or dipping a candle critter.  In downtown Williamsburg, we stopped at the Peanut Shop of Williamsburg.  The Peanut Shop has dozens of delectable peanut recipes, all with samples you can taste before you buy.   

Christmas #1 was a huge hit, now back home to Chicago for Christmas #2 and to start baby watch for the grand babies. 
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Handmade With Love

I recently attended the One of a Kind Holiday Show in Chicago at the Merchandise Mart with a couple of my friends.  The One of a Kind Show is an extraordinary holiday shopping event that features fine art and craft from hundreds of artists, designers and makers.  All products are handmade, from giftable craft to fine art.  

Although I don’t consider myself an artist and I am definitely not a designer, the show certainly inspired me with a few ideas of handmade goodies that I could for-sure create for my friends and family.   My family seems to prefer unique handmade gifts over store-bought, so each Christmas I create a gift using a little bit of talent and a lot of love.  (Last year it was Family Heirloom Cookbooks.) 

This year I decided to make Microwavable Bowl Warmers.  How often do we heat something in the microwave and get our fingers burnt when trying to remove it?  I thought of my dad who has oatmeal from the microwave every morning, my sick friend who heats soup from the microwave when she feels like eating, and my busy adult children who use their microwaves more than their ovens.  I went to google and searched “how to create a microwavable bowl warmer” and was able to create these cute little gems.  All I needed was pieces of fabric (10 X 10), microwave safe batting and my sewing machine.  For gift presentation, I placed a snowflake ceramic bowl inside of the finished warmer along with a package of organic soup and goldfish crackers, and it made a nice handmade gift for family and friends.     

Another easy and fun idea was the funny flour sack towels.  One of the artists had an entire exhibit of dozens of flour sack towels with funny sayings.  We had fun just reading them!  After researching the various ways to create these towels such as silk screening and transfer paper, I decided that the best option for me was the transfer paper.  Create the image/quote on your computer, send it to the printer using transfer paper and iron it on a flour sack towel.  It was easy and a lot of fun to create! 

When it comes to Christmas, I’m very traditional.  Although I still do my part at boosting the economy at Christmastime by buying for family and friends, a big part of tradition for me means sharing handmade things with people you love - giving a part of yourself to the recipient.    

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Handmade Treasures for Babies

Throwing unforgettable baby showers is easy when you have grateful moms-to-be as your inspiration.  Both my kids and their spouses will soon be first time parents.  At two sweet baby showers, family and friends generously provided much needed practical gear so that they will have everything they need for their anticipated bundles of joy!

We welcomed baby Carson with a Safari shower and created pineapple centerpieces by glueing small gold balls of aluminum foil to champagne bottles with green tissue paper for the crown.  They really turned out great!  (Check out the picture!)  Guests used the champagne to mix with orange juice and cranberry juice for mimosas.  Weeks before my DIL’s shower, we gathered at her parents’ house to create the pineapples along with chains of construction paper for a backdrop.  My daughter-in-law fell in love with a giraffe cake she found online, so we took the picture to a local bakery and they were able to duplicate it!  It was adorable.  It always pays to price out various businesses.  One bakery we priced was hundreds of dollars more (not kidding) than the yummy bakery we chose right in their hometown, “Cathy’s Sweet Creations.”  

To welcome my daughter and son-in-law’s baby, we went with an airplane theme since my SIL is a private pilot.  We covered balloons with tulle tied with a bow and built small wooden airplanes that were nestled on top of clouds for centerpieces.  Alongside each centerpiece was a children’s book about planes, airports and travel.  I used my new found canning skills to create 60 small jars of Cinnamon Vanilla Pear Butter for each guest to take home.  (I still can’t believe I did that!)  Instead of a cake, we served cream filled cupcakes from my daughter’s favorite bakery, “Lovin’ Oven.”  

The decorations for the precious baby showers weren't the only treasures that were handmade.  As soon as we were told about the pregnancies, I decided that I would channel my mother and sew a baby quilt for each grand baby.  Believe me, my sewing skills were limited to hems and bean bags.  I signed up for a couple of sewing classes at my local fabric store and between that and YouTube, I was able to produce two adorable handmade quilts reflective of their nursery themes, Safari and Airplanes.  Additionally, my daughter requested a handmade paper airplane crib mobile.  Yikes!  With the help of ideas from Pinterest and Etsy, I successfully put together a cute little paper airplane mobile.  Here’s what I did:

• Ordered a musical mobile without ornaments from Amazon.
• Found an airplane template online and used it to cut out the airplanes from navy blue, light blue and gray card stock.  
• Assembled the airplanes.
• Created 3-D Clouds (Thanks YouTube)
• Using the leftover fabric from the baby quilt, I sewed sleeves to cover the arms of the mobile.
• Balanced and hung the ornaments (clouds and planes) on the mobile using navy and white cord.  
• Done!!  

There is nothing like gifts for your grand babies that are handmade with love! 

A New Discovery

What a difference a new bike makes!  I traded in my old Schwinn for a Diamondback Clarity and took it on a Maiden Voyage to beautiful Lake Katherine.  Illinois is having an absolutely beautiful Indian summer and we thought it would be great to get in at least one more bike ride while taking in some leaf peeping along the Cal-Sag Trail.  

My biking buddy, Kathy, and I decided we would bike from the far west end of the trail and travel 10 miles east to Lake Katherine and 10 miles back for a total of 20 miles.  It was a perfect ride for a couple of average riders like us.  Along the trail, we saw such colorful red, orange and yellow trees.  Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens was a gorgeous stop with it’s beautiful flowers and waterfall.  The nature center features a menagerie of reptiles and animals as well as high powered binoculars - a great place to take your kids or grandkids while bike riding.  The Little Free Library allows visitors to borrow a book to read while sitting near the peaceful lake.  Found around the lake is a mile loop walk, trails for hiking, canoes and kayaks for boating and beautiful plants and flowers for those of us with a passion for photography or painting.  What a great place to add to my list of activities worth repeating! 

If you are shopping for a new bicycle, I would suggest purchasing from a bike shop instead of a sports or department store.  A lot of times you can get pretty good deals in January after Christmas and before the new models come out in February, although I found mine on clearance in November.  Additionally, employees at a bicycle shop are trained to fit you with a bike that is perfect for your needs as well as your size.   What sold me on the Diamondback Clarity were the disc brakes and trigger shifters.  It’s also really light which is beneficial when lifting the bike onto the bike rack.  

You don’t have to log in thousands of miles to benefit from bike riding.  You get the same cardiovascular benefit you would get from any other aerobic activity like walking, jogging, dancing, etc.   Your muscles get a boost, especially your legs and hips, and it’s gentle on your joints.  One of the best benefits of bike riding is stress reduction.  Once you retire, it does take a while to retrain your mind and body to release all of the stress that has been building up for so long.  You will discover that bike riding makes you feel relaxed and promotes great sleep.  There’s nothing like exercising in the fresh air while taking in nature’s beauty.  

What Do You Do All Day?

On more than one occasion, my daughter has said to me, “What do you do all day?”  I am sure it is difficult for her to visualize me as a retired person, having lived my previous life in the fast lane.  I decided to reflect on that question for my own benefit.  The last thing I want is to be “busy doing nothing” all day.  Whenever I was asked, “What are you going to do when you retire?” my response was always, “Wherever God takes me.”  That mindset seemed to justify my “no plan” plan.  Now 5 months into retirement, it’s probably a great time to assess my plan.  Here goes:

• Exercise.  Although we all intend on exercising daily, face it - how many times did a date with the gym have to be cancelled due to a meeting or emergency at work?  I know I had to cancel on many occasions.  In retirement you actually have the time to take care of yourself.  I get to the gym every morning at least 5 days a week, even when I’m out of town.  
• Appointments.  Remember squeezing in all of those doctor and dentist appointments to your work schedule?  Your 6 month check-up became a 12 month check-up because you just didn’t have the time to waste taking care of your health.  How about trying to do something with your hair that should have been cut 3 weeks earlier but you couldn’t find a couple of hours that both you and your stylist were available?  I'm finally on a preventative health schedule that I will stick with faithfully.
• Helping Friends and Family.  Since retiring, I have been available to help my dad, cook for and sit with a friend with cancer, and drive and accompany another friend to the hospital for her medical procedures.  
• Projects.  My daughter likes giving me projects to do for her.  Right now I am working on curtains for her classroom as well as a handmade mobile for her baby (due in a couple of months).  I do love being creative  - the planning, securing the supplies then putting it all together - it’s very therapeutic.  Gardening and canning this year were wonderful projects I have always wanted to do.  I didn’t have the luxury of time to work on projects before retirement.  
  
• Organize.  Still organizing and going through closets, it’s a great feeling to get rid of things and organize what you want to keep.  (I think I found some Beanie Babies worth big bucks!  LOL)  
• Party Planning.  With two grandbabies coming, I have planned one baby shower and helped with another, not to mention a World Series party for some friends (Go Cubs!).  
• Keeping In Touch With Friends and Family.  From regular breakfast dates with friends to mini trips with friends and family to traveling to the east coast to see my son and daughter-in-law, relationships with loved ones are a priority.  
  
• Cooking.  It’s refreshing and so much healthier to eat a majority of our meals at home.  Again, living such a fast-paced life meant that we either ate out or picked up take-out more often than we liked.
• Writing.  I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this blog.  Even if only 1 reader gets something out of it, like teaching and reaching one student, that 1 reader will most likely pay it forward. 
• Just Being There.  Just the other day, I had a friend whose husband became acutely ill.  She picked up the phone, dialed me, and asked me to come over immediately.  90 seconds later, I was there.  During your working life, you develop relationships with family and friends with the understanding that although you will always be there for them, it comes with some limitations.  During your retired life, it’s comforting to have the freedom to really “be there” for your loved ones.  

So - when people say that once they retired, they didn’t know how they had time to work, they mean it!  Although I have toyed with the notion of a 2nd career - educational consultant, real estate, writing a book is definitely on my to-do list - for now I’m still good with going wherever God takes me.  I have two grandbabies coming.  I want to enjoy them.  Last but not least - stop and smell the roses without guilt. 

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Finally Time to Read

One of the benefits of retirement is having more time to read for enjoyment.  Much of the reading we do during our working years is “have to” reading - research, contracts, etc…   Before retirement, I was lucky if I had time to read a couple of books a year.   A lot of times, I would start a book, get so busy with work that I wouldn’t pick it up for a while, then have to re-read it when I finally got back to it.  Happy retirees choose a life that involves hobbies or interests that are both social and those that are done in isolation.  Reading is an interest that you can do with other people or by yourself. 

Although many will argue that reading has become too social and it should remain a fundamentally private experience, there are many benefits to joining a book club.  Book clubs allow you the opportunity to meet new people.  It’s more interesting when your close friends are not in the book club.  Chances are, you’re going to talk about the books you are reading with your close friends anyway.  Not only will joining a book club introduce you to new and interesting people, but it will also push you to read books you wouldn’t otherwise read.  People outside your immediate circle of friends are more likely to have different literary tastes.  Sometimes it’s fun just to chat and eat great food.  Don’t know how to find a book club?  Go online to sites such as readerscircle.org and type in your zip code.  

If you don’t want to join a book club but you enjoy the opinions and suggestions of other readers, Goodreads is a social networking avenue that connects you with other readers.  When I first looked at Goodreads, I was hesitant to jump in - I thought it was just another social networking site.  But once I found friends on Goodreads that have the same literary tastes as I do, I started using them as barometers while creating my “to read” list.  It’s fun to check out the reviews and ratings of my Goodreads friends, then add their favorites to my ever-expanding “to read” list.  In turn, you can review and rate the books you have read.  

It’s great to find a good book that’s hard to put down, however, reading too much can dangerously lead to a sedentary lifestyle.  You might think about saving your reading for times you are naturally inactive - sitting at the doctor’s office, on a plane or at the airport, turning in for the night and whatnot.  I always have my book with me “just in case” I have to wait for someone or something somewhere.   

One of the best things I did for my dad was equip him with an iPad and iTunes cards.  He has dozens of books on his iPad (purchased using his iTunes card) and reads books on the plane, at the airport or wherever he may be at the time.  When my mother was in the nursing home, he sat by her side all day.  While she was sleeping, he was reading from his iPad.  Reading is a great escape, no matter how old you are.         

Phoenix Favorites

A lot of people become snowbirds when they retire, migrating to second homes in the south for the winter, or “the season.”   Taking flight to the balmy south means never having to deal with another snowstorm.  The top 5 favorite U.S. states to retire to include Florida, Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas.   Phoenix, Arizona is my favorite escape from the unpleasant weather we sometimes experience in the midwest.

One of the best months to be in the Phoenix area is March.  15 Major League Baseball teams play Spring Training baseball in the Phoenix area.  10 Major League baseball stadiums and 15 Major League baseball teams make up the Cactus League.  Chances are, you can see a Major League baseball game every day somewhere in the Phoenix area during the month of March.   

Here are some of my favorite Phoenix activities: 

Spa: Gold Canyon Golf Resort and Spa is a nice, clean, trendy spa in Gold Canyon with a comprehensive menu of services - hair, nails, massage, body, skin care, etc.  If you are not seeking a “stay all day” spa with extra amenities, it’s a great, reasonably priced spa to visit for a service (or two).    

Lunch:  Lakeshore Restaurant on Saguaro Lake in Tonto National Forest is an enjoyable place to have lunch outside while admiring the lake, forest and beautiful mountains.  After lunch you can go on an informational and sight-seeing cruise of the lake on the Desert Belle.  Lunch and cruise prices are all reasonable. 

Shopping: The Scottsdale Quarter in Scottsdale has shops, restaurants and a movie theater as well as special events such as concerts.  If you like to try unique, healthy food, eat at True Food Kitchen.  To shop at boutiques and specialty shops, you might want to check out 5th Avenue Boutiques and Shops in Old Town Scottsdale.  I especially like Nestdown, a Bedding, Bath and Baby Boutique.     

Movies:  For $3.00 movies, go to Pollack Tempe Cinemas in Tempe.  You can pick from at least 10 different movies played throughout the day and evening.  For a fancier outing at the movies, you can have wine, dinner and watch a movie in a recliner with a blanket and pillow at the iPic at the Scottsdale Quarter. 

Fitness:  If you belong to LA Fitness, there is an abundance of clubs you can visit for your workouts so you can use your membership while in Arizona.  I also like Cyclebar (see my post on Cyclebar) and hiking the beautiful trails in the mountains.  I have hiked both Superstition and Camelback Mountains.  If you can walk, you can hike.  

How About a Bike Ride?

My retired friend, Kathy, gave me a call on a beautiful fall morning and asked, “Want to go for a bike ride today?”  Always up for a new activity, I immediately said yes.  Kathy has been retired for a few years so her experience with activities for retirees is a great advantage to me.  We like to do a lot of the same things - travel, exercise, new and interesting activities, reading, sight-seeing, and of course spa visits!  Kathy has been bike riding since her retirement a few years ago - my bike riding is scanty at best.  Her suggestion was to bike the Cal-Sag Trail, a 26 mile public greenway linking marinas, golf courses, nature and forest preserves.  It’s pretty.  It sounded like a splendid idea - exercise, fresh air, beautiful scenery, nice fall day, and of course the best part - it’s free!

As a new retiree, you become involved with a lot of new activities and hobbies - some you continue and others you try once and choose not to repeat.  As I muddle through new activities, I don’t invest a lot of money until I am sure that I want to continue with them.  The bicycle I have is an older Schwinn that I know needs to be replaced with a lighter road bike that’s more comfortable to ride.  Before leaving for the bike ride, my husband checked my old bike and deemed it safe for riding.  We loaded my Schwinn onto Kathy’s bike rack next to her cool, aerodynamic Trek and off we went to the Cal-Sag Trail about 10 minutes away.  

We chose to ride 18 miles - 9 miles one way and 9 miles back.  It was a fantastic workout, taking us about 90 minutes.  We stopped once for a picture and once for a drink of water.  If you have good balance and an average fitness level, bike riding is definitely feasible.  Here are some basics:

• Take water
• Wear a helmet!
• Ride on the right side of the trail - if you want to pass someone, ring your bell or shout something like, “Coming up on your left!”  
• If you're going up a hill and it’s too difficult, shift down to a lower gear.
• If you’re legs are spinning too fast, shift up to a higher gear.  
• Get a basket if you want to carry things - we carried our cell phones and jackets in Kathy's basket.

My review on Bike Riding:  I will definitely repeat this activity on a regular basis.  It was an awesome workout, the scenery was lovely, and the fresh air allowed me to get a great sleep!  I look forward to going again (on my new bike) as we ride and peep at the beautiful leaves while they turn from green to orange and red. 

After researching bike riding for the 50 and over crowd, I learned that there is a substantial amount of information online.  Baby boomer bike use is soaring, seniors can take cycling tours all over the U.S. as well as Europe, and no one can argue with the countless health benefits for seniors that cycling has to offer.