December 2014 Senior Living Magazine by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

W i n t e r t r av e l i s s u e

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December 2014

BC Snowbirds

take flight

Plus Slocan Valley artist

Rabi’a Gonzalez And Grandparents’ Gift Guide made easy

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DECEMBER 2014

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FEATURES

34 A More Personal Way to Travel

6 Mountain Highs for Snowbirds

Hitting the trails in Arizona’s Parks, two BC snowbirds enjoy RVing in sun-soaked winters.

12 Helpful Hints for New Snowbirds

After nesting in Maui since 1983, Pat and Liz Dawson share their experience to help others planning to make their own snowbirding dreams come true. Although there’s more than enough activities to keep these snowbirds content, this year they venture beyond their California RV camp.

40 Health 42 Travel

20 Canadian Snowbird Migration

48 Attractions & Entertainment

A six-week exploratory visit to Yuma turned into a home away from home each winter.

51 Classifieds

24 Bridging the Gap Between Disciplines

COLUMNS

Eternally curious, veterinarian – and now author – Brett Hayward started recording ideas around the deeper questions in life.

26 Art is Life, Life is Art

As our region’s only not-for-profit burial park, we’re in no hurry to have you here.

Slocan Valley artist Rabi’a Gonzalez enjoys creating beauty from otherwise unappreciated materials.

30 When Life Hands You a Lemon

When a severe allergy knocked Laura Thompson off her chosen career path, she answered back with some creativity. Cover Photo: David Cox on the 9th hole T-box of the Canyon Mesa Country Club in the Village of Oak Creek, outside Sedona, AZ. Photo: David Cox

DEPARTMENTS 38 Grandparenting

16 Hemet (and area) Happenings

Regular exercise can add years to your life.

Creating a more authentic travel experience, house swapping is becoming part of a growing desire to travel responsibly.

4 45 46 47 52

The Family Caregiver by Barbara Small

It’s Just That Easy by Shell Busey

Courageous & Outrageous by Pat Nichol

Fit for the Adventure by Eve Lees

North of 50

by Colin Campbell

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Subscriptions: $32 (includes GST, postage and handling) for 12 issues. Canadian residents only. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Senior Living is an independent publication and its articles imply no endorsement of any products or services. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unsolicited articles are welcome and should be e-mailed to editor@seniorlivingmag. com Senior Living is distributed free throughout British Columbia. Stratis Publishing Ltd. publishes Senior Living (12 issues per year). ISSN 17103584 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)

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Attractions & Entertainment • Ballet Victoria (pg 49) • Burnaby Village Museum (pg 50) • Chemainus Theatre Festival (pg 48) • Civic Orchestra (pg 48) • Langham Court Theatre (pg 48) • UVic Centre Farquhar Auditorium (pg 49) • Victoria Royals Hockey Club (pg 50) Charities • Amnesty International (pg 18) • BC SPCA (pg 25) • BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre (pg 41) • Bladder Cancer Canada (pg 19) • Burns Bog Conservation Area (pg 41) • Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind (pg 32) • Capital Regional District (pg 24) • Columbian Centre Society (pg 17) • Covenant House Vancouver (pg 21) • Critter Care Wildlife Society (pg 19) • Crossroads Hospice Society (pg 21) • Family Caregivers’ Network Society (pg 35) • Fire Fighters Burn Fund (pg 29) • Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society (pg 31) • Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation (pg 18) • Heart and Stroke Foundation (pg 31) • Independent Living Housing Society (pg 28) • Kinsmen Foundation of BC, The (pg 13) • Langley Care Foundation (pg 37) • Mount St. Mary Hospital Foundation (pg 43) • Neil Squire Society (pg 33) • North Island Wildlife Recovery Association (pg 42) • Oak Bay Volunteers (pg 41) • Pacific Christian School (pg 14)

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• Parksville Qualicum Community Foundation (pg 26) • Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation (pg 34) • Plan International Canada (pg 1) • Prostate Centre, The (pg 28) • Saanich Volunteer Services Society (pg 14) • Saint Barnabas Anglican Church (pg 45) • Silver Threads (pg 36) • Spinal Cord Injury of BC (pg 38) • Vancouver Island University Foundation (pg 26) • Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (pg 10) • VanDusen Botanical Garden Association (pg 35) • Variety, The Children’s Charity of BC (pg 15) • Women In Need Community Cooperative (pg 39) Health | Wellness • Connect Hearing (pg 22) • Galaxy Medical Alert Systems (pg 46) • Motion Specialties (pg 9) • Nexgen Hearing/Mainland Hearing (pg 32) • Pharmasave (pg 40) • Saanich Recreation (pg 33) • Safe Step Walk-in Tub Company (Inside Front Cover) • Scooter City Ltd. (pg 15) Housing • Alexander Mackie Retirement Community (pg 14) • Amica Mature Lifestyles Inc. (pg 37) • Chemainus Gardens RV Resort (pg 13) • Kiwanis Village Nanaimo (pg 12) • Legacy at Westridge Landing/Centre Metropolitan Capital (pg 21) • Legion Manor (pg 8)

• Minton House (pg 40) • Norgarden (Inside Front Cover) • Oak Tree Manor (pg 47) • Retirement Concepts (pg 5) • Royale, The (Back Cover) • Trillium Care Communities (pg 39) • Wesbrooke Seniors Living Community, The (pg 27) Insurance | Legal | Politics | Real Estate • Island Savings Travel Insurance (Inside Back Cover) • Kenneth Walton Law Corporation (pg 25) • Lifeshop.ca (pg 10) • Pemberton Holmes/Lisa Redding (pg 5) • Royal LePage Realty (pg 34) • Travel Guardian Insurance Ltd. (pg 20) • Travel Insurance Specialists (pg 11) Retail • Kool & Child (pg 38) Senior Care • Alpha Home Health Care (pg 33) • Saint Elizabeth (pg 4) • Sure Work Solutions (pg 19) Services • Casalinga (pg 44) • Drive Wise BC Senior Drivers (pg 35) • Everything Organized (pg 44) • Royal Oak Burial Park (pg 2) Travel & Leisure • Ageless Adventure Tours (pg 8) • Collette Travel (pg 12) • Cruise Holidays Nanaimo (pg 43) • CruiseExperts Travel Ltd. (pg 23) • Expedia Cruiseship Centers Nanaimo (pg 7) •SUBSCRIPTION Pitmar Tours (pg 22) ORDER FORM • Wells Grey Tours (pg 17) • West World Travel/Great Excursions (pg 16) Magazine

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DECEMBER 2014

THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

Respite Options for the Holiday Season

he holidays are here and although the demands of caregiving still need to be met, it’s a time you can give yourself the gift of respite. Respite is the break you get when you allow someone else to temporarily take over your caregiving duties. Respite can prevent burnout and permits you to continue providing care longer. It gives you an opportunity to recharge and enjoy the events of the upcoming holiday season. Respite can take various forms. Formal respite includes home support or respite beds offered by your health authority or private facilities. Informal respite is anything that allows you to take a break, such as coffee with friends, a walk on the beach or having someone else take over some chores for you. Below are some respite ideas. The availability of these options will vary based on the community where you live. 1. Home support subsidized through your local health authority’s Home and Community Care Department. Subsidized home support only provides per-

sonal care services (bathing, dressing, etc.). 2. Private home support agencies provide a wider variety of services based on a fee-for-service. They may provide personal care, housekeeping or companionship. Companionship services may include accompanying the client to an appointment, playing games, going on an outing (perhaps to a holiday concert), shopping excursions, or baking holiday treats with them. Services are tailored to the needs of the client and their family. 3. Companionship services, home helper services and concierge services are other categories of businesses that offer some of the same supports listed in #2 above, except for personal care. 4. Local volunteer agencies may also offer help that will allow the caregiver to take a break, such as driving to appointments or writing holiday cards with your family member while you go out.

BY BARBARA SMALL

5. Better at Home is a program offered through the United Way to help seniors remain independent. Services include friendly visiting, light yard work, grocery shopping, snow shovelling and more. The program is offered in various areas throughout BC. Visit www.betterathome.ca for information or to see if it is available in your community. 6. Private care facilities may have respite beds where your family member can stay for a specific length of time. Some will also invite you and the person you are caring for to join residents for their holiday party. 7. Finally, check your local community or senior centre for special events or fun SL classes. Next month: Avoiding Caregiver Burnout Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society located in Victoria, BC. 250-384-0408 www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

The Family Caregiver column is brought to you by the generous sponsorship of Saint Elizabeth

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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

love Christmas. The decorations, the food, the get-togethers, the music and even the snow all add to this wonderfully nostalgic time of year. Recollections of Christmas Eve are some of my favourite childhood memories. The excitement of Santa’s arrival had me, my sisters and cousins giddy with anticipation of what treasures the morning would bring. Sadly, only a handful of experiences in adult life mimic those feelings of unguarded exhilaration. And while our Christmas celebrations tended to be more Christmas Vacation than Norman Rockwell, they still hold precious memories. This year, I look forward to creating some new lasting memories. Firstly, I will be heading to the Deep South to visit family. It is an area of the US I have never visited, so I’m excited for the novel adventure. For the first time in over 20 years, I will be out of the country (and somewhere warmer) over the holidays. Spending Christmas on a palm-lined beach and trading spicy eggnog for icy margaritas has always seemed irreverent to me. But perhaps Christmas is ethereal – its spirit transferrable. I will soon find out! Secondly, a couple of weeks before Christmas, my family will be celebrating as my 75-year-old father walks down the aisle towards marital bliss. Now that my initial astonishment over the upcoming nuptials has faded, I’m most proud of his tenacity. What I’ve learned from my dad is that “it’s not over ‘til it’s over.” He is proof that we can find happiness at any stage of life. I wish you a safe and joyous holiday season. May it be filled with loved ones, good cheer and the unrestrained enthusiasm of a child! – Bobbie Jo Reid Managing Editor

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DECEMBER 2014

Snowbird Travel

Mountain Highs for Snowbirds Hitting the Trails in Arizona’s Parks

STORY AND PHOTO BY CHERIE THIESSEN

Viewpoint in Buckskin Mt. State Park.

e stand transfixed at the signpost; which route to choose? There’s a choice of seven trails from the 2.3-mile Go John trail to the more down-to-earthnamed Slate and Quartz trail. We decide on a 3.4-mile loop on the Overton route and slog off into the pastel colours of early morning. How lovely to be able to finish off the last of the breakfast coffee and be at a trailhead 10 minutes later. It’s one of the many joys of RVing in Arizona’s sun-soaked winters, a joy we’ve been experiencing for a decade now, taking off from Canada’s soggy west coast in November and returning months later when we’ve gorged ourselves on Vitamin D. We’ve discovered that many of Arizona’s state and regional parks offer an unbeatable combination of magical scenery, good campsites with all amenities including visitor centres, and a variety of hiking opportunities. This is the first time we’ve camped at Cave Creek Regional Park near

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Phoenix and we’ve already decided to extend our stay here so we can explore all of the seven trails in the extensive 2922-acre park snuggled into the upper Sonoran Desert at 2,000-3,000 feet above sea level. It’s a winner and we add it to our growing list. The list includes old favourites like Buckskin Mountain State Park, overlooking California on the shores of the Colorado River, where the swimming is also good after a sweaty hot hike. From here, a trail from the campsite leads over the highway on a covered bridge and up into the hills to Bucky’s mine, one of three pit mines on the Lightning Bolt Trail. Hikers can take a one-mile circular trail and learn about the flora, or hike another 1.6-miles to the end of the trail, which terminates at a back road shortly after the mines. The numbered signs designating the different plants have seen better days and some of the signs have disappeared altogether, as have some of the flora they described. Nevertheless hikers

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can still read about the majestic Saguaro Cactus, the Paolo Verde, Beavertail Cactus, Arizona Sage, Buckhorn Cholla and Creosote Bush, to mention a few. Those who don’t fancy the uphill trek can simply wander in the cactus garden at the campsite. This 1,677-acre park, opened in 1967, offers more than a great hike and an excellent campground: it’s located amongst spectacular mountain scenery and the Colorado’s impossibly blue waters on the scenic 18-mile highway between Parker and Headgate Dams. Picacho Peak State Park, 35 miles north of Tucson, encompasses 3,500 acres and is another of our favourites. Travelling on Interstate 10, you can’t miss the distinctive peak, used as a landmark by travellers since prehistoric times. Although within sight and sound of the busy freeway and the paralleling railway, we love this spot for its trail deep into the desert. Engagingly called the Sunset Vista Trail, it has an elevation gain of 1,400 feet and parts of it are steep with loose, gravelly footing. Nevertheless, with the sounds of traffic and trains soon replaced by the calls of coyotes or red-tailed hawks, we savour the undulating nature of the trail as it snakes deeper into the desert and love investigating the desert’s inhabitants: the Ocotillo sprouting orange flowers, the Cholla, and the Barrel Cacti’s yellow fruit. The trail begins languorously, becoming more relentless as it approaches the base of Picacho and links up with the Hunter Trail, which ascends the peak. These days, we hike to this point before returning the same way we’ve come, a total of about four miles return. If you choose to do the whole circular route, aptly called a “butt kicker,” be sure to bring work gloves for hanging on to the metal cables, lots of water, good boots and good nerves. And pray you don’t meet anyone coming down. It’s narrow and steep, but the payoff is the 360-degree view from the top. While this is the park’s only real hiking trail, you can also wander along the Calloway Trail (less than a mile to an overlook), the half-mile nature trail with interpretive signs, or the children’s Cave Trail. Should you be lucky enough to be here in March, be sure to check the dates of the annual re-enactment of the Battle of Picacho Pass, one of the historical re-enactments for which Arizona State Parks is becoming known. Further east and not far away, Catalina State Park offers a more extensive choice of trails and adds good birding to the mix with an excellent birding trail that manages to take in a surprising number of habitats in its one mile. After the birding trail, which we prefer to do in early morning, we like to finish up with the 2.3-mile Canyon Loop Trail, a lazy hike that takes in the sweep of the Santa Catalina Mountains and descends to a seasonal stream. If we add on another 1.4 miles from the trailheads to the campsite, we can count on five miles of enjoyable exercise. More energetic hikers have more choices: the 50-Year Trail or the Romero Canyon Trail, 8.6 miles and 7.2 miles respectively, or even the Sutherland Trail at 9.1 miles. (All three of these are one-way mileages.) Located within minutes of the Tucson metropolitan area,

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this 5,500-acre park nevertheless feels distant from the city. It’s one of our favourites for the variety of its trails, the extensive choice of campsites, and the plethora of plant and bird life. It boasts of nearly 5,000 Saguaros and 150 species of birds. Even further south is Patagonia Lake State Park, a lakefront oasis in southeastern Arizona. The only trail within the park takes keen birders anxious to spot the rare Elegant Trogon to the lake’s eastern fringes and along the woodlands amongst free ranging cows. The hiking gem here, however, is in the adjoining Sonoita Creek State Natural area, accessible by driving a few miles on a nearby dirt road. Sonoita Creek was designated a natural area and protected from development in 1994 - Arizona’s first such area. Permits are required and can be picked up from the park office. A transitional zone between two deserts, the Sonora and the Chihuahuan, the area is unique in that within a relatively small area there are seven distinct vegetation zones: from semi desert grasslands to a riparian forest supporting gigantic cottonwoods, willows and sycamores. These habitats support over 560 species of plants and 315 species of birds, as well as protecting archaeological sites. Twenty miles of trails are available, and we usually head along the Foothills Trail. We love the variety, from rolling golden grasslands, festooned with Ocotillo, Mesquite bushes, and Barrel Cacti to canyon vistas and sudden surprising woodlands. Strategi-

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cally placed benches overlook the canyon and the trail winds around Patagonia Lake’s dam before climbing back to the parking lot. Later, we cool off in the lake or book ourselves on a birding boat cruise. The campsite, itself, overlooks two-and-a-half-mile-long Patagonia Lake, 265-acres of man-made lake stocked with trout. The tracks of the New Mexico/Arizona railway have long since disappeared under the lake, but traces of this historic railroad can be seen on the trails. And now, seeing as we are so close to Tucson, we’re heading to Tucson Mountain County Park, established in 1929 by the Pima County Parks Commission in a farsighted move to save the last of the county’s vanishing desert. At 20,000 acres, it’s one of the largest natural resource areas owned by a local government in the US. With approximately 62 miles of trails, the park is a must-visit for anyone, but especially hikers. We love the slightly rustic Gilbert Ray campground located in the middle, which may not offer showers but can almost certainly guarantee nightly coyote serenades, as well as star spangled nights, in spite of nearby Tucson. All of the trails are wonderful, but we especially enjoy traversing the Brown Mountain Trail, hiking up and over the mountain for four miles en route to the not-to-be-missed Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, a one-way trip with a 1,102-foot elevation gain that takes about two-and-a-half hours. For us, Arizona and its excellent park system wins, hiking boots down, for its trails, its excellent volunteer programme, its scenic beauty and the friendliness of staff and volunteers. When the clouds and the drizzle start to crowd out the days at home, it’s time to head south for several months, and we feel there is no better place to lace up our boots and slap on our sunscreen SL than Arizona. For IF YOU GO information, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/articles/ snowbirds-arizona

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Snowbird Travel

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Helpful Hints for New Snowbirds

BY JOHN HARRIS

any couples make their dreams come true and fly to a warm nest in the US, Mexico or Hawaii each year. One such couple is Pat and Liz Dawson. They have nested in Maui since 1983, and their years of experience can help others who are in the planning stages of making their own snowbirding dreams come true. These are some of their helpful hints. For years, Pat and Liz enjoyed Christmas with their young daughters in Waikiki. Hawaii was already their family’s special place, but Waikiki was busy and crowded and, in 1983, they bought a condo in quiet Maui. The home they chose was not waterfront, so it was affordable. Pat was an administrator in the Alberta education system and Liz was Dean of Health Sciences and Community Studies at an Edmonton university. With busy careers, they found the uninterrupted time in Hawaii with their daughters precious beyond price. Looking back, Pat and Liz say a number of things were essential in making their snowbird years successful. First, health insurance. Medical coverage is better now, but one thing the

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Dawsons consider key to staying happy as a snowbird is knowing every detail of your extended health coverage. And it becomes increasingly more important as you get older. After another 10 years of family vacations, Pat and Liz retired. They began spending as much time as they could in Maui but, as Canadians, had to live outside the US for at least six months of the year. Their advice is to make sure your owned home or condo is protected by a reliable property management company or trusted friend or neighbour in your absence. A lot can happen in six months and you won’t necessarily be aware of it. One year, the Dawsons returned to Maui to discover their agent had been renting out the home without their permission. They now rely on a good neighbour who regularly checks on the condo and the car while they’re in Canada. Strata council rules may be news to homeowners adding a snowbird nest to their property portfolio. Condominium living is different from owning your own house. Realtors can be a good source of information. Also, US insurance rules differ from Canadian practice. Some states don’t require insurance but your strata council may. Your checklist should cover whether renting out your unit is an option for you. Some developments have a managing pool for rentals. That checklist should also include your strata council rules around vehicle storage while you are in Canada. As the first years on Maui went by, Pat and Liz found themselves making new friends by volunteering in the community. They say it’s one of the best ways to make the most of a snowbird lifestyle. They urge new snowbirds to engage with their community rather than relying on other Canadian snowbirds as their sole support system. Liz works in a Maui hospice and sings in a choir. Until recently, Pat was very busy as volunteer coordinator for the Hyundai PGA Tour stop in Maui. If you’re flying off to a new place with old ways of doing things, the Dawsons advise that you “appreciate the difference.” Pat and Liz embrace “Hawaiiana,” the attitudes and cultures of the islands. They found native Hawaiians have concerns that echo those of Canada’s First Nations. There are over 30 separate sovereignty groups active in Hawaii. Native Hawaiians often live in areas called Homelands where residency is restricted. Whether your vacation home is on a Pacific island or in

Our 60th Anniversary serving the needs of physically disabled throughout B.C. Our Mission is to help fund & support organizations and individuals facing challenges, and improve quality of life and independence.

Help us to help others! Our Accomplishments include: •Technology for independent living •Noble House •Education programs •Support of Ronald McDonald House And, we are “Calling All kin” as well!

Please support our programs! Learn more, and donate at: www.goingstrong.ca Thank you for 60 years of support!! We have a variety of ways that you can help!! For more info, Email: kinsmenfoundationofbc@shaw.ca WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

DECEMBER 2014

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Live Well. Age Well.

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the desert of the Southwest, being aware of the local culture will enrich your life and create new friends. Also, be prepared for the climate. The hot sun you consider a blessing when leaving Prince George in January can become a problem, if you are unprepared. Even in the winter and fall months, temperatures in warmer US locations can be overwhelming. The Dawson’s daughters learned the hard way not to leave plastic lawn furniture out in the sun at their vacation homes near Palm Springs. You too may return to find the sun has melted a favourite patio chair into goo! Returning home, after being in Canada, there are many things to do: start the car and check the oil and tires; and dust everything. Even in Hawaii, dust happens. Phone your friends and neighbours and catch up on the local news; pick up your mail and make sure the local store is still carrying Canadian newspapers; check your internet connection because in the US, news from Canada can be hard to come by. That list of important tasks is one reason Pat and Liz decided it was time to leave behind their beloved home in Maui. They are of an age that medical issues and the sheer physical effort of managing two properties demand that they simplify their life. If you’re sad for Pat and Liz Dawson leaving Maui – don’t be. They are blessed with a lifetime of Maui memories and they are moving closer to their grandchildren. They are happy to share these valuable pointers for new snowbirds ready to take their SL turn in the sun.

that keeps on giving...

Give a neighbour a lift...your gift of time or a donation will help a Saanich resident live independently and stay connected to community. Call 250-595-8008 ext. 21 or visit www.saanichvolunteers.org to find out how you can help. Neighbours helping neighbours 16 14

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Correction Notice Some information on Reverse Mortgages contained in the article “Financing Your Future” in the November 2014 was incorrect. Here, below, is accurate information: Canadians arranging a Reverse Mortgage will have equity left in their homes 99 per cent of the time when it comes time to sell. On average, the amount of equity remaining is over 50 per cent of the value of the home at the time it is sold. In fact, if the funds are taken as part of a diversified retirement plan and there are other investment assets to protect, a Reverse Mortgage can result in a higher net worth, in the future, than may have been realized otherwise. Reverse Mortgage rates are modestly higher than fully qualified and debt serviced mortgages, but much lower than private or second mortgage rates. With a Reverse Mortgage, seniors don’t have to make any payments until they move or sell. Rates start at prime plus 1.25 per cent.The fees to access and start a Reverse Mortgage range from $0 to $1,495. A Reverse Mortgage is the only product that can protect and prevent the forced sale of a family home if a spouse dies. The surviving spouse does not have to requalify for the Reverse Mortgage. A Line of Credit or Traditional Mortgage does not have the same protection. In fact, a Line of Credit or Traditional Mortgage will require the surviving spouse to requalify when their partner dies. There are no credit or income qualifications for a Reverse Mortgage and payments are optional. Visit www.chip.ca for additional information. We apologize for any inconvenience this error may have caused.

A Happy Rider... “I purchased a scooter online from Scooter City. After delivering it to Ashcroft BC at no charge, Pam took time to explain the operation of the scooter to me. When it developed a problem a year later, one phone call to Scooter City and they were here to pick it up, take it to their shop for repair under warranty and return it to Ashcroft; again at no charge to me. I am VERY pleased with the pleasant, courteous and prompt service.” - Gordon

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Leave a legacy in your Will to Variety - The Children’s Charity and help children who have special needs in the province. Your generosity will help us continue to provide hope, enrich lives, and build a better future for children like Xander. For more information on how to leave a legacy: Call 604 320 0505 or Toll-free 1 800 310-KIDS (5437) or visit our website at www.variety.bc.ca/legacy.htm WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

DECEMBER 2014

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Snowbird Travel

Hemet (and area) Happenings BY JANE CASSIE

Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism

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Taking in the sunset and valley vista atop the hills a short walk from GVP.

Photos: Brent Cassie

hen Old Man Winter makes his appearance every year, my husband and I snowbird south to Hemet, California, in the San Jacinto Valley, and The Golden Village Palms (GVP) RV park becomes our home away from home. Although there’s more than enough summer-camp-type activities to keep us totally content, this year we venture beyond this lush recreational playground and discover there’s even more that waits just beyond our RV door. To Market to Market: Local produce and tasty pastries line up next to beaded jewellery and souvenirs. Outdoor markets are big in this region and the prices are down-right cheap! On Saturday mornings, check out the artisans and farmers who congregate in downtown Hemet, then head south-east to Winchester Flea Market where you’ll find everything from flowering trees to tweeting cockatiels. If you’re into driving a little further, Old Town Temecula is another shopper’s paradise. All the goods at this open-air arena are certified and home grown. Savour the natural honey and yummy goat cheese. And come at lunchtime when fish tacos are served hot off the grill. They’re out of this world! For the past 25 years, College of the Desert (in Palm Desert) has also been a bargain-hunter’s delight. With over three hundred vendors you’re bound to find that one-of-a-kind treasure. And when it comes to markets, there’s nothing quite like the Palm Springs Villagefest. Every Thursday night, the swanky Palm Canyon Drive transforms into a happening heyday. Bistros and boutiques partner up with artisans and entertainers. Veggies, flowers and gems unite with snacks, sweets and socializing. It’s a huge crowd-pleaser!

And if you don’t want to stray very far from your RV door, no worries. A farmer’s market comes to GVP every Tuesday, so goodness is guaranteed for your entire stay. Glorious Golf : There are a number of courses within a short drive of the resort and most are a third the price that we pay here in Canada. Echo Hills, a recently reconstructed nine-hole par 3 charges less than ten dollars a round. On Thursdays, Golden Era, rolls out the verdant carpet for GVP guests. Thirty dollars per couple gets you circling its regulation-length nine holes – and that’s driving a cart. For an additional seven dollars each, they throw in the full meal deal! Seven Hills is another steal. In the afternoons their eighteen hole, par 72, is a measly twenty-two dollars. Comparably priced, is the championship, Hemet Golf Club. Even higher-end courses, like our favourite, Diamond Valley Golf Club, are dirt cheap! This gorgeous gem, backed by the San Jacinto peaks, sprawls over four-hundred and fifty lush Hemet Valley acres. Bunkers, dog-legs and sand traps all provide the challenge. Desert grasses, velvety greens, manicured fairways make it all worthwhile. GVP also offers an organized golf program and by signing up, all guests get a deal on green fees and assurance of tee times. Hiking the Hills: The San Jacinto, Santa Rosa and San Bernardino mountains picturesquely frame the flatlands of Riverside County. They spring up from arid valleys, host intriguing craggy canyons and are home to countless hiking trails. For easy saunters, close to Hemet, meander the well-marked routes that squiggle through Simpson Park, skirt the many miles that circumvent Diamond Valley Lake or head to the eight thousand acres that embrace the lovely Lake Perris. As you’ll see on this website, the valley is peppered with parks where you can play and plod all day. http://sanjacintovalley.info/parks.html There are also ascending options, if you want to bump it up a notch, such as the ridge routes that view Whitewater Canyon, the ladder climbs in the steep-sided Painted/Ladder Canyons or the pine-canopied trails that traverse upward from the quaint mountainside town of Idyllwild. Devil’s Slide is just one of the popular pathways that’ll kick your heart rate into overdrive. Every Tuesday morning a hiking group from GVP head off in search of a trodden trail, so feel free to join in. Or if you’d rather stick close to the RV homestead, just head out the back gate. The boulder-studded hills that frame the resort’s backdrop provide a half-decent workout and their summits boast a pretty panorama of the entire San Jacinto Valley. Additional Must-Do’s: For those who want some hiking without all the hoofing, hop aboard the Palm Springs aerial tram (world’s largest of its kind). You’ll be whisked to the 8,500 ft ridge top in just ten minutes where there’s one heck of a vista and a network of heavenly trails ranging from casual rambles to challenging ascents like the 10,800 foot-high San Jacinto Peak. And before making the descent, make sure to re-fuel at either the casual Pines Café or savvy Peaks Restaurant where their delicious options are accompanied by Coachella Valley vistas. Maybe staying grounded is more your thing. If so, Desert Adventures provides the thrill without the uphill. Take a jeep ride

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through narrow canyons or an echo tour into Joshua National Park. While being riveted in the present, you’ll also step back to the past, when learning about the legends of the Cahuilla people who once ruled this land. For more recent San Jacinto Valley history, there are guided tours through the Estudillo Mansion, a stately brick residence originally built in 1884 by the region’s first postmaster, Francisco Estudillo Jr., and to discover this area’s Ice Age roots, Hemet’s state-of-the-art Western Science Centre houses everything from giant mammoth and mastodon models to nearly a million archaeological artifacts and paleontological specimens. You think that’s it? Not a chance! Orange Empire Railway Museum appeases the train buffs, Perris Valley Indoor Skydiving satisfies the adventuresome and Ramona Bowl lures in the theatre lovers. Christmas, spring and summer performances at this outdoor amphitheatre have been going strong since 1923.

Look Closer… What do you see people, what do you see? Is it just an old woman when you look at me? In our fast paced world, we often don’t take the time to see individuals. This is particularly true of the elderly within our facilities and our community. And when we don’t see, we don’t recognize needs. Please look closer...

See Me. The Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation supports community programs and education for seniors and their caregivers, purchases specialized equipment, upgrades care facilities with home-like enhancements and funds valuable research to improve the way the elderly are cared for. Your legacy gift will help us enhance quality of life for the elderly for generations to come.

Please contact us:

GVEF Senior Living Magazine 1/4 page ad: 3.5” x 4.75” tall prepared by Art Department Design 250 381-4290 Created: Nov 2014

Your Legacy

Is Her Future.

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Since 1973, the Canadian Section of Amnesty International has promoted and protected human rights at home and abroad, through ongoing campaigning, outreach and education programs. By remembering Amnesty International in your will and estate planning, you will be helping to build a future where the fundamental dignity of every person is respected worldwide. For information and assistance, contact: Heather Warren, Gift Planning Associate (613) 744-7667 ext. 239 hwarren@amnesty.ca www.amnesty.ca/plannedgiving 1-800-AMNESTY Charitable Reg. No. 11878 5914 RR 0001

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Hiking in the sliver thin Ladder Canyon.

Yes, there’s something for everyone in and around the city of Hemet – but that’s only if you can steal yourself away from all the fun stuff at Golden Village Palms. Pickleball, volleyball, shuffleboard and a high-tech fitness centre embrace a network of shimmering pools. Add in tribute bands, comedy nights, games, crafts and special events to the chock-a-block full calendar and what do you have? A community of happy campers. It’s no surprise that GVP was ranked one of the best RV parks in 2014 by the Good Sam RV Travel Guide and Campground Directory. It’s the perfect snowbird getaway. And, for us, it beats any summer camp! Recommendation: The adjacent, Hampton Inn and Suites www.HemetSuites.HamptonInn.com offers a discounted rate to friends and family who SL are visiting RVers at GVP. For IF YOU GO information, visit www. seniorlivingmag.com/articles/snowbirds-hemet

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DECEMBER 2014

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Snowbird Travel

Canadian Snowbird Migration BY KATE ROBERTSON

o you love Canada’s winter a little less than the other three seasons? Always dreamed of heading south during those winter months? If so, you’re in good company with a reported half million plus Canadians who become “snowbirds” and regularly spend time in warm weather spots over the winter. Popular snowbird destinations are Florida, California, Arizona, Texas and, increasingly, Mexico and Central America. While for some folks figuring out which destination they want to spend time in may be a tough decision, this was not so for David and Faith Cullen from Slocan Park, a tiny community located close to the city of Nelson and smack dab in the snow belt of the Kootenays. According to Faith, “We discovered Yuma, Arizona almost 40 years ago and fell in love with the Sonora Desert and strong Spanish influences. All these years it was in the back of our minds to some day visit and stay for a longer period of time.” The Cullens, now in their mid-60s, have managed to make that dream a reality. In 2005, after David retired from being a teacher, he and Faith made an exploratory visit to Yuma. Faith was still working as an employment counsellor, but because she worked contracts, she had the flexibility to take time off. Their first visit was for six weeks; gradually, they have extended their stay from December to late March each year. When you learn a bit about Yuma, it’s easy to understand why the Cullens are attracted to it. One of the top snowbird destinations in the US, its estimated population of close to

200,000 swells to double that in the peak winter months. Yuma holds a Guinness World Record for being the sunniest city on earth – and the driest. The temperate winter climate averages temperatures hovering in the 20s (what’s not to love about that?) As David confirms, “Winters are nice, December through until mid-March, when the temperature starts climbing, and then we’re ready to return home to spring conditions.” Many seniors experience health benefits from these warm, dry winters, like Faith who says, “We felt the time in the sun, away from the cold and snow, would be advantageous to our health and wellbeing. And the hot, dry climate has mitigated and relieved my arthritic condition, which was aggravated by the cold, wet winters in the Kootenays.” Located in the southwestern corner of Arizona, Yuma is in the desert, near the confluence of the Gila and Colorado Rivers – on the California border and close to the border of Mexico. A popular day trip is to Los Algodones, about 20 minutes away, a Mexican border town catering to tourists, where Canadians like the Cullens flock to get a dose of cultural diversity, as well as to take advantage of low-cost medical and dental services. There are numerous street vendors offering tourists merchandise at negotiable prices, where Faith says, “I love the shopping, bartering and getting a good deal!” An added bonus is that the cost of living is less in Yuma than here in Canada. Faith states emphatically, “the cost of living is LESS, less, less, given the status of the Canadian dollar. Parity was great. Items like food, gas and alcohol are

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considerably less.” In case you think snowbirding is for sitting by the pool all day long, and that you may be bored, David and Faith are evidence this is not the case. David, an avid skier, was happy to give it up for hiking, sun and golf. Faith stays active with walking, hiking and pool activities. The trailer park community where they live offers numerous scheduled activities such as aquatic exercises, golf dates and beading classes. “These are what we call ‘serious commitments,’” Faith jokes, “otherwise, we may go for a date shake, go out for lunch with friends, visit the library or historic downtown Yuma, go target shooting, see a movie or attend one of the many markets or swap meets.” “We have chosen not to hook up cable TV while we’re in Yuma,” Faith continues, saying they would prefer to stay up-to-date with world events via the computer. “We make other choices rather than sitting in front of a TV screen. We are veracious readers. Yuma has many second-hand book

Leave your legacy of compassionate care for those who are dying or struggling with the loss of a loved one.

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stores and a great library, which we frequent often. I begin to collect names of authors and books I want to read months before we leave for Yuma and indulge myself over the winter months with a reading marathon.” The City of Yuma also caters to the winter visitors, offering various events and activities such as antique shows, art and craft bazaars, seminars, health fairs, concerts and dances. There are numerous parks, recreation centres and pools, tennis complexes and golf courses (some with fees as low as $20 a round, including a cart, according to David). When it comes to getting to Yuma from Canada, despite the distance (it’s approximately 2,660km from the Cullen’s home), to date, the Cullens have driven. However, they leave in December and because of some “close calls with icy roads and whiteout conditions,” they are thinking about flying down from now on. “We would purchase a car in the US and leave it down there,” says Faith. However, a trade-off would be the ease with which they are

able to transport their belongings back and forth with a vehicle. Another consideration is choosing accommodation. Some of the options available include long-term rates at some hotels, renting a condo, or like David and Faith, buying a fifth-wheel that they keep year-round in a small trailer park (of which there are many, specifically for snowbirds). “Our trailer park has all the amenities for a leisurely vacation,” says Faith. “This park is for people 55 and older. We have met lots of great people. We look forward to re-connecting with them each year. The majority of the people in our park are from Canada. The adage that ‘it’s five o’clock somewhere’ resonates with folks as we get together in the late afternoon to socialize, share stories, and have a few laughs.” Although the Cullens have no intention of permanently moving south, they do plan on continuing their yearly migration to avoid the Canadian winters. As David quips, “You can’t shovel sunSL shine!”

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Author Profile

Bridging the Gap Between Disciplines BY VERNICE SHOSTAL

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Author and veterinarian Brett Hayward with Harley.

life started on Earth, where is life going, why there is so much suffering and death of all Earth’s creatures, including people, how to time and space travel and more. Nearly a decade ago, the veterinarian started recording ideas that were answers and conversations around the deeper questions about life. “In the scientific inquiry into life, although God could have brought the molecules into being, I

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Photo: Neil Gaudet/Vivid Photography

“I

have always had a rapport with animals,” says Nanaimo veterinarian Brett Hayward, author of Existence: Science, Spirituality & the Spaces Between. Growing up in Vancouver near the UBC endowment land, Brett skate boarded, swam, climbed, hiked, canoed, sailed and spent a lot of formative time in the woods, building forts and riding bikes – always with dogs. “All the dogs and cats in our neighbourhood knew me,” he says. In his teens, Brett turned to motor biking, playing basketball, tennis, squash, cross-country, downhill and water skiing. He even tried surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling. A Christian today, Brett admits his early childhood behaviour exemplified anything but sainthood. In church, he acted out with craziness and attention seeking and often got kicked out. In elementary school, he spent a lot of time in the corner of the classroom, or banished to the cloakroom or the hallway. By age 14, curiosity got the best of him and he began seriously looking for answers to life’s questions in religion and psychology. Brett began his post-secondary education at UBC, majoring in Animal Science, nutrition and genetics, intent on farming. He received a BSc in agriculture in 1978. Then, when a high school rugby friend, also in agriculture, told Brett about an animal hospital he had visited, the idea and Brett’s own visit to the hospital captivated him. In 1979, he enrolled in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan and graduated in 1983. Brett became a Christian when he was 24, which, he says, was the single most profound event of his life as it was the beginning of a path that affected and guided thousands of his choices. However, he still felt there had to be more. Christianity touches upon existence, focusing mostly on how to live this life in preparation for the eternal life after death, but it does not provide answers to questions about how

feel that we need to search as much as possible into the deeper answers.” Brett’s curiosity has led him to venture on a new spiritual path with more questions. Was the creation of the universe just a random occurrence, or was it created by something other than natural causes? Is humankind at the mercy of evolution, or can we make choices that are apart from that process? Are science and spirituality’s views on these issues irreconcilable, or is there a way of bridging the gap between these disciplines? After a few years of writing ideas on bits of paper that culminated in a pile of notes, Brett put them on his computer where they were readable, but remained a stream of unrelated subjects. Then, three years ago, he decided to copy and paste ideas into groups and drew pictures to illustrate his ideas. Suddenly, it dawned on him that his work was looking like a book. Drawing on his experience as a veterinarian and providing examples from his interaction with his four-legged clients, Brett provides compelling evidence that spirituality can co-exist harmoniously with science. In his book, Brett finds common ground between the two. Near retirement and still active, Brett enjoys riding his motorcycle and paragliding, both of which he says are about experiencing a different paradigm in motion. “It’s enjoyable to travel smoothly, fast and safe. No two rides on the bike are the same and every ride is an exploration in geography, weather, people and motion.” Paragliding on the coast of Ecuador three years ago, Brett says “Flying with the pelicans, frigates and turkey vultures… was amazing as they have been there for millions of years, and I was a visitor passing through, experiencing their lives, seeing their viewpoint.” Having owned his own single-engine airplanes during the 1990s, Brett enjoyed another kind of flying when he flew his planes out of Courtenay, Campbell River, Qualicum Beach and Tofino. Brett also likes scuba diving, which he says is a bit like flying, but in slow motion. An athlete most of his life, rugby has always been in the veterinarian’s blood. Although he doesn’t play anymore, he watches it often and, in 2011, travelled to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup to cruise the north island and see some games. Lately, Brett has added kayaking to his list of things to do. Among his many retirement plans, Brett says he would like to help others, “as this has a deep beneficial psychological effect on us.” Still looking to experience everything he can, Brett would like to travel to Ireland, Southern France, Northern Spain and South Africa to visit caves with ancient paintings on rocks. And still searching for answers and having gleaned enough material SL for two more books, he will continue to write.

You can always be there for them.

Give a second chance at a happy life… there is no better holiday gift you can give an animal in need. Make a donation of stock or include a gift in your will to set tails wagging! Visit us today at spca.bc.ca/support or contact: Yolanda Benoit ybenoit@spca.bc.ca 1.800.665.1868

Existence: Science and Spirituality and the Spaces Between is stocked in some local book stores and can also be ordered through independent and big book stores, or online through Chapters or Amazon.ca WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

DECEMBER 2014

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Artist Profile

Art is Life, Life is Art BY KATE ROBERTSON

“Building Vibrant Communities” You CAN make an impact in your community with a Legacy Gift to the Parksville-Qualicum Community Foundation.

Artist Rabi’a Gonzalez on her property in the Slocan Valley.

Your gift will be there in perpetuity assisting local community organizations to carry on their work for years to come. Established in 1999, this philanthropic organization has provided thousands of dollars in Grants & Scholarships to a wide range of local organizations. Please contact – Brent Johnson, CGA at 250-752-3957 email: brent@bjcga.net www.parksvillequalicumfoundation.com

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SENIOR LIVING

hen Rabi’a Gonzalez immigrated with her family to Canada on her 15th birthday, little did she know that 56 years later she would be calling herself a Canadian artist. Rabi’a dabbled in art in her early adult years experimenting with watercolours and some stained glass but, at the time, she was homesteading in BC’s far north without electricity, so continuing the stained glass work was a challenge. Really, it was only 12 years ago when she met her partner, artist Carl Schlichting, that she started taking art seriously. “He just woke up the artist in me, by introducing materials, tools, ideas and possibilities,” she confides. Now for Rabi’a, there is an unmatched sense of satisfaction that comes from creating. “I love the total involvement, at the time,” she says. “I love design and colour. I love to create what never existed

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Photo: Kate Robertson

The Parksville-Qualicum Community Foundation

before. It is like raising up otherwise unappreciated materials from the dead. I love the passion of the involvement and seeing where it takes me.” These days, she chooses to pursue an eclectic range of artistic mediums, making her ponder the question of what’s her favourite medium thoughtfully: “Favourite medium… now? I have to say welding, rusty steel, wild cobbled together sculptures. Crazy to say it, but it seems I find something that needs welding every day – even when I’m not working on a particular piece. It is so amazing that I can just stick pieces of steel together – easy, gravity defying, any angle and direction and it stays put.” Rabi’a displays most of her art pieces throughout her five-acre homestead on the Slocan River in Winlaw, where she also has a B&B called the “Artful Lodger.” She also regularly gets to show her work as her place is often part of the annual Slocan Valley Art and Garden Tour, drawing crowds of spectators each time she participates – all eager to embark on a treasure hunt for whatever delightful new sculpture or interesting artistic tidbit she has nestled among the rustic, but carefully tended, flower beds or stuck, with her artful eye, in unusual places on the straw bale home she built or on one of the numerous outbuildings. In recent years, Rabi’a has also started to display her art publicly, showing annually at the Hidden Garden Gallery in New Denver and, further afield, at regional shows across the province, entering sculptures in the Castlegar Sculpturewalk, and selling to art lovers all over the world. Some of her sculptures are permanently displayed in Castlegar and Nelson. Not one to stick to a particular style, Rabi’a describes that with her art, “one thing leads to another. I like shape, style, form, colour, attitude and find I can express these things in a variety of mediums.” Her most recent creative exploration is sewing and paint-

Newly Opened and in full operation

ing cloth banners, “then seeing what I have for steel and welding up stands for them – very much a departure from what I’ve been doing, but I love to see pieces that interact with the wind and air and colour – lots of colour.” In fact, her gallery show this year at the Hidden Garden was called “Remodeled,” where she had sewn several costumes and welded up “wild and creative mannequins to hang them from. It was meant to be an installation – basically they were clothes I’d made WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

for myself, but people wanted to buy them,” she says with surprise. At first, it may seem unlikely that welding and sewing would be related, but as Rabi’a states, “Welding and sewing are both similar… in both mediums I see what bits and pieces want to be next to what other bits.” She does more sewing in the winter, rather than welding, because her welding studio is an open-air one with just a roof over it. When you spend just a minute with the tall, wiry 71 year old with a pixie DECEMBER 2014

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Gerry McQuade knows the power of giving. As a prostate cancer survivor, I am delighted to support the good work of The Prostate Centre. As I went through my journey with prostate cancer, I benefited hugely from the programs and support they provide. Please support Vancouver Island men like Gerry by including The Prostate Centre in your estate plans. It’s easy and important… for you, your loved ones and our community.

(250) 388-0214 www.TheProstateCentre.org Reg. Charitable No: BN 86665-8230-RR001

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2014-04-15

My home. Our community. A world that provides a chance to make a difference starts with you.

See the difference your donation can make

Visit www.ilhs.ca and donate today! Independent Living Housing Society of Greater Victoria

Providing living solutions for individuals seeking independence in a caring and supportive home environment. 30 28

SENIOR LIVING

haircut, you can tell it would be hard to keep up with her energy. Indeed, you can feel the enthusiasm crackling out of her. On her homestead, she has big vegetable, fruit, and berry gardens that keep her busy along with operating the B&B. When she’s not making art, she teaches the occasional glass mosaic class and, through the winter, she is part of a life drawing group that meets weekly for sessions with a live model. Last winter, she also got involved for the first time in the world of drama with a start-up group in the Slocan Valley. “At 71 that was a fair leap for me and with all people I did not know previously, a refreshing stretch.” With wonder in her voice she adds, “I had no idea that doing the performance had a euphoria component built in – wow! I’m hooked.” 9:23 AM And only this fall she joined a local choir group. Where does she get the energy to do all the things she does? “Good genes – I am lucky being ‘made in Holland,’” she says with a smile. “For me, it is easy to make good food and lifestyle choices. It helps to be passionate about what I fill my days and life with as well.” This passion for life is best summed up by Rabi’a herself: “My ongoing daily practice is gratitude. I am so very lucky – blessed – at this point in my life. I am in the best yet, committed and supportive relationship with my partner who is my muse and I’m passionate about how I fill my days. I love my community, my friends, and now my drama and choir groups. I have clean air and clean water. I grow so much of my own food. I WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Rabi’a with her sculpture in Nelson. have health, I have choices, and I feel success in the things that matter. And never in my wildest dreams did I think I was going to be an artist. How good SL is that?”

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When Life Hands You a Lemon STORY AND PHOTOS BY JUDEE FONG

These life-like fruits and vegetables are made from soap.

hen life hands you a lemon, Moss Street Market’s artistic soap lady Laura Thompson knows exactly what to do. Laura’s “lemon” was a devastating case of dermatitis caused by her job. “I was a nurse’s aide 32 years ago,” she says. “I began wearing latex gloves to protect my exposed hands, but dis-

covered I was also allergic to latex, which was practically unheard of back then.” Leaving her job, Laura pondered what to do next. She needed to find a soap gentle enough for her sensitized skin. “There wasn’t anything out there, so I decided to make my own,” she says matter-of-factly. It took six months of trial

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500 senior residences and housing communities throughout BC are listed in this comprehensive directory. Compare services, amenities, and prices. Sort your selection by region, or type of care.

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and error to produce her organic soap. Prominent among her soaps are life-like fruits, veggies, seashells, rocks, plus the traditional bars of lavender, rose and mint soaps, Laura keeps a basket of lemons up front. “It’s my best selling item,” she says with a smile. Mostly self-taught, Laura uses her natural talents for sculpting and painting to create her organic soaps. “I have this knack of looking at something and seeing it like a photograph in my mind,” she says. “I make my soaps the way I see them. I use natural ingredients for scents and colour: lemon zest, mint, lavender, cinnamon and ground parsley flakes, to name a few.” The Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) is a non-proﬁt organization with a mission to empower people to nourish themselves by providing access to healthy food, education and training. The GVFB assists over 28,000 people each week and is committed to its vision of accessible, healthy and sustainable food for all. To learn how you can leave a legacy that will help provide food to thousands in need, please contact Heidi Magnuson-Ford at 604.216.2329 or heidimf@foodbank.bc.ca.

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How will you leave your mark? By including the Heart and Stroke Foundation in your Will, you’ll support life-saving heart disease and stroke research—and give your family and friends a brighter future.

Laura Thompson, Moss Street Market’s soap lady.

Laura’s fruits and vegetables look so real that a few years ago, a food inspector and his clipboard included her “produce,” among the local organic farmers. At that time, Laura had baskets of green Anjou pears, miniature sacks of new potatoes and a heaping mound of button mushrooms as part of her display. Laughing, she recalls, “The Inspector had his clipboard and was checking off the mushrooms and the pears asking me if all my produce were organically grown. I just looked at him like, “You got to be joking?” When I told him they were all soaps, he looked sheepish and walked away!” Laura doesn’t keep photos of the fruits or vegetables she has crafted as she finds it restricts her creativity. “What I

To start planning your legacy gift by Will, call Jane Westheuser at 1-888-473-4636 or visit heartandstroke.ca/legacygiving

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DECEMBER 2014

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made six months ago may not be what I make six months later. And if I do make it again, I’ll have a different version as I like my art to evolve. I like to sit and make things without any previous influence.” A few years ago, Laura had crafted beautiful life-sized peaches and she still makes them today. “I make half peaches with a big pit in it,” she says. “I used to make what I call ‘free-

stone peaches’ and whenever someone bought a peach, I would give them a free peach pit. If they’re having a bad day, they would get a ‘pit’ to signify their pit of a day. It cheers them up and I get a smile from them.” Laura has had many challenging special requests that gave her additional opportunities to flex her artistic skills. “There was a basketball that went back to Japan; and I made

Laura’s soaps fooled even an organic food inspector.

G N I S A E L W NOTake home our latest DAY!

a wooden crate of Brussel sprouts for a lady who had written a book called Brussel Sprouts and Unicorns; and I made 250 kiwis for a wedding in a kiwi orchard. I made the little wooden boxes and each held two halves of a

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kiwi. The star-shaped seeds were poppy seeds and embedded by hand. It was a fun project to do.”

“There wasn’t anything out there, so I decided to make my own.”

Help make Computers Accessible to All!

–Soap artist Laura Thompson Currently, Laura is busy creating soaps for the Moss Street Market Christmas Craft Fair held at the Fairfield Gonzales Community Hall, December 13th and 14th in the Garry Oak Room. Afterwards, Laura takes a well-deserved break for a month or two. “By mid-January, I get real itchy to tackle my list of ideas, giving me a few months to build my stock for the SL start of market day in May 2015.”

Support people with disabilities through the Neil Squire Society

Laura is reachable at 778-440-0550. For the first time, there will be an indoor Winter Market each Saturday from Noon to 2 p.m. from November 2014 to April 2015 in the Garry Oak Room of the Fairfield Gonzales Community Hall at 1330 Fairfield Road. For more information on the Moss Street Market, visit: www.mossstreetmarket.com or call 250-361-1747.

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Travel

A More Personal Way to Travel BY PAT NICHOL

As Colleen tells it, a friendship began that would never have happened staying in a hotel or at a B&B. The family in England left a list of neighbours and contacts for her and, now, when she goes back, it’s like visiting family with the whole neighbourhood. The benefits of house swapping are plentiful. It is a way to save money and cook your own meals, if you wish. It includes a comfortable home, amenities, including laundry and, sometimes, you can even swap cars. For the past three years, Colleen and her husband lived in England and used the concept of house swapping several times to visit mainland Europe. Their home, just outside of London, was a lovely 19th century house. They swapped it with couples throughout Europe

n 1994, before it became a “thing,” my friend Colleen was house swapping. She came to it by happenstance when she tripped over a classified ad in the local paper. A Victoria resident, who was friends with people in England, was searching for someone in Victoria willing to swap houses. Colleen replied to the ad. She met with the Victoria resident, who was acting on their friends’ behalf, got along and, shortly thereafter, Colleen and her son were sojourning in a flat in Manchester, while the family from Manchester was relishing Victoria. When people ask Colleen why she chooses this mode of travelling, she replies: “Why wouldn’t you? I can’t believe more people don’t do it more often.”

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whenever they visited, as they found it to be a more personal way to travel. Colleen also has the advantage of being a member of an international organization that offers members connections in other countries. The military also makes unofficial house swapping connections.

“Why wouldn’t you? I can’t believe more people don’t do it more often.” When considering house swapping, however, ask yourself these questions: Is the house, apartment or condo similar to what we are used to? Where is it located? Are we close to a town centre and all its amenities? Would we be comfortable in that neighbourhood? What about transportation? Car swaps are possible, but can be a challenge, particularly if the rules of the road are different from those in Canada. When discussing the details of a swap, be sure to come to a mutual understanding about both large and small items. Will it be possible to use the house as a base and travel around

Legacy Gifts Help Keep the Gardens Growing Your planned gift to the Gardens ensures that Vancouver’s green heart continues to beat for future generations. For more information please contact: Dawn Russell, Development Director VanDusen Botanical Garden Association 604-257-8190 | drussell@vandusen.org www.vandusengarden.org

Are you one? 30% of BC adults care for a loved one. And the need is growing. When you need resources, education & support to help you give care to your loved ones, we are here for you. Today, we need your help to meet tomorrow’s needs. Please support our mission with your donations.

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Connecting Seniors to the Community Since 1956 Silver Threads Services has provided support to older adults including personal development, social events, support and referrals with centres in Victoria and Saanich. Consider making a donation or leaving a legacy gift to provide opportunities to enhance the quality of life for seniors. For more information:

250 382-3151

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from there? Are there pets involved? How long can you stay? Ask for photos to avoid being disappointed. Free accommodation (usually one of the greatest expenses connected to travel) is perhaps the most attractive aspect of house swapping. Additionally, swappers have an opportunity to learn about an area from something other than travel guides. By meeting neighbours, they hear stories from the people who have experienced them. There is a potential to make new friends in a faraway place and make it seem not so far away. It is a wonderfully personal travel experience. Think about sitting in a hotel room by yourself at night versus getting together with neighbours and sharing laughter and good times. According to Colleen, there are not many downsides to house swapping. As long as you do your due diligence, and know that people enjoy varying degrees of comfort, you will be fine. For example, a large fridge in some European countries would be the size of a bar fridge in Canada. Space can be limited and lifestyles differ. So, because people shop every day rather than weekly, there is often room for only the basics. House swapping is not for everyone. If privacy is a value you are stringent about, carefully consider if this is a good option for you. Also, if you have high-value items or those that mean a great deal to you, it is a good idea to lock them away. Finally, always have a back-up plan and the resources to support it.

Senior Expo 2015 Refresh & Rejuvenate March 10, 2015 • 9am - 3:30pm Pearkes Recreation Centre, Victoria BC

Largest Senior Focused Expo in BC Sells Out Every Year! • Over 125 Exhibitors 2,500+ Visitors • All Day Entertainment This year’s Expo focuses on looking your best, featuring products and services to make you feel great! Fashion show, makeovers, and more! SENIOR GROUPS & CLUBS Are you a group of seniors that enjoys an active lifestyle (sports, hobbies, travel, etc.)? We want you at our event. Come share your interests with other seniors. Limited number of spaces available. Applicants will be selected by the organizers on the basis of variety, activity, age and relevance.

BUSINESSES Boost your sales and business profile! If you are looking for a high traffic event to promote your products or services to the largest and fastest growing demographic on Vancouver Island, our Senior Expo offers a great opportunity to meet potential customers face to face.

Booths and Sponsorship Opportunities available. Limited space, so call now. Hosted by Senior Living Magazine. Book your space today. www.seniorlivingmag.com/expo or call Caroline at 250.812.8782. 38 36

SENIOR LIVING

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Before You Leave Check List:

1. Make sure your house is clean and ready for guests. 2. Stock basic items in the fridge until your visitors can get to the store. 3. Leave instructions about how appliances work and the password for the Internet. 4. Supply phone numbers and contacts of neighbours, and ask neighbours to stop by to say hello. 5. Provide instructions for plant care and animal care, if they are part of the agreement. 6. Make up a package of interesting things to do in your city.

Before You Come Home Check List:

1. Replace any basic food items used. 2. Clean up so the house looks as good (or better) than when you arrived. 3. If anything is broken, leave money to replace the item. 4. Leave the keys in an agreed-upon location, so your hosts can get back into their home. 5. A thank you note and a small gift are always a nice touch. In addition to creating a more authentic travel experience, house swapping is an opportunity to patronize local merchants by shopping in local markets and using local services, whereby becoming part of a growing desire to travel SL responsibly.

By remembering Langley Care Foundation in your estate planning, you will be helping to ensure quality of life for the elderly.

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For more information on how you can leave a meaningful legacy, please contact the Langley Care Foundation.

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Making Meaningful Memories

Grandparenting

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Your generation changed the world. Help us do the same.

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or many grandparents, nothing brings more pleasure than being able to purchase gifts for their grandchildren. But it’s not as simple as going out and buying everything you see. Before you take out your credit card, do some thinking and planning, so your gifts are appropriate, appreciated and enjoyed. Certain gifts require some parental input. If your grandchild is ready for her first bike, it may be that this is a gift the parent really wants to give. So, for bigger or iconic products, talk to the parents. Talking to the parents, therefore, should be your first step. If you buy too much for the kids, it can create a problem for the parents because they have to help care for all these items and find storage. You also want to take care that you do not over-shadow the other grandparents. It’s not a competition. Consider the parents’ values and preferences. If they do not want your grandchildren playing with guns, then their wishes must be respected. Buying the grandchildren a gift that will cause the parents grief creates unnecessary tension. The parents may then return the gift to you, put it away out of reach of the kids or let them play with it, but be uncomfortable the whole time. None are good options. Gift-giving should be joyous and fun, not tension-filled. Never buy a noisy gift without first clearing it with the folks. That great drum set may thrill your grandchild, but not be at all appreciated by his parents. It may depend on whether the family has a space far enough away from the main living areas to make the gift acceptable. Rather than giving things, parents may prefer help financing music lessons or summer camp. Along the same lines are memberships to places like Science World or the Aquarium. These can provide the whole family with hours of fun and education. And every time they go, they will WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

know they have their grandparents to thank. If you grew up with a favourite toy or book this makes a good gift because it includes your stories. I still have my favourite childhood books. They were also my mother’s favourites, and I am looking forward to the time when I share them and stories about my mom when my grandchildren are ready. When considering toys, it’s always good to check out the toy testing council (http:// toy-testing.org/2013/reports-and-awards/toyreport-2014/) recommendations. The Canadian Toy Testing Council has been testing toys since 1952. Children test the toys in their own homes for periods of six to eight weeks. After the evaluation period, the families report their experiences and the Council conveys their findings directly to the manufacturer or distributor to help them keep feedback in mind when they design further toys. The toys are listed on the website, described and organized by age. It’s a great resource for helping identify what toys are out there this year. But remember these are simply recommendations. Choose toys that take into account not just your grandchild’s age, but also his or her interests and play style. Also consider where he lives. The toys that will work well in a house with a fenced yard can be different from those for a family that lives in a condo and head off to the local park for outdoor play. A subscription to a children’s magazine is another great gift. Owl Magazine is a Canadian publication with three magazines, each for different age groups. The neat thing about subscribing to a magazine is that your gift arrives monthly. About a week after you know the magazine has arrived, you can get in touch and talk to your grandchildren about the content. It can make for great conversations. Setting up some sort of ongoing financial contribution is another way to handle gift giving. If you contribute to a bank account on a regular basis, the money will make a big difference when they are ready to take the next step after high school. I know some grandparents with some un-used TFSA space who regu-

larly contribute to an account for their grandchildren. For older grandchildren, check with the parents to see if there is a special sporting event or concert the child is dying to attend. This becomes a special treat you can make available. Bottom line, first talk to the parents and be willing to listen. Are there gifts they particularly want to give the children? Are there gifts such as war toys, electronics or gender-specific toys they would prefer their kids not receive? Are there toys or registrations such as piano lessons or power skating classes they would truly appreciate having for the kids? Some grandparents also love to travel with their grandchildren. If the children are old enough to be comfortable with their grandparents and the grandparents healthy enough, this can be a way to create amazing memories and have truly special times with the kids. You may choose to take only one child at a time and plan a trip that meets their special interests, or pile two or three in the car and head off down the road. With good planning, this can be a tremendous amount of fun for all age groups. Remember, the best gift you can give your grandchildren is you. If you live out of town, stay in touch with Skype, telephone, email or old-fashioned snail mail. If you live closer, visit often, SL have fun and enjoy these wonderful children. Kathy Lynn is a parenting expert who is a professional speaker and author. To learn more, visit www.parentingtoday.ca

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Health

BY JANET RICHEY

his story begins with a blueberry. At least, I blamed a blueberry. Just in the door from the market, I popped the biggest, bluest one into my mouth, unwashed. At that instant, like punishment for bad behaviour, pain started in my jaw. I rubbed my jaw and neck and complained to my husband, “That blueberry made my jaw hurt. Either it’s the berry or I’m having a heart attack.” It was meant to be funny, but we didn’t have time to laugh. The pain moved to my shoulders, then to my arms. I chewed an aspirin, and argued about whether we should call 911. I was adamant about not calling, as I tried to work through the pain. “Just give me a minute, it will go away.” My husband was not buying my argument, but we did wait a minute, maybe two. Then the nausea struck. My blood pressure registered 180/100. I was finally convinced. My husband drove me to an emergency room five minutes from our home. As we entered, the receptionist snapped at us, “You should have called 911 long ago.” She was right. Like me, many women argue and delay when they have symptoms. Delay can be lethal. Their nurse administered my first shot of the day and called an ambulance. This was not GERD, or an errant fibrillation. My heart was screaming for oxygen. More than 300,000 women suffer symptoms of heart attack every year. Because female heart symptoms often don’t look like a male cardiac event, many of our heart attacks go undetected, until the heart is damaged or goes into arrest. Women are sometimes misdiagnosed, or they don’t recognize their own peril until

it’s too late. For women, an attack often starts with pain in a shoulder, or jaw, travelling through the neck and arms. Pain is sometimes in the back rather than the chest. Women often complain of extreme fatigue just before or during a heart attack. Other symptoms are nausea and sweatiness. Chest pressure and pain, and shortness of breath are more universal signs of cardiac distress in both genders. Time is precious. Don’t spend it unwisely. A blood test by a health practitioner can detect enzymes released into the blood stream when heart cells die. Such tests can confirm the need for further diagnosis by a cardiologist and perhaps exploration of the heart by angiogram. If the heart has suffered damage, surgical remediation is available. Women should be aware of our unique heart attack symptoms and carry aspirin at all times. And if you have indications of a cardiac event, don’t delay. Fast action can save your life. SL

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Travel

Following Henry VIII From Greenwich to Hampton Court

STORY AND PHOTO BY CHRIS & RICK MILLIKAN

ettled outside London at Putney Bridge, two daytrips transport us into England’s earlier times. Starting off, morning trains take us to Greenwich, a pretty town reflecting Britain’s seafaring past. Our map leads us into the National Maritime Museum, where naval-themed exhibits include model ships, elaborately carved figureheads once gracing prows and interactive activities for kids of all ages. One room showcases Nelson’s bullet-pierced coat from Trafalgar, his last battle. An elaborately gilded 16th century royal barge dominates the hallway. Strolling next door, we find Britain’s first Palladian-style villa. James I built this palace in 1616 as a gift for Anne of Denmark, his wife, who accepted it on the condition that river views be preserved. Inside Queen’s House, the wondrous tulip staircase spirals upward from the Great Hall – without central supports! Today, a gallery for the Maritime Museum, former royal apartments now exhibit the world’s largest collection of naval art. Hogarth, Canaletto, Reynolds and Turner depict sailing ships, sea battles, captains and admirals. One chamber displays Henry VII’s family portraits, including renowned son Henry. An unexpected engraving unveils Placentia, their Greenwich palace. Born there in 1491, this brick riverside residence long remained Henry’s favourite home. Becoming King at age 18, he’d ordered the addition of a banquet hall, stables, forges and If you are interested in making a living Will or leaving a legacy in your Will to North Island Wildlife Recovery Association, please email us at wildlife@niwra.org for a brochure & video.

Hampton Court – William and Mary’s Wren-designed Baroque palace.

armouries for making suits of mail. He married his first two wives in this Tudor palace; daughters Mary and Elizabeth were also born there. For pleasure, Henry hunted deer in Greenwich Park’s vast grounds, London’s oldest royal park. And he skillfully jousted in the tiltyard until crushed under his horse during a 1536 tourna-

WILDLIFE LEGACIES

Please visit our website under “How to Help” at

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bus Local Favorite d morning coffee and town

and let expert guides make every destination fascinatExhibition VIP Access: Skip the lines and get special treatDONAGHADEE ment at the must-see attractions. Early evening drive to the Ards Peninsula and ing. Scenic Ireland - MAY 1, 2015

Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite dinner at Pier 36 Perfect Hotels:�� BOYNE VALLEY Guided tour of the Bronze Age passage-grave �� at Knowth SIGHTSEEING DUBLIN LIMERICK Tour Directors:Take your heads out of the guidebook Orientation drive Welcome dinner BALLYKNOCKEN HOUSE and let expert guides make every destination fascinatGlobus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite CLIFFS OF MOHER and morning coffee and ing. Baking demonstration Savor the spectacular views scones RATHBAUN KILKENNY FARM See the farmer at work and enjoy morning Transportation: Leave the navigating to us – Explore this pretty county town coffee in the farmhouse WATERFORD �� GALWAY Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Orientation Enjoy an Irish Coffee demonstration; guided CONNEMARA UNESCO World Heritage Sites tour of the House of Waterford Crystal; guided Visit a marble walking tour workshop KYLEMORE BLARNEY Visit the Benedictine abbey Visit the famous castle and kiss the Blarney The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites WESTPORT Stone Visit this heritage town can be seen or visited on the Scenic Ireland: GLENGARRIFF KNOCK Private boat to Garinish Island Visit theOF religious site RING KERRY BELLEEK Take pictures of the Lakes of Killarney Guided tour of the pottery factory DINGLE PENINSULA DERRY Visit the Blasket Islands Centre and the town Guided walking tour of Dingle COUNTY ADARE ANTRIM Take pictures of Dunluce Castle, visit Giant’s Admire the thatched cottages Causeway Four Ways Globus Eliminates the Hassles BELFAST Guided “Living History” tour, visit the Titanic Exhibition VIP Access: Skip the lines and get special treatDONAGHADEE at the must-see attractions. Early evening drive to the Ards Peninsula and Division of Cruise Holidaysment Nanaimo Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite 2834 Norwell Drive, Nanaimo, B.C. V9T 1X3 250-758-7893 dinner at Pier 36 BOYNE VALLEY Serving Vancouver IslandPerfect since Hotels:�� 1991 Guided tour of the Bronze Age passage-grave �� at Knowth Please call Annemari & Jan-Evert: 1-855-463-4391 DUBLIN From Mainland & Island call Toll Free Orientation drive Local Calls 778-433-8575 Tour Directors:Take your heads out of the guidebook BALLYKNOCKEN HOUSE Mobile#: 778-245-4391 and let expert guides make every destination fascinatGlobus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite ing. E-Mail:and annemaricruiseholidays@telus.net Baking demonstration morning coffee and scones BC REG #2573 E-Mail: jancruiseholidays@telus.net KILKENNY Transportation: Leave the navigating to us – Explore this pretty county town WATERFORD �� Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Enjoy an Irish Coffee demonstration; guided UNESCO World Heritage Sites tour of the House of Waterford Crystal; guided walking tour BLARNEY Visit the famous castle and kiss the Blarney The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites Stone can be seen or visited on the Scenic Ireland: GLENGARRIFF REG Island #2573 Private boatBC to Garinish RING OF KERRY Take pictures of the Lakes of Killarney DINGLE PENINSULA Visit the Blasket Islands Centre and the town of Dingle ADARE Admire the thatched cottages

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ment, lying unconscious for hours. He never jousted again; instead, The Ireland adventure will be hosted by expert guides who will make every destination fascinating. UNESCO World Heritage Sites he focused his energies on developing shipyards in nearby Deptford Total Price including 13 Day ESCORTED Tour from Shannon to Shannon and Woolwich and, eventually, storehouses and docks. Expanding Tour, Air from Vancouver, taxes, fees & transfers d kiss the Blarney The following the Royal Navy from five to 40 galleons, his new warshipsUNESCO were the World Heritage Sites $4399 CDN/ per person An ideal travel adventure can be seen or visited on the Scenic Ireland: Single Room supplement $607 first to use large cannons. for couples and singles. sland Wind Surf, Wind Spirit, Wind Star, Extend your vacation with stopover London.make Call us for details. From atop a steep knoll, we gaze across Greenwich Park’s rollExpertinguides every destination Star Pride,and Star Breeze, Star Legend of Killarney * Giant's Causeway and Full Causeway Irish breakfast;Coast 5 three-course dinners with wineand choiceincludes: of menus, fascinating. Tour * Giant's Causeway Causeway Coast ing green expanses to distant London. The renowned hilltop buildincluding a welcome dinner in Limerick Ensemble of the Bend of * Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of * Archaeological entre and the town Spectacular views • Giant’s Causeway ings clustered here contributed to England’s rising naval power. Esand 1 dinner at a family-run pub in Donaghadee the• Boyne the Boyne • Kiss theORDINARY Blarney Stone 180° FROM tablished in 1675, the Royal Observatory accurately charted night ages • Tour religious sites • Benedictine abbey �� skies, improving navigation. Weller Astronomy Galleries and Pe• Castles • Marble workshop • Pottery factory Cruise Holidays Victoria BC �� • Heritage & country towns ter Harrison Planetarium continued this work. Displayed in Time �� •��Farmhouses & thatched cottages Cruise Holidays Victoria Galleries, maritime clocks invented between 1693 andBC 1776 were • Titanic��Exhibition • House of Waterford Crystal Division of Cruise Holidays Nanaimo �� essential to calculating longitude. Among them, we examine Har2834 Norwell Drive, Nanaimo, B.C. V9T 1X3 250-758-7893 Total Price including Tour, Air from �� rison’s first sea watch, used by CookIsland in mapping Pacific. StandServing Vancouver sincethe 1991 Vancouver, taxes, fees & transfers �� ing outside with one foot in the eastern hemisphere, the other in call Annemari & Jan-Evert: $4399 CDN / per person. �� inland & Island call Toll 1-855-463-4391 Single Room supplement $607 the west, weFree straddle the prime meridian, the line representing zero ls 778-433-8575 �� degrees longitude. Adopted778-245-4391 in 1884, Greenwich Mean Time enabled �� sailors to determine exact east-west positions. nnemaricruiseholidays@telus.net �� ancruiseholidays@telus.net Heading past Cutty Sark, the last of Britain’s 19th century tea Causeway Coast | KYLEMORE ��Causeway �� LIMERICK | CLIFFS OF MOHER* | Giant's RATHRAUN FARM | and GALWAY | CONNEMARA clippers and on to Greenwich Pier, we proceed through a World * Archaeological Ensemble Bend| of | WESTPORT | KNOCK | BELLEEK | DERRY | COUNTY ANTRIMof| the BELFAST DONAGHADEE | the Boyne Heritage complex. Christopher Wren designed an early rest home BOYNE VALLEY �� | DUBLIN | BALLYKNOCKEN HOUSE | KILKENNY | WATERFORD | BLARNEY | GLENGARRIFF | RING OF KERRY | DINGLE PENINSULA | ADARE �� for disabled sailors, replacing beloved Placentia. Henry would like�� Cruise Holidays Victoria BC cruiseexperts@telus.net • www.yourcruiseexperts.com ly have approved the purpose of these neo-classical structures, as Division of Cruise Holidays Nanaimo 2834 Norwell Drive, Nanaimo, B.C. V9T 1X3 250-758-7893 well as their long service as the Royal Naval College. Catching the Norwell Dr, Nanaimo Serving Vancouver Island since 1991 2834(778)433-8575 Victoria Please call Annemari ferry, we return through London on the Thames, as KingFrom Henry did. & Jan-Evert: 250.758.7893 or 800.465.7245 Mainland & Island call Toll Free 1-855-463-4391 (250)758-7893 Nanaimo Calls 778-433-8575 shawncruiseholidays@telus.net Inspired to know more about Henry VIII, two shortLocal train rides Mobile#: 778-245-4391 E-Mail: annemaricruiseholidays@telus.net Serving Vancouver Island since 1991 BC Reg #2573 take us to Hampton Court the next day. His 500-year-old brick palE-Mail: jancruiseholidays@telus.net ace stands alongside the baroque palace Wren created for William and Mary over a century later. + YOUR Heart One of England’s great palaces, Hampton Court began around 1236 as a humble grange storing produce for the Knights of St John, evolving into a guesthouse for royal travellers and finally a manor = the Caring Hearts Fund house. Henry’s chief minister, Cardinal Wolsey bought these lands in 1514, transforming the existing country house into his opulent palace. Flaunting extreme wealth, he utilized expensive red brick rather than common stone and installed the decorative chimneys still punctuating the palace skyline. Often a visitor there, Henry Include coveted Wolsey’s lavish palace. Audio guides lead us through Anne Boleyn’s Gate to Clock Mount St. Mary Hospital Foundation Court. Remarkably, the 1540 Astronomical Clock faithfully indiin your will cates time, date, month, moon phases, zodiac signs, tides at London Your gift today makes a tremendous Bridge… and the sun travelling around a stationary Earth! Wolsey’s difference tomorrow. The lives of residents and their families will benefit and it leaves seal remains over the clock tower. a legacy of compassionate, loving care that However, by failing to arrange annulment of Henry’s 20-year will last for generations. You can celebrate marriage to Catherine, Wolsey had fallen quickly from royal favour. 10 years of caring and help the Foundation Confiscating his property, Henry acquired Hampton Court in the continue its mission of enhancing the care, late 1520s and, over the next decade, remodeled the palace to accomfort, dignity and respect of vulnerable members of your community. commodate his family and a court of 1,000 courtiers and servants. Throughout our “day at court,” regally costumed characters re-enact timely scenarios. One courtyard episode portrays Henry worrying about succession. But, finding a lady to make him happy, his path to love does not run smoothly. Henry pleads, “What’ll put For information about how you can leave a gift to Mount St. Mary things right?” His advisor suggests extravagant presents. Foundation call 250.480.3138 or visit www.msmfoundation.ca Inside Chapel Royal, the royal family always sat in a plush pew

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DECEMBER 2014

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off the altar, apart from other worshippers. Consecrated Anglican, this newly established church blessed his marriage to Anne Boleyn. Henry’s grand apartments impressed his entourage, guests and now us. Amid exquisite furniture and invaluable artwork, one oil painting details a young Henry’s victorious Battle of the Spurs, one of several efforts to subdue France. Another, Field of the Cloth of Gold illustrates Wolsey’s later peace initiative, a meeting between Henry and Francis I near Calais in 1520. Commissioned in 1540, priceless Flemish tapestries drape the magnificent Great Hall. Gilded woodcarvings and antlered heads decorate this medieval dining room, the largest and last ever built for English royals. Below an intricately carved ceiling and stained glass windows, rows of dining tables with place settings explain that guests were seated according to rank. Sitting on the raised dais, where Henry dined, we elegantly feign toasts with pewter tankards. Enormous kitchens fed Henry’s court two meals daily, washed down by gallons of beer. Teams of master cooks, yeomen and sergeants formed a tireless staff of 200, busily cooking up countless hearty feasts. Meat formed 75 per cent of their diet, roast beef being the royal dish. In addition, oxen, sheep, deer, calves, pigs and wild boars were prepared annually on huge spits in six huge fireplaces. While strolling quiet pathways outside the palace, we learn Henry developed many of the garden plans appreciated today.

His private or Privy Garden evolved into 24 hectares of sculpted formal gardens. One of 38 gardeners tells us, “Based on Cardinal Wolsey’s idea, today’s maze offers over 800-metres of pathways.” Winding amid the high yew hedges thrills some, unnerves others. Sauntering northward, we discover the Royal Tennis Courts were first built for Wolsey in 1526. A dashing and talented player, Henry spent hours on these still used courts. Ironically, Ann Boleyn was arrested there for betting on a match. Taken to the Tower of London, she was investigated for further crimes, convicted of high treason and beheaded. The next day, Henry married Jane Seymour. Henry wed his sixth and last wife here at Hampton Court. An accomplished Queen, Catherine Parr wisely persuaded Henry to place daughters Mary and Elizabeth in the line of succession. We exit through Wilderness Garden, once enclosing Henry’s grand tiltyard. Following his injury in Greenwich, Henry enjoyed watching jousting tournaments from one of five surrounding towers, accompanied by courtiers and visiting dignitaries. Henry VIII died in 1547, owning more than 60 houses, none as important or as splendid as Hampton Court. Ahh, yes! Train tripping proves an easy way to explore EngSL land’s distinguished past – and helps us find Henry VIII. For IF YOU GO information, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/ articles/Henry-VIIIs-England

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It’s Just That Easy!

Why Does Your Home Have an Odour?

ince the cooler weather has arrived, homeowners have been calling regarding odours emitting from basements, crawl spaces and lower storage rooms. The first question I ask is ”How much bare concrete does your home have in basement walls, basement and crawlspace floors or closed-up storage areas below the grade level of your home?” Grade level is where the yard area meets the crawl space or full basement foundation of your home. Raw concrete surfaces are very porous and will accept water vapour in the form of relative humidity that can react on the alkaline in the concrete and give off a musty stagnant odour. Most homeowners respond to this problem by spraying deodorizers; putting in a dehumidifier; using portable heaters; or maybe even turning on the furnace fan to try to remove the odour. Why does this happen? A number of issues can cause an odour to occur and the best advice is to follow these steps: 1. Depending on the age of your furnace, you should consider running the blower at the low speed 24 hours a day to keep the ambient temperature throughout the home equal. 2. Seal all exposed raw concrete with a product called Aqua Seal available from Cloverdale Paint or Xypex Crystalliza-

tion sealer available at building supply stores. 3. Turn on all external exhaust fans such as bathroom, laundry room and kitchen exhaust fans to reduce moisture levels down to 35–40 per cent relative humidity throughout the home. If you do not have a humidity indicator, pick one up at your local hardware store. They are not an expensive item. Dryer air does not smell, odours show up when we start closing up windows to trap in moisture, and adding new features to our homes such as high-efficient windows, furnaces and fireplace gas inserts. The most important recommendation I can give is to maintain moisture levels within your home as outlined in a free information book titled Keeping the Heat In. They are available to pick at our office Unit 7 2320 King George Blvd., South Surrey or by mail from Resources Canada, SL toll-free at 1-800-387-2000. Shell Busey’s HouseSmart Home Service Referral Network provides qualified trades (vetted by Shell) to homeowners. For more information, go to www.askshell.com and join Shell Busey’s HouseSmart Club. Phone: 604-542-2236.

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BY PAT NICHOL

Simply Courageous and a Little Outrageous

ifteen years ago on New Year’s Eve (remember Y2K?), I made the decision to be courageous and a little outrageous. I invited my younger daughter to come over and bring her wonderful funky hair colours with her. While I didn’t mind my hair greying into white, and I certainly did not want to go back to being the glorious auburn I had been. I felt the need to try something completely different. Trish arrived with her bag of colours. We decided to try the pillar box red for the first time. It was fun, funky, and made a statement. I’m not sure what the statement was… but it was definitely a statement. Over the next five years, at varying times, I had a streak of fuchsia, turquoise or purple. I remember trying to go green for St. Patrick’s Day, but that didn’t work. I delighted in the reaction of others. People from teens to seniors commented: “Cool hair, lady!” and “Oh, I wish I had your courage!” From 2005 to 2010, I went back to my white hair. Then, in 2010, I decided I had had so much fun with the colours, I

Photo: Frances Litman

COURAGEOUS and OUTRAGEOUS

would try again. This time, and for these past years, I have stuck with purple. It is one of my favourite colours, and it goes so well with most of my wardrobe. I still get comments from everyone: “I love your hair.” My return: “You, too, can do this. I do it to make people smile, so if you are smiling, my goal has been achieved.” A little courageous, maybe a lot outrageous, but mostly fun. So, if you think you would like a change in your life and, especially if your hair is white, try this. Stop at your local drug store, buy a container of your favourite Punky colour and gloves. Put some colour on your fingers, do just a streak of your hair, let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then wash it out. Voilà! A new courageous, outrageous you! The colour is semi-permanent, and will fade out over about three weeks. And as we leave another year behind, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful – colourful – New Year! SL Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. Reach her at mpatnichol@gmail.com

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Fit for the Adventure

BY EVE LEES

Fitness Gifts for $100 or Less L ooking for a unique gift idea? Consider the gift of health. A fitness gift that’s suitable and well-chosen can promise health benefits that last a lifetime. If your budget is limited, don’t worry. There are plenty of ideas for under $100. Exercise elastics come in various lengths and tensions, priced anywhere from $5 to $40. They offer an effective muscular workout, to tone, strengthen and improve muscular endurance. Some come with a wall chart illustrating various exercises. Elastics are small, lightweight, and easy to pack, making them ideal for travelling. Stretching or yoga mats are another great gift idea since anyone can practice stretching, even those recovering from an injury. There are various designs and materials to choose from, beginning from around $20. Many come with exercise and stretching charts, and some even have exercise illustrations printed on their surfaces. Features to look for: wipeable surfaces, foam padding, and perhaps the convenience of handles or a carrying strap. Mini trampolines, also called mini rebounders, provide an effective, low-impact cardiovascular workout. They take up very little space and are easy to store. Jogging on a mini trampoline offers as good a workout as brisk walking or running – but with less impact on the joints. Even those who are more fit can get a good workout by lifting the knees higher, and pumping their arms as they “jog.” Cost is about $40 to $80. Hand grippers are an inexpensive gift idea for developing hand power. It’s a suitable gift for golfers, bowlers, baseball players, climbers or anyone else who requires grip strength.

They are also a good idea for those recovering from carpal tunnel syndrome, or other hand and wrist injuries. Designs vary and prices range from $5 to $30. Small hand-held weights or even Kettle bells (an alternate to using standard dumbbells) can range in price from $5 to $80, depending on the amount of weight, and whether they are made from chrome, metal or vinyl. Wrist and ankle weights cost from $15 to $30. Consider buying one set at a time to gradually help the gift-getter build a full collection of various weight increments. Accompany the gift with a book on basic weight training exercises, written by a credible fitness professional. Or perhaps buy them a session or two with a personal trainer, to help them learn how to use their new weights. Beginner or avid runners and walkers will always appreciate a gift certificate to a specialty athletic footwear store. And gift certificates for fitness clothing will please any fitness enthusiast. Make sure you know the gift-getter well. Their exercise tastes and level of fitness may require a more suitable gift than, say, giving a beginner book on jogging to a veteran runner! They may also have an injury that could be aggravated by using your gift. If you’re not sure, consider a giftcard. SL Eve Lees was a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Counsellor for 30 years. Currently she is a Freelance Health Writer and Speaker. www.artnews-healthnews.com

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Ballet Victoria An original, magical Christmas story set to the music of The Nutcracker. Young Pandora befriends a host of new characters, including some inspired by Frozen. The fusion of classical music with modern pop musical interludes will have your toes tapping and your hands clapping. Joining us is the Victoria Symphony and Joey Pietraroia. At the Royal Theatre, Dec 27, 28 and 29 at 2 p.m. Buy tickets online at www.balletvictoria.ca See ad, page 49 Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel Where history comes alive! Capture the spirit of the season at Burnaby Village Museum with Illuminations at Heritage Christmas.Â Enjoy the expanded light displays and a festive stroll through the streets of the Village. Gate admission is free and weekend hours have been expanded. Visit us online at www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca See ad, page 48

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International Guitar Night Civic Orchestra of Victoria Join us for our annual Sing-Along Messiah and celebrate the season in song. Joining us is the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, directed by Peter Butterfield. We are a volunteer organization dedicated to providing an opportunity for musicians of varying ages and abilities to perform a wide repertoire of orchestral music for supportive audiences in the Victoria region. December 17 at 7 p.m. at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall. Tickets $18 for seniors. Visit us online at www.civicorchestraofvictoria.org See ad, page 48 Chemainus Theatre â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol After being presumed dead for three years, a hardened Sherlock Holmes resurfaces, turning his back on the people who need him most. Three unexpected callers arrive on Christmas Eve, uncovering clues from the detectiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past, present and future. Can they save Holmes and his world from a devastat-

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ing conclusion all in one night? The Canadian premiere of an instant classic filled with mystery, intrigue and song for the entire family. Visit us online at www.chemainustheatrefestival.ca See ad, page 48 Carollers at Burnaby Village Museum.

UVic Farquhar Auditorium – International Guitar Night The world’s foremost acoustic guitarists perform their latest original compositions and exchange musical ideas in a public concert setting. Solos, duets and quartets that highlight virtuosity and diversity. Join us for a particularly inventive evening of contemporary guitar music. $30 adults, $20 seniors. Tickets for sale online or call 250-721-8480. For more info on International Guitar night and participating artists, visit www. internationalguitarnight.com See ad, page 49

Langham Court Theatre, Victoria What happens when an aging dowager can no longer manage her aging manor house? Dorothy considers selling off her belongings or turning her lovely manor into a museum for the National Trust, but “people spoil things... and the last thing one wants is them traipsing through one’s house.” So when

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an offer comes to shoot a film on site, she jumps at the chance to make a little money. Unknowingly, it’s a porn flick and Bennett, in great comic style, underscores the reality that everything has a price. Visit us online at www.langhamtheatre. ca See ad, page 50

Victoria Royals Hockey Club Join the excitement of cheering on Victoria’s major junior hockey team! A part of the Western Hockey League (WHL), players aged 16-20 years old have been or are striving to be drafted by the NHL. Check out www.victoriaroyals.com for more information. See ad, page 50

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CLASSIFIEDS COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/collectable cameras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, Rolleiflex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike 250-383-6456 or e-mail: msymons6456@ telus.net (Victoria) WANTED: OLD POSTCARDS, old photographs, and pre-1950 stamped envelopes. Also buying old coins, medals and badges. Please call Michael 250-652-9412 or email fenian@shaw.ca HEALING CONSULTANT / HEALTH FACILITATOR Marcia Goodwin R.N.,B.Sc.N. In home assessment, troubleshooting, problem-solving of your health concerns. Let me help you be well. 250-686-3081. (Victoria Area) DEBI’S MOBILE HAIR SERVICES in the comfort of your home for everyone in your family. Serving the Victoria area. Please call Debi at 250-477-7505. ALWAYS GREAT FEET. Nanaimo’s professional mobile foot care nurses. Debbie Mason LPN and John Patterson LPN. Home, facility, and hospital visits. Experienced, qualified nursing foot care for toenails, corns, calluses and ingrown nails. Direct billing for DVA clients. 250-390-9266. HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE can help with compassionate, personalized home care services in your own home, once a week, or every day. Our CAREGiversSM are extensively trained, insured, bonded, professional and reliable. We take pride in matching our CAREGivers to your preferences. Please call us today for your complimentary care consult. We would love to help! Call 250.382.6565. SENSUAL MASSAGE. Are you missing touch? I’m a Certified Sexological Bodyworker, I work with Couples and Individuals. Sher 250-889-4166 or sexeducator@telus.net BROOKDALE HOUSE 24hr On-Site Care. Licensed. Short or Long Term Respite Care. Beautiful home located on quiet culde-sac. Three meals a day. Weekly linen laundry services and light housekeeping. Private backyard. Near parks and shopping. 30961 Brookdale Court, West Abbotsford. Call Sabrina at 604-853-2035 or 604-996-7525 or visit our facebook for more info http://www.facebook.com/BrookdaleHouseAbbotsford

$45 for 20 words, $1.75/extra word 250-479-4705 | 1-877-479-4705 office@seniorlivingmag.com

PET SITTING When you want the best for your precious pets. Dorothy: 250-388-9964 Will stay in your home. Exc. references. HAVEN HOME CARE LTD. In home care providers. Helping our clients lead dignified independent lifestyles. Greater Victoria.250-213-3684 www.havenhomecare.ca CUBA – ‘Spanish Studies in Cuba’ (Havana), $2,500.00 CAD for 4 wks. Hotel with breakfast and dinner, tuition fee. (Air fare not included). 250-478-0494 ssic@telus.net http://spanishstudiesincuba.ca FLATTEN YOUR STOMACH At Any Age. FREE Stomach Flattening ebookat: www.2ndwindbodyscience.com COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/collectable cameras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, Rolleiflex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike 250-383-6456 or e-mail: msymons6456@ telus.net (Victoria) PIANO LESSONS - You are never too old. Proven to sharpen the mind. First 6 lessons $99. Victoria to Sidney. 250-384-1229. SUNSHINE HOME SUPPORT SERVICES Compassionate, caring, I can help with: housekeeping, cooking, companionship, outings, shopping, pet care. Food Safe, First Aid & CPR certified. Current Vaccinations & Criminal Record Check. Excellent References. Tanya 250-889-3929. Greater Victoria Area. BEAUTIFUL, BRIGHT 2 BEDROOM SUITE for Assisted living available immediately. Call Joanne 778-440-1718 to view. Grab Bars. W/C accessible. Colwood. HOUSECLEANING. Experienced cleaning lady offering short hours weekly or monthly at $20 per hour. Please call Marie in Victoria 250-385-1696. HOME COMPUTER ASSISTANCE for Seniors! Are you having trouble using your computer? Getting on internet? And emails? Skype account? Printer problems? I will come to your home to help! $20 per visit. Call Michael Leowski at 604-263-4913 or 604-778-7824.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Basic: $45 for 20 words $1.75/extra word. BW only. Red spot color 10% extra. + GST Boxed Ads Single (2.3”w x 1.3”h) - Text only $135 | With image $160 Double (2.3”w x 2.6”h) - Text only $270 | With image $295 Prepaid discounts on 6+ Boxed Ads. Ads must be paid at time of booking. Cheque / Credit Card accepted. Phone: 250-479-4705 ext 100 office@seniorlivingmag.com Deadline: 15th of the month.

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50 ’Tis That Season – Again!

BY COLIN CAMPBELL

am not a fan of Christmas. I make no secret of the fact that ly miss my two favourite seasonal readings: Charles Dickens’ I’d rather spend the season on a deserted island patrolled by A Christmas Carol and the wonderful humour and lilting language of Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas In Wales. Not great white sharks. For years, I’ve been trying to convince She-Who-Cele- having access to those two works would be bad enough, but brates-All-Things that it would be in everyone’s best interest what I’d miss the most would be my grandkids’ annual school if I were to dip into our overdraft, purchase an airline ticket Christmas concert. I’ve probably attended a dozen and fly out of the family’s lives for of these events, beginning with our the month of December, leaving own nippers and now our daughthem to get on with the jolly busiter’s. The format hasn’t changed ness of roasting humbugs by an much: a mixture of the secular and open fire. the traditional, ranging from an upI appreciate that nobody wants dated version of ’Twas The Night a Scrooge hanging around taking Before Christmas, wherein Santa the shine off their tinsel by tossing can’t get his GPS to work because out comments like “Why don’t we he’s forgotten his password, to hesijust decorate the place with Visa tantly squeaked-out renditions of receipts?” Or, “Why purchase a Silent Night performed by the kinChristmas tree and single-handedly dergarten class. cause the seas to rise and the Lesser It’s what is unscripted that is Sand Gulper to become extinct, most delightful about these events: when we can simply spiffy up the “Fingers up the nose,” a classic Christmas the little reindeer in the front row old weeping fig with a bit of glitter concert tradition. Grade 1 class with her horns on a and save the planet?” But, of course, I never follow up on my rambling rum- tilt who breaks off in mid-chorus to wave at her parents; the blings. There are certain seasonal traditions that even a dedi- elves at the back who are a line or two behind the rest of the cated Ebenezer like myself would miss were I to park myself singers; Santa’s beard going adrift; something going wrong with the microphone; one of the Three Wise Men getting the under a lone palm tree for the duration. I would miss the music. Not the awful stuff played over hiccups; or an angel scowling at her teacher who has signaled and over ad nauseam in the supermarket, or on AM radio, but to her to please stop scuffing her shoes. the likes of Handel’s spine-tingling, awe-inspiring Messiah. So, while the thought of escaping the excesses of the seaHandel’s masterpiece holds special meaning for me, since son and sharing December with a few (other) hermit crabs by I once actually got to participate as a member of the chorus. some coral reef sounds heavenly at this point, the grandkids It’s a wonder I made it through the try-outs: my voice has will win out as always. No way I would miss the moment never been able to make up its mind whether to be a bassinet when, inevitably, the kindergarten Rudolph, attempting to ador a buffoon, with the result that I sometimes sound like I’m just his nose, gets tangled up in the curtain and takes out the strangling pigeons. Little Drummer boy and a couple of sheep in the process. SL Following the try-outs, the conductor saw fit to bury me deep within the bass section where any discordant squeaks on my part would be drowned out by the collective thunder of those around. It was a wonderful experience nevertheless. Colin Campbell, a retired teacher-librarian, is the author of two books and Lacking a library on this uninhabited island, I would sure- was a columnist for many years. He lives in Vancouver with his wife, Carol.

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