June 2010 Senior Living Magazine Island Edition by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

JUNE 2010 TM

Vancouver Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50+ Active Lifestyle Magazine

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE at home and abroad

Sailing the Salish Sea Mr. British Columbia

Crooner Alan Moberg

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(Vancouver Island) is published by Stratis Publishing. Publisher Barbara Risto

FEATURES

Editor Bobbie Jo Reid

editor@seniorlivingmag.com Contributors Goldie Carlow, Brent Cassie, Jane Cassie, Gipp Forster, Gary Grieco, Elaine Head, Bruce Logan, Pat Nichol, Enise Olding, Annie Palovcik, Michael Rice, Rosalind Scott, Barbara Small, Phillip Woolgar

DEPARTMENTS

4 Heady Scent

24 BBB Scam Alert

Volunteer ﬂower arranger Peggy Dallamore adds ﬂare to Government House.

25 Classiﬁeds

7 Mr. British Columbia

COLUMNS

Crooner Alan Moberg writes songs about B.C. and her people.

Copy Editor Allyson Mantle Proofreader Holly Bowen Advertising Manager

Barry Risto 250-479-4705 For advertising information, call 250-479-4705 sales@seniorlivingmag.com Ad Sales Staff

3 The Family Caregiver

10 Ready to Go!

by Barbara Small

Boomers and seniors take travelling and adventure to a whole new level.

27 Ask Goldie

by Goldie Carlow

12 Checking Out the Chief

30 Bygone Treasures

At its base, climbing Stawamus Chief may seem like a daunting task, but reaching the summit is worth the effort.

Ann Lester 250-390-1805 Mathieu Powell 250-589-7801 Barry Risto 250-479-4705 Contact Information – Head Ofﬁce

14 Sailing the Salish Sea

Senior Living Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1 Phone 250-479-4705 Toll-free 1-877-479-4705 Fax 250-479-4808 E-mail ofﬁce@seniorlivingmag.com Website www.seniorlivingmag.com Subscriptions: $32 (includes GST, postage and handling) for 12 issues. Canadian residents only.

by Michael Rice

31 Outrageous & Courageous

Gary Grieco sets sail on a one-man journey, drawn by the open air and the lure of adventure.

18 Journeys of the Heart

Elaine Head and her husband Bruce Logan revisit Vietnam to mend old wounds and make new friends

22 Bon Voyage!

Consumer Protection BC offers tips to consider when making travel arrangements.

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 Vancouver Island is distributed free throughout Vancouver Island. Stratis Publishing Ltd. publishes Senior Living Vancouver Island (12 issues per year) and Senior Living Vancouver & Lower Mainland (12 issues per year). ISSN 1710-3584 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)

by Pat Nichol

32 Reﬂections: Then & Now by Gipp Forster

Cover Photo: Greg Grieco onboard his sailboat Island Bound sailing the Salish Sea. Story page 14.

28 Fighting Back

The Harmonized Sales Tax is being met with fear and loathing, so these seniors are taking to the streets.

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THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

Travel Tips for Family Caregivers

to diet, personal care and mobility so you remember to take along all needed items. Start this list a couple weeks in advance and add to it each day as you complete activities at home. Often, it is easy to forget those little items automatically used each day.

ravelling long distances or for extended periods with someone who has a disability or illness can have many special challenges. With advanced planning, these challenges can be reduced and the trip made more enjoyable for everyone. Below are some tips to make your trip less stressful.

3. Plan ahead for the trip by packing important documents in your carry-on bag, such as insurance cards, physicians’ phone numbers, refills on medications and a copy of medical records in case your family member needs care while away; make sure you have everything you will need in case of an emergency.

1. If travelling by plane, check with the airlines for special seating, wheelchair accessibility and medical equipment arrangements. Can you receive special assistance if you need it? If travelling by car, have supplies in the car to make the person as comfortable as possible. Plan to make regular stretch and rest stop breaks along the way. Check with the transportation authority at your destination to find out what services they provide for people with disabilities; find out if you can use your handicapped designation decal. When renting a car, let the car rental agency know what your needs are regarding storing equipment such as a wheelchair or scooter and accessibility into the vehicle.

4. Call the Red Cross office at your destination to inquire whether you can access the equipment-loan cupboard there. If this is unavailable, find out whether the medical equipment stores in the area have a short-term rental plan. This will help you decide what equipment you will need to take with you. 5. For access to home support services at your destination, your local home support agency may have a branch at that location. Otherwise, you can check local yellow pages online or contact hospitals or health units in the

2. Make a list of daily tasks related

BY BARBARA SMALL

area for suggestions. 6. When travelling, try to follow the same routine that is followed at home as much as possible. This will make it easier for both of you. Ensure you plan for rest periods throughout the day. 7. Toileting may require some advanced planning when you are travelling. Figure out possible challenges and what supplies need to be brought with you. If you are unfamiliar with alternative aids for toileting, check with your VIHA Case Manager. 8. Someone who is at risk to wander when at home may also do so in an unfamiliar place. Put a card with the name, address and telephone number of where SL you are staying in their pocket. Next month: Respite Options

Barbara Small is Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society.

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Proﬁle

Heady Scent

n weekend visits, Peggy Dallamore’s grandmother would share pictures with her young granddaughter, of the wonderful flowers she’d seen on her trips to Hawaii. The pair would discuss the photos, look at tropicals and often put together floral arrangements. It was during this time that Peggy’s lifelong love of flowers and plants started to flourish, destined to lead her to British Columbia’s Government House where, in her retirement, she is a floral designer. Born in Winnipeg, Peggy moved to Vancouver when she was 10. “I always wanted to become a teacher,” she recalls, “it was only a matter of time.” Married right out of high school and occupied LadySystem ® Vaginal Cones: An improved and reliable pelvic ﬂoor therapy for the active woman suffering from urinary stress incontinence

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with raising three children, her plans to teach were delayed. In the meantime, life took her for a while to Kamloops, where she found herself fascinated with the cactus, sagebrush and desert flowers of the area. “I just loved it,” she says, “and fooled around putting them in containers and around the children’s sandbox, adding anything that looked interesting.” Later, Peggy’s life took a turn and she started her studies to become a teacher at the University of Victoria. It was here that she met Brian, who also happened to be a mature student. “Brian and I were taking the same course and we were working on the same project and looking for books at the library,” Peggy recalls. “I was babysitting three children for a relative that weekend and my own three and he came out to the beach with us the next day – two years later we were married, and had finished university.” Their first teaching jobs were in Upper Fraser near Prince George. “We were all in elementary school together!” Peggy laughs. Both she and Brian were teaching at the same school where their children were students. Peggy now had another area of B.C. to explore and was particularly attracted

Government House volunteer ﬂower arranger Peggy Dallamore.

to the wildflowers, fascinated with the fireweed, and would scan the roadsides and around the lakes for different species. At home, they had a burgeoning vegetable garden but not many flowers. Undaunted, Peggy pursued her passion by reading just about every book she could to learn more and more about native plant and flowers, floral arrangements, and all things botanical. Time passed and the children graduated from

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Proﬁle high school and set off on their adventures. Peggy and Brian moved to Victoria to spend time with their own parents. With retirement, Peggy anticipated that she would spend lots of time perfecting her garden. At one of the pre-retirement seminars she attended, Peggy realized that “when you retire you don’t have that group of people to sit down and talk with over coffee like when you’re working at school,” and she knew she wanted to have a similar, close-knit group around her in her retirement. As a visitor to the Government House gardens many times – she attended their plant sales and knew people who volunteered there – it occurred to Peggy that working in such an environment would be perfect for her and, she says, “I was pretty sure I’d end up doing some kind of volunteer gardening there.” Peggy’s neighbour friend gave her a membership form and she duly applied to become a member of the Friends of Government House Gardens Society

and was asked to an orientation session, then started working in the grounds as a gardener familiarizing herself with the many different gardens. “I did a rotation in the gardens to become aware of everything. Little did they know,” she smiles, “that I was eyeing up all the flowers in the gardens and my favourite place was the floral designers’ garden, which is one quadrant of four nursery gardens for the whole property.” Two wonderful years of working hard in her desired garden quadrant followed and during that time Peggy became familiar with the grounds, the gardens, the other gardeners and continued to learn all she could about plants, flowers and the requirements of Government House and its involvement in the gardens. She had not realized just how much work was required and her eyes were opened to what an important role the gardens, grounds and flowers played in the life of Government House, and how full and varied its calendar was.

As a novice flower arranger, Peggy became a Victoria Flower Arrangers Guild member and took floral design courses through that organization. She continued to build on her knowledge base, taking more courses and reading more books, while still working in the gardens at Government House. Eventually, Peggy’s neighbour friend, the Head Flower Designer for Government House, encouraged Peggy to become a board member of the Friends of Government House Gardens Society and she continues in that role and is on various committees. Now into her second year as a board member, Peggy says, “It seems hard to think I was ever a teacher.” The skills she used in the classroom are useful when she combines them with her gardening knowledge and creativity. For Peggy, it is not just artfully placing flowers in a vase, it is knowing the protocol required for events at which the flowers will form a backdrop, interacting with all the staff of Government

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Working on ﬂower arrangements.

Photos: Enise Olding

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House in preparation for special events and knowing the operational intricacies required. It is knowing which flowers will fare well in certain environments, their longevity, and their appropriateness for certain occasions or guests to Government House. Liaison with the Friends’ volunteers and Government House personnel is as important as scheduling enough people to meet the needs at any given time. It could be 20 round glass vases for tables needing a team of six or more flower designers to assemble them, or three large arrangements requiring three designers. Discretion and sensitivity are crucial in Peggy’s work. Finding out what is or isn’t appropriate in advance of the arrival of a special guest is all part of the job. Some flowers and combinations are welcome in some cultures and not others, and Peggy needs to know what the visiting dignitaries would both appreciate and require. “While I’ve worked on creating the floral arrangements for the private rooms many times, I do not actually take them and place them in the rooms,” she says, as that is done by Government House staff. Peggy has found in retirement she can indulge her passion, keep learning and be surrounded by colleagues who work together and share a common interest in Government House. “I am pretty relaxed about it all,” she says, “confident that I can ask any question of my mentor, the Head Floral Designer, that I want to, and everyone is happy to share their knowledge. It’s a strong support group, and flexible. We’ll take a look at the flowers, talk about what we will do, and how best we can use them – it’s collaborative input, feedback and encouragement.” As Peggy points out, they are all sharing the same passion. And the sense of contented enjoyment in the flower arrangers’ room in Government House is as heady as the scent SL from their flowers.

For more information about Government House, British Columbia, including visiting hours, history, garden information, tours and Friends of Government House Gardens Society, call 250-387-2080, email ghinfo@gov.bc.ca or visit www. ltgov.bc.ca

Arts

MISTER BRITISH COLUMBIA

love and attachment to the great spaces and unforgettable people of his home turf. From evoking a starlit night on the Skeena to calling the boisterous action of the Williams Lake Stampede, from depicting the miraculous journey of the wild salmon to painting the heartrending beauty of BY ANNIE PALOVCIK the Cariboo sunrise. Moberg does for B.C.’s interior ranchland and coastal rainThese neighbours had moved their forest what Ian Tyson does for Alberta house from a logging camp in Jervis Incow country and Stan Rogers did for the let down to Pender Harbour. “The bay Great Lakes.” Alan’s musical career began when he we lived in was a tidal bay, and they wrote the song “Saltwater Cowboy” in floated those houses in on the tide as honour of the man who most influenced high as they could onto the shore and him to start playing the guitar, the man built foundations under them.” Many “who taught me my very first chords.” of Alan’s songs capture historical snapRed Nicholson lived next door to him, shots of a way of life that has ended. and he played the guitar and sang the “Sunday Night Seine Boats,” for examold songs. “I was enthralled, of course, ple, takes listeners to a time when fishby what he could do, the stories he told,” ing was in its heyday. The Williams Lake Stampede, an inAlan remembers.

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Photo: Annie Palovcik

.C. crooner Alan Moberg has been painting vivid pictures of the province he loves for over four decades. Along the way, he has released 16 albums and been inducted into the B.C. Country Music Hall of Fame. Alan was born on the coast near Pender Harbour to a fishing family, and has always done hard and rugged work throughout the province, whether fishing, logging, or as a telephone lineman, merchant seaman or landscape gardener. “When I was young,” says Alan Moberg, “I heard many songs about places – certainly in the United States they celebrate their places – I heard the songs from back East that celebrated places in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. But I heard very few songs about British Columbia. So, one of my missions has been to write these songs about B.C. and her people.” Howard White, publisher of the wellloved Raincoast Chronicles says, “Moberg has lived the west coast experience to the fullest, he brilliantly conveys his

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Arts stitution for more than 80 years, is still going strong. When Alan wrote his classic song, “The Williams Lake Stampede,” people used to camp right beside the fairgrounds. Some of them even came in horse-drawn covered wagons. At the Stampede, different cowboy skills are tested, like saddle bronc riding and bull riding. “It was also a time when people got together,” says Alan, “when probably in those older days they wouldn’t have seen each other all year because they were busy on their own ranches and distances between them were far. So, it was a time to swap stories and enjoy being together.” Alan is one of the finest yodellers on the Coast. “I remember being at a Roy Rogers movie as a child.” He has been yodelling ever since. “Alan has many gifts, not the least of which is a bell-like vocal quality, which we don’t hear enough of today in this less-than-gentle musical time,” says Canadian country singer Laurie Thain. Alan’s ballads contain traditional western themes of bravery, innocence, survival and of his admiration for the crosscultural friendships Canadians share with First Nations people. “Song for an Indian Carver” is a tribute to his Gitxsan

brother, the late Walter Harris, who received both the Governor General’s Award and the Order of Canada for his magnificent artwork. “[Walter’s] mother, Mrs. Harris, adopted me,” says Alan. “It’s a matrilineal society in their culture and the crests of the tribe are passed on through the mother. So, I am now a Killer Whale, by adoption at a traditional feast.” Like many of his heroes, Alan Moberg has walked the long hard road of life and has known when to ask for a helping hand. As a result, gospel music is part of Alan’s repertoire. His song “This Could be the Day” has been performed by The Mennonite Men’s Choir of Abbotsford and the choir of Knox Presbyterian in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Not everyone can live in a house on Rainbow Road, which Alan did, but he has used that as a metaphor for choosing to leave the big city and come to a more simplified style of life on Salt Spring Island. His songs celebrate the lives of ordinary men and women, giving them identity and dignity. He sings reflectively, “We’re tired of chasing that elusive pot of gold.”

“One of my missions has been to write these songs about B.C. and her people.”

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But simplicity doesn’t mean stagnation. Besides being a landscape gardener, Alan has become host of a program on Salt Spring’s new radio station, streamed live at www.cfsifm.com each Wednesday at noon, The Alan Moberg Show. He airs many of the songs he has loved and performs, from early Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash to Roy Orbison and Guy Clark. In his late 60s, Alan continues to perform his music throughout the province. “Sometimes, I think I’m so SL young!”

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Travel & Adventure

Ready to Go!

ho says it’s all downhill after 50? For many modern-day boomers and seniors, this is a time when life moves full-speed ahead. Once that sedentary 9-to-5 grind is put to rest, there’s often a resurgence of energy and quest for new activities. Finally, there’s room to fit in that morning swim, midday yoga stretch and brisk evening walk. Many retirees even take on a new sport. Pickleball courts are filled with the fit 50-plus crowd. Though this tennis/badminton cross-trainer looks like a real breeze, it’s a great workout! With more time on their hands and savings in their pockets, the active-ager is combining a little adventure with a lot of travel. Unlike their predecessors, who were raised during the Depression and despairing war years, they’ve become accustomed to getting what they want and having it now – even if it requires using plastic to get there. Many also want to have more fun than their parents ever did. Instead of perceiving themselves as sedentary and pre-senior-ish, most will claim they’re fit and fabulously 50-something.

BY JANE CASSIE

Phil Goodman, co-author of the Boomer Marketing Revolution, describes this age group as “adult teenagers.” He states “boomers try to act much younger than their chronological age and won’t think of themselves as seniors until they are in their seventies.” Many steer away from the hum drum bus trips and herding-type group tours and go for the more physically challenging activities or off-the-beaten-path destinations. Check out the zip trekkers in Costa Rica, the snorkellers in the South Pacific and cyclists on the Big Island of Hawaii. There are plenty of wrinkled brows and balding heads getting in on the action. And because this age group is interested in bettering themselves both physically and intellectually, they will often seek out more in-depth ways of experiencing places. Making an impact in their own backyards is not enough for this conscientious generation (page 18). Volun-tourism, hostelling, spiritual retreats and eco-getaways have all become buzz travel words among the boomer crowd. Those who are empty-nesters can even experience these

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vacations at a fraction of the cost. After the kids have flown the coop, they’re no longer restricted to spring break, Christmas or other school holidays when travel rates soar. And during the low season, just think of all those last-minute deals they can cash in on. Cha-ching, cha-ching! That’s the sound of extra savings being deposited in that active-travel fund. Yes, many are catching a ride on the getaway wagon. The Travel Industry Association (TIA) reports that boomers spend more money on travel than any other age group. Go figure! Weighted down with bulging wallets (Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration) and still feeling pretty peppy, they hit the road to freedom, flit from port to port or fly away to some far-off Eden. While some take to the skies, others choose the open road. Once Labour Day passes, and the flocks go back to school, many boomers and seniors go into motorhome mode and hit the highway. And with less traffic, fewer crowds and lower inflation, it makes for lots of happy campers. But there’s no need to stray too far from home to get a little adventure. B.C. is bulging with opportunities. Whether it’s sailing the Salish Sea (page 14) or hiking the Stawamus Chief (page 12), active B.C. boomers and seniors are in for a treat. And if you’re more of an armchair traveller, sit back and enjoy. In addition to dozens of past articles on the website (www.seniorlivingmag.com), this issue of Senior Living is filled with adventure. So, hunker down, flip through the pages, and escape without even leaving home. SL

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Travel & Adventure

Checking Out The Chief T he Sea to Sky Highway has always been one of my favourite drives. Whenever we head up Whistler way, I love to check out the sights: the seascape and inky-blue backdrop of Howe Sound, B.C.’s Mining Museum and historic township of Britannia Beach, and the coloured spots that inch their way up the Stawamus Chief. At least that’s what they look like from the base of this sheer granite slab that soars 610 metres skyward, just outside the city of Squamish. With my face pressed against the window and head cranked mountain-side, I strain to catch a glimpse of the rock-hugging daredevils as we whiz on by. Like gravity-defying ants, they scale the vertical rise, a challenge conquerable only by the boldest and buffest. So, it comes as a total shock when my husband suggests that we choose the Chief for our next hike. What’s he thinking?! Sure, we might be on the same playing field as other active boomers, but this adrenaline-secreting ascent is totally out of our league. I’m about to tell him he’s crazy, when he pulls out a map of an alternate way up. “This back-door route offers the same view and with-

Photos: Brent Cassie

BY JANE CASSIE

The author gingerly makes her way to the summit.

Brenda Ellis Certiﬁed Senior Advisor

out the grunt work,” he reassures. But when it comes time for the big climb, I discover this so-called “grunt” work comes in varying degrees. Although nothing comparable to the nimble rock climbers, it’s as close to a natural Stairmaster as I’ll ever get. One access to the trailhead can be found at the Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. There are even a few gravelled campsites here for those who wish to do an overnighter. But we veer off the highway a little sooner and begin our trek from Shannon Falls. It’s a wee bit longer but the brief detour to check out this 330-metre cascade is worth the extra wear

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and tear on our Timberlands. From here, our dirt trail does an about-face, cleaves through a grove of second growth stands, crosses the trickling Olesen Creek and eventually unites with the other upward route. Then, our 45-minute step class begins. If you love the heart-thumping Grouse Grind, this hike will be right up your alley. Strategically-spaced log treads, etched into the mountainside, soar upwards like a stairway to heaven. Though the footing is made easier, my pulse continually pounds and beads of sweat cool my brow. Families with kids of all ages fall into line – and like our tag-along senior schnauzer, many pass on our left at a much perkier pace than mine. But it doesn’t matter. We’re here to connect with nature, get in touch with the great outdoors, and be rewarded with a view – and, in my mind, this easier route sure beats doing a crab crawl up the face. After a lot of huffing and puffing, we come to a junction where there’s a fork in our footpath. Left will take us to South Peak and right veers to the Centre and North Peaks. Although many adventurers check out all three, the five-hour trek is a little too much for my treads. We opt for the shorter trail to South Peak, a three-and-a-halfhour round trip route that provides a great vista reward. But before we get to this scenic summit, there’s work to be done, energy to expend and cross-training in store. Guardrail ropes border sections of the steep-pitched pathway, ladders wedge between crevices of Jurassic-Park-size boulders and chains cling to the slippery slick surfaces. Although I was never a winner of the obstacle race on sports day, as we reach the final ascent, I feel that familiar resurgence of youth-like adrenaline. My boomer muscles magically go into power mode and I take on a new-born confidence. If young tikes and aging canines can master this climb, so can I! We soon discover why this granite precipice is so popular. Our panorama expands beyond the miniscule grid of Squamish to the embracing backdrop of snow-glazed peaks. In between are the sapphire waters of Howe Sound, industrial landmarks of Woodfibre and Port Mellon and unpopulated mountain valleys. And snaking along the ocean’s edge far below, is a ribbon of asphalt, the scenic Sea to Sky Highway that will eventually take us home. SL

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Brent and Chloe Cassie enjoy the view. JUNE 2010

Travel & Adventure

SAILING THE SALISH SEA STORY AND PHOTOS BY GARY GRIECO

essing about in a boat has great charm. You always manage to keep busy doing nothing in particular, and if you are like me, the destination is only secondary to the pleasure of getting there. I have been learning the art of helping a boat sail itself,

mostly single-handed, for the last 47 years. I have survived in spite of myself. At 28, I sailed too close to hydro lines on a flooded Lake Winnipeg. My intention was to get close enough to swim ashore to a hot dog stand. The result: wooden mast met 45,000 volts, with my left arm nearly blasted Onboard off. Manitoba Hydro searched for the culprit Island Bound who blacked out three lakeshore towns for in Ladysmith days; but the locals knew “nothing,” when approached by Hydro officials. B.C.’s rich and varied coast has been my home for the last 30 years and the Strait of Georgia my playground. Last summer’s leisurely two month cruise around the Salish Sea on my 30-foot (9.1 metre) sloop, Island Bound, might be called an adventure. I just call it recreation and fun. Other than one frantic situation when in transit through

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swift running Dodd Narrows, it was endless days of sailing in benign breezes to peaceful retreats with protected anchorages. I cast off from my home port of Sturt Bay, Texada Island with fresh baked cookies and a warm send-off by Phyllis, my wife of 50 years. “Don’t forget to phone home – and take your vitamins,” she shouted over the noise of my single-cylinder Yanmar diesel inboard, as I left the dock. It was a perfect day to be heading north under jib alone. Grey skies and a 20-knot southeaster blew Island Bound swiftly to Desolation Sound. Named by Captain Vancouver on a greyish winter day, it is now the playground of the rich and famous. Freedom, open air and the lure of adventure are like a drug. Days roll on one after another like a tropical dream. Fair winds, hot sunny days and balmy nights, and the magic of drinking “boaty” tea in the cockpit late at night under a glittering dome of stars, and listening to soft music are all God-given moments that can seduce with thoughts of

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sailing forever. I had been enjoying ports and anchorages from Comox to Salt Spring Island for the better part of a month, and was headed north to Nanaimo after leaving a pretty anchorage tucked in behind Dunsmuir Island near Ladysmith. Dodd Narrows, the gateway to Nanaimo was on my bow. This short, tight, deep passage between Mudge and Vancouver Islands has currents that run up to 10 knots, and a tricky rock ledge when transiting from south to north. There is barely room for two boats to pass in Dodd Narrows, both keeping

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to the centre of the channel. Large cruisers have little trouble travelling this narrow waterway an hour each side of slack tide. Sailboats have the problem of Dodd Narrows’ turbulent waters taking hold of their deep keels trying to swirl the boat about. Slack is when the tide turns and, for 15 minutes, the waters are somewhat still. Whales have been seen waiting for slack tide. The following is an example of how destiny can sneak up and bite you. I was leading a convoy of boats north through Dodd Narrows, heading for Nanaimo one hour before slack tide on a passage that was about to become memorable. The current, still running at four to five knots drew our boats quickly through the channel. Southbound boats maintained station outside the narrows on the Nanaimo side, waiting their turn to enter when the tide reversed. My convoy was midway through the narrows when a huge cruiser came at us pushing a swollen bow wave and pulling a large stern wave. Rather than wait his turn with the other boats, he charged into the channel. I reversed my engine to no avail. We were going to collide! This 50’ (15.2 metre) yacht towing a fishing boat nearly as large as my 30’ (9.1 metre) sailboat roared into Dodd Narrows with a foot to spare between rocks and my boat. His following wave met the opposing tide setting up a standing wave that reached

FEBRUARY 2010 VANCOUVER ISLAND

Senior Living Special Housing Edition

Up-to-date listings of senior housing facilities throughout Vancouver Island, including Independent/Supportive Living, Assisted Living and Complex Care. This guide is an indispensable resource to:

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TO ORDER a copy... Please mail a cheque for $5.25 ($5 plus GST), along with your name, phone number and address, to Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1. We will mail you a copy of this resourceful housing guide upon receipt of payment.

Travel & Adventure

Gibsons played host to the CBC TV series The Beachcombers.

up to my mast spreaders. I braced! I clutched the wheel. My boat went vertical, then plunged deep into a trough, narrowly missing the submerged rocks at the exit. VHF radios were alive with curses and yells directed at the dangerous captain of the offending yacht. Glancing behind, I was astonished to see a big cruiser in my convoy hovering on the crest of a wave high above

my cockpit. Its captain, grimly clinging to his wheel on the flying bridge looked down at me wide-eyed, and shrugged. Fortunately, he went to port as I turned to starboard. Some hard lessons over the years have persuaded me that preparation is the best prevention to keep the sea from worming its way in with problems. But all the planning in the world can’t guard against the unwise incompetents who sometimes own the largest boats. Anchoring in Nanaimo’s tranquil Mark Bay sheltered by Newcastle and Protection Islands was the “sublime” antidote to the “ridiculous” Dodd Narrows event. And yes, the ocean still enchants me. Over the years, I have found that saltwater can be a “bomb” or a “balm.” Sailing makes me realize that life is not about how much you have, but how little you really need. Explore, dream, discover, and do it now! SL

What’s in a Name? In an effort to connect the bodies of water stretching from the south end of Puget Sound to Desolation Sound at the north end of the Strait of Georgia including the western mouth of Juan de Fuca Strait, Washington State Board on Geographic Names voted ﬁve to one in favour of the name “Salish Sea.” Geographical Names Board of Canada will also have to give its approval. “Salish Sea” will not replace the current names. The aim of the amalgamation is to evaluate problems facing the area and to implement ecological preservation in an allencompassing name.

an exceptional life, of luxury.

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PREW_5589_PREW0017_N.indd 1

AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE

JUNE 2010 AM 17 7/6/09 10:35:28

Travel & Adventure

Journeys of the Heart

Photo: Bruce Logan

The author comforts an elderly Vietnamese woman.

BY ELAINE HEAD

hen we set out on our first trip to Vietnam in 2006, we had specific intentions. For the first time in 40 years, Bruce was returning to the country where he served two tours of duty with the U.S. Army during the bloody conflict known by the Vietnamese as the “American War.” His armchair scholarship of the military history of that war and his own memories of this pivotal, life-altering experience had sparked a desire to return. Because we had been accepted as participants with a group called Tours of Peace Vietnam Veterans, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans and their families in their quest to find closure and reconciliation, I agreed to accompany him. I knew that whatever ghosts Bruce might encounter in Vietnam and his emotional reaction to being once again in the country where he, like countless other young men, had lost his innocence, would be understood. The daily group process and the presence of a qualified therapist on the trip meant that I would not be alone should Bruce dissolve into emotional tatters. The two-week trip was a total immersion into the mysteries of this southeast Asian country, its culture, food, religions and of course the history of its thousands of years of conflict including the war in which Bruce and some of our fellow travellers fought; the war that also touched the survivors and family members who travelled with us. As we journeyed from south to north through the cacophonous noise and frantic traffic of urban areas and along miles of peaceful ocean shorelines, the Vietnamese people greeted us warmly. They shared our sorrow and tears during our solemn rituals at the sites of helicopter crashes and fierce battles. They welcomed us into their humble homes. They laughed, sang and played with us in villages and in institutions where we delivered humanitarian goods. Somehow, as the miles disappeared in the dust behind our bus, our journey

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SENIOR LIVING

An Invitation to all Seniors to experience

ASTE OF A T

Amica

Thursday, June 17th, 2010 ~ 10:00 am to 4:00 pm If you have never visited your neighbourhood Amica Retirement Community, this is the day to satisfy your curiosity… and your taste buds! Throughout the day of June 17, we will showcase one of our true passions… the fine dining experience and the culinary excellence of our Chefs and staff. Join us any time during this complimentary day! 10:00 am to Noon Self Serve Continental Breakfast Noon to 2:30 pm Chef Action Stations 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm Chef Demonstrations & Food Sampling Visit an Amica Wellness & Vitality™ Community in your neighbourhood or www.amica.ca Port Coquitlam ~ Amica at Mayfair ~ 604.552.5552 Kerrisdale ~ Amica at Arbutus Manor ~ 604.736.8936 West Vancouver ~ Amica at West Vancouver ~ 604.921.9181 Burnaby ~ Amica at Rideau Manor ~ 604.291.1792 Victoria ~ Amica at Douglas House ~ 250.383.6258 Victoria ~ Amica at Somerset House ~ 250.380.9121 Sidney ~ Amica at Beechwood Village ~ 250.655.0849

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through the geography of Vietnam became a journey through the terrain of our hearts; the focus for Bruce and I shifted from the healing of our own wounds to witnessing and embracing the suffering on both sides of the war. We came face to face with the effects of Agent Orange, the dioxin the American military sprayed widely as a defoliant, still lingering in the earth and the gene pool, still causing an inordinate number of birth defects and illness. We saw the growing gap between the rich and the poor, in this developing country’s struggle to find its place in the modern world. We saw the ravages of leprosy, a curable disease, still rampant in remote villages. We saw children who did not go to school, whose teeth were decayed before their tenth birthdays. One day, as we strolled back toward our airconditioned bus along the dusty track through a tiny village of thatched huts, Bruce turned to me and said, “You know, Elaine, we have too much stuff.” He meant that our two cars, two televisions, two houses and a sailboat were too much; more than our fair share of life’s bounty. When I saw 300 orphans sharing the love of 20 or so Buddhist nuns, and elders thankful for the gift of a single tin of condensed milk, I became uneasy with my pampered life. And most significantly, when we experienced the forgiveness and acceptance of former “enemies,” we realized we had much to learn from them about being in the world. By the end of this short intense trip, we knew we would return to Vietnam, a country of contradictions and contrasts, stoic endurance, acceptance, resilience and reverence for family and ancestors. We would come to serve, to apply our skills and distribute the generous donations from friends and relatives. We would come to learn to be citizens of the world, beyond the boundaries of our cosseted lives in North America. In March 2010, we returned to our peaceful Salt Spring Island home, back from our fifth trip to Vietnam. We call these trips our Journeys of the Heart. During our three-month stays, with the support of our “home team” of friends and family, we have been able to put tens of thousands of dollars to work improving the lives of the poor, the aged and the disabled. We have applied our experience as management consultants to assist the directors of a self-help, social enterprise called Reaching Out Vietnam to expand its opportunities for disabled artisans in Hoi An, so they can

JUNE 2010

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Bruce Logan befriends a former adversary.

lead independent and productive lives. We have contributed funds to ease the suffering of people with leprosy and the victims of Agent Orange. We have delivered books to remote village schools, where the children have little or no reading material. Of all these gifts, however, the greatest have been the ones we ourselves have received. Our lives have been enriched beyond our wildest imaginings and, as we age, our world is getting bigger, not smaller. We have had the opportunity to keep working and learning. Through Vietnamese culture, we have acquired a new respect for family and tradition. We bring home food for our souls, as we ruminate on the acceptance, forgiveness, resilience, love and joy in the lives of many Vietnamese who have few of SL our comforts. We are very lucky.

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Travel Resources

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Cruise Holidays Paciﬁc Contemplating an EASY Summer Vacation for the Family: 7 Nights Roundtrip from Vancouver to Alaska – 4-Star Cruiseline with 5-star Service and Food. Take the family, the kids and grandkids too. More info, email info@cruiseholidayspacific.com Fairmont Whistler 2-DAY/3-NIGHT WHISTLER GETAWAY Fairmont Chateau Whistler luxury package includes escorted transfer from Victoria & Vancouver, meals and activities. Starting from $599 per person. www.fairmont.com/cwr/2010seniorscelebration Merit Travel The largest independent specialty travel company in Canada, including three offices in Victoria, for all leisure and corporate travel. 1-800-409-1711. www.merit.ca Pitmar Tours Destination specialists providing guided, custom, and independent tours for travelers with varied desires, budgets, and senses of adventure. 604-596-9670 / 1877-596-9670 www.pitmartours.com Wells Gray Tours Providing quality guided tours and travel packages that allow you to explore and experience the world on your own terms. 1-888-595-7889 www.wellsgraytours.com

Seniors invited to donate blood

ecent changes to Canadian Blood Services’ donor eligibility criteria mean healthy seniors have more of an opportunity to donate blood. A new form available to seniors will increase their chances of being able to give. First time donors above the age of 61, returning donors above the age of 67, and all donors above the age of 71 can get the form at www.blood.ca/eligibility or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283). Each potential donor in these three categories will then take the form to their doctors annually to be given permission to donate a pint of blood up to six times a year. SL Call or go online to learn more.

The Wellesley of Victoria Nanaimo Seniors Village & Highgate Comox Valley Seniors Village & Casa Loma For more information, call us toll free at

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www.retirementconcepts.com JUNE 2010

Bon Voyage!

Travel & Adventure

BY CONSUMER PROTECTION BC

h... the beach... the water... the food... the shopping... the sights.... We all look forward to our vacations with anticipation and the last thing that occurs to us is that we could get caught up in a scam. Sadly, vacation scams have cost consumers billions of dollars and it’s important to be an informed consumer when booking travel. Many legitimate travel businesses exist, but you should always do your homework and be aware of your rights and responsibilities as a travel consumer.

agents and wholesalers are required to be licensed in B.C. Look for the Consumer Protection decal on their business location or icon on their website. Visit www.travelrightsbc.ca to find a licensed travel agency in your area.

gitimate businesses can afford to give away products and services of real value or substantially undercut other companies’ prices. Check out the company with Consumer Protection BC and your local Better Business Bureau.

Don’t be fooled by fancy websites, emails, flyers or telemarketers. Few le-

Get the details. Ask for the details of any vacation package in writing, including refund and cancellation policies and always check the fine print for all the terms and conditions. Keep the documentation. Request a copy of your travel services contract and keep all receipts.

Tips to consider when making your travel arrangements:

Pay with your credit card. It’s a good

Use a licensed travel agent. Travel

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idea to pay with a credit card as it may offer you some protection. You can also ask whether your card provides you with any travel insurance. Most B.C. consumers aren’t aware of B.C.’s Travel Assurance Fund. If you booked through a licensed B.C. travel agent and do not receive the contracted travel services you paid for you may be eligible to receive compensation through the Travel Assurance Fund.

Don’t be fooled by fancy websites, emails, ﬂyers or telemarketers. If you want more information about the Travel Assurance Fund, your rights and responsibilities and other great travel information, please visit www.travelrightsbc.ca. This web portal, launched by Consumer Protection BC, provides great resources for both travel consumers and licensed travel agents in British Columbia. We hope your holiday is everything you want it to be but, remember, if a travel deal seems too good to be true, it probSL ably is.

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ome back to the place you call home.

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Saskatoon’s Premiere Retirement Community ��

JUNE 2010

SCAM ALERT BY ROSALIND SCOTT

Timeshare Tips

or those considering the purchase of a vacation timeshare, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) would like you to know the facts before buying and selling them to avoid any costly mistakes. A timeshare gives you the right, along with other timeshare holders, to own or use property at an allotted time. Usually, this is at a highly sought-after travel destination, and the timeshare owner is buying rights to use a resort condominium at a certain time in the year. Often consumers consult with the BBB after they are offered a free trip or other gifts from a timeshare telemarketing company. The trip is a marketing strategy to have consumers do a site inspection at a resort condominium and attend a timeshare sales presentation.

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SENIOR LIVING LIVING SENIOR

Ask the telemarketer if you will first be required to sign a contract and make a down payment before your receive your

A timeshare gives you the right, along with other timeshare holders, to own or use property at an allotted time.

prize. Will you receive the gifts if you decide not to buy? Are there any other conditions or fee for the “free” trip or prize? Essential information about timeshares: According to the BC Real Estate Act, a consumer has a seven-day rescission period to cancel a contract for real estate timeshare packages. To learn more about your rights, consult the Financial Institutions Commission (ficombc.ca). Getting involved in a timeshare contract can typically include monthly maintenance fees and other expenses, which will impact your travel budget. Before buying, calculate your annual

cost over the term of the deal and compare that to the cost of other vacation options or other uses of your money. Find out if the timeshare is a title, lease or a club membership; how many years you are buying; and if you are buying specific, revolving or floating weeks. Verify that everything the seller has to do is covered in the contract. Get ALL verbal promises IN WRITING. Do not sign a contract unless you understand it, and do not sign a contract with blank spots. If you plan to sell your timeshare be careful of scammers. Some unscrupulous timeshare resellers are misleading timeshare owners into paying thousands of dollars in the hopes of unloading their timeshare quickly. Be wary of upfront fees and guarantees from resellers. Check out timeshare companies at the BBB website: vi.bbb.org SL

If you believe you have been the target of a scam, call the Better Business Bureau Vancouver Island at 250-386-6348 in Greater Victoria or at 1-877-826-4222 elsewhere on the Island, so others can beneﬁt from your experience. E-mail info@vi.bbb.org

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SAANICH VOLUNTEER SERVICES seeks volunteer drivers for their supported transportation program taking clients to appointments. Call Heather today at 250-595-8008.

A LOT OF JUNK WON’T FIT IN YOUR TRUNK. You’re in luck, I own a truck. Seniors discount. City Haul John 250-891-2489.

WANTED: OLD POSTCARDS, stamp accumulations, and pre-1950 stamped envelopes. Also buying old coins, medals and badges. Please call Michael 250-652-9412 or email fenian@shaw.ca

USING HYPNOSIS THERAPEUTICALLY, I can help you manage stress, pain, anxiety, habit control. Judith Grey Registered Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist, 250-388-3925.

THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU of Vancouver Island is located at 220-1175 Cook St., Victoria BC V8V 4A1. Toll-free phone line for Up-Island 1-877-826-4222 (South Island dial 250-386-6348). www.bbbvanisland.org E-mail: info@bbbvanisland.org

RJH HAIRSTYLING in the comfort of your home for everyone in your family. Serving the Victoria area. Please call Debi at 250-477-7505.

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 RUTH M.P HAIRSTYLING for Seniors in Greater Victoria. In the convenience of your own home! Certiﬁed Hairdresser. Call - 250-893-7082. INTERIOR PAINTS Mature, experienced painter servicing Victoria area. Competitive rates. Contact Gerard for free estimate. 250-881-7679; ghivon@shaw.ca www.gerardhivon.com

UNIQUE SENIOR LIVING OPPORTUNITY Own your own lovely 1 or 2 bedroom seniors condo in Cook St Village for only $89,900- 145,000 plus a monthly fee of approx $1600 incl. strata fees, daily 3 course meal, house cleaning, laundry, 24 hr staff, Lifeline. A few steps from Seniors Center, shops and services. Close to downtown, the ocean and Beacon Hill Park. Call Mette for details. 250-418-0584 PERSONALS REFINED LADY, mid-60’s desires to meet gentlemen of quality to share mutual passion for classical music. Call 778-433-0558.

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Craigdarroch Care Home Rockland/Oak Bay

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$30 for 20 words or less. $1.25 per extra word. BW only. Boxed Ad - Small (2.2 x 1.2) $110. Boxed Ad - Large (2.2 x 2.4) $210. Add BW Logo - $25. Red spot color 10% extra. Plus tax. All Classiﬁed ads must be paid at time of booking. Cheque/Credit Card accepted. Ph. (250)479-4705 or toll-free 1-877479-4705. Deadline: 15th of the month. Make cheque payable to: Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave.,Victoria BC V8T 2C1

MOBILE FOOT CARE NURSE home visits in greater Nanaimo, Cedar to Parksville. John Patterson LPN, qualiﬁed nursing foot care for toenails, corns and calluses. 250-390-9266. WANTED: SCOOTERS AND STAIRLIFTS. We buy and sell demo and recycled mobility products. Call Silver Cross 250-385-5580. HOME AGAIN SENIORS TRANSITION SERVICES: Downsize and move with ease. We offer a caring hand. Call 250-984-4044 or visit www.seniorshomeagain.ca HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE - Ask us about our new concierge services. We provide a little assistance when you need it.Do you need meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, appointments, or respite? We are also hiring seniors. Call 250-382-6565. WRITTEN A BOOK? Aldridge Street Editing can get your manuscript print-ready. Transcription - Editing Cover Design - Book Layout. www.aldridgestreet.com Call 250-595-2376. MUSIC LESSONS at the Peninsula Academy of Music Arts, 1662 Mills Road, North Saanich 778-426-1800. All instruments. www.PeninsulaAcademy.ca COMPUTER BASICS IN YOUR HOME. Patient senior computer lady to show you e-mail, surﬁng. Hourly fee. Connect with your world. 250-516-5980. MEMOIRS - have your book professionally edited/formatted by PTO-EDITING, photos included; beautiful cover by SERAC DESIGN. Experienced, dedicated, helpful. www.pto-editing.com; 250-381-8650.

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Photo: Jason van der Valk

ASK Goldie BY GOLDIE CARLOW, M.ED

Dear Goldie: I hope you can help me in my dilemma as you so often help other seniors. I am a 76-year-old widower planning to go on a six-week holiday in England and France in the fall. This is my first trip since my wife passed away two years ago. I do not like travelling alone and would like to find a respectable lady whose separate accommodation I would pay for and who would enjoy travelling. I have lived in the city for most of my life and can supply references from well-known people. Of course, I would expect the same from her. I am only seeking companionship. Travelling alone seems such a wasted experience compared to having someone who can discuss new sights and encounters. Can you help me find such a person? –B.G. Dear B.G.: I expect your letter will encourage many responses. Numerous respectable women do not like travelling alone. Any replies will be forwarded

to you and I sincerely hope you will find someone suitable to share your travels. My only word of caution is for you to be well acquainted with your new travelling companion before you venture anywhere. Take the time to learn about her habits, her past life and who her friends and associates are at present. You don’t want to risk unpleasant discoveries in another country. If you proceed slowly and take some months to get to know her, you should be able to judge. Discuss this matter with family and friends and then proceed cautiously. SL

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Live Safely and Independently in Your Own Home www.bclifeline.com

Contact the program nearest you: Victoria Lifeline • 1-888-832-6073 Eldersafe Support Services • 1-866-457-8987 South Vancouver Island and Ladysmith Nanaimo Lifeline Program • 250-739-5770 or 250-947-8213 Mid Island, Cassidy to Bowser Comox Valley Lifeline Society • 1-866-205-6160 North Island, Cowichan Valley and Chemainus/Crofton

SENIOR PEER COUNSELLING CENTRES Victoria 250-382-4331 Duncan 250-748-2133 Nanaimo 250-754-3331 Sidney 250-656-5537 Courtenay/Comox 250-334-9917 Salt Spring Island 250-537-4607 Port Hardy 250-949-5110

Goldie Carlow is a retired registered nurse, clinical counsellor and senior peer counselling trainer.

Next Month in Senior Living... Arts & Entertainment Feature The West Coast has long supported the arts, especially senior artists. Read about artists, artisans, musicans, an actress and authors in the July issue. JUNE 2010

Money

FIGHTING BACK BY PHILLIP WOOLGAR

s swarms of canvassers assemble throughout British Columbia to battle the provincial government’s harmonized sales tax (HST), Victoria resident at Marrion Village seniors’ housing, Jean Kanty, is tirelessly working as a captain of an Oak Bay team. She is responsible for nearly a dozen volunteers who have been combing the streets of Victoria since April 8, searching for eligible voters who are willing to strike their claim against the HST. According to Jean, finding the signatures of 10 per cent of eligible voters in B.C. (or 300,000 people) – the rate needed to call the Liberal-led increase to a referendum – is a breeze. “I’ve only had a handful of people

BC N IO T I D E

refuse to sign,” she says, noting she’s not an official spokesperson for the petition. Not many of the refusals to sign come from seniors. Jean says the increase of taxes to non-prescription drugs and to other regular products and services are too much for some to bear, and this is a regular topic at many of the seniors’ housing complexes that she canvasses. On July 1, the HST will combine the seven per cent provincial sales tax with the five per cent federal Goods and Services Tax, creating a 12 per cent HST and increasing costs on purchases that were previously exempt from the provincial levy. The B.C. government aims to download $1.9 billion in taxes from big busi-

A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options

To Move or Not to Move?

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ness to residents, in an attempt to lower corporate costs and to increase each company’s hiring ability. “The seniors’ homes have been very anxious to see me,” Jean notes. “I have gone through several in the area because these people are going to be hard-hit. “People in homes will be charged more for their food. Their rent won’t be, but the rest of it will get a 12 per cent tax and that’s making people so angry.” By May, Jean’s team collected approximately 600 signatures, and, province-wide, nearly 150,000 are reported

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to have been collected. With a map in hand, she designates an area near Oak Bay to each member of her team. Then, with pen and paper ready, each volunteer collects signatures by walking door-to-door or by stationing kiosks at various stores. “We’re not even aiming for 10 per cent; we’re aiming for 15 or 20 per cent of eligible voters,” she went on enthusiastically. “People are literally lining up to sign the petition.” Jean, who has been retired for nine years, wasn’t politically active throughout her life, but when she heard how her friends and family could be made to suffer, she couldn’t resist fighting back. “I felt it was very unfair. They’re downloading the tax from big business with the thought that they are going to make jobs, because they are going to save money,” she explains. “I thought ‘Well, Reaganomics didn’t work in the U.S., so I don’t know why they think it would work here. It’s going to hurt me and anyone else on a fixed income.” So after hearing former B.C. premier Bill Vander Zalm’s commitment to stop the long-term implementation of the HST, Jean searched the Internet for a way to sign the petition. After further investigation, she was recruited to lead her own team. It should be noted that four of the 12 members on her team are senior citizens who feel so passionately about ousting the tax that they sometimes take on physical strain to seek out the signatures. They walk through neighbourhoods, but Jean notes that sometimes such dedica-

tion isn’t required because often the volunteers canvass their own complexes; other times a kiosk at some main events throughout Victoria is enough to attract crowds of people ready to sign. This is welcome relief to Jean and her crew, as teams throughout B.C. are required to meet their quota by July 5. But while the 15 per cent goal for signatures in the Oak Bay riding is considered nearly secured, a commitment of at least 10 per cent in all of the province’s 85 ridings is needed. Brad Shade, who is responsible for organizing the campaign throughout Vancouver Island and who reports directly to Vander Zalm, says at least a dozen ridings province-wide already had 10 per cent of signatures by the beginning of May. Of those, an estimated four are from Greater Victoria. “We’re absolutely confident that we will get these numbers,” he says. “There are even several areas that have vastly exceeded the numbers we need.” He is surprised that the greatest support so far is coming from ridings in the Cariboo north region, and in the City of Kelowna. Each of those areas has already exceeded the 15 per cent goal by approximately one-and-a-half times. “It seems to have morphed into a general dissent against the Liberal government,” Brad adds. He went on to say the brunt of the opposition came from seniors and from single-parent families, but now, people feel betrayed by a government that they feel kept the HST a secret until after last SL year’s provincial election.

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Feel at Home Here ��

Delaney Relocation Services

�� Anne Delaney, CSA ��

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�� BSN, CSA ��BSN, �� Sidney/Saanich Peninsula �� For more information view our article at www.seniorlivingmag.com

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�� Victoria ��

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�� JUNE 2010

BYGONE Treasures View of Roatan from Valor

Out in the Workshop

y Dad never owned a power tool. He used hand tools, instead, lovingly cared for throughout his life. His workbench in a corner of our basement, lit with a single bulb, was covered with jars of nuts and bolts, a chisel rack, screwdrivers and sharpening stones, with lubricating oil stored in a wooden plugged Stubby Orange soda pop bottle. This was mysterious stuff to a small boy in the ’50s, and I was always amazed by Dad’s useful creations made from scraps of wood and bits of copper pipe. Tools just accumulate; you can never have too many hammers, can you? But I’ll bet you have other useful, but seldom used, gadgets stacked away that last came out when you repaired the light fixture on your front porch back in 1972. And unless you’re seriously involved in defending the Oak Bay borders, you probably haven’t used your wedgelock wrench for adjusting the cannon on your front lawn in a long time, either. To have value to a collector, tools must still be in useable condition with perhaps a few dings and scratches, and wear consistent with normal handling. Once tools show excessive rust or pitting, glued splits on handles or warping, then interest falls faster than a plow plane dropped on your foot. I’m not a handyperson, but even I know the name Stanley, a company famous for wood planes, folding rules and squares, and their products are collected enthusiastically. In fine condition, a Stanley No.1 bench plane books at $1,500, a Stanley No.4 boxwood two-fold rule at $500 and a Stanley No.98 brass-bound level at $400. Having the original boxes these came in adds to collectability, and the old wooden tool chests they were stored in are collectable too. Tool manufacturers put their names on everything, and

gave loads away free as preBY MICHAEL RICE miums to encourage return business. Some examples were carpenters’ aprons, celluloid tape measures, calendars and even small toy trucks. Mind you, this was back when there was such a thing as a free lunch, a coffee cost a dime, and HST meant, “Having a swell time.” I find use for such giveaways in my antiques work, and a recent arrival was a tiny sparkplug measure with four flat screwdriver heads that is great for popping the backs off old pocket watches. It’s stamped “Tom Plimley The Auto Man,” recalling the long-gone dealership on Yates Street in Victoria. An example of a high-value premium is a 1929 Kelly Axe & Tool calendar listed at $100. While I’ll admit to owning a few simple power tools, and can sometimes figure out the operating manuals, my tool cabinet has many of Dad’s old odds and ends, a nice hammer I found on the road, and that Stubby Orange soda pop bottle that saw service in the oil business over 50 years ago. Probably just as well I never dreamed of a career selling hardware. If you’re hanging on to your tools, keep them cleaned, oiled and sharpened, as it’s depressing to visit a damp basement and see a box filled with corroded and rusted implements. If you’re passing them on, check with your kids before you plan too far ahead. Could be they don’t need a brace and bit or a fret saw, preferring to wait till they can frame their new garage using an App on their iPod while fishing at the lake. If you’re selling them off, phone a few folks you know who still have workshops, or, if the tools are well-known brands or vintage, give the local auction houses a call. Another excellent option is to donate tools in very good condition to Habitat for Humanity who sell building material and supplies, and whose revenue is directed to providing affordable housing for those in need. Many memories rattle at the bottom of a toolbox. There was that soap box racer you built as a kid, using mismatched wheels from discarded baby buggies (and you wonder why you tilt to the right when you sit down?), there was that pirate sword made from a chunk of plywood, and there was that time you nailed your sister’s door shut – well, maybe we’ll SL forget about that one! Comments and suggestions for future columns are welcome and can be sent to Michael Rice PO Box 86 Saanichton BC V8M 2C3 or via email to fenian@shaw.ca

SENIOR LIVING

miniscule, some major – soon, there will be quiet and maybe a little loneliness. I have been married for two-thirds of my life and, as I move into the next act, I will be single again, but with a different title. I can decide to live in the BY PAT NICHOL past with my memories or move forward. I will pick and choose the memories that will lighten my life and enable me to make that move forward with joy, excitement and perhaps a little trepidation. Dear readers, if you have some suggestions for we widow women and you’d like to share, I would be delighted to hear SL from you and pass them on. “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly.” –Richard Bach Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. www.patnichol.com

CALL SCOTT FOR A NO OBLIGATION REVIEW OF YOUR FAMILY'S REAL ESTATE NEEDS AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF SENIOR LIVING MAGAZINE'S HELPFUL GUIDE

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& a s s o c i a t e s

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JUNE 2010

Photo: Frances Litman

ecently, I became “The Widow Nichol” – according to my daughters. I had never thought too much about this term: a phrase that might apply to someone else, somewhere else, at some time in the future. A widow must be someone much older than I, a sad someone. In a conversation with a friend who had recently reached this dubious status as well, she commented on the fact that since she was 18, she had always known who she was related to and when someone asked for a next of kin, she knew exactly who to list. The first time she was asked after her husband’s death, she didn’t have an answer for several moments. Am I a different person now that I am a widow? It seems widowhood was much easier in the 19th century. When a woman became a widow then, she put on black and stayed home for a year. My challenge is that I have always worn black; usually topped by something so bright I could be seen for blocks. So, am I a different person now that I am a widow? Should I think or act differently? Some advice here please! And so, I begin a new chapter in my life. The pages are blank; they are mine to write upon, to design as I please. While right now there are many tasks to take care of – some

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Outrage

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THE NEXT ACT

Courageous ous

Reﬂections THEN & NOW

BY GIPP FORSTER

STUDEBAKER

“Reﬂections” MAIL-IN ORDER FORM Reﬂections, Rejections, and Other Breakfast Foods Name_____________________________________ by Gipp Forster A collection of Gipp’s humorous and nostalgic columns. A wonderful read for Reflections, �� yourself, and a and Other Breakfast Foods thoughtful gift for friends and family members. Limited Edition

128 pages

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$10.00

SENIOR LIVING

MAGAZINE

A Collection of Published & Unpublished Writings by Senior Living Columnist Gipp Forster

Address___________________________________ City______________________________ Prov ____ Postal Code____________ Ph _________________

Make cheque ____ BOOKS @ $10.00 each = $_________ payable to SHIPPING ($3.95 PER BOOK) = $_________ Senior Living SUBTOTAL = $_________ MAIL TO: GST (5% on SUBTOTAL) = $_________ Reﬂections Book Offer 153, 1581-H HillTOTAL = $_________ side Ave., Victoria Please allow two weeks for shipping. BC V8T 2C1

Photo: Krystle Wiseman

round 1955, my dad pur- way to the moon – impossible chased a not-so-new Stude- then. Oh, indeed it was grand! baker. I was in awe. It re- A car that dared to be different minded me of a bomb or a torpedo; like – I felt special just driving it. the future. No one could have convinced A “different” that would only me then that in the not-too-distant fu- visit once and never return. As mentioned, I look toture, the Studebaker, along with the ward the Hudson, the Nash and future with trepidaNash Rambler would tion and concern. I be near obsolete and I’d grip the steerwatch young kids just a memory or a ing wheel and in bent over video collector’s trophy. games while books But, I was young and my imagination, lie unopened around never even dreamed drive it back in them; so absorbed in that, one day, cars killing games that would be without runtime when all the carefree laughning boards, rumble things were new. ter in playgrounds seats and horns that is now a silent misimply said, “beep, nority. I’m just oldbeep,” much like the fashioned, I guess. At least that’s what Roadrunner in a Warner Bros. cartoon. I took it all for granted then, much I’m told. “Old!” my wife just chimed. like I do now, believing all things will “But you haven’t got a clue in the closet remain the same. But they didn’t then about fashion.” I don’t know why she’d say something like that, especially when and they don’t now. Much the pity! Progress is truly wonderful and awe- I’m wearing my teddy bear slippers! I wish at times that I had loads of inspiring. I drove my dad’s Studebaker a few money so I could find and buy an old times, and I felt like Buck Rogers on his Studebaker, restored to almost new con-

dition. Boy, that would be something! I wouldn’t drive it. I’d sit and stare at it much like an art connoisseur stares at an incredible painting. I might just sit in it absorbing the memories of when I thought all favourite things would always be and never fade away. I’d grip the steering wheel and in my imagination, drive it back in time when all things were new. When tomorrow wasn’t as scary as it is today. When imagination wasn’t challenged and only a cow could jump over the moon. Sigmund Romberg said it best in his song: “Golden days, when we were young.” I liked being young then – in those days when I couldn’t wait to get older. I don’t think I’d like to be young today – wondering if I ever will get older. If you have fond memories of the Studebaker, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Cars today have every bell and whistle imaginable – power windows, keyless entry, air bags, remote start, high-falutin’ sound systems, navigational maps that talk and the list goes on and on. I remember my dad’s Studebaker had a radio with two knobs. That was special! My grandson just said, “You’re kidding!” I guess SL you had to be there!

�� Senior Living Housing Directory is a valuable online resource for seniors and family members looking for alternative housing to match their desired lifestyle, or medical/mobility needs. Over 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. This directory is published by Senior Living, a monthly magazine distributed to approximately 850 locations across BC.

�� Coming soon: residential listings for Alberta and Saskatchewan.

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Senior Living’s online searchable senior housing directory is a perfect complement to its semi-annual senior housing special editions in February and August. Senior Living also publishes a 128 page book called “To Move or Not to Move? A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options.” We have sold over 3,000 copies of this book. No other magazine we know of has such a comprehensive, interconnected group of housing resources. For more information about any of these products or services, call (250)479-4705 or toll-free 1-877-479-4705. Or email ofﬁce@seniorlivingmag.com

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