50 Plus February 2013

A guide to good living in the Brazos Valley

Inside...

Valentine’s dessert

Chef Diane Lestina cooks up Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes Pg. 3

Finances

Ta changes recently passed in Tax Congress

Pg. 11

February 2013 • Vol. 7, Issue 2 • A monthly publication of the Bryan-College Station Eagle

Never too late Locals find find love in their senior years PAGE 8

How to keep marriage going strong into golden years PAGE 12

Affordable Valentine’s getaway ideas PAGE 15

50plus February 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com

Memory schemas: an advantage to aging Besides the chance to have ha paid off of your mortgage, there is yet another adva ad ntage of growing old. If you have ha been a lifelong learner, ner you have ner, ha developed powerful schema for learning new things.

Maybe you even became an expert on certain subjects.

Experts became experts because what Dr. BiLL KLeMM they have ha the memory meDiC memorized included learning templates and schema that help them to be better learners than nonexperts. Development of schema grows with age and experience. Over time, people ha more opportunities to have confront multi-dimensional learning tasks. The lifelong, complete learner employs all the means of improving knowledge. In the process, the capacity of their learning

schema grows. Don’t believe it? Warren Buffett, Buf Car Carl Icahn, T. Boone Pickens, Rupert Murdoch are all older than I am (I’m 79), and they are still making billions of dollars a year. The take-home point about schema is that the more you remember, member the more member, you can learn.

The notion of schema stems originally from Harry Har w’s ideas back in the Harlo 1940s. Harlo Har w showed that when a monkey learns a new kind of problem, he solves it by slow plodding trial and error. However, er if he er, has experience with a large number of problems of a similar type or class, the trial and error become replaced by a process in which individual indi problems are eventually solved insightfully. For example, if you learn how to do task A, B and C, when

See Memory mor Medic mory pa 6 page

50plus is a monthly publication of Bryan-College Station Communications Inc. 1729 Briarcrest Drive Bryan, Texas

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CONTENTS Chef Diane: Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes Bradway: How to ease osteoarthritis Cover: Finding love in later years Financial Literacy: Tax changes Calendar Travel: Valentine’s Day getaway ideas

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Chef Diane Lestina’s Chocolate Strawber Stra ry Shortcakes tcak would be a fitting dessert tcakes to serve on Valentine’s Day. Da If you want, combine sliced strawberries with a few teaspoons of sugar (depending on the sweetness of your strawberries). Set aside for 30 minutes.

Cut shortcake in half with a serrated knife.

Spread 2 tablespoons chocolate hazelnut spread on one side, then top with strawberries.

Place a dab of whipped cream on strawberries, then replace the top.

Garnish with additional whipped cream and strawberries.

Diane Lestina, a certified pe personal chef, ef, holds cooking in classes andd cooks for ing reside dents nt in the Brya Br n-College Stat St ion area. To learn more, re visit re, www hefd www.c he iane.com.

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1/3 cup sugar + 1 tablespoon sugar, ar ar, di divided use 1 stick cold butter – cut into 16 pieces (I like to cut my butter, tter then tter, put it back in the refrigerator for 15 minutes befor bef e I use it) 1 cup heavy hea cream 1 pound strawberries - sliced ½ cup chocolate hazelnut spread 1 cup heavy hea cream – whipped with 3 tablespoons sugar Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper or buttered foil.

In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

Cut butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter or two knive kni s so it resembles coarse meal; it’s OK to ha pea size pieces of butter. Make have a well in the center, center and with a fork stir in the heavy hea cream and combine together gently. Be careful not to overwork. or ork.

Turn out onto a lightly floured surf surface . Fold the dough over on itself until it holds together.

Gently pat the dough into a 6 by 12 inch rectangle about ¾ inch thick and cut into 8 (2 ¾ inch) biscuits with floured round cutter.

Place on baking pan and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar.

Bake 10 to 15 minutes.

Assembly:

February 2013

Valentine’s Day is a great excuse for dessert! This dessert combines two flavo fla rs that we often associate with Valentine’s day – chocolate and strawberries. It also features a chocolate hazelnut spread that originated in Europe but has gained in popularity in the U.S. The brand most people associate this with is called Nutella, but other food companies ha jumped on have Diane Lestina the band wagon Cook it Simple so there are other www.ChefDiane.Com brands available, as well. You can find it in the peanut butter aisle of most grocery stores. I would also encourage you to purchase organic strawberries if you can find them. Although more expensive expensi than the non-organic variety, riety the taste is riety, really superior.

Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes: 1 ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons allpurpose unbleached flour ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa 1 tablespoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt

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Shortcakes recipe would make a good Valentine’s treat

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How to help alleviate osteoarthritis Question: I am 65 years ar old and I ars was diagnosed dia with osteoarthritis of the hip about eight years ar ago. ars ag I used to be able to go up and down stairs, stair stand and walk without pain, but that’s not true anymore. anymor I’m having pain intermittently mittentl throughout the day. mittently da In the morning when I get out of bed my hip is stiff stiff. It usually ll takes about a lly half hour to loosen up completely. completel My walking ability isn’t as good as it used to be. I’m hesitant to go shopping with friends because I’m afraid afr I won’t be able to last and Leon BraDway Dw Dway I don’t want to have pain. I’ve phySiCal therap herapy read your stories in The Eagl Ea e and I would like to know if physical therap therapy apy or something else can get rid of the pain and keep me from having to get a hip replacement. re Louise, Brya Br n Louise, osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative ti joint disease is the tive most common form of arthritis and is one of the many chronic diseases associated with the natural aging process. In addition, this condition is more common in women than men, so you are not alone. While this condition is a natural process, some individuals indi ha more intense have pain and degenerative ti progression tive than others due to genetics, work en onment, prior or current envir injuries or the amount of stress put on the hip joint throughout a person’s life. “OA is responsible for more mobility related disabilities in those over 60 than any other

disease,” according to an article in Lower Extremity Review (http:// lowerextremityreview.com/article/ role-of-physical-therapy-in-patientswith-hip-oa). Steroid injections are often recommended and can be helpful in minimizing or eliminating the pain. However, er if the pain er, returns, there are likely other forces pulling on your hip and causing the pain to continue. In this case, more injections or medications are not the answer and let me explain why. Pain surrounding any joint in the body means the muscles are inhibiting the joint from operating properly oper . For operly example, tight muscles around the hip joint will limit movement and create stif stiffness , muscle fatigue and pain.

Motion is so important to the hip joint such that, once motion is limited or lost – motion inside the joint becomes restricted, creating constant pressure in one area of your hip joint. Constant pressure concentrated in one area results in more rapid degeneration, resulting in more stiffness stif and pain.

Ask your doctor for a referral to physical therapy if you continue to have ha any or all of the following: morning stiffness stif , pain, difficulty dif walking, difficulty dif sitting or standing.

Seeing a physical therapist will help get the joint moving again, relieving the pressure concentrated on the area of restriction.

Without treatment, the degeneration will continue at a faster rate than necessary.

Some degeneration is natural, but getting the joint moving again will help relieve the pain and

stif stiffness and slow the degeneration process. The physical therapist will look at your hip joint for limitations, restrictions or muscle inhibition and will likely use a combination of manual therapy and supervised exercise as research demonstrates that this combination yields functional benefits and may delay or prevent the need for surgery (G. Deyle, et al. 2000. Ann Intern Med, vol.

132:pp.173-181; M. Fransen, et al. 2001.

The Journal of Rheumatology, gy vol. 28 gy, no. 1, pp. 156-164). Research results also reveal that patients experience relief from pain and stiffness stif when they follow a physical therapy home exercise program and attend periodic clinical visits for manual therapy and supervised exercise (G. Deyle et al., 2005. Physical Therapy, py Vol. py, 85 no. 12 pp.1301-1317). I have ha also had excellent success reducing pain and stiffness stif in OA patients using a technique called Trigger Point Dry Needling. I have ha been credentialed by domestic and international experts in this technique and have ha used it with great success for more than 10 years. I would suggest you try this as well. You can read more about the technique at our website, http://bvphysicaltherapy. com/servicesprograms/

triggerpointdryneedling.

If surgery becomes necessary, necessary make sure to prepare yourself bef e surgery to ensure the best befor possible outcomes. Your doctor will likely recommend that you see a physical therapist befor bef e surgery.

The strength and range of motion exercises you learn befor bef e surgery will make you stronger and more flexible and will help after the surgery, ery when you will have ery, ha to do extensi physical therapy to regain extensive strength and range of motion with your new joint. The physical therapist will also teach you how to manage normal daily activities acti , such as getting into and out of the bathtub, to help you avoid pain and further injury to the joint befor bef e surgery and during recovery. So if surgery is necessary, necessary befor bef e you schedule the surgery, ery make sure to talk with ery, your physical therapist about a strengthening plan. Remember, member member, the choice of physical therapists is yours. You’ll want to choose someone who has worked with pre- and postsurgical patients, so make sure to ask about their experience and expertise.

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February 2013

Moving in together is something typically associated with young couples, but more and more unmarried men and women over the age of 50 are choosing to cohabitate.

According to an analysis of 2012 U.S. Census data conducted by the Perfor rf mance Reference rfor Bureau, roughly 10 percent of the 15.3 million oppositesex unmarried cohabiting partners in the United States are between the ages of 55 and 64, while 15 percent are between the ages of 45 and 54.

Such figures indicate that living li together as an unmarried couple is no longer exclusive usi to younger usive couples. The incentive incenti s for older unmarried couples older, to cohabitate are similar to those for younger ones, but older couples should heed a few financial pointers befor bef e deciding to move in together. ther ther. • Iron out the financial details ahead of time. Young

couples who move in together often do so as a precursor to getting married. Such couples do not typically have ha much in the way wa of financial assets and, as a result, do not need to come to any formal agreement regarding their finances.

Older couples, however, er er, might be bringing a more substantial financial portfolio tf tfolio into the relationship, and these finances can complicate matters. Befor Bef e moving in together, ther older couples should ther, document their finances and how household expenses, including a mortgage if one exists, will be paid. Decisions regarding who will receive cei ceive the tax breaks you might be eligible for when paying pa a mortgage should also be considered.

Documenting your financial situation can protect your assets should you break up. If these arrangements are not documented, unmarried

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Financial pointers for older, unmarried couples

5

50plus February 2013

Financial decisions from page pa 5

couples who break up could find themselves in a contentious financial battle not unlike couples going through a divo di rce.

• Maintain some financial independence. Older, Older unmarried men and women who choose to cohabitate with their partners should still maintain some financial independence after moving in together. ther A joint ther. checking or savings sa account might work down the road, but initially keep these accounts separate to avoid any disputes. Keep paying pa your own bills, including car payments pa and credit cards, at the onset as well.

• Update certain documents and policies. Upon your death, a partner with whom you cohabitate does not have ha the same legal rights of inheritance as would a spouse. As a result, it’s important for unmarried indi individuals who cohabitate with their partners to update their wills, especially if they have ha been cohabitating for an extended period of time and want their partner to be

Memory Medic

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from page pa 2

6

presented with a related new task D, you might say to yourself, “I don’t know how to do this task D, but it is like task B, and I do know how to do that!” Thus, you have ha a leg up on learning how to do task D. The idea under underlies how people become experts in a give gi n field: their accumulated learning of various tasks provides them with a repertoire of what Har w called “learning sets” that Harlo makes it easier to learn new things.

In other words, learning can become a skill set.

The idea can be extended to memory schema. Last fall, I attended a “memory schema” symposium at the annual meeting of the Society of Neuroscience. The memory schema idea is that memory of prior learning provides a framework or context for creating the associations that enhance memorization of new infor inf mation.

That is, memory schemas facilitate associating new infor inf mation with what one already knows, and that speeds the transfer into memory.

The experiments reported made it clear that structured relationships of learning objects improve all aspects of learning: encoding, memory consolidation and recall. The time has come to develop teaching strategies that exploit learning and memory schemas.

One example is the development of a PowerPoint method I just developed to create a one-flash card of learning objects that is a composite of mnemonic icons systematically placed in specified spatial locations.

The images represent concepts to memorize, and the spatial locations create spatial relationships that

taken care of in case of their death.

In addition to updating infor inf mation regarding beneficiaries, older men and women might want to update certain inf mation regarding their health, like infor who should take legal responsibility for medical decisions should one partner become incapacitated.

In addition to updating your will, update any existing life insurance policies and retirement benefits to include your partner if you so desire.

• Discuss any changes with your family, especially any children. When you make changes to your will, those changes will affect af your beneficiaries.

Upon making these changes, discuss them with your existing beneficiaries so your partner does not have ha to deal with relative ti s whose feelings might tive be hurt upon your death. This might not be an easy discussion, but you will want your partner to have ha your family as a support system upon your death.

Older unmarried couples are Older, choosing to cohabitate more and more. While the incentive incenti s to doing so are numerous, there are some precautionary measures couples should take befor bef e moving in together. ther ther.

Older unmarried couples should make some financial decisions before Older, befor deciding to cohabitate.

The re-emergence of schemas in promote memory formation. The memory research: from encoding details are explained in my e-book to reconsolidation. Society of for students (Better Grades, Less Neuroscience Symposium. New Ef rt) and an example composite Effo Or Orleans . flash card is downloadable for free at thankyoubrain.com/consultant.htm.

Few of the symposium speakers or audience discussants seemed to be aware of Harlo Har w’s literature (young scientists are woefully ignorant of science history).

Memory schema ideas have ha a special importance for education, and in the panel discussion at the end of the symposium, speakers were asked to address There are three types of this matter. But dentures - economy dentures, nobody did. And in traditional dentures, and now, school systems, few introducing Facelift Dentures. educators do either.

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Dr Klemm is author of a new Dr. memor improvement book, Memory memory Memor Power 101 (New (N York: Skyhor Skyhorse) yhorse) and an e-book in multiple formats for students Better Grades students, Grades, ades, Less Effort Eff (Smashwor .com).

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Sources: Har w H F. Harlo 1949. The formation of learning sets.

Psychol. Rev. 56:51-65.

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Lived F “ Life A

February 2013

Old. It never goes away. When you were young, you weren’t old enough. Yet you were often told “you’re too old for that” when you spotted something you liked in the shop in town. You swore you were never going to get old and act like those old people around you. When you got old, you didn’t feel old. You still don’t. And you don’t like being treated like you’re old.

That’s why you’re still working, full- or part-time.

You probably can use the money of course. money, But if you quit, everybody will think you’re too old to work.

Old is not quite like dying.

Everyone knows they’re going to die. They don’t want to, but

they don’t see growing old as an alternative ti . tive That’s changing.

The widening gap in how baby boomers perceive cei ceive their phalanx is just one piece of evidence. Those at the younger end of the 1946 - 1964 generation (48 to 66 years of age) have ha begun disassociating themselves from the vanguard that already has entered Social Security country.

The under-55s don’t see themselves as being anywhere near “retirement age” as they steam roll ahead in their drive dri to the top. They don’t identify with the needs and wants of anyone already getting government, military or corporate pensions

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‘You’re getting old’ gets old

7

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50plus

Never too late for love Locals find partners for life in their senior years

Februar 2013 February The Eagle • theeagle.com

Photos by Shauna Lewis Upper and lower photos: Larry (left) and Linda Huet, of College Station, recently went to the St. Joseph Education Center Annex to participate in activities with the Gold Medallion Club. The couple first met outside the building for a blind date, after af encouragement from fr the club coordinator coordinator. dinator.

As baby boomers enter their 60s, there are more single seniors than ever befor bef e. With that in mind, services and classes in the Bryan-College Station area and online have ha become prime ways for seniors to step out of their comfor comf t zone, connect with others and, in some cases, to find a partner for life.

Linda Huet of College Station, 68, said she met her husband Larry through a shared local acti activity – the St. Joseph Health System’s Gold Medallion Club, an organization for seniors. The couple married in December 2011.

At the time Larry, ry an 88-year-old veteran of ry, World War II, joined Gold Medallion Club, he was recently widowed and prepared to move into a retirement community.

“Larry was lost in lonesomeness,” Linda said. “Both his sons had seen (the retirement community) and agreed it was best for him. But Larry knew there had to be something more to life, even alone.”

So Larry backed out of moving into the retirement community, community losing his deposit, and began interacting more with other seniors.

Larry and Linda met in the summer of 2011 at the urging of Linda’s friend at the Gold Medallion Club in Bryan.

“She told me, ‘he’s a very nice man, easy to talk with, recently widowed, loves games,’” said Linda. “I told her to go ahead. Give Gi him my name and number.”

Linda, who lost her husband in 2008, said the idea of a blind date caused her some apprehension, as she pulled into the parking par lot of the St. Joseph Education Center Annex, which houses Gold Medallion Club meetings – under her favo fa rite tree – befor bef e the two went to lunch at a local restaurant. Her apprehension soon melted away as she and Larry enjoyed their lunch, even though she had stepped outside of her comf t zone. comfor The couple’s relationship took a serious turn just a week later when Larry confided to Linda that he intended to visit his 94-year-old sister Maxine – his last living li sibling – in Nebraska and that his bag had been packed for the trip since June. Linda agreed to accompany him.

Over the course of the trip, the couple learned that they shared a lot in common. Both of them had been retailers in their careers, live li d alone in their own homes and both had spouses who were on dialysis for five years prior

to their deaths.

“Our trip was a reality check,” said Linda. “We “W never turned on the radio. We laughed our way to his sister Maxine’s.”

Linda said she credits meeting Larry and the development of their relationship to divine di intervention, in which she felt called to push her own boundaries to find a partner for life.

Teri Czachowski, 59, of College Station, and Karl Kar Loehr 57, of Brookshire, also stepped out of their Loehr, respective specti comfor spective comf t zones to find love – through the online dating site, Senior People Meet.

“I contacted him first,” said Czachowski, a member of Senior Circle at the College Station Medical Center. “The computer had matched us pretty highly.” Loehr quickly answered back around the end of October 2011.

The couple – both Catholics – had planned to share their first date at church the following Sunday, but Czachowski mentioned she had plans to go country dancing the night befor bef e, and Loehr decided to come along.

“He was differ dif ent from his picture on the website, and I wasn’t sure it was him,” said Czachowski. “But when he walked into the room, something went through my mind – like ‘you’re going to marry this man.’ That’s never happened to me in my entire life.”

When Loehr and Czachowski met, they were in a similar place – both had been married twice and were single for many years.

“I have ha dated some, but really I have ha been busy raising my son,” said Czachowski, whose son Josh recently graduated high school and entered college. “Dating wasn’t a high priority.”

However, er Czachowski had established a New er, Year’s resolution – to go out on at least one date.

Loehr and Czachowski were engaged two months later.

Finding love safely Now in their second year together, ther the Huets ther, say handholding and laughter are staples of their relationship.

Linda said people should look for certain qualities in a possible mate, like the ability to giggle and belly laugh together, ther share ther, experiences (past and present), play cards, hug each other and to take time and make an effo ef rt to really listen to one another.

In the dating stages, Czachowski says safety in dating is key, especially in online dating.

According to an AARP dating expert, men should take the first step in furnishing phone numbers when he feels it is the right time.

“I can’t think of any good reason why a legitimately eligible man would withhold his digits; if he does, that’s ample cause to feel unsafe,” said Ken Solin, in his article “How to Stay Safe While Dating.”

Choosing a safe spot for a first date is important, as well.

“A busy daytime café is ideal,” Solin wrote.

“There isn’t much priva pri cy, cy but you’ll be grateful for the presence of others if an unpleasant situation develops.”

Should a volatile situation develop – Solin said he once ended a date when a woman grew increasingly angry and vocal over her mistreatment by an ex-boyfriend and turned her attack onto him – people should feel free to bail on the date.

“If a coffee cof date shows up with a bad attitude, a bad temper or a foul mouth, head for the door,” door Solin said. “Do likewise if he talks about becoming sexual after 15 minutes, or attempts to corral you into a relationship.”

He also advises ad asking a friend to call in during the date, to ensure you are safe.

Asking the right question – revealing a great deal of infor inf mation in a short amount of time about a person you’ve just met – can be beneficial.

Solin suggests asking if the date has close friends; a yes indicates he or she is capable of connecting with others, and a no suggests a lack of intimacy skills.

Finally, Solin suggests being safe at home.

“W all want to believe the best about people, “We but a date you don’t really know deserves only a modicum of trust,” he said.

Photos by Shauna Lewis Above photo: Teri Czachowski (right), of College Station, and Karl Loehr, of Br Brook shir shire, share a kiss at Tanglewood Park in Bryan.

The two (also to the left) met through thr an online dating site and ar engaged. are

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8

Czachowski said she had not done online dating befor bef e, so she didn’t really know what to expect.

“Y “You’r e going to go through some frogs befor bef e you finally find the prince,” said Czachowski, who said she had gone on two dates in 2011 from the dating site.

Special to The Eagl Ea e

Februar 2013 February

By Holli L. Koster

9

50plus February 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com

Busy boomers from page pa 7

and touring retirement communities.

Besides the growing trend to lengthen their working li s, many also are seeking live second careers that are more satisfying and fulfilling than their first. And most of them can use the money.

The recession that dampened the first decade of this century has forced these boomers to recalibrate their focus on their financial future. Many, if not most, ha had their inve have in stment portfolios tf tfolios gouged by as much as 40 percent over the past half dozen years.

And the value of their homes has dropped by onethird in most parts of the country.

They’re also looking at Social Security funds becoming insolvent in the next 20 years or so.

Forecasters predict the current rate of benefit payments will be slashed by as much as 30 percent.

At the same time, politicians are pushing to increase the qualified oldage-benefit age to 67 years from the current 65. Medicare

funds also are melting away.

So, as you maintain or adjust your course in the working world, what steps should you take to bolster your retirement revenues?

Your first step is to retire your debt befor bef e you retire, according to most money mahouts. Start with creditcard debt, paying down the largest amount and/or the card with the highest interest rate.

Since your home probably is your biggest single in stment, you should look inve at the amount of insurance you have ha on it.

There should be enough to rebuild it in case of catastrophe not how much you think it’s worth on the real-estate marke mar t.

For one thing, its realty value includes the sale price of the land it’s on. The question is: how much it will cost for contractors to rebuild it?

Wait for the current real estate ups and downs to subside befor bef e considering any action invo in lving your residence, such as moving to a less-expensive less-expensi city or neighborhood, downsizing to a smaller house, or, or if you’re 62 or older, older applying for a reverse mortgage.

in attending.

Bradway

from page pa 4 I will be holding a seminar on natural pain solutions in February and March; contact my office of if you are interested

Leon Brad Br way is a ph physical therap er ist and director of erap the Sports Back and Pain Manage na ment Clinic. See www. nage www bvphys bvph physicaltherap erapy. erap apy.com.

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Smaller take-home pay According to James Lar Larkin, CP with Thompson, CPA Derrig & Craig , “the payroll tax break was not extended, so withholding will be higher by 2 percent than in the previous two years.”

You probably have ha already noticed that your paycheck is lighter now than in 2012.

Estate taxes Let’s review the definition of what an estate is and what it is not. In general, an estate includes all assets owned by the decedent. As with all tax topics, you should consult a CP to determine how estate CPA taxes relate to your unique situation.

In the December column, we learned that, generally speaking, a taxable estate includes: • Cash • Personal residence • Other real estate • Securities • Family business

Other items not discussed in December Lar Larkin lists five other tax

changes that might affect af you: • Medical deductions will be more difficult dif to claim on your tax return starting with the 2013 tax year.

The deduction threshold increases from 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income to 10 percent of adjusted gross income. This means you will have ha to spend more on medical expenses in order to be able to deduct them as an itemized deduction.

• The employee portion of Medicare tax has been increased for 2013 by an additional 0.9 percent on wages that exceed the threshold amounts. The threshold amounts are $250,000 for a joint return or a surviving survi spouse, $125,000 for a married individual indi filing a separate return and $200,000 for any other case.

This threshold is not indexed for inflation. This means

we will have ha bracket creep on this tax. This means that over time more taxpayers will become subject to this tax because inflation will dri their wages up toward drive the threshold amount. This additional 0.9 percent tax is not imposed on employers.

• Income tax rates are not changing for 2013, except for taxpayers with taxable income in excess of $450,000 married joint filers and $400,000 single filers. Those rates have ha increased.

• Capital gains rates are not changing for 2013, except for taxpayers with taxable income in excess of $450,000 married joint filers and $400,000 single filers. Their capital gains rate has gone up to 20 percent.

• Mentioned in the December article, but worth repeating is the 3.8 percent Medicare contribution tax on net inve in stment income

effective effecti fective starting in 2013 for those with taxable income over $250,000 for joint returns and $200,000 for single returns. Most people do not ha taxes withheld from have in stment income. If you inve think this tax will apply, you may need to adjust your withholding from your wages or increase your quarterly ter terly estimated tax payments.

Note: This tax has nothing to do with Medicare.

According to the proposed regulations, “no provision is made to transfer this tax from the General Fund of the United State Treasury to any Trust Fund.” This means that none of this money goes to fund Medicare.

Contac nt t Trac ntac Tracy acy B. Stewart, CP PFS, CPA, PFS CFF, CF CDFA, CDF CFP® CF through ug her blog at www. ugh www TexasDi xas vorceFin xasDi eF ance.com. eFin

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The dreaded Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Good news! The AMT exemption amount was increased for 2012 and is now indexed for inflation. Larkin Lar tells us that this means most taxpayers will not have ha to worry about AMT anymore.

Had this not been done, the increased tax would have ha averaged $3,700 for most of you who are reading this article.

Since 1998, we have ha seen annual patches to this tax.

Now this law is permanent and retroactive oacti to Jan. 1, 2012. oactive

• Mineral interests • Inve In stments in non-f non-famil y businesses, partnerships and the like • Undivided Undi interests in partnerships, land, mineral interests and the like • Life insurance policies Under the prior law, if your estate were to be valued at more than $5 million, the amount over $5 million would be taxed at 35 percent when you pass on. This is called a $5 million exemption. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) (A left the $5 million exemption intact but raised the tax rate to 40 percent.

In the December column, Lar Larkin explained portability, bility bility, telling us that it “could be a great move if portability carries over in some form into 2013.” More good news: portability survive survi d. As Lar Larkin inf ms us, “The infor existence of portability eliminates the need for a lot of the estate planning we used to do for those with estates well under the $5 million for a single person or $10 million for a married couple. The estate planning is replaced by filing estate tax returns for those who may not have ha an estate large enough to require filing the return but where filing the return is necessary to elect portability.”

Lar Larkin gi s us the give following example. A couple has an estate of $7 million.

When first spouse dies, his or her share of the estate is $3.5 million, which is under the $5 million exemption. Because the decedent’s estate is below the $5 million exemption amount, an estate tax return is not required to be filed.

Assuming all property went to the surviving survi spouse, he or she would want to file an estate tax return just to be able to claim portability. By filing to claim portability, bility the bility, survi surviving spouse would then ha a $10 million exemption, have which would cover their $7 million estate when they eventually pass on.

February 2013

In the December column, I reviewed several potential tax changes that could affect af you.

Now that the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) (A has been passed, I am returning to let you know what passed tracy stewar ewart ewar art and what iter finanCial literaCy did not.

50plus

The rest of the story: Tax changes that passed in Congress

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Metro Creati Cr ve Connection

The trend of long-married couples calling it quits has been growing. However, er there are some er, steps couples can take to keep their relationships going strong.

According to the AARP, AARP divo di rces among people over the age of 50 have ha doubled since 1990. According to Susan Brown, codirector of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State Unive Uni rsity, rsity one out of three Boomers will face their golden years unmarried.

There are a number of reasons why wh di rce rates have divo ha skyrocketed among the over-50 set. Understanding just why wh these divo di rces are taking place and taking proactive oacti steps to alleviate some oactive of the divo di rce triggers can be a recipe for a happy marriage that continues throughout a couple’s golden years.

• Increase accountability. accountability Ours is a transient society where families no longer bat an eyelash over moving great distances away from other family members. As a result, Boomers may ma feel like they are not connected to children or grandchildren. With this in mind, they may ma feel less attached to their marriage or their responsibilities or believe that no one will get hurt by a divo di rce. Keeping families close and remaining in frequent contact can increase accountability and reduce the propensity for divo di rce.

• Get things out in the open. A major reason for a failed marriage is years of avoiding significant issues rather than addressing problems.

Couples should make time to talk to each other about anything that might be bothering them rather than letting too many things slide. If these con rsations turn into shouting conve matches, there is alwa always ways the option of bringing in a third party to serve as a mediator. tor tor.

• Spend time apart. After retirement, couples may ma find

First

Going on dates is a great gr way for older married couples to create cr excitement and romance. themselves spending hours upon hours in each other’s company. While togetherness can be beneficial, too much time spent together may ma lead to feelings of suffo suf cation and the perception that each member of the relationship is no longer his or her own person. Individuals Indi can remedy this by doing more things on their own, whether spending time apart with friends or engaging in hobby time without your spouse. After all,

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Brief periods of separation can make the time married couples do spend together feel more meaningful.

• Recommit to your vows. After 30 or more years, the vows you shared on your wedding may ma be a distant memory Some people may memory. ma have ha dif ent views on the permanence differ of vows, putting personal happiness ahead of the happiness of the couple.

Take stock of what you promised one another on your wedding day da and stick to those words.

• Become a comedian. Laughter has a way wa of dissolving a tenuous situation. Focus energy on laughing at mistakes instead of pointing blame.

Couples can make fun of themselves and resolve to not take things too seriously.

• Act like you’re dating. Couples often become complacent after many years of marriage. They may ma forget about the little details that made the relationship fun in the early ear years. The personal notes and cards and other surprises may ma fall by the ways wa ide after being together for some time. Make an ef rt to go on dates, write love notes effo and think of what was appreciated by your partners when you were in the dating stage.

• Practice selflessness. Sometimes all that is needed to rekindle a relationship is a selfless act that shows how much you care for your partner. tner tner.

Couples who are on the fence with regard to divo di rce can make an effo ef rt to improve the relationship rather than simply see divo di rce as the best option.

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Ongoing

Meditation class – Brazos Healing Center, 1804 Brothers Blvd., Suite D, in College Station, holds a free meditation class the first Wednesday of each month, from 7:15 to 8 p.m. For more details, visit BrazosHealingCenter.com or call 979-402-3595.

Feb. 7

Beginning digital photography class – Four-week class on how to take better photos with a digital camera starts. Held from 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursdays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Cost is $45.

To register, visit rectrac.cstx.gov or visit Stephen C. Beachy Central Park office, 1000 Krenek Tap Road. For more information call College Station Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or 979-764-3486.

Valentine’s Day Tea - All seniors are invited to enjoy a cup of tea and a selection of afternoon tea delights.

The afternoon will include a fashion show with vintage clothing and Valentine Bingo with prizes. Seating is limited and a reservation is necessary

by Feb. 11. Call 979-764-6351 or 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@ cstx.gov to make a reservation.

Lifeline Open House – St. Joseph will host a Lifeline Open House from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the conference room in the warehouse behind the Lampo Building, 1530 East William J. Bryan Parkway in Bryan.

Anyone can attend the free session to learn about Lifeline’s basic in-home emergency response system, but also about more advanced features such as a fall-detecting button and automatic medication dispenser. For more details, call 979-774-4357.

Feb. 19

AARP Driver Safety Class Class geared for drivers 50 and older will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Completion of class may qualify for discount of liability insurance premium. Cost is $14 for non-AARP members or $12 for members. To register, call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

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Feb. 20

Cataract Screening & Surgery Diabetic Eye Exam Routine Eye Exams In-Office Laser Surgery Lasik/PRK Refractive Surgery Contact Lenses & Glasses

History

See Calendar pa 14 page

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Feb. 6

Learn the Internet class – A class for beginners that teaches the basics of the Internet and how to use various search tools. Meets from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on Monday and Wednesday.

Cost is $45. To register, visit rectrac. cstx.gov or visit Stephen C. Beachy Central Park office, 1000 Krenek Tap Road. For more information call College Station Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or 979-764-3486.

Email class - Learn how to set up and manage an e-mail account. Class meets on Monday and Wednesday from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Cost is $45. To register, visit rectrac. cstx.gov or visit Stephen C. Beachy Central Park office, 1000 Krenek Tap Road. For more information call College Station Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or 979-764-3486.

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February 2013

Bridge - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, offers of bridge for seniors Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Line dancing - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, holds line dancing for seniors every Tuesday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. For more details, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Sit and Fit - Join other seniors at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, every Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 12:45 p.m. For more details, contact Southwood Community Center, 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Bluegrass Jam Session – Held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. All levels welcome, including beginners. Bring an instrument and a friend. For more details, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Feb. 11

50plus

CALENDAR Vision for the way you live.

Act 1: The County Fair Crime Spree Act 2: How Broadway Beat the Blues

Thursday, February 28th at 6:00 pm The drama club presents their latest play. Refreshments will be served.

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50plus

Calendar

from page pa 13 Lecture - The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the College Station Parks and Recreation Department present monthly lectures with lunch on the history of the community. Speaker is Wayne Sadberry, known for his association with the Brazos Valley African American Museum. Meetings are held at Aldersgate Church, 2201 Earl Rudder Fwy S. A reservation is necessary. Cost is $5. Lunch is served at 11:30 am. The speaker will begin at noon. Reserve by calling 979-7646351 or emailing mrodgers@cst.gov.

February 2013

Feb. 21

Beauty Tips for Older Adults – Beauty tips will be presented by Guardian Health Care at 1 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

For more details, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

The Eagle • theeagle.com

Feb. 22

14

Bingo and Birthday Celebration - All seniors (even those without birthdays that month) are invited at 1 p.m. the last Friday of each month

to celebrate birthdays that month with cake and bingo at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. For more details, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-7646351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Feb. 23

Home & Garden Expo - The Bryan-College Station Home Builders Association will hold its 2013 Home & Garden Expo from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 23 and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 24. The event will be at the Brazos County Expo Complex, 5827 Leonard Road in Bryan, and will include exhibitions such as one on gardening techniques and seminars on topics such as home building, remodeling, landscaping and energy efficiency. There will also be a petting zoo. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and free for ages 12 and under. www.HomeExpoBCS.com

Feb. 25

Senior Advisory Committee meeting - The Senior Advisory Committee meets at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, starting at 10 a.m. Visitors welcome. For more information call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

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Metro Creati Cr ve Connection

Cruising is often a romantic option for Valentine’s Day vacations.

Valentine’s Day. • Consider a priva pri te rental situation. Many people who own vacation homes list them for rent when they are unoccupied. You may be able to stay in a larger condo or space than a traditional hotel room for a smaller cost than going to a hotel. If you develop a rapport with a particular renter, nter you may have nter, ha preference of dates and can make visiting a tropical island or another retreat a yearly ar Valentine’s Day arly ad nture. Try VRBO.com to find adve a rental property in your desired location.

Going away for Valentine’s Day need not be an expensive expensi venture.

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and you’ll be close to home.

• Take in live li music. There’s something romantic about listening to music together. Inve In stigate upcoming concerts in your area. Some coffee cof shops and bars host open-mic nights when budding artists can be heard.

Check to see if any smaller venues are hosting intimate, acoustic concerts by popular bands. It can be a memorable night and one that doesn’t break the bank.

• Trade time-share dates with others. Time shares are great ways to ha a dedicated vacation spot that have you are guaranteed during a certain time each year. There are time-share swapping sites like TimeShareJuice. com. Find out if you can exchange your requisite time with another and take your vacation in honor of

February 2013

February, uary when Valentine’s Day uary, serves as the official of day of love and af affection, is a great way to embark embar on a romantic vacation, especially if that getaway is to a warmer locale that can help men and women momentarily forget about the colder temperatures back home.

Some resorts and trave tra l-based businesses take adva ad ntage of Valentine’s Day by inflating prices to capitalize on gift-giving. gift-gi However, er er, many others use this time of year to of offer specialized sales and discounts to help boost business through the remainder of the winter season. It is possible to enjoy an indulgent trip without having ha to spend a fortune.

• Consider cruising. There are cruises that depart from various ports all year long. All it takes is a call to a cruise line or logging on to their websites to check the scheduling.

For those unopposed to flying to a dif ent port, you may be able to differ broaden your options with regard to cruise destinations and departing dates. Cruises are adva ad ntageous because they are all-inclusive, lusi lusive, selfcontained vacations. Couples who don’t want the hassle of packing and unpacking several times and want their meals and entertainment

planned out ahead of time might find cruising is their trip. There also is the ability to visit differ dif ent ports of call all in one trip, ensuring there is never a dull moment.

• Look into winery packages.

Wineries may be doing their planting and harvesting in the warmer weather, her but come the winter they her, may be facing a slow-down in foot traf and may be eager to attract traffic business. Sampling differ dif ent vintages and spending time in an often adultsonly envir en onment can be an ideal way to spend a Valentine’s Day weekend.

Make it an overnight trip and stay nearby in a hotel. Some wineries may offer of a restaurant on premises or work with a local establishment to provide package deals.

• Visit your closest city. Many people living li in the suburbs seldom make trips into downtown unless they are regular commuters for work.

Even those who spend their weekdays in an urban area may never have ha experienced all of the little gems that attract tourists. For Valentine’s Day, you may want to see your urban center through the eyes of a visitor, visitor taking adva ad ntage of the museums, cultural centers and buildings that attract tourists throughout the year.

Chances are the trip will not be costly,

50plus

Affordable getaway ideas for Valentine’s Day

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50plus February 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com

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