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Articles: Women And Retirement Internet Dating Over 50 Motivational Tips For Exercise
Contents From The Editor
5
Life In Your Years
9
10 Reasons To Plan Trees...Now!
10
I Want To Die Young At A Rip Old Age
12
I’m Not Intrested In Age
14
Motivational Tips For Exercise
16
Those Who Have Out Lived Enthusiasm
19
Time To Refinace or Buy!?
20
Age Does Not Protect You From Love
21
Cellulite The Biggest Female Epidemic
23
Old Age Isn’t So Bad
26
Internet Dating Over 50
27
Live Your Life And Forget Your Age
30
Can You Find The Gorget?
31
Old Age Is 15 Years Older Than I Am
32
How To Make Grits
33
Those Who Love Deeply Never Grow Old
34
How To Set A Table
36
The Aging Process Has You Firmly In Its Grasp
38
Why Women Should Worry About Retirement
40
Age Is An Issue Of Mind Over Matter
41
Neighborhods
43
Growing Old Is Mandatory
46
Visiting Murrells Inllet
47
Wrinkles Merely Indicate Where Smiles Have Been 51 Life Is The Variety Of Spices
53
Don’t Regret Growing Older
55
Seniors Golfing Forever
57
Eat Your Vegis!
60
From The Editor Buy Local Promoting local business is as simple as having other company’s business cards or brochures posted on a board in your store. In an effort to promote your area, we are distributing decals that say “Check us out at www.Seniors.sc,” in hopes that local shoppers will visit the site to find local restaurants, clothing, specials, coupons and more. We are doing our part, so please join us, and promote your local merchants, and everyone will benefit!
Buy
Top Ten reasons to Think Local Local - Be Local – Help Local Businesses
1. Buy Local -- Support yourself and South Carolina. Many studies have revealed when you buy from an independent, locally owned business in the your own area, rather than a nationally owned businesses, considerably more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses. Local businesses continue to strengthen the economic base of the local community. These include case studies showing that local local owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base.
2.Support Local Area Community Groups:
Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller Lexington area business owners than they do from large companies.
3. Keep Your Area Unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind local businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character. Local tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust.
4. Reduce Environmental Impact: Locally owned businesses in your area can make more local purchases requiring less transportation. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
5. Create Additional Jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in the community, provide the most jobs to local residents. 6. Receive Better Service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products and services they offer, and take more time to get to know customers. Cont. next page www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 5
7.Invest
in Your Community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, and they are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.
8. Put
your
Taxes
to
Good Use:
Local businesses require a relatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering your area.
9. Buy What you Want, Not What Big Advertising Budgets Want you to Buy: A South Carolina marketplace comprised of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products and services based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, promises a much broader range of product choices.
10. Promote Local Prosperity: An escalating body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. Larry Local Editor in Chief
www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 6
The chances that you will get breast cancer has a lot to do with your genetic disposition (you’re more likely to get breast cancer if your grandmother or another relative was diagnosed with it), but it also has to do with your environment. The incidence of breast cancer varies greatly around the world, lessening in less developed countries and increasing in more developed countries. In South Carolina, your chances are 124.1 in 100,000 if you are Caucasian, and 109.7 if you are African American, according to a 2004 report by the American Cancer Society. Chances go up with age, with 77% of breast cancer incidences occurring in women over the age of 50. Leading risks for breast cancer include a family history, atypical hyperplasia, delaying pregnancy until after age 30 or never becoming pregnant, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), current use or use in the last ten years of oral contraceptives, and daily consumption of alcohol.
Early detection is important! Early detection of breast cancer, through your monthly self examination and your yearly mammogram after the age of 40 are your best chances for surviving breast cancer if you are diagnosed. About 96% of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer free in five years. You are never too young to start checking for breast cancer. Although over 80% of breast lumps are not cancerous, regular self-examinations starting at the age of 20 will help you become familiar with your breasts and help you in detecting early-forming lumps.
Carolina Girls Know About Breast Cancer Prevention There are plenty of ways to help prevent your risks for breast cancer, and most of those are things you should already be doing, like exercising, eating healthy food and not drinking in excess. If you at risk for breast cancer because of family history or you are over the age of 50, here are a few suggestions to help keep you fit and cancer free: 1) Maintain a BMI (Body Mass Index) below 25 throughout your life. Overweight individuals are at a much higher risk for breast cancer than average or underweight individuals. 2) Minimize your consumption of alcohol. A recent Harvard Nurses Health Study reported that more than one alcoholic beverage a day increases your chances for breast cancer by 20 – 25%. 3) Eat your fruits and veggies! 4) Exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes five times a week. This could be a nice, brisk walk with the dog or a jaunt up to the corner store. If the president of the United States can find 30 minutes a day to exercise, so can you. 5) Minimize your exposure to pharmacological and xeno-estrogrens. Estrogen can be found in more than just your birth control pills: poultry, red meat and dairy products are all quite likely to have estrogen in them unless they’re labeled organic. Be sure to thoroughly wash all of your fruits and veggies before eating them, since common pesticides and industrial chemicals are likely to contain chemically-created estrogen.
CEO Dennis Stewart Editor In Chief Larry Local Creative Director Daniel Holliday Art Director Amy Coats Web Developers Allen Bayless Matthew Coats Administration & Marketing Vivi Morillo Angie Woods
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And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.
www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 10
I want to die young at a ripe old age.
I’m not interested in age. People who tell me their age are silly. You’re as old as you feel.
Motivational Tips for Exercise No matter who we are, or what age you are, we all have days when we just do not feel like exercising. The weather might be grey, you’ve had a busy day, or you might just be bored with your program. Whatever the reason, you just don’t feel like it. It is amazing the number of reasons you can come with if you really want to. It’s on these days that we all need that extra motivation. The following is a list that should help. I’ve been exercising regularly for most of my life so I’ve had plenty of those days. To get me through, I’ve compiled a list of tactics to help motivate me. Read something inspiring- It could be a biography, quote, poem, or song. Use other people’s experiences to give you that lift. Start a walking group -It’s more social and you all get to feed off the motivation of each other. Think of exercise as a menu rather than a diet - Make a list of activities and choose 1 each day. Use a training journal! By keeping track of your activities you can see the improvements in your fitness week to week. Start an interest or hobby that requires physical fitnessIt could be bushwalking, rock-climbing, tennis, golf, or scuba-diving. If you require physical fitness to enjoy the activity you will be more inclined to train for it.
Increase your incidental activity- This is the amount of activity you do in your normal course of your day, the activity not generally classed as exercise. You could: walk to work, take the stairs instead of the elevator, get up to change the channels instead of using the remote, or walk the entire grocery store when you only need a couple of items. Try cross-training- If your exercise program is always the same then break it up with one session per week of swimming, bike riding, jogging, sprints, or circuits. You could even play a different sport and use it as a training session. Use a Personal Trainer- Personal trainers can provide motivation as well as training variety. Don’t exercise with friends that discourage you- If you have friends that always have excuses, limit the time you depend on them, because they will rub off on you.
Use an exercise video- If exercising in public places is not for you, then try training at home. There are many forms of training available on video including: boxing, aerobics, pilates, and yoga. Listen to music- Put on the stereo or use a walk-man. Music certainly helps the time go faster, and will add enjoyment to your exercise. Watch TV- Most fitness centers currently have a cardio theatre where you watch your favorite shows whilst you work out. Read about the benefits of exercise- We all know that exercise is good for us but do you know why it is? Reading a reputable publication on exercise can inform you of the great ways exercise can improve your life. It’s more than just being able to walk up those stairs. Don’t complicate things, make it simpleYou don’t have to find a fitness centre or join a pilates group. Just find a nice park and go for a walk or jog. Create a list of reasons you want to be healthy and read it regularly- It may be to improve health, play with the kids, or trek across the country. Whatever the reasons write them down. If all else fails, just start! You will always be able to find excuses not to train so don’t think about it, just walk out the door.
None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
rate with the tax advantages of a mortgage, and you have an incredibly cheap way to build wealth, but you better act now.
Time to Refinance Buy !?
or
Right now, mortgage rates are at their lowest level since 1971. Think about that. Twenty-five years ago, homeowners were paying as much as 18% on a 30-year fixed. Today it’s just a little over 5%.Combine that
Real estate guru Barbara Corcoran has already seen a tremendous surge in refinance applications – more than triple the average – and the number of people getting approved is astronomically higher as well, she says. But that doesn’t mean the low rates are a panacea for the ills of the housing market. It is only once home prices start to go up that we will finally see a light at the end of tunnel, Corcoran says. Until that happens, we are still going to have to crawl out of this mess. “[Low interest rates are] a not a lifesaver,” Corcoran says. “This is just a helping hand.”
David Kittle, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, has this advice to homeowners looking to refinance: Do it. Don’t get greedy searching for another quarter-point. Lock in rates now. He is seeing applications soar over 125% just since Thanksgiving due to the low rates. Of course, you should only refinance if it saves you at least 3/8 on the rate and if you plan on staying in your home for at least four years, Kittle says. Along with good credit, proof of income and money by means of a down payment or equity in the home, there are certain things every homeowner needs regardless of interest rate levels.
www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 20
Age does not protect you from love, but love to some extent protects you from age.
Cellulite is probably one of the most embarrassing of all physical issues that women have. Cellulite isn’t just a problem with the obese or overweight women either. Normal sized and even skinny women suffer from cellulite as well. Everyone thinks dimples are adorable, but that is only when they’re on your face. They don’t look quite so cute when they’re on your thighs, hips or any of the many other places of which we women are cellulite prone. It is a fact that 90% of ALL women have cellulite somewhere on their bodies. That leaves only a small 10% who are actually free from this problem. Before you start hating those women’s guts for being so lucky, you should ask yourself what you can do to get rid of your cellulite so that you will be a part of that 10%. What help is there for your cellulite? There are so many different claims about products and treatments that will supposedly “Diminish Cellulite In 10 Days!” or whatever false advertising are being claimed. in most cases you’ll be throwing your time and money away on these false or misleading claims that will not help cellulite but will only drain your bank account. There are a lot of real things you can do to help rid yourself of cellulite. Proactive things that don’t involve liposuction, or having your thighs vacuumed over.
Cellulite The Biggest Female Epidemic
Here are 4 of the main ways to combat cellulite: 1. Exercises which target certain areas with cellulite help a great deal. 2. Eating a properly balanced diet is tremendously successful in clearing the toxins and fatty tissue from your body that result in cellulite. 3. Even massages and saunas have been proven to help since they aid in the elimination process, which clears fatty build up, and in turn clears cellulite. 4. Drinking more water also helps with elimination and cleansing your system from cellulite. So be sure to get your 6-8 glasses each and every day. The best time to start is now, even if you do not have any noticeable cellulite, because it is probably hiding, and just waiting to surprise you. It’s also an interesting fact to know that men don’t get cellulite. Even when they get obese or fat. Their fat deposits are structured differently than ours so the skin doesn’t dimple when they get bigger, causing cellulite, as it does with women. This of course is a relief to women everywhere because no woman wants a man who has the same physical defect she herself suffers from and hates so passionately. So there you have it. Try the above listed methods to naturally help diminish your cellulite and become one of those lucky 10%.
Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.
Internet Dating Over 50
Companionship or Tennis Partner thing, most of us want it “companionship.” It can mean, when a man says he “wants “companionship,” that he’s no longer interested in,or capable of sex. Some people mean “recreational companionship”, and beware. It can mean “recreational appendage.” The Italians say, “The first woman a man marries is his wife. The second is for conmanionship. The third is nonsense.”
Trying to figure out what the other person is like, how you’ll get along, what the potential is, what the other is after, and what they mean by what they say are just a few of the challenges in dating at midlife. In some ways it’s easier on the Internet, and it’s fast becoming the preferred method of many mid-lifers. One thing we certainly look for is someone who is compatible enough. “Compatible” is used a lot, however, so in what ways do you need to be compatible? Shared values are crucial, and certain goals, such as what sort of financial situation you want. How into traditional roles you are, and how family-oriented you are. For some, sharing the same religion. Certainly a couple should have the same general idea about what a marriage is for, should provide, and can accomplish. These can be conversed about, but to assess the all-important “chemistry,” you must meet in person. Do it as soon as you know it’s safe, you’ll save yourself a lot of time Another
You want a full relationship, not just a sports buddy, and whether you are the man’s first or second wife, you want to be the last, and a wife, not an object. Yes, you may love sports, but you love many things, and most of all, you want to love a MAN. That means you want emotional and intellectual companionship, as well as recreational. If the person’s completely polarized and just after a warm body for one specific thing, and you want a full relationship, better to find our sooner rather than later. You may have found “the perfect tennis partner,” but you wouldn’t marry for that, would you? He or she might. Beware. Now let’s look at what people have said in actual online profiles. “I enjoy having a nice companion to share good times with. The person I would like to be with will have a great sense of humor and the ability to converse on many subjects. To be able to discuss something in a loving and understanding manner is a cornerstone of a good relationship!” “Sharing events and activities with a special person is very important to a happy life. I enjoy doing a multitude of things and over the years have been active in community events as both organizer and volunteer.” www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 27
Now from the men: “I want to enjoy life with someone special and share things they like to do and things I like to do.” “Dancing is important to me, but it’s not that you have to be a pro. Indeed, if you do not dance at all that is probably best. Raw material! I also love to read, go to films, plays, and rarely stay home. So I suppose someone who enjoys that kind of activity.” “No couch potatoes please. Someone who likes what I like – biking, hiking, working out, and boating.” The dance partner guy wants a dance partner, not a relationship; “raw material,” as he calls it. Reading, plays, and films aren’t shared activities. The home he rarely stays in sounds more like a base of operations. The thing is, read your own profile through the eyes of someone else, or work with a coach so that you say what you mean. The woman who asks for “a nice companion to share good times with”? Whenever I read or hear this, or it’s cousin, “I just want to have fun,” I know they aren’t talking about marriage. I’d love to share fun and good times with someone, but I’d also like them to stick around if and when it isn’t such fun. I want someone who will walk through the fire with me. That doesn’t mean, as one man interpreted it, walk through the fire FOR me. I’m not looking for someone who will fight all my battles for me (though some would be nice). I’m looking for a man who doesn’t disappear when one of the
grandchildren has a stroke, or shut down after a fight, or refuse to deal with it when one of the kids is in rehab, or disconnect when he gets laid off. Walking THROUGH fire means staying present – physically, and connected – emotionally, when things get rough. When things are going well, it’s easy. The test of a person’s character and commitment is what happens when it’s not fun. The no-couch-potatoes guy? He’ll likely drag you happily around sports courts, but if you want to do something active that he doesn’t like, like shopping, I bet he’ll redefine “active.” But you know that because he ingenuously tells you he means things HE likes to do. The woman who wants to share activities and then mentions her community involvement? Some people marry because they were united around a cause, but generally the cause dies, and there needs to be a lot else there. Watch out. Most people really do reveal a lot in their profiles, if you’re willing to take off the blinders and see it. At the same time, you need to create your own profile in a way that doesn’t mislead others. Kudos to those who say, “I doubt I’ll remarry,” or “I’m looking for someone to sail around the world with me for 3 months,” or “I’m looking for the last love of my life.” When you know what you want, and speak it clearly, you’re more likely to get it. Keep your eyes open, love like you’ve never been hurt, and know that if it’s possible in the universe, it’s possible for you. www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 28
Live your life and forget your age.
Can
you find
the gorget? The South Carolina State flag is immediately recognizable to native Carolinians, and if you’re spending some time out-of-State, it will probably bring a tear to your eye to see it whizzing by on a bumper sticker or rippling in the soft blue sky of a native license plate. Most folks, however, consistently confuse our flag for a simple representation of a moonlit palm tree. The truth it, the sliver of crescent suspended in the upper left hand corner is not a moon phase: it’s a piece of ornamental armour known as a “gorget”. A holdover from the days of knights in shining armour, the gorget was originally used to protect the throat and block blows from non-projectile weapons such as swords. Since the gorget originally rested
around the throat, the shape was that of a crescent. In formal armour, the gorget was placed beneath the breastplate and backplate set and supported the weight of the armour. They were often equipped with straps in order to attach some of the heavier armours. By the Renaissance, the gorgets had already achieved an ornamental status and by the American Revolution, it could be seen hanging from delicate chains and ribbons around the throats of officers, signifying their rank. The first South Carolina flag, designed in 1765, displayed the dark blue of the American troops’ uniforms and a large crescent with the word “Liberty” written within it. While most historians agree that the crescent is the representation of the gorget, which was also worn as a symbol on the caps of American soldiers, there is some argument that the symbol could also stand
for the river bend on which Charleston sits (the crescent was a common symbol used by early American settlements when their Town rested on the curve of a river), or it was a borrowed symbol from the crest of the Bull family, one of Charleston’s early settlers. The palmetto tree on today’s flag was not included until January 28, 1861, the day of South Carolina’s secession from the Union. The palmetto tree represents the defense of Fort Moultrie from British attack, as the Fort itself was made of palmetto logs: an unexpectedly brilliant construction, as the logs of the palmetto tree are incredibly resilient and absorbed the enemy cannon fire like a sponge. Either way we have a pretty cool state flag, and gorget is hard to pronounce!
www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 31
Old age is fifteen years older than I am.
How to make grits By now, you should know that grits are not only the starch of choice in South Carolina, it’s also the acronym for “Girls Raised in the South”; so if you don’t have your recipe down by now, it’s time to get boiling. Proper grits do not come in an easy to open, plastic-lined paper packet. As My Cousin Vinny put it, “Real grits take at least 20 minutes to cook”. In fact, they take a couple hours, but it’s worth every simmering second.So get rid of the Quaker Instant Grits and mosey on down to the rice isle. Grits can usually be found either here or in the baking isle. If you’re lucky enough to live near a locally produce market or farmer’s market, 99% of the time you’ll find more than enough grits in stock. Some local favorites include Anson Mills grits and Charleston’s Favorite Stone Ground Grits. Now that you have the dry goods, make sure you have some fresh chicken stock, milk, cream and butter. Oh yes, you’re making these the way God intended. Measure out your dry grits (1 cup of dry grits makes roughly 2 servings) and clean them by placing them in a bowl and filling the bowl with
water until the water is an inch or so above the grits. Skim off the chaff and drain. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be completely dry, just get it as close as possible. Now, dump the wet grits into a pot and pour in twice as much chicken stock as grits. Bring this to a boil, then reduce to mediumlow. Now add equal portions cream and milk up to 2 and ½ times the amount of grits. So, if I was making this recipe for two, I would have used 1 cup dry grits, 2 ½ cups chicken stock, 1 ¾ cups cream and 1 ¾ cups milk. Add salt and pepper to taste, then sit back and let it simmer. The longer the grits simmer, the richer they’ll be. Typical time is 20-30 minutes, but some of the best grits sit for an hour to two hours at low to medium-low heat, just soaking up that cream and milk. Right before you serve the grits up, stir in a healthy pat of butter and, if you’re feeling a little wild, grate a handful of parmesan or cheddar cheese over the top. Play with and perfect this dish to your liking. The recipe is purposefully simple for the sole reason that it’s up to each southern girl to come up with her own special twist on this Southern Classic. www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 33
Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young.
How to set a table As a lady of the Carolina’s, small shows of simple grace and etiquette should become as second nature to you. Now, this isn’t saying that you have to run out immediately and have visiting cards printed, or go buy a sterling silver tea set, but having knowledge of little things like place settings means a lot to locals and ultimately, hows that you truly care for and respect the civility which is the heart of South Carolina. Even at an informal dinner, it’s a good idea to create a centerpiece. This can be a week-long labor of love or, in most cases, a small setting thrown together about five minutes before the guests arrive. A few snippings from the juniper tree for frilly greenery and aromatic scent, a handful of flowers arranged in a low bowl or small vase, a couple strategically placed pieces of fruit and a candle or two and your centerpiece is complete. A bouquet of flowers from the local florist or, better yet, a nearby farm, would also work, but no matter what, the point is that you have one. Another little pointer: don’t make the centerpiece taller than eye level. Guests would like to be able to see each other when they speak and it could mess up a lovely arrangement if you’re having to part the sunflowers every time you want to ask a question. As for your silverware, if you have sterling silver, use it. Even, and especially, if it’s your great grandmother’s set that’s been passed down for generations. She never intended for you to keep it wrapped up in crumbling bags of velvet. Silverware and formal china, however pretty and expensive, were meant to be used and this is a great time to show them off. Even if you don’t have formal silverware, though, the point is to have the place settings properly arranged and in the end, no one will really care what the silverware looked like as long as there’s plenty of food and wine. With the dinner plate as the center, silverware should be placed in line, an inch from the edge of the table, and arranged from the outside – in, in order of use. On the right, salad fork (smaller fork), appetizer utensil (or another small fork or none at all if you aren’t having an appetizer between salad, soup and dinner), then dinner fork (your biggest fork) closest to the plate. On the left, soup spoon, spreading knife for the bread and
the dinner knife closest to the plate. Be sure to turn the blade of the knives toward the plate, as an outwardly turned knife is a symbol of aggression toward the other diners (don’t you love these quaint little old world idiosyncrasies?). The dessert fork and spoon for after dinner tea or coffee should go across the top of the dinner plate, with the tines of the fork facing right and the bowl of the spoon facing left. Napkins should be folded either as simply or ornately as you like, and placed in the center of the dinner plate. Glasses are also placed an inch above the knives and in order of use starting from the far right: white wine, red wine, dessert wine and water tumbler. Dinner should be served from the kitchen and ideally, placed on each diner’s plate by the server/host instead of passing bowls and dishes around. If it is Thanksgiving at Grandma’s, none of the above applies.
The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball.
Why Women Should Worry About Retirement More Than Men Women typically live seven years longer than men. Combined with the skyrocketing divorce rate, many women will find themselves alone in their older years. Statistics actually show that most women are alone by age 56. And the figures show us that if a woman took out any time from her career to have children (about seven years) she will pay for it later with only 50% of what her male counterparts will receive in retirement benefits. The main reason is the inequality in salaries. Women earn an average of 76 percent of men’s salaries. Rather than get into a discussion of the fairness or unfairness of it all, let’s concentrate on just what women can do to ensure that they aren’t left out to dry in their retirement age. Save More: Most experts advise us to save about 10 percent of our income in order to have a sufficient amount to retire one, but if you are a woman, you should be saving closer to 12 percent. Because of the reasons listed above, you simply won’t receive the same amount in retirement pensions. What’s more, the way that social security figures your monthly payment is based on the top 35 years of your work history. But guess what? If you were out for seven or so of those years having children, they will be counted as “0,” and the overall amount will be reduced. Invest Wiser: Since you will need to save more by retirement age, you will have to more careful with your investments. Know your risk level, and then don’t exceed it under any circumstances! Join the Team: Many employers offer investment and savings strategies such as 401K plans and savings matching programs, and if you are a woman, you should plan to participate in all of them that you can. Use Cash, Not Credit: An alarming number of Americans today are in serious financial trouble. This was made evident recently with the passing of the new bankruptcy bill that will make it more difficult to file. A record number of people filed for bankruptcy in anticipation of it. Don’t Go It Alone: While it is important for all women to step up to the plate and get serious about their finances, it’s equally important for them to get advice from professionals. Talk to tax planners, investment specialists and budget planners to get all the advice that you can.
Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
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www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 42
Neighborhoods 1. Neighborhoods are where we all grew up a long time ago. Today, because of golf courses, shopping areas, subdivisions, jobs, schools, and a transient society, a neighborhood means different things to different folks. 2. Neighborhoods can be as small as a dozen or so houses, and be as many as thousands of homes. 3. Neighborhoods are common, and perhaps close to universal, since most people in urbanized areas would probably consider themselves to be living in one. 4. Neighborhoods are convenient, and always accessible, since you are already in your neighborhood when you walk out your door. 5. Successful neighborhood action frequently requires little specialized technical skill, and often little or no money. Action may call for an investment of time, but material costs are often low. 6. With neighborhood action, compared to activity on larger scales, results are more likely to be visible and quickly forthcoming. The streets are generally
cleaner; the crosswalks are painted; the trees are planted; a festival draws a crowd. 7. Visible and swift results are indicators of success; and since success is reinforcing, the probability of subsequent neighborhood action is increased 8. Because neighborhood action usually involves others, such actions create or strengthen connections and relationships with other neighbors, leading in turn to a variety of potentially positive effects, often hard to predict. 9. Over and above these community advantages, neighborhood activity may simply be enjoyable and fun for those taking part. But in addition to these benefits, considerable research indicates that strong and cohesive neighborhoods and communities are linked – quite possibly causally linked – to decreases in crime, better outcomes for children, and improved physical and mental health. The social support that a strong neighborhood may provide can serve as a buffer against various forms of adversity. Sometimes a neighborhood isn’t a neighborhood until an event occurs, which draws people together, to become “neighbors”.
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Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Visiting Murrells Inlet South Carolina
Murrells Inlet, located along the northern coastline of South Carolina just below Myrtle Beach, is as rife with history as many of the more well-known cities of the south. Although it was a popular site for rice plantations in the 18th and 19th centuries, the community did not officially receive recognition as a town until their first post office was established in 1913. The origin of the name is unknown, though local legends attribute it to vague stories of pirates which used to frequent the quiet, protected inlet. The residents of Murrells Inlet Before the rice barons arrived, Murrells Inlet was home to several different native American tribes, followed by Spanish explorers in the 1500s and early English colonists in the 1600s. However, when the plantations arrived, the entire landscape of this unassuming inlet turned upside down. Once a thick maritime forest, most of the coastal land was cleared for rice fields and by 1850, almost 47 million pounds of rice were being shipped out of the port.
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During the 1800s, residents of the larger cities, such as Columbia, would make an annual trek to Murrells Inlet to escape the oppressive heat of the city, much like the residents of Charleston would travel to Sullivan’s Island. The summer residents would take a train to either Conway or Georgetown, then catch the steamboat which docked at the Wachesaw river landing. From there, it was horses and carts until they reached their cottages.
Murrells Inlet and the Civil War
Murrells Inlet was hit hard by the Civil War. Union warships knew that the inlet was a popular port along the South Carolina coast and would frequently attack the Confederacy’s blockade runners as they attempted to sneak cotton and rice to England in exchange for weapons, food and medicine. The rice plantations suffered, but might have survived if not for the 1893 Sea Islands hurricane, a category three which wiped out the last of the stable rice crops. By 1916, the last commercial rice grower in Murrells Inlet closed their doors for the last time. Fortunately, commercial fishing was starting to take hold in the community and as early as 1914, deep sea charter fishing trips were being offered for $5 a person, a price which included the captain, a 20 foot skiff, and a full day of fishing. www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 48
The Huntingtons come to Murrells Inlet
The small town’s commerce received a huge boost in the early 1920s when Archer Milton Huntington of New York decided to build his estate in Murrells Inlet. The 9,000 acre plantation required almost all of the small Town’s craftsmen in order to be built. Brick masons, landscapers, carpenters and painters worked day and night on Huntington’s home, as well the church, medical clinic and community center, which Huntington had built for the residents of nearby Sandy Island. The main residence, named “Atalaya”, was a sight to behold, with 36 rooms, 22 fireplaces and even a special room for oyster shucking. Huntington’s wife, Anna Hyatt, was a skilled sculptor and the gardens around the main house were filled with her nationally acclaimed works. Visitors can still see the Huntington’s property, which is now the Huntington Beach State Park, and admire Anna Hyatt’s gardens in sculptures in what is now known as Brookgreen Gardens.
Dining in Murrells Inlet
Today, Murrells Inlet is known for its excellent cuisine and in fact, a section along its shoreline is known as “Restaurant Row”. The close proximity of marinas, seafood markets and charter boats practically guarantee that you’re going to get the freshest fish available and the influence of southern cuisine is obvious in the menu selections. However, the small town feel is not lost to commercialism in Murrells Inlet. Residents are happy to talk about the earlier days of their town and will gladly share tales of ghost ships and rogue pirates as you take in the ocean breeze on a gently sagging front porch. Whether you come to Murrells Inlet for the dining, the history or the breathtaking art, this sleepy little town has something for everyone and will surely surprise you with its endless array of entertaining and educational things to do.
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Wrinkles merely indicate where smiles have been.
Life is a Variety of Spices “Variety is the Spice of Life.” This is a famous quote, and how true it is. A truism is “Life is a Variety of Spices” everyone likes some spices, not everyone likes all spices, and there are some that you favor more. Life is much better when it is filled with a “variety” of the things we like. It is inevitable that some things in your life will go wrong, so it is nice to have other things that you still enjoy to fall back on. It is often said that when you invest, you should not put all of your eggs in one basket. The same is true for our ‘ social and personal lives. The way to be happy is to fill your life with a “variety” of things that make us happy. If you have a variety of things that make you happy, this decreases the risk of becoming unhappy if (or when) just a few things go wrong. So, do not risk your happiness by not broadening your horizons and not finding and doing a variety of things that you enjoy. One way to fill your life with a variety of things is to get different hobbies. Hobbies can be as numerous as there are ideas. If you have an idea of something you would like to do, then go and do it. Many people do not fill their lives with the things or hobbies that they would like to do. Since it is so obvious that variety is the spice of life, what makes people not fill their lives with a variety of the things that make them happy? There are many explanations for this. Some are financial because most people cannot afford to pay for all of the things they would like to do. Many people are tied down by debts; they have put on the golden handcuffs and cannot find a way out. This obviously impedes on their pursuit of recreational things. Another reason for people to not pursue personal hobbies or interests is a time constraint. People are so busy working or have other things to do that they just do not have time to pursue recreational activities. If you just prioritize your time and money better, you should in the long term be able to pursue successfully, any interest or hobby you have. In fact, by pursuing personal interests outside of work, you can increase your effectiveness in the work place. Everyone needs a recreational break from working all the time. It improves morale and makes employees work more efficiently.
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There is no limit to what you can do if you just go after it. Hobbies by definition are recreational or leisure activities outside of one’s career or workplace. You can have hobbies that require exercise and can not just be something you enjoy, but they can keep you in shape as well, such as playing sports, mountain biking, lifting weights or working out. You can have hobbies that stimulate the mind, such as arts and crafts, chess or other boardgames, reading clubs, crosswords, or other things. You can also have hobbies just to get away from things and take your mind off the world, such as playing the piano or other musical instruments. Do not let money or time hold you back. The spice of life is Variety, and it is time to spice up your life a bit. Just sit down and think of anything you would like to do, anything you would like to pursue. Write it down. Write down how you can do it and what it will take, and then go after it. Just a half-an-hour a day of doing something can really make a difference. It might take some time to develop some new hobbies, but it may be just the spice you need.
Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.
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Seniors Golfing Forever When you are younger, playing 2 rounds did not seem that difficult. You may have even joked about shooting your age one day. When you join the senior ranks, either would be a major accomplishment. Still, more and more senior golfers are playing with their grandchildren, and playing well into their eighties. It happens to all of us, even though we do not want to admit it. The reality is we are not getting any younger, and with age comes aches, pains, and dealing with restrictions. These restrictions do not have to be anything more than a reminder that golf can be enjoyed for a long time, as long as you prepare both physically and mentally. As we get older we tend to do 2 things: gain weight, and become less flexible. It is a lot more difficult to loose weight, and it takes you a lot longer to “limber up” for any activity: golf, tennis, or riding a bike. Less flexibility predisposes you to experience more difficulty with certain movements: touching your toes, rotating during a golf swing, or even reaching down to pick up a tee off the ground. The reason this occurs is our bodies, as a result of wear and tear, become more “tight” and “wound up” as we get older. Even 25 year olds are tighter in the morning, as they were when they were in their teens. So if you’re in your twenties and you’re reading this article, “enjoy it while it lasts,” because the road gets a little more difficult to travel as you get older. But, if you’re beyond your twenties, I am sure you can relate to the general results of aging in relation to your golf game. Quite simply, extra pounds decrease your stamina (and may affect your swing plane). Less muscle equals less distance off the tee, and decreased flexibility tends to make the turn in the golf swing much harder to perform. An unfortunate situation, but the good news is that we can slow down the aging process and limit the effects of aging on your golf game.
Slowing Down the Aging Process for the Golf Swing
Slowing down the aging process is actually quite simple and only requires a little time out of each day (15-20 minutes) and a little discipline. Sounds pretty easy when you think of all the benefits you stand to gain. Remember you can’t stop the aging process, but you can sure slow it down. The benefits of slowing down the aging process are evident when you see guys in their 50’s winning tour events. It just takes a little time, some knowledge, and discipline. If you are saying, “I don’t have the time,” ask yourself one question: “How would you like to feel 10 years younger right now and hit the ball farther then you did in your twenties?” The answer to both of those questions is usually a resounding yes!
Your weight
The main reason for gaining weight as you get older is that as you age your metabolism slows down. The good news is that there are activities to speed that metabolism back up. The way to do it is by performing some fitness activities. If you are active and participate in some type of structured activity your body will burn more fuel and elevate its metabolism during this time. In addition, if www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 57
these activities are resistance-training activities (i.e. weights, light dumbbells, push-ups), then over time you will build some muscle. The great thing about that is the more muscle you have the higher your metabolism will be all the time, and you will burn more fuel all day and night. A secondary benefit of such activities will be greater stamina on the course. So rather than “spraying your shots” around on the back nine because you’re tired, you can have pinpoint accuracy going into the 18th.
Your Muscle Mass
As you grow older your body actually looses its muscle mass. This starts for men in the early thirties, the same time they become couch potatoes. The good news is this loss of muscle mass can be limited or stopped. Before I give you the solution, let’s look at how this affects your golf swing. Essentially, in the golf swing you create club head speed. That club head speed is the result of creating rotational power, which is defined as torque. To create torque, the muscles of the body have to be flexible, strong, and powerful. So if you have less muscle, your club head speed will naturally decrease. This is why they make senior shafts with a lot of flex. This is the golf manufacturers’ attempt to deal with this problem. It helps to a point, but there is a better solution that will put something in your bag that makes you stronger, improves your power, and gets back that lost distance. This can be done if you implement a golf-specific strength-training program. You can get back that lost muscle mass, get back that power, and improve your driving distance. This is what we call the development of “golf strength,” and it can be done with a program that takes a total of 15 minutes a day.
very unpleasant. In order to gain, or keep, your flexibility, is to implement a golf-specific flexibility program. This again requires a daily commitment, but the time frame is very little (say 5 minutes a day). I am sure you will agree that it is worth spending 5 minutes a day on flexibility to have the golf swing you would like.
The Magic Cure
The aging process can be as restrictive to your golf game as you will let it. If you take a little time every day and perform the proper exercises and activities, you can reduce the effects of aging and have a great swing for as long as you like. That’s the only magic cure available.
Your Flexibility
It should be no surprise that your body loses flexibility as you age. Flexibility is a must when it comes to the golf swing. Here is what happens when you do not “work” on your flexibility. A loss of flexibility in the golf swing limits the ability of the body to perform the correct actions to create the proper swing. Essentially, your body won’t allow you to take the club back and through on the correct swing path. This leads to miss hits, slices, hooks, and a other shots that are www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 58
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Eat your Veggies! Simple Cooking Methods
When your mother told you to eat you veggies, she knew best. Vegetables add color, taste, texture and bulk to your daily diet. South Carolina has dozens of different vegetables that can be prepared in literally hundreds of ways. Since there is no best way to prepare them, the thing to do is to eat your vegetables, lots of them, every day in a wide variety of ways, and prepare them in a variety of ways. Raw: Many vegetables taste fabulous just the way they are straight out of the garden. Lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, celery, onions, radish, carrots are obvious choices here. But they are just as likely to find themselves next to peas, beans and zucchini on a starter platter with dips. You can always make a salad.
Steamed: Steaming heats the vegetable and softens it’s texture. It is gentler than boiling and allows the vegetables to maintain their color, if not overdone. Use a stainless steel steamer that will fit into most good size sauce pans. Make sure you use a pan with a tight fitting lid. There should be enough water to just touch the bottom of the steamer. Water should be simmering the whole time the vegetables are being cooked. Boiling: Boiling vegetables is really going out of fashion, but it’s a legitimate preparation method. The big concern is loss of nutrients. All cooking methods result in the loss of some goodness from the vegetables. If boiling, try to find a way to use the water the vegetables have been boiled in (i.e. to make a gravy or sauce) to bring those nutrients back to the table. Vegetables should be barely covered with water. Bring the water to a boil (covered) then slow to a simmer until vegetables are tender. Microwave: Very popular for vegetables as it retains color, flavor and nutrients. Trial and error will be your guide with microwaving as there are plenty of variables involved.
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However, a few guidelines will help... The more food you put into the oven, the longer it will take to cook. Underestimate your cooking time rather than overestimate. Undercooked food can be cooked some more. Over-cooked food is ruined. Food straight from the fridge will take longer to cook than that at room temperature. Stir Fry: Very rapid method of quick frying vegetables, meat (optional) and sauces in one pan to make a meal. The key to doing this well is preparation. All items to be cooked should be chopped to a size that will allow them to cook quickly in the wok. It is also important that the wok is heated to a high, consistent temperature throughout. Vegetables maintain their color and crispness with this sort of cooking. Baking: Baking is especially good for those ‘root’ vegetables like potatoes, turnips, carrots and beetroot. Chop into similar size pieces, brush lightly with olive oil and put in a hot oven to roast. Size of
the pieces will determine the cooking time but expect at least 40 minutes. Outside is chewy, inside is moist and fluffy. Barbeque: If you are going to barbeque chicken or ribs, why not your veggies. This is primarily open flame cooking, so it could apply to a campfire as well. Cooking outside changes everything about food. You will need foil, fire and fresh veggies. Grease your foil, chop your veggies and put the closed packages on the grill. Add some butter and spices and be adventurous, it’s really hard to mess this up. www.Seniors.sc Online Magazine | 2009 61
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Final Words
I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past. Patrick Henry
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