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features

8 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

20  All Work, No Play? Why making time for curiosity, creativity and joy may be one of the healthiest things you can do 27  The Flourishing Years Forget the stereotypes. Today’s longevity experts say the years ahead can be filled with growth, adventure, connection and fun 32  Skillcations: Vacations for Your Brain Learn something new, keep your mind engaged and have a good time along the way

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Photo Credit: Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism Lake Placid

STAY SAFE ON THE

TRAIL By Eric Rogers, M.D., Urgent Care Provider

he North Country is known for its wide range of hikes, from easy walks to challenging mountains like the High Peaks. Hiking offers fresh air, beautiful views and many physical and mental health benefits. However, injuries can happen to hikers of all ages and experience levels. The good news is that many common injuries can be prevented with proper planning and the right equipment. Below are some common hiking injuries I see, along with simple steps you can take to stay safe on the trail. DIARRHEA & STOMACH ILLNESS Bring enough water and fluids with you and have a plan to replenish them on longer hikes. If you are using a natural water source, make sure you purify the water before drinking it. Having a lightweight purifying system in your pack and knowing how to use it is a good idea. Stomach illness can quickly become dangerous if it leads to dehydration.

right footwear is one of the best ways to prevent these problems. Choose sturdy hiking boots or shoes with a good tread and ankle support. Match your gear to the trail conditions. For example: • Wear microspikes on trails that are slippery from thin snow and ice. • Use crampons and ice axes on terrain with hard or thick ice. • Wear snowshoes in deep snow. Hiking poles can also be helpful in all conditions and can reduce stress on your knees, especially when hiking downhill. If you start to lose your balance, try your best to avoid twisting.

drop in body temperature) and hyperthermia (an abnormally high body temperature) are common hiking-related problems. To lower your risk: • Choose appropriate hikes for your ability level. • Wear proper gear and layers. Avoid wearing cotton clothing, as it tends to stay wet and cold. • Drink enough water throughout your hike and eat enough to replace the calories you burn, especially in the winter.

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MUSCLE & JOINT INJURIES Sprains and fractures of the ankles, wrists, knees and lower legs are among the most common hiking injuries. These injuries can be especially serious when they happen far from help. Wearing the

LACERATIONS (CUTS) For longer hikes, carry a well-stocked first aid kit with you and know how to treat basic cuts until you can seek medical care.

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HEAT & COLD INJURIES Dehydration, hypothermia (a dangerous

HERE TO HELP If you experience a non-life-threatening injury while hiking in the Southern Adirondacks, Hudson Headwaters urgent care centers in Warrensburg and Glens Falls are available seven days a week. Learn more at HHHN.org/services/ urgent-care.

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food & drink

lifestyle

40  The $50 Holiday Dinner Challenge How to pull off a traditional feast for eight without breaking the bank

59  Now Hear This! Sound therapy could be exactly what your body and mind need

health & wellness 16  What’s Trending: The Power of Protein It’s everywhere, but for healthy aging, the source matters as much as the amount 52  The New Heart Health Checklist Earlier cholesterol testing and new tools can help identify risk before warning signs appear

home & garden 49  Rooms, Reimagined Make your spaces work for the life you live now 55  A Little Mess Is Good for the Garden Leave the leaves, skip the heavy pruning and let nature do some of the work this fall

TURN TO PAGE 37 

travel 66  The Other Gulf Coast Skip the Florida crowds and discover Alabama’s beaches, wildlife, seafood and adventure

columns 14  Publisher’s Note: Joy, on Purpose Alison Michael on slowing down, staying curious and enjoying the moment 71  Laugh Lines: Confessions of a Laundromat Regular I’ve downsized my life and outsourced my laundry. What do my clothes say about me? 72  On Our Nightstand: Food, Glorious Food Japanese authors weaving tales of eating and life’s mysteries 74  The Vine: Finding Joy in the Little Things Simple ways to make room for more happiness, connection and laughter every day

DOWNSIZING

63 10 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

Discovery Day

FRIDAY, OC T. 2 3 DON’T MIS S OUR FALL OPE N H OUS E !

Cover photo: iStockphoto.com/Martinns

45  Power Up Your Plate Simple, protein-packed recipes to help support muscle health, energy and healthy aging

63  The Last Puppy Thinking about endings is a chance for a new beginning

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Sign up for our monthly newsletter Get the best of 55+ Life delivered straight to your inbox! • Curated local experiences & events • Expert advice on topics you care about • Exclusive content not found in print • Subscriber-only perks and giveaways • First access to new issues

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Dressing for Seasonal Transitions: Stylish Tips and Tricks Fall Decorating: with Items Found Outside Outdoor Living: Stay Outside Long After Summer

Contributing Writers Caitlin Manner Amy Barnes Rod Michael Joanne Cleaver Sheryl Nance-Nash Janice Costa Janet Reynolds Mary Ellen Fillo Jan Tormay Erik Hesselberg Susan Brady Konig Visit us at

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55+ Living Guide, LLC. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced in any fashion, including electronically, in part or whole, without written consent from 55+ Living Guide, LLC.

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Publisher’s Note

Joy,

on purpose

joy prescription makes a lot more sense than a drug prescription, don’t you think? We’re living longer; that’s a fact. But are we living better, with more purpose and, perhaps just as importantly, more fun? We took a deep dive into what that means in this issue, and it got me thinking about my own sense of purpose. I’m not sure travel really qualifies as a purpose, but it sure is fun. And for me, it has become an important part of living well. I was reminded of that on a recent trip to Nice, France, despite the constant high temps. There’s something about getting away from your everyday routine that wakes you up a little. Suddenly, you notice things again. You linger over lunch. You walk, without

14 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

worrying about how many steps you’re getting in. You sit with a glass of wine and watch the world go by without feeling like you should be doing something more productive. And the French, especially in the South of France, seem to have made an art of it. Nice gave me a chance to slow down, wander, eat incredibly well, take in that almost impossibly blue Mediterranean, and simply enjoy where I was. It reminded me that maybe “purpose” doesn’t always have to mean accomplishing something. Maybe part of living with purpose is making room for curiosity, connection, new experiences and things that bring us joy. Maybe that’s the best prescription of all. n

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Category What’s Trending

The

POWER of

PROTEIN It’s everywhere, but for healthy aging the source matters as much as the amount BY CAITLIN MANNER

PROTEIN AND HEALTHY AGING

Starting in our 30s or 40s, we lose as much as 8% of muscle mass per decade, the Cleveland Clinic reports, in a process called sarcopenia. While we can’t entirely prevent this natural part of the aging process from occurring, working to slow its progress can have a big impact on our long-term health. “There has been study after study showing that more muscle mass is linked to longevity and improved independence, metabolic health, cognitive health and a lower risk of falls,” Dr. Jennifer Timmons, a longevity physician and founder of Timmons Wellness, recently told Super Age magazine.

16 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

The impacts of sarcopenia can be reduced with a combination of two treatments: physical activity (particularly strength training), and increasing protein intake. “It’s a ‘use it and feed it or lose it’ scenario,” Neitzel tells her clients, acknowledging that this can be difficult as our appetites and activity levels decrease with age. HOW MUCH PROTEIN DO WE REALLY NEED?

For years, the recommended daily allowance (RDA) was just 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, but the USDA’s 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans raised the recommendation to 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. For older adults, Neitzel raises the bar even further. “The RDA is basically the bare minimum, not necessarily the amount recommended to preserve lean skeletal muscle and the amount to thrive,” she explains. Ideally, this increase in protein should be distributed evenly throughout the day, and come from a variety of animal and plant protein sources. Realistically, that can be difficult to accomplish. A review by the Department of Nutrition at Case Western Reserve University found that while men over 60 are, on average, consuming the recommended amount of daily protein, women fall below their recommended intake ranges, and their protein consumption gets worse as they age. In her practice, Neitzel often finds the solution is gradu-

iStockphoto.com/piotr_malczyk

trip down any grocery store aisle makes one thing clear: Protein is the latest nutrition buzzword. From chips and cereal to pasta, coffee, and even ice cream, food manufacturers are adding extra protein to just about everything, often marketing these products as healthier choices. For people over age 55, being conscious of protein intake is a major part of maintaining good health; protein needs generally increase with age in order to preserve muscle mass. But according to Janna Neitzel, a registered dietitian and certified dietitian nutritionist with the Stram Center for Integrative Medicine in Delmar, the source of that protein matters as much as the amount.

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ally working toward a better nutritious meal consistency, and sometimes supplementation is the way to get there.

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SUPPLEMENTATION IN FOODS

Some “high-protein” foods might be helpful in certain scenarios, but many of them are highly processed, loaded with added sugar, sodium or saturated fats, and may offer little nutritional advantage over their traditional counterparts. “I mean, every little bit does help,” Neitzel says about added protein in snack items, “but I think this is trying to make a health food out of potato chips. Let’s be real.” Before blindly eating all the protein you can find, Neitzel wants everyone to take a second to consider how far from a whole food the protein source might be. If there are listed ingredients, how many are there, and how many can you pronounce? If there are lots of chemicals, the food item is heavily processed — and likely not as good for you. This can get tricky when it comes to protein bars and shakes. Supplementation is helpful if you’re struggling with meeting your protein requirements throughout the day, especially if decreased appetite is an issue. But Neitzel warns that while protein bars or premade shakes are fine in a pinch, they’re not something you should rely on every day. Instead, if you need to supplement, the key is to find a protein powder you can add to meals or shakes.  FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 17

“

The protein craze offers a huge advantage in the sense that we have so many options to choose from, but not all proteins are created equal. Different sources have different levels of bioavailability — meaning how easily our body can break them down and use them. Whey protein, for example, has high bioavailability, but some people don’t tolerate it well, experiencing gastric upset or increased inflammation. Neitzel recommends that anyone seeking to add protein supplements should look for single-serving packet options and try a variety of them. “See if you like the texture, how it blends, if you like the flavor, and see how you digest it before buying a larger canister,” she advises.

rent protein intake before adding to it; too much protein can lead to health issues, particularly for those with preexisting kidney conditions. Furthermore, we cannot overlook the fact that the FDA leaves it up to manufacturers to evaluate the safety and labeling of dietary supplements. A protein powder is a dietary supplement, so there’s no way to know — Janna Neitzel whether it contains what manufacturers claim. In 2025, a nonprofit called the Clean Label Project released a report about toxins in protein powders. As Harvard Health summarized, researchers screened 134 products for 130 types of toxins and found that many protein powders contained heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury), bisphenol-A (BPA, which is used to make plastic), pesticides or other contaminants with links to cancer and other health conditions. Some toxins were present in “significant quantities.” Not all protein powders that were tested contained elevated levels of toxins, thankfully, so your journey might start with researching the results on the Clean Label Project’s website. n

(Adding protein to snack foods) is trying to make a health food out of potato chips. Let’s be real.”

KNOW THE RISKS

iStockphoto.com/kupicoo

It’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor or a nutritionist before making any drastic changes to your diet. They may be able to guide you in terms of which protein sources will be easier to process, and which ones you should try to avoid. It’s also recommended that you try to audit your cur-

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All Work, No

Play?

Why making time for curiosity, creativity and joy may be one of the healthiest things you can do

iStockphoto.com/DusanManic

BY JANET REYNOLDS

20 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

ery few children need to be asked twice to play. Many adults, on the other hand, see play as something they gave up when they got their high school diplomas, maybe even before. And it’s not hard to see how and why that happens. Work, kids, relationships — who has time to consider adding play into a 24-hour day that already feels 36 hours long by the time your head hits the pillow? Add to that a general puritanical belief that our worth is measured by what we produce and you’ve got an entire segment of society for whom play is only a distant memory. “We’ve internalized the cultural narrative that equates work with productivity,” says Lauren Sundstrom, chief operating officer of the National Institute for Play, a nonprofit that promotes play as a public health necessity. “Play is seen as purposeless. It sits in tension with the narrative of productivity. Children absorb the message and think play has to be earned, so as they move ahead in their lives and there are more demands, it’s easy to let go of.” The problem is that a life without play is actually unhealthy. Research aplenty indicates that play is important for our physical, mental and spiritual health, and that this need only becomes more, not less, vital as we age. Sundstrom ticks off studies that indicate how play can increase neuroplasticity, helping to create new neural pathways and reinforce those that are already there. Playing can also increase curiosity and problem-solving skills and, depending on the activity, decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation. Dr. Kerry Burnight, a gerontologist and author of Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half, a book about the importance of living with more joy as we age, echoes Sundstrom’s analysis. “Neurologically, when we do things that are unexpected or frivolous or music-related … it stimulates a different part of our brains and can cause connections and continue our neurological expansion, rather than a retraction,” she says. “We live 7.5 years longer just with the recognition that life is continued growth,” she continues, noting that this mindset can positively impact inflammation and biomarkers. The same is true with play. “The recognition that not everything is all downhill and that it’s not too late [to try new things] will keep us in the game,” she says, “and keeping in the game is what helps you live longer and live better as you do age.” No wonder the proverb “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” has been around for centuries. So what exactly is play? Well, like beauty, it is to some extent in the eye (and spirit and mind) of the beholder. Sundstrom advises not getting stuck on a specific definition. “Once you start to define it, you can mess it up,” she says, adding it’s a little like trying to define love. “Play is an FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 21

“If you were to try improv or dance by yourself in your living room — these are forms of play,” echoes Burnight. “I think a wide definition makes us realize that play includes things like lying on the grass and looking at the sky.” Given this broad definition, it would seem that incorporating more play in our lives is more of a question of commitment to fun in general rather than, say, taking up a specific sport or hobby. “Rediscovering play requires a kind of self-archaeology that most people have never been invited to do,” Sundstrom says. The good news is that it doesn’t take much to reactivate our playful side. “The play drive doesn’t disappear,” Sundstrom says. “What most people need is not more time or more permission from the outside. They need to give it to themselves. That is, in the end, the whole work.” n

Want to identify your play style? Take the free quiz at the National Institute for Play playstyles.nifplay.org

Play more:

nifplay.org catherineprice.com/fun  Watch a

conversation w/Kerry Burnight 22 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

iStockphoto.com. Cards: andreswd; Leaves: Ridofranz

experience before it’s a concept. What constitutes play for one may feel like work for another.” The Institute for Play defines play as a “biological state that arises when we are freely engaged, curious and absorbed in an activity for its own sake. It is defined not by what we are doing, but by how and why we are doing it. When we are playing, the experience itself becomes the reward — attention deepens, effort feels enlivening, and time may seem to recede.” Catherine Price, author of The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again, defines fun — play’s inevitable partner — as a confluence of playfulness, connection and flow. “We need to get over the idea that playing and fun are frivolous, or that it has to cost a lot,” she says. “We have to recognize that it’s a feeling rather than an activity.”

GETTING STARTED Not sure where or how to start? Here are some tips from the experts: • Recognize that it’s OK to play, whatever that means for you. “What gets in the way is usually not the calendar,” says Lauren Sundstrom of the National Institute for Play. “It’s the quiet persistent belief that play is something you earn, or something you grew out of, or something that belongs to other people and stages of life. The good news is that play doesn’t require a plan so much as a permission slip.” • Understand that play doesn’t have to be complicated or only encompass one idea. Catherine Price, author of The Power of Fun, advises identifying your “fun magnets,” the kind of activities you already enjoy doing and how they can lead to either similar activities tor variations on what you’re already doing. Price, for instance, loves to play music, so she’s building more of that into her life. “Having friends over for 90 minutes of play nourishes and energizes me for the rest of the day,” she says. “Think back to times you were having fun and ask yourself, ‘What was I doing? Who was I with?’” • Start by paying more attention to the moments when time disappears. Maybe it’s a chess game with a friend, an afternoon spent gardening or a walk that turned into exploration. “Those moments are not accidents,” says Sundstrom. “They are your play nature showing up. The first step is noticing them.”

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• Don’t underestimate or ignore the value of spontaneity. “Look for more opportunities for possible moments of playfulness of flow,” says Price.

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Forget the stereotypes. Today’s longevity experts say the years ahead can be filled with growth, adventure, connection and fun BY MARY ELLEN FILLO

Elderly. Aged. Senior Citizen. Translation? frail, fragile, declining. No way.

All are words still too often used for those over 55, 65, 75 and beyond, whether because of governmental administrative pigeonholing, dated cultural slang or vintage “descriptive” adjectives that linger on, suggesting

anything but a vibrant time of life. The point? It’s time for a new look at longevity and the stages of life, says gerontologist and leadership coach Barbara Waxman: one that is more reflective of an older population that

iStockphoto.com/skynesher

s h i r i n u g o l F Y e e ar h

FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 27

“

I think most of us agree that

60 today is not what it was for our parents and grandparents.”

— Kari Cardinale, Modern Elder Academy

has a new life perspective focused on flourishing rather than “failing.” Waxman, founder of Odyssey Group Coaching, an author, podcast celebrity and a faculty member at the Modern Elder Academy, has researched and written much about the new way to look at aging. Her take? “Thirdspan is what enables us to flourish,” says Waxman about living well emotionally and physically as we age. “We’re living longer, and those years are filled with potential.” “Thirdspan” is one of three aspects of longevity developed by Waxman. While her “Lifespan” category focuses on lifestyle choices and medical care to add years to our lives, and “Healthspan” focuses on remaining active and independent, it is Thirdspan — that time when you’re over 50 years old — that Waxman dubs “The Flourishing Factor.” “Thirdspan is about the quality of relationships, mindset, joy and purpose,” says Waxman. “It’s the power of ‘yes.’” Waxman explains that too often — especially in past generations, as people age into the third trimester of life — their goals, adventure, socialization and everyday joy begin to wane, opportunity seems to disappear and life becomes stagnant. As one becomes

28 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

older, however, Waxman contends, a whole new joie de vivre should begin. “The moment we stop being able to grow is the moment we stop living,” says Waxman, who sees an older generation with a plethora of new opportunities. “Ask yourself, what enables you to thrive?” The premise is that age does not change who we are, but rather how we live our lives. The opportunity, according to Waxman and other experts in the field, is to remind yourself who you were in your youth and young adulthood, who and what made you happy and what you haven’t done that you would like to in life. And then just do it. “We have 10,000 people a day turning 65, and a growing population that does not see that stage of life as getting ready for the end but rather a chapter to be lived as fully as possible,” explains Kari Cardinale, chief content officer and partner at the Modern Elder Academy. The academy focuses on life transitions, midlife reinvention and living a significant life as we age. “I think most of us agree right now that 60 today is not what it was for our parents and grandparents,” says Cardinale. “This generation of baby boomers is wired differently, wearing Fitbits,

working longer, not slowing down, and the Gen Xers are close behind, “ she says. “A lot of people have been trained to not take risks as they get older, but that is a narrative that is one against an emerging society,” she says. “These days, older generations are recognizing that that is not their voice.” While Waxman recognizes that getting older often comes with limitations, it does not mean just “giving up.” “You can still have a sense of purpose,” she emphasizes. “You can still have relationships. You can still see the positive and find joy and purpose.” Her recommendation is a three-step Thirdspan Challenge for flourishing: Track joy for 30 days: Start a journal for 30 days and notice the moments of joy each day, the things that make you happy. Each day, notice and savor one small source of joy — a morning cup of coffee, sunlight through the window or a familiar ritual you might otherwise take for granted. Reset your relationships: Reach out to one or two people you’ve been meaning to reconnect with, while also identifying a relationship that depletes you and considering whether you can create a healthier boundary. Know your reasons why: Write

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down three reasons you want to live to 100 or beyond, whether that means seeing your grandchildren grow up, pursuing dreams or simply being here

for the people you love. “Doing these things doesn’t cost anything but reaps a lot of benefits,” Waxman says. “It doesn’t mean being a Pol-

lyanna but puts things in the context of living. What is it you care about and what is your purpose? That’s why life matters.” n

iStockphoto.com/gradyreese

My Very Own 30-Day Thirdspan Challenge

30 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

The assignment to try Barbara Waxman’s Thirdspan Challenge exercises came at an unexpected time of my life. As I began the assignment, my 97-year-old mother passed away, and while she had a great life and it was her time, the thought of finding joy for a month or analyzing my 76-year-old life didn’t resonate. But it was the joy of every day that seemed the easiest, once I adjusted my mindset. I was on the annual family vacation with children and grandchildren. I bought a special notebook and on that first morning, I sat on a Cape Cod deck, pen in hand, and looked for my joy. It was the little things. This trip with my family. Coffee on a beautiful beachside summer morning. And the peace I found knowing that I could, actually, find joy. As the 30 days continued, I found myself becoming more and more introspective about the things that brought me joy. And they were diverse: a funny story shared by one of my grandchildren, my daughter and daughters-in-law insisting on cooking dinner, a granddaughter coming to sit with me, and the simple pleasure of knowing they cared enough to want to take care of me and spend time with me. There were the perfunctory joys, too. I found a dress I really liked, a good parking space and reservations at my favorite restaurant without any hassle, and a rainy day that allowed me to lie on the couch and read a book. Waxman also suggested reaching out to two people I wanted to reconnect with. I did that, first to a long-lost relative who heard about my mom’s passing. When we spoke, we told each other how much we cared about each other and how much we missed each other. The second was to a dear friend. We had parted ways decades ago, but I found pictures of her from our teenage years and sent them with a note telling her how much I missed her friendship and thanking her for good memories. It felt good. Waxman’s third exercise is to write down three reasons I want to flourish. That was easy for me: I want to live a life I enjoy. I want to do everything I can — simple or complicated — for as long as my age and ability allow. I want to see my engaged granddaughter get married; I want to ride a Jet Ski and take the African safari I have dreamed about for years. Waxman’s Thirdspan Challenge reminded me that we can make the most of life. Age is immaterial. — Mary Ellen Fillo

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was never so grateful for the Industrial Revolution. Standing in the humid shade of an August afternoon, alongside two dozen others intent on trying their hands (and their elbows and shoulders) at processing flax plants into linen fabric, I frowned at the “breaker” — a wooden board lethally studded with up-pointed nails. We were going to whip hanks of dried flax — a fibrous, grasslike plant — against the nails and yank them through. Already softened by a long soak in chemicals, the hard outer armor would shatter during the process, freeing the silky, long internal fibers to be brutally combed into threads. The harder we yanked, the longer and finer the strands. Only with the husks beaten away could the flax fibers be processed into thread, then that thread woven into cloth, and then that cloth stitched into clothes, tapes for belts and rough towels for household use. Suddenly, the $24 a yard I’d been spending on machine-made linen fabric seemed like the bargain of the century. Nothing sharpens appreciation for the modern supply chain like a session

32 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

flailing and failing at Colonial production methods. But as workshop colleagues and I devoted our cardio capacity to produce a handful of usable fiber, we also learned about the surprisingly egalitarian culture of linen production; about Colonial experiments with chemistry; and about how fabric manufacture wove throughout the other rhythms of agricultural economy. Creativity is catalyzed by corresponding physical activity. Researchers have found that getting your muscles moving unlocks new neurological pathways. It’s no coincidence that perpetually creative people credit, in part, their time in rhythmic movement: For instance, author Stephen King famously walks daily to get his creative juices flowing. The Northeast is rich with opportunities to pick up tongs, needles, hammers, spoons, knives and all manner of tools to have a go at archaic skills. Folk schools, living history museums, and even unexpected locales like cruises offer the space, tools and expert guidance. Visitors bring energy, enthusiasm and enough interest in learning a new skill to carry them up the learning curve.

Prerequisites are minimal, which is good since most Americans aren’t likely to have a working understanding, much less hands-on familiarity, with traditional skills like tinsmithing, blacksmithing, paper quilling or fabric dying, among the dozens of better- and little-known skills featured at workshops. But precisely because such skills are rarely encountered, many sessions include both those who are completely new and those back for a second or subsequent go-round. “Our main audience is people who want to go a little deeper,” says Claire Carlson, director of museum education for Historic Deerfield, a living history museum situated in the nearly perfectly preserved historic district of Deerfield, Massachusetts. The museum is composed of Colonial and later-era houses still occupying their original sites; houses moved to the district; and modern exhibit and workshop spaces, all interwoven along Old Main Street with privately owned residences and Deerfield Academy, a private school. While the primary takeaway from my upper-body workout was to exercise my “add to cart” reflex, better-rounded participants often use workshops to sharpen relevant con-

Glassblowing courtesy Nick Edwards/Hello Burlington; letterpress by Charles Tabor; cheesemaking courtesy Shelburne Farms/Madden Media.

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE: Learn glassblowing at AO Glass in Burlington, Vermont’s South End Arts District; make your own stationery set at a letterpress printing workshop at Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury, New Hampshire; go behind the scenes at Vermont’s Shelburne Farms to see how their famous cheese is made.

FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 33

temporary skills. The flax-to-linen workshop was just one of dozens of Colonial skill experiences that the museum hosts year-round, rotating topics with the seasons. “We only do open-hearth cooking classes in winter, when the historic houses are closed,” explains Carlson. Open-hearth cooking is good to know, should one live in a power-outage-susceptible house with a woodburning fireplace, or have ambitions to culinary camping. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can return over and over again to tackle more complicated variations of the skill; learn to use more sophisticated tools; and even expand on the skill, such as designing a project. I went home with a fistful of tortured flax that I showed my perplexed husband; planted it on my desk for sewing inspiration; and, ultimately, after a breezy day, swept my flax from the floor and threw it away. Unlike my doomed flax, many workshops are designed around a useful take-home, such as the two-day whisk broom workshop that’s perennially popular at Historic Deerfield. Perhaps more universally appealing is the expanding roster of “cook with the chef ” workshops launched by John Brennan, owner of Elm City Social and Olives and Oil, an eastern Connecticut chain of restaurants. “We teach them the tricks of the trade,” he says, such as how to cold-rise yeast dough to develop gluten, which maximizes stretch. Workshops are also offered in pasta- and cannoli-making. BLEND THE WHERE AND THE HOW

Courtesy AFS

Occasionally, hotels will craft room-and-class packages with nearby studios, so it’s worth asking artisans if they partner with nearby resorts or hotels on creative packages. For instance, the Hotel Vermont in Burlington, makes it easy to arrange a weekend centered around glassblowing at

LEARN WOODCARVING BASICS at the Adirondack Folk School.

34 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

the nearby AO Glass studio. And the Westin Portland Harborview, in downtown Portland, Maine, offers guests time with its artist-in-residency at painting workshops. Owned by Historic Deerfield, the Deerfield Inn is in the middle of the Main Street historic district, just a short walk from the building that hosts many workshops. Comfortable rooms and a spacious on-site restaurant offer recovery from creative challenges. TRACK DOWN YOUR NEXT LEARNING ADVENTURE Canterbury Shaker Village, in bucolic rural New Hampshire, offers workshops on letterpress printing and a variety of domestic and 19th-century industrial skills related to the Shaker economy. Plan well in advance, as some smallgroup workshops fill quickly. The complex does not offer on-site dining. King Arthur Baking School in Norwich, Vermont, lets you sink elbow-deep into yeast dough. Or, try your hand at making complicated pastries, holiday cookies or even the holy grail of 21st-century domesticity — sourdough. Find accommodation in the adjacent metro of Hanover, New Hampshire, home of Dartmouth College. Make the woodworking beginner’s classic spoon at the Adirondack Folk School in Lake Luzerne, New York, then come back again and again to advance your skills. The school’s extensive range of workshops includes ceramics, fiber arts, cooking and outdooring. Historic Eastfield has planted itself firmly in the Revolution, mining a bottomless source of skills that deserve to be perpetuated. From tinsmithing to “historic house first aid” (i.e., how to repair an old house with techniques authentic to its provenance), the school offers immersive experiences at its site in East Nassau, New York. n

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The Long and Winding Road BY DAVID A. KUBIKIAN, ESQ., HERZOG LAW FIRM baseball diamond is perfect. Home plate is located 90 feet away from first base, which is 90 feet from second base and so on. The pitcher’s mound is 60'6" away from the batter. Successfully running out a ground ball hit to the shortstop is always a matter of milliseconds, and hitting a ball thrown by a pitcher so near is a feat reserved for only the best of the best with success rates that have held still through the generations. The dimensions are perfect. Five years is also perfect. Unfortunately, I don’t necessarily mean perfect in a good way. Five years is the perfect length of time to make long-term care planning imperative. Five years is both a long and short period of time. Five years can be lightning fast. In five short years my daughter will be college bound, and five short years ago she was my 8-yearold baby cakes. Five years can feel unbelievably slow as well. Consider how long it may take to recover from a major injury, or to wait to see a loved one who moved away. Relationships, finances, business — the world can all change in five years. Still have your masks from five years ago? When it comes to long-term care planning, getting ahead of a possible future loss of capacity or mobility is important — particularly considering Medicaid’s five-year look-back period. If you’re someone who wants to avoid spending all their money on long-term care needs that may emerge later in life, long-term care planning is imperative.

Long-term care plans can come in different shapes and sizes. While “Medicaid Trusts” are not the only way to plan, they are hands-down the most used method of preserving assets. Trusts are also the area of elder law clouded with the most misinformation. Medicaid Trusts accomplish four primary goals: 1. Leave money to the right people, i.e. the estate plan; 2. Avoid probate (the proving of the Will in court); 3. Protect assets in case of long-term care needs; and 4. Retain big-picture control of your assets. The devil is in the details, of course — and it is recommended that anyone considering this type of trust consult first with an attorney about specific facts and circumstances. In New York, it is possible to plan while retaining power to change your mind. That retained power is a big one. How else could someone in their 60s plan for possible long-term care needs in their 80s? Want to change your beneficiaries? You can. Want to fire your Trustee? Have at it. Want to sell your home? It shall be sold. The Medicaid Trust is perhaps the most important tool — the Swiss Army knife, if you will — in estate planning. It can keep the status quo while planning for the opposite. It has to be that way. Five years is a diabolic period of time for my clients as they age. So much of what happens over that period is health dependent, and a lot can change quickly. Looking into the Medicaid Trust is the preferred way to plan ahead — rather than crossing your fingers that good times and youth will continue to spring eternal. The difference between “74 years young” and “79 years old” is sometimes much longer than five years.

David A. Kubikian is a Partner at Herzog Law Firm PC with locations in Saratoga Springs, Albany, Queensbury and Kingston. Go to www.Herzoglaw.com or call 518.465.7581 to request a free 1 hour consultation.

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The $50 Holiday Dinner Challenge

How to pull off a traditional feast for eight without breaking the bank

n this economic climate, hosting a holiday dinner doesn’t have to be out of reach. It’s not too early to start planning for fall and winter holiday meals. Whether you’re hosting or bringing sides, rising grocery costs may mean changes to holiday meals. We’ve assembled some budgeting and shopping tips to help you tighten your belt, while loosening your real one to share a wonderful holiday meal. Amy Barnes has 25 years of writing experience with a focus on food writing and recipe development.

40 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

General holiday meal budgeting tips ❍ Sign up for store-specific rewards based on purchases. ❍ Sign up for store emails so you get a heads-up about upcoming sales. ❍ Stock up on frozen, canned and other shelf-stable products as part of your monthly grocery shopping. Buying extra items with each grocery visit before the holidays can help lessen the cost of buying it all during the holiday months and also allow you to use BOGO and coupons. These purchases could include frozen,

iStockphoto.com/VeselovaElena

BY AMY BARNES

Food & Drink

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

❍

canned or steamable vegetables, spices, condensed milk or pumpkin puree. By the holidays, you may only need to purchase the meat and fresh items. Sign up for social media couponing and budgeting accounts to watch for holiday sales. Mix and match store sales for the best prices. Utilize food waste sites like Too Good To Go for menu options like sides and bakery items. Take advantage of site lists and pick-up options, especially when doing your final shop; you might buy less if you are searching only for specific items. Make a game out of saving money on the meal. Include your kids or grandkids by giving them a part of the meal to research for best prices. Go to the store together and encourage them to participate in the budgeting, meal planning and preparation. Do a backward Thanksgiving, where you start (and end) with the “leftover” sandwiches. Buy some great bakery bread and thick deli turkey. Add cranberry jelly, a thin layer of mashed potatoes and other holiday sides. Have a fun dessert table with seasonal pies, cupcakes or cookies.

Meat Budgeting Tips Turkey or ham can be the most expensive element of a holiday meal. Last year, Walmart, Aldi and grocery stores reduced their per-pound price of turkey significantly for the holidays. Aldi was serving up turkeys for only 77 cents a pound. ❍ Check with food banks and pantries for free turkey giveaways. ❍ Check prices at local farmers markets and regional farms. ❍ Wait until closer to the holiday to buy a whole turkey at a discounted price. Supermarkets often use turkeys as a loss leader to get you into the store. ❍ Instead of a whole turkey or ham, buy a turkey breast. They often come precooked, reducing defrosting and oven time. ❍ Consider using a rotisserie chicken. They have the look and taste of a traditional bird, but at around $5 each, you’ll be saving money and time. ❍ If your guests want dark meat, purchase a pack of drumsticks and make a fun “turkey.” It could become a family tradition to have a turkey with eight legs. ❍ Have a potluck holiday meal. Offer to purchase the main meat course as host, and ask everyone else to FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 41

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sign up to bring a side, dessert, drink, etc. ❍ Try making ground turkey burgers or turkey meatballs with stuffing as a binding agent. ❍ Create a holiday charcuterie board that includes deli meats, mini-rolls, cheese, cranberry sauce, mashed potato and veggie cups, and mini pumpkin pies made in tart shells. Guests can graze on the smaller bites. ❍ Make a complete departure from the traditional turkey, sides and pie menu. Choose a family favorite meal, grilled items like hamburgers and hot dogs, breakfast-for-dinner selections, or a cultural choice that still includes turkey. Buying more off-season/off-holiday choices can mean better pricing. Adding in more expected holiday meal elements can be as simple as making turkey tacos or a turkey lasagna.

Side and Dessert Budgeting ❍ Buy whole prepared pies. Warehouse clubs and grocery stores often have special pricing on holiday pies, putting an entire pie at less than $10, which may be cheaper than the individual ingredients. Stores might also make or purchase too many desserts and mark them down right before the holiday. ❍ Consider store-brand veggies and sides. The pricing can vary, but it’s usually a fraction of the name-brand options. ❍ Buy prepared sides. Add your own special touches to make them more homemade — like bacon in macaroni and cheese or shredded cheese in mashed potatoes. ❍ Compare canned vs. frozen vegetable prices. n

Sample Menu for 8 Prices are based on averages (full price and sales) collected from several retailers, including Aldi, Hannaford, Walmart, Costco and Amazon. Prices can vary by store, location, date and availability. But here’s a great holiday dinner for eight that comes in just under $50. So yes, depending on how and where you shop, it’s tight but definitely doable. (The following menu assumes you have pantry staples, like spices and seasonings, flour, oil, milk and coffee on hand.)

Main Co

5 Turkey

Sides

urse

— 1 bone-in

turkey brea

st, about 5-6

lb. — $14.4 4 5 Mashe dp 5 Stuffin otatoes — 1 package p repared or g — 1 box, a a 5-lb. bag bou 5 Green — $4.50 beans — 2 c t 6 oz. — $1.12 a ns 5 Cream of mushroo , or 2 bags frozen — $ m soup — 1 1. 5 Corn — can, 10.5 oz 75 2 . — $0.70 5 Sweet cans or 2 bags frozen —$ pota 5 Mini m toes — 3 lb. — $3.47 1.75 ars 5 Cranb hmallows — 1 bag, 10 erry sauce oz. — $1.53 —1c 5 Dinner rolls — 1 pa an, 14 oz. — $1.66 ckage, 12 ro 5 Butter lls — $2.68 —1 5 Chicke stick — $1 ns 5 Fried o tock — 1 carton, 32 oz .— nions — 1 ca nister, 6 oz $1.50 . — $2.94 De iStockphoto.com/hudiemm

ssert

5 Pumpk in pie — evaporated 2 crusts ($2), 2 cans p milk ($1.1 umpkin p 5 Whipp ed topping 0), cinnamon ($1.30) — uree ($3.98), — 1 tub gen eric/store-b $8.38 rand — $1.5 0 Grand

total: $4 7.92

FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 43

Preparation Age: Four Essential Conversations Before You Need Them

Helping older adults and their families plan ahead with confidence LEARN PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR NAVIGATING THE CHALLENGES OF AGING PROACTIVELY. • Expert Guidance

• Engaging Discussions

• Actionable Tools

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Conversations That Matter: Talking About Wishes Before a Crisis Occurs

Aging in Place Safely: Staying Safe, Comfortable and Connected

The most important conversations about aging are often the hardest to begin. Learn practical ways to move past “I don’t want to talk about it,” and confidently discuss healthcare, end-of-life wishes and directives, and financial planning. Leave with clear, actionable steps to move from crisis-driven decisions to proactive, compassionate family planning.

Living independently in your own home requires thoughtful planning before mobility or safety challenges arise. Discover practical ways to age safely, including how to assess room-by-room hazards, implement fall prevention strategies, and make simple, effective home modifications. Explore vital community connections to combat isolation.

Preparing the Roadmap: Essential Documents and Getting Organized

Navigating Aging and Caregiving: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

When an unexpected medical or life event occurs, having immediate access to critical information makes all the difference. In this session, demystify docs like Healthcare Proxies, Powers of Attorney, MOLST orders, wills — and even how to safely share passwords. Learn how to build and organize a “Master Binder” so your family has a clear roadmap when it matters most.

This panel explores the early warning signs of stress and burnout for individuals and caregivers, offering tangible strategies to protect your physical and emotional well-being. Learn how to combine informal networks with formal community support, discover how professional geriatric care management bridges critical gaps, and draft a sustainable, personalized caregiving support plan for you and your family.

Mon., Oct. 19, 2026 - 7-8 p.m.

Mon., Oct. 26, 2026 - 7-8 p.m.

Virtual Series Register Here:

518-516-1102 or info@jfsneny.org or Scan QR Code

Mon., Nov. 2, 2026 - 7-8 p.m.

Mon., Nov. 9, 2026 - 7-8 p.m.

iStockphoto.com/fcafotodigital

Food & Drink

POWER UP YOUR

PLATE Simple, protein-packed recipes to help support muscle health, energy and healthy aging

rotein has become one of the most talked-about nutrients in healthy eating (see our story on page 16), yet many people — especially women and older adults — still may not be getting enough to support healthy aging. As we get older, our bodies become less efficient at using protein, making getting enough increasingly important for maintaining muscle strength and mobility. In the New York Times bestseller The High-Protein Plate, registered dietitian and certified personal trainer Rachael DeVaux (aka the creator of Rachael’s Good Eats, rachaelsgoodeats.com) makes it easier to enjoy protein-rich meals

without restricting your diet, complicating your menu or sacrificing flavor. The cookbook features 100 satisfying recipes, most with 30 grams or more of protein per serving, along with practical meal plans and simple strategies for building balanced plates that support energy, muscle health and lasting fullness using everyday ingredients. DeVaux’s goal is simple: to help everyone make protein a natural part of every meal so eating well becomes effortless rather than overwhelming. The following recipes may help you discover some delicious high-protein options this fall.  FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 45

iStockphoto.com/Nungning20

PE R S E RV I N G PROTEIN: 30G CARBOHYDRATES: 34G FAT: 16G

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH COCONUT-LIME CREMA SE RV ES 4 • P REP TIM E: 15 M INU TES • COOK T IME : 4 5 MIN UT ES • T OTAL T IME: 1 H O U R

This recipe is sure to impress — and not just on flavor. It’s surprisingly high in protein, super filling and hits all the right notes with warm roasted veggies and cozy spices. The citrusy kick from the coconut-lime crema is the cherry on top. This is my subtle urge for you to try this one! IN G R E DIE N T S FOR THE SOUP

• 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and seeded • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced (or 1 cup diced carrots, fennel or sweet potato) • 1 small white onion, diced • 3 to 4 garlic cloves, unpeeled • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

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• Leaves from 4 sprigs fresh thyme • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds, for garnish • 4 cups bone broth, plus more if needed • 1 (15-ounce) can white beans, drained and rinsed • ½ cup cottage cheese (optional) • ½ cup collagen peptides • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric

FOR THE COCONUT-LIME CREMA

• ½ cup (5.4-ounce can) fullfat coconut cream • 1 tablespoon grated lime zest • 1 tablespoon lime juice • ¼ teaspoon sea salt • ¼ cup toasted pumpkin seeds, for garnish • ½ cup crumbled feta, for serving (optional)

INS TRU CTI O NS

2 Combine the butternut squash, bell pepper, onion, garlic, oil, 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper on the baking sheet and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle the thyme leaves over the vegetables. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until the squash is very tender. Let cool for 5 minutes. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins (discard the skins) and add the garlic flesh to the vegetables.

A S G Y U ZIN DA T SI Y SI N E R VI OW V D SCO I D

1 Make the soup: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3 In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the pumpkin seeds for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant. Set aside. 4 For an immersion blender: In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the roasted vegetables, broth, beans, cottage cheese (if using), collagen peptides, sage, turmeric, 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. (Or combine the ingredients in a stand blender, working in batches if needed, and blend until smooth.) Adjust with additional broth, if desired. Bring the soup to a simmer over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully heated through. 5 Make the coconut-lime crema: In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut cream, lime zest, lime juice and salt until well combined. 6 To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and top with a drizzle of coconut-lime crema, pumpkin seeds and feta, if using.

Experience comfort and convenience at Ávila Retirement Community. Enjoy all-inclusive amenities including gourmet dining, an indoor aquatic & fitness center, transportation, housekeeping, and a packed calendar of social and wellness programs — all designed for your peace of mind and enjoyment.

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STORAGE: Store in an airtight container in the

fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave until warmed through. Store crema separately and add just before serving.

 GET THE RECI PE for Harvest Cobb Salad with Maple-Dijon Dressing online at 55pluslife.com

100 White Pine Drive Albany, New York 12208 (518) 452-4250 avilaretirementcommunity.com FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 47

iStockphoto.com/bhofack2

P E R SE RV I N G PROTEIN: 38G CARBOHYDRATES: 47G FAT: 19G

PUMPKIN PIE SMOOTHIE SERVES 1 • T OTAL T IME: 5 MIN UT ES

Here are all the cozy fall flavors you love, but without the sugar crash. It’s like pumpkin pie in a glass, only way more functional. Pumpkin, almond butter and warm spices come together for a creamy, spiced smoothie you’ll want on repeat, no matter the season. I NGRED I ENT S

IN S T RU C T IO N S

• 1¼ cups almond milk (or preferred milk) • 1½ servings vanilla protein powder • ¼ cup canned pumpkin puree • 1½ tablespoons almond butter • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice • ½ frozen banana • 1 pitted medjool date, frozen • 1 cup ice • Granola, for topping (optional)

1 In a blender, combine the almond milk, protein powder, pumpkin, almond butter, flaxseed, pumpkin pie spice, banana, date and ice. Blend for 1 minute or until smooth. Serve immediately, topped with granola, if using.

G E T T H E BO O K  The High-Protein Plate by Rachael DeVaux, photography by Eva Kolenko (Simon & Schuster/Simon Element, 2026, 288 pages, $35)

48 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

iStockphoto.com/Disobey Art

Home & Garden

rooms,

Reimagined Make your spaces work for the life you live now BY JANICE COSTA

ust as our interests, needs and priorities change over the years, so too should our homes. Yet we often update our lives while allowing our homes to remain in the past. Not only can this cost us functional space and lead to clutter, it can also inhibit personal growth by keeping us living in a home that doesn’t suit

us as well as it could. Schenectady-based interior designer and general contractor Marianne A. Clifford of Marianne Ashley Interior Designs asserts, “If your home isn’t functional and making your life easier and more enjoyable, that’s a problem.” Suo Lien, interior designer and feng shui consultant at The Design Impact,

agrees: “Your space represents your life; it’s a reflection of who you are right now. You don’t want it to be a museum of the past, or a reflection of earlier chapters of your life. We’re always moving and growing, and it’s important to think about how you want your home to support you in that.” A feng shui practitioner who focuses FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 49

Courtesy Marianne Ashely Designs

 A REDESIGNED BATHROOM by Marianne A. Clifford of Marianne Ashley Interior Designs is intended for aging in place, featuring modern fixtures, a larger walk-in shower and strategically placed grab bars.

on tapping into the natural energy in a space, Lien maintains that “good design and good feng shui should support an environment that supports who you are becoming.” While those in their 20s and 30s often struggle with too little space, people in their 50s and beyond often battle inefficient use of space. For instance, many homes have spacious family rooms, home offices or dens on the first floor, yet no bedroom. And, as Clifford sees it, “Not having a first-floor master suite is a major problem.” Whether caring for aging parents, dealing with an unexpected knee replacement or just struggling with stairs, a bedroom on the first floor is essential. Liz Halvorsen, professional organizer and owner/founder of the Glenmont-based Mess to Bliss, says many of her clients still have “the older four-bedroom colonials with four bedrooms upstairs.” In these cases, she encourages them to look at whether a

50 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

den or family room might work as a first-floor bedroom. Likewise, a first-floor bathroom is key, but accessibility features often require more space. Clifford says, “When I’m designing bathrooms for people in their 50s and above, still healthy and not retired, I find they’re thinking about the future.” To make space for walk-in or curbless showers, or wider walkways that might be needed later, she recommends borrowing space from lesser-used neighboring rooms, such as an office or closet.

Wasted Spaces Just as people outgrow dated clothing or bad habits, it’s not uncommon to outgrow rooms that once served an important purpose. Children’s bedrooms or playrooms are high on the list of rooms that may end up as desert wastelands once the kids move out. Home offices may lose their appeal if people retire or return to an outside of-

fice. Basements can end up abandoned when steps become challenging, and upstairs rooms may also lose their daily-use appeal as people age. Likewise, guest rooms may become less useful if guests visit infrequently, and those who have a formal living room, dining room and den may find one of those rooms gets no use, particularly if they no longer cook big meals or entertain less frequently.

Reimagining Little-used Rooms So what do you do with these wasted spaces? The first step is to look at what spaces are being used inefficiently and consider how they might be reimagined. “I’ve had a couple people take over a whole room for a closet — including myself,” Clifford says. “A lot of houses don’t give you the storage you want and need, so sometimes you have to get creative.” Lien says, “I see a lot of people who

have guest rooms that get used five times a year, so I ask, can you turn that into a meditation or reading room?” She adds that for retired couples who aren’t used to being together 24/7, both people are often happier if they have a private space to retreat to. Reassigning little-used rooms can be a great way to give everyone some personal space. Little-used rooms can also support new hobbies. Halvorsen sees a lot of clients who want a craft room, “a place for scrapbooking, quilting, etc.” She also cites a yoga instructor client who transformed a spare bedroom into a meditation and yoga space. She says, “Today, you can use AI tools to help visualize the space,” adding that “anyone can upload a picture of the room and then ask Claude, ‘Turn

this into a yoga space.’ It gives them an idea of what it could look like, which motivates them to do the work.”

Combination Spaces Many larger rooms may serve a functional purpose, yet still be space-inefficient. For these, a multipurpose makeover might make more sense, whether creating a combination laundry room and mudroom or incorporating toy storage for grandkids into a den or family room. Halvorsen says that adding books, wall sconces and a comfy sitting area to a home office can allow that room to function as a library and lounge area, while still keeping the desk for office tasks. And, for those who want a room for grandkid sleepovers, futons

or Murphy beds can keep the room multifunctional.

Renting Your Extra Space Unused space that serves no real purpose can also act as an extra source of income. With homeowners who no longer drive, a garage can be rented to someone who needs workshop space, parking or storage for a custom car. There are also unique platforms like JoeyCo that match older adults who have spare bedrooms with university students who need affordable housing. The student pays a reduced rent in exchange for a set number of hours of daily help. For some older adults, this can be a practical answer to what to do with an empty room while also getting help with chores. n

iStockphoto.com/Douglas Rissing

 A MURPHY BED turns an underused guest room into a flexible space, tucking away when it’s not needed and freeing up the room for an office, exercise area or hobby space.

FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 51

New

The Heart Health Checklist

BY JAN TORMAY

eart disease can develop quietly for years, without chest pain, shortness of breath or other obvious warning signs. That’s why knowing your risk — and taking steps to reduce it — before a heart attack or stroke occurs is so important. New guidelines released this year call for earlier cholesterol screening and more personalized approaches to identifying and treating cardiovascular risk. Heart disease can lead to heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, disability and premature death. The goal of the updated recommendations is to identify risk earlier and treat it before serious damage occurs. “By aggressively addressing risk factors earlier and managing lipid levels, we can prevent heart attacks, sudden deaths and bypass surgeries,” says Lance E. Sullenberger, a cardiologist with Capital Cardiology Associates, which has offices throughout the Capital Region. The 2026 guidelines from the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and nine other lead-

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ing medical organizations place emphasis on cholesterol and other factors that contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries. “High cholesterol can begin to impact heart disease risk even in childhood and adolescence due to inherited conditions or lifestyle habits,” the guidelines state. They recommend cholesterol screening for children ages 9 to 11 who have not previously been screened. Childhood screening may seem early, but Sullenberger says there is good reason to take cholesterol seriously at any age. “Just like we don’t ignore high blood pressure or diabetes in younger patients, there’s no reason to ignore high cholesterol levels,” he says. Cholesterol, he explains, is the essential driver of plaque formation and atherosclerosis. THE EARLIER, THE BETTER

Sullenberger says many cardiologists were already moving toward more aggressive cholesterol treatment before the new guidelines were released, based on clinical trial evidence and evolving recommendations in Canada and Europe. The approach is straightforward: diet, exercise and, when appropriate, medication all work together to lower risk. Reducing saturated fat can lower LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol by about 12% on average, Sullenberger says. Saturated fats are found in foods including red meat, butter, ice cream and other animal products.

iStockphoto.com/Rasi Bhadramani

Earlier cholesterol testing and new tools can help identify risk before warning signs appear

Health & Wellness

“Looking at labels and getting an idea about what you’re putting in your body is always important,” he says. Exercise can lower LDL by another 8% to 10%, while commonly prescribed statins such as rosuvastatin and atorvastatin can lower LDL by roughly 25% to 40%, depending on the medication and dose. For people who need medication, statins remain the foundation of cholesterol treatment. “Statins form the mainstay of lipid-lowering therapy in the United States and will continue to do so,” Sullenberger says. “We have over 40 years of experience with statins,” along with extensive clinical-trial evidence supporting their effectiveness. But statins aren’t right for everyone, and sometimes one medication isn’t enough. “Even if you’re getting a 40% reduction of your LDL cholesterol, you may still be above the target goal,” he says. In those cases, doctors can add another cholesterol-lowering medication. The strategy is similar to treating high blood pressure, Sullenberger says, where two or three medications may sometimes be needed to reach a patient’s goal. IMPORTANT TESTS

Knowing your cholesterol numbers is only part of the pic-

ture. Newer testing and imaging tools can help doctors get a better sense of an individual’s cardiovascular risk. One of them is a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan, a non-contrast CT scan that detects calcium-containing plaque in the arteries supplying the heart. Sullenberger has been using calcium scoring since his days at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the early 2000s. The test produces a calcium score that indicates whether calcified plaque is present and, if so, how much. Unlike a traditional risk assessment, which considers factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and age, a calcium score provides a look at what is actually happening in the coronary arteries. But a zero score doesn’t necessarily mean there is no plaque. “A younger person may have non-calcified plaque because it takes time to calcify,” he says. “So they could have a calcium score that’s zero, but they still have plaque present.” As people get older, however, a zero score can be more reassuring. For men over about 55 to 60 and women over about 60 to 65, he says, a zero calcium score generally indicates a lower likelihood of calcified plaque. The opposite is also important: If calcified plaque is present, even in small amounts, “it is abnormal,” he says. That can be a reason to take a closer look at cholesterol levels FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 53

“

By aggressively addressing risk factors earlier and managing lipid levels, we can prevent heart attacks, sudden deaths and bypass surgeries.” — Lance E. Sullenberger, Capital Cardiology Associates

and consider more aggressive treatment to keep plaque from progressing. Sullenberger recommends that adults begin monitoring cholesterol early rather than waiting until middle age. The 2026 guidelines recommend lipid screening in adults starting at age 19 and continuing every five years. There’s also another number worth knowing: lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a). Lp(a) is a genetically determined type of LDL particle that can increase the risk of plaque formation. About 20% of the population has elevated levels, according to the American

Roads were made for journeys.

54 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

Heart Association. Unlike cholesterol levels, which can change with diet, exercise and medications, Lp(a) remains relatively stable throughout life. The American Heart Association recommends that adults have their Lp(a) measured at least once. For older adults, Sullenberger says a coronary calcium scan may provide another useful piece of the puzzle. “I think certainly anybody over the age of 55, if they have not had a calcium score, should get a calcium score — or at least start with a calcium score as a way to measure their individual risk,” he says. n

Home & Garden

A Little

Mess Is Good for

the Garden Leave the leaves, skip the heavy pruning and let nature do some of the work this fall BY ERIK HESSELBERG

iStockphoto.com/winyuu

hen it comes to our gardens, many of us want to get in there and do something — to weed, to prune, to mulch. The impulse is especially strong in the fall, when bright summer blooms give way to unsightly brown stalks and dropped leaves clutter up our once-tidy flower beds. But for optimal plant health, you may want to put away the rake and clippers until spring. Some call it “lazy gardening.” Others prefer “wild” or “minimalist” gardening. Whatever you call it, the “leave the leaves” approach is a growing trend among the horticulturFALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 55

56 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

Susans, poking their heads above a light snow, and the dried centers of late-season asters offer a satisfying meal for songbirds, while the fluffy seed clusters of goldenrods are adored by juncos, sparrows and finches. “The big seed heads of purple coneflower are another good food source for winter birds,” Beckmann says. “It’s also a pretty sight, seeing birds perched on your flowers on a cold winter day. It just enlivens the landscape.” “Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone,” writes Christina Rossetti in her celebrated poem “In the Bleak Midwinter.” To be sure, the colder months can be a depressing time for gardeners. But your fall flowerbeds need not be a barren wasteland after the leaves fall. Increasingly, horticulturalists are arranging their garden spaces with fall and winter in mind, selecting some plants with bright berries, colorful bark and persistent seed heads that survive the cold. This helps keep outdoor spaces lively even after the warm growing season ends. One dazzling winter plant is red twig dogwood, which shows bright red or yellow branches against the snow. Another is witch hazel, which blooms with fragrant spidery yellow or orange flowers in late winter. Meanwhile, the foliage of oakleaf hydrangea shifts to a rich maroon and burgundy, while the striking beautyberry produces clusters of vivid purple berries. Other fall staples are “Autumn Joy” sedum, with its pink broccoli-like flower heads that darken to a rich, rusty copper and bronze; and chrysanthemums, which burst into deep reds, bright yellows and oranges just as summer annuals fade. Also, the daisy-like starbursts of purple, pink and white asters thrive well into cooler autumn months, adding lovely accents to the dull brown landscape. Finally, there are evergreens, which offer a rich blue-green or greenish-black backdrop when everything else is cold and alone. We almost forgot ornamental grasses, which many are tempted to cut back in the fall. Again, Beckmann urges restraint. “I like to keep my ornamental grasses,” she says. “You can cut them, it won’t harm them, but they provide a striking silhouette against the snow, especially when stirred by the wind. I think grasses provide a lot of winter interest.” n

iStockphoto.com. Robin: schnuddel Plant silhouettes, top to bottom: Pingwin, Bokasana, Anastasiia Hevko

ally minded, whose goal is to create a more self-sustaining, natural habitat, one that supports local pollinators and wildlife. Heavy weeding is therefore discouraged, along with constant pruning and aggressive cleaning. “It’s something we encourage,” says Priya Beckmann, a nursery specialist at Faddegon’s Nursery in Latham. “Some may feel it’s messy, but leaving fall debris in your gardens not only enriches the soil and insulates roots, it also provides habitat for pollinators like native bees and other beneficial bugs.” Best of all, it saves you from needless chores. Still, according to the nonprofit Wild Ones, which has a chapter in Albany, not everyone is on board: “It may be habitual, a matter of social conditioning or a holdover of outdated gardening practices from yesteryear,” the group writes on its website, “but for whatever reason, we just can’t seem to help ourselves from wanting to tidy up the garden at the end of the season — raking, mowing and blowing away a bit of nature that is essential to the survival of moths, butterflies, snails, spiders and dozens of arthropods.” Leaving things alone and letting nature take its course seems to be a hard pill for many gardeners to swallow. Too much tidying up, however, can be a problem. A big mistake many novice gardeners make, according to Beckmann, is over-pruning — namely cutting back spring-blooming bushes in the fall. “Buds on your spring-blooming shrubs, like forsythia, big leaf hydrangea and weigelia, are developing in the summer. So, if you prune in the fall, you’re removing all your blooms.” Beckmann says the best time to prune spring-blooming bushes is right after the flowers fade in the spring. “This is true for all spring-blooming shrubs,” she says. “For instance, with big leaf hydrangea, the buds grow on the woody stalks, so cutting them back will prevent flowering.” Azaleas are another shrub you’ll want to leave alone in the fall, Beckmann says. Roses, on the other hand, can benefit from fall pruning. “You can actually prune one third of your rose bushes, which will encourage new growth,” Beckmann says. A big benefit of leaving plants standing in the fall — one that’s often overlooked — is that many flowering plants provide a food source for overwintering birds. The sturdy seed heads of black-eyed

What to Prune and When Spring-flowering Plants Lilacs, forsythia, rhododendrons, azaleas, spring-blooming spirea, early flowering viburnum When: Right after flowers fade in spring.

Summer-flowering Plants Butterfly bushes, panicle hydrangeas, crape myrtle, potentilla When: Late winter, or early spring before new growth starts.

Old Wood Hydrangeas Bigleaf, mophead, lacecap and oakleaf hydrangea When: Soon after summer blooms fade. (Avoid winter or early spring pruning because they set their flower buds a year in advance.)

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FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 57

SPONSORED BY TRAIN HD

The Joy of Staying STRONG By Anthony Demetriou Owner, Train HD Health & Fitness

here’s a common misconception that strength training is only for athletes or people trying to build muscle. But strength is really about something much more personal: preparing your body for life. After age 50, one of the greatest investments we can make in ourselves is maintaining the strength to keep doing the things we need — and love — to do: traveling, hiking, gardening, playing with grandchildren, carrying groceries or climbing stairs. As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass, and that decline tends to accelerate later in life. Over time, it can affect balance, mobility, bone health and our ability to remain independent. The encouraging news is that it’s never too late to get stronger. Research has repeatedly shown that strength training can improve strength and physical function in older adults, even for people in their 70s, 80s and 90s. The key is finding the right exercises and level of resistance for your body.

imagine catching yourself after a stumble. Having strength is important, but being able to react quickly can matter just as much — or more. (According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in people age 65 and older. Research suggests that including appropriately performed, faster movements in resistance training can help older adults improve both muscular power and everyday physical function with a goal of maintaining the ability to respond, move and use your strength when everyday life calls for it. Strength training can also play an important role in bone health. Research involving postmenopausal women with low bone mass has found that carefully supervised resistance and impact exercise can improve bone density and physical function. The larger message behind all of this research is encouraging: our bodies remain remarkably adaptable as we age.

Start Where You Are

You don’t need to have exercised your entire life to benefit from strength training, and you don’t need to begin with an intimidating workout.

A well-designed program should meet you where you are today. Exercises, resistance, range of motion and speed can all be adjusted to your abilities and experience. Consistency matters much more than perfection. For many adults, two or three quality strength-training sessions each week can make a meaningful difference over time. If you’re new to resistance training or have health or mobility considerations, getting appropriate guidance can help you learn movements and choose a starting point that works for you. Most importantly, think beyond what exercise is supposed to look like. Staying strong isn’t about chasing a younger version of yourself. It’s about protecting the life you enjoy now—and giving yourself the best opportunity to continue enjoying it in the years ahead. As we look for ways to bring more joy into our lives, movement deserves a place in that conversation. Because moving your body isn’t simply about adding years to your life.

It’s about adding life to your years.

The Power of Strength

There’s another part of staying strong that we don’t talk about nearly as often: power. Strength is your ability to produce force. Power is your ability to use that strength quickly. Think about getting out of a chair. Strength helps you stand up. Power helps you do it smoothly and confidently. Or

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Lifestyle

Now Hear iStockphoto.com/Olga Yastremska

This! Sound therapy could be exactly what your body and mind need BY JANET REYNOLDS

eidi Davis remembers being more than a little skeptical before her first sound bowl healing experience. “I was cynical, really,” she says of the event that was part of a daylong retreat at Kripalu in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. “I didn’t expect to be moved by it, but within the first minute or so, it has an effect on your nervous system. The next thing you know you’re coming out of it and it’s been an hour and a half. It’s tough to describe until you experience it, and then you know exactly.” Davis, a registered nurse in Westfield, Massachusetts, became an immediate convert and took classes to better understand how to use sound healing both on herself and others. “Since doing sound healing with friends and family, people come and ask for help with spot areas,” she says. “People think it’s mumbo jumbo until they experience it, and then they realize it can help.” Put simply, the idea is that vibrations, produced by everything from Tibetan or crystal singing bowls to tuning forks, gongs and even drums, create specific frequencies that resonate with and then potentially heal various mental and physical ailments, proponents say. Sound therapy can reduce stress and promote relaxation, they say, promoting changes that even Western medicine recognizes as having physical benefits. It’s a form of healing that has been around and used by various cultures since the Egyptians and Greeks. Elise Manzo of Pathways to Healing in Albany explains the

science of sound healing this way: Just as nature abhors a vacuum, so, too, can similar objects sync their movements to fill empty space. Place two metronomes or pendulum clocks near each other, for instance, and soon they will begin swinging in unison of their own accord. Called entrainment, it’s the science behind sound therapy, she says. Under this theory, by using appropriate sounds, she can help people align or realign frequencies that can, at the very least, bring renewed relaxation and stasis, and, at best, help heal challenging health issues. Manzo uses certified Tibetan singing bowls in a variety of sizes to help people with everything from getting back into balance to specific health complaints. “In the world today there is a lot of chaos. This is really good for overwhelm, to help you get back into yourself and get grounded,” she says. “That’s what I find the regulars come for — to get back into balance.” Even our organs have a frequency. “Each is different,” she continues. “So think of yourself as an instrument getting tuned up. If something doesn’t sound right, if a bowl is not sounding the way it’s supposed to, it means that area needs work. When they play the way they’re supposed to, then you’re in tune.” Manzo, who also teaches sound bowl healing and Reiki (another energy healing practice) in her Albany studio, says that each bowl has a specific healing purpose and that there are various levels of learning.  FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 59

— Heidi Davis

60 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

In her first class level, for instance, she focuses on singing bowl therapies for cold/flu, neck and shoulder pain, back pain, digestion and migraines, to name a few. Level two training helps students learn how to treat PTSD and other chronic conditions affecting kidney function, blood sugar and heart rhythm. Manzo knows lying in a room while someone gently strikes a bowl can seem a bit woo-woo for many. She suggests trying a group sound bath first and seeing if that — literally — resonates. If it does, a private session may be in order. The list of ailments Manzo has helped using singing bowls is long and varied. “During COVID, I found that people got their taste and smell back quickly with sound,” she says, noting she’s had success with long COVID symptoms such as fatigue. As an asthmatic, she finds placing a bowl on her chest can help alleviate symptoms. Nicholee Froese, who runs Carols of the Heart in the Capital Region, focuses more on the emotional and relaxation benefits of sound healing. A registered nurse, she began using crystal bowls around the time of the pandemic as a way to get through a difficult period in her life: the death of her mother. “It helped me find a space where it was OK to process the emotions and find a way to access some things that felt better than the grief,” she says. She had heard a crystal singing bowl at a yoga retreat a few years earlier. “As soon as I started to play the instruments, they started to call to me, and I wanted to do more and more with them.” Today she uses a full array of instruments — everything from crystal bowls and chimes to rainsticks and drums — to create her soothing soundscapes. These soundscapes, she says, “are not just a random collection of sounds.” Instead, they tell a story of sorts.

iStockphoto.com/simon2579

“

I didn’t expect to be moved by it.”

ELISE MANZO of Pathways to Healing in Albany demonstrates how the vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls are used to promote relaxation and help restore balance. 

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Froese often starts with the lowest sounds “to help people settle into the moment and be in a different headspace than when they walked through the door.” From there, she moves into more melodic sounds with crystal bowls, Native American flutes and stringed instruments. “It’s very heart soothing,” she says. And she ends with high tinkly chimes and bells. “Those are outer-spacey,” she says. “People are now in the deepest part of their relaxation and can connect to that universal energy because they’re so relaxed.” Froese, who used sound healing when working at the VA, says she is “extremely careful about the kinds of things I promise people that sound can heal. What I do believe wholeheartedly is that the sounds bring people and their nervous system into a place of coherence, a place of relaxation and place of calm where the body’s healing mechanisms can do what they’re designed to do. I don’t put a bowl on a broken body part and it’s going to heal your problem.” Froese says she uses guided imagery in sessions to help people envision the healing they’re looking for. “We know the power of the mind to activate healing,” she says. “Getting people into a relaxed receptive state and helping them activate that healing energy with guided meditation and imagery can be helpful in their healing process.” While there is no official license or certification for sound healing, Froese, like Manzo, has done extensive energetic training to learn how sound can help people heal. “In modern life we tend to pretend that emotions don’t exist, so they get bottled up or we allow ourselves to wallow in them and we get stuck in that emotional space,” Froese says. “A lot of work with mindfulness and being present for noticing those things is allowing them to pass through and getting to the other side of the wave.” n

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Lifestyle

WE KNEW ANGUS, our pandemic puppy, would be our last.

The Last Puppy Thinking about endings is a chance for a new beginning BY JANET REYNOLDS REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM NEXT AVENUE

ike many people, we got a pandemic puppy. We already had a wonderful black lab called Echo, who was 8. Now one of Echo’s great aunts was having a litter and I was itching for another dog. I had two dogs when my husband, Peter, and I first met. Oscar and Maddy saw us through our courtship, our wedding 44 years ago, and the birth of two of our three children before dying at 15 and 13 respectively. Over time, we had other dogs, but we hadn’t had two dogs at the same time in decades. At 67, I wanted that experience one more time. I knew the door was closing on the energy needed to raise a puppy and — let’s get real — our ages were FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 63

“Thinking about something as the last doesn’t have to mean or imply an end.”

becoming a factor for another reason. While no one knows when they will die, by the time you’re in your late 60s recognizing that the runway is shorter is impossible to ignore, and no one wants to leave behind a beloved animal for someone else to manage. Now Peter is a dog fan, but he is not the member in this duo who feels as if his life is a little less than without a canine companion. He likes them fine once they arrive, but I’ve been the driver behind every dog we’ve had. As my 40th birthday neared, for instance, and we had been dogless for six years, I announced over dinner one night that my gift to myself would be a new golden retriever puppy. The announcement was met with squeals from our three children and by stunned silence from Peter. Another time, I collaborated — connived? — with my best friend, whose husband was the breeder of Echo and our earlier black lab, Sophie, to “give” me the puppy who became Sophie. How, I said innocently to Peter as I informed him of the upcoming arrival, could I refuse a gift from Betsy? A variation on the same strategy occurred with Echo, who joined our family during a time of extreme distress with one of our adult children’s mental health. Echo, I told Peter, was going to heal us all. He was joining our household, full stop. Fast forward to the pandemic, when I learned that Betsy’s husband was breeding another litter, possibly his last. “Wouldn’t it be great to get a puppy?” I said, bracing myself for the list of reasons why it would not be great. I listened to Peter’s expected lackadaisical response and then decided drastic times called for drastic measures. “I want to have two dogs one more time in this lifetime,” I said. “This would be the last puppy.” The ploy worked. We have now had Angus for five years, and he continues to bring me and Peter, with whom he spends at least an hour every day in the woods running and hiking, all the expected joy and wonder. Angus also helped mend our broken hearts at Echo’s passing a few years ago. But Angus’s gift goes far beyond his winsome eyes and en-

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thusiasm for virtually everything life throws his way. While I anticipated joy from watching his antics, what I did not expect was how Angus has helped me realize and appreciate life moments that have absolutely nothing to do with him. Realizing that Angus is the “last” has elided into other parts of my life, and that, as I enter what we can all agree is the last phase, is an unexpected gift. As a society, we are quite good — or at least better — at firsts. First word, first kiss, first job — the list is almost endless and mostly limited by our imagination and lack of wonder as we travel the world around us. We mark these moments — take photos, create celebrations, note them in our journals. We are less good with lasts. Even the phrases associated with the word — last gasp, last straw, dead last — imply our lack of interest in considering potential endings. But thinking about something as the last doesn’t have to mean or imply an end. Instead, it can be a reminder to live in the here and now. Thanks to social media, we are bombarded daily with reminders to be mindful, to live in the moment. How many of us, however, actually do it? How many of us take the time to appreciate what is happening to us as it actually happens? Mostly what happens as we scroll and see the Instagram or TikTok mindfulness reminders is a second of thinking, Yes I should do that. I will do that, and then the next black lab puppy reel shows up and the thought evaporates. Angus changed that for me. I’m not saying I’m always aware, but taking the time to appreciate that certain events, from something as simple as a tasty dinner with Peter by the fire as we watch The NewsHour to the more obviously momentous, such as our granddaughter’s graduation, could be the last time I participate in them has helped make me more appreciative on a daily basis. Thinking about lasts even helps me with life’s potentially annoying moments. No one likes writing a check for a new furnace but somehow thinking it’s the last time I’ll do it makes it a little less painful. Car shopping recently was a

ECHO AND ANGUS remind us that knowing something may be the last can make us slow down, savor the moment and hold it a little closer.

different experience as well. Why not get the new car instead of our usual used one if this is going to be the last car I get? As one of Peter’s older British cousins said of their thoughts when we discussed this concept, “This will see us out.” While my children accuse me of being morbid — here’s Mom talking about her death again — my life is so much

richer for having this idea percolating in my daily thoughts. And so I try to take a moment to sit back and appreciate — the cup of coffee, that laugh with Peter, that workout at the gym. And if I start to lose track of this idea, Angus is happy to remind me — each and every time he sticks his nose under my hands and forces me to give his ears a good rub. n FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 65

Travel

The Other Gulf Coast Skip the Florida crowds and discover Alabama’s beaches, wildlife, seafood and adventure BY SHERYL NANCE-NASH PHOTOS (EXCEPT *) COURTESY GULF SHORES & ORANGE BEACH TOURISM

hen people think of awesome beaches in the South, Florida likely comes to mind. But don’t sleep on Alabama’s beaches, especially Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. You’ll cheat yourself if you do. The white sand and turquoise waters rival some of the best in Florida and elsewhere and offer a more relaxed alternative to popular destinations like Miami Beach, Clearwater or Daytona. But what makes Gulf Shores and Orange Beach special is that there’s even more to their story. There’s Gulf State Park, with its trails and wildlife (it’s not everywhere you can spot eagles in their nests), golf, biking, boating and great restaurants (you’re in seafood heaven). Of course you have all the watersports you can handle. There is a zoo, mini golf and other kid-friendly things to do.

66 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

Here’s how to best spend time in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach. Once you see the sparkling waters, taking a dip is likely to top your must-do list. Go: Water works wonders on woes. Refresh your mind, body and spirit. Prefer to play on the water? Kayak, paddleboard, parasail or jump on a Jet Ski. If you want to make like a 5-year-old and frolic in the sand, take a class from Sand Castle University, where you’ll meet on the beach to build a sandcastle from scratch. This is more fun than you can imagine, and you’ll have a great photo of you and your creation to show off. “Taking a sandcastle class is a fun, relaxed setting to share a unique, memorable experience with family and friends. Playing in the sand offers a low-impact, outdoor workout.

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the big things will fall into place,” says Captain Glenn. “We are all about making each trip personalized. We find out what (customers) planned the trip with hopes to accomplish, and that’s what I work on making happen.” For more outdoor fun, head to Gulf State Park to explore its 6,000-plus acres and nearly 30 miles of trails. Relax at the beach and pack a picnic to enjoy in the beach pavilion. You can kayak, canoe, fish and bike on the Backcountry Trail. The Nature Center offers educational programs. If you’re traveling with the kids or grandkids, you’ll make them happy with a visit to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo in Gulf Shores. Keep the good times going with a visit to Waterville USA. The amusement park, water park and escape rooms will give them plenty to talk about. When you’re ready for adult time, consider a nighttime

“Crab Grab” kayak excursion with Sea View Tours. You’ll paddle Orange Beach’s back bays in neon-lit clear tandem kayaks and make your way to Bird Island to search for crabs and shells. This will be an hour you’ll always remember. Finish off an evening of kayaking with more wildness: Hit The Hangout, where dancing on tables is the norm and the live music will ensure you don’t sit still in your seat. You’ll be on the beach, in the open-air restaurant, with a lovely breeze blowing. What a way to wind down a day. One thing that might surprise you about Gulf Shores/Orange Beach is just how good the food is, especially the seafood. Some restaurants are an absolute must. Have lunch at DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen, a longtime, family-owned restaurant loved by locals and known for Royal Reds (deep-water Gulf shrimp that are sweet like lobster), sweet potato casse-

 Below, enjoy a family day on the links in Gulf Shores; next page, take to the water with Hammock Time Tiki Tours or paddleboarding lessons and tours.

68 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

role and all manner of goodness. For dinner, it’s Jesse’s on the Bay. The probability is quite high that you’ll have the best crabcakes ever. Here, it’s also about the shrimp, which are extraordinary, served with Conecuh sausage and smoked Gouda grits (oh yeah). Do treat yourself to the signature Coastal Alabama drink, a Bushwacker, typically made with light rum, coconut or dark rum, Kahlua, dark crème de cacao, cream of coconut, and vanilla ice cream (or milk and ice) topped with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, cherry or a smidgen of nutmeg. Expect a good time indeed. Breakfast favorites include the 1950s-style Sunliner Diner and Lauria’s By the Beach. You’ll love her strawberry shortcake biscuits. As for where to make your temporary home, the options are plentiful. Embassy Suites by Hilton Gulf Shores opened last year; it’s centrally located and directly across the street from the Gulf Shores public beach. Those views are awesome. The hotel is pet-friendly, and breakfast is included daily. There are also villas and condos, as well as woods and lakeside cabins and cottages in the state park. n

* Photo by EVA FAIRCLOTH

FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 69

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Laugh Lines

C O N F E S S I O N S OF A

Laundromat Regular I’ve downsized my life and outsourced my laundry. What do my clothes say about me?

BY SUSAN BRADY KONIG

iStockphoto/demaerre

ince I became an empty nester, I’ve downsized twice, always to a smaller apartment, seriously considering what I needed to live comfortably. The nonnegotiables: natural light, a quiet street, a view of trees. Well, a tree. This is New York City, after all. While a washer/dryer unit is a nice idea, my current place has no laundry facility, shared or otherwise. But raising four kids, I did a lot of laundry and I’m kind of over it. So now, every week, I take my clothes up the street to the laundromat. In my mind, it’s super cost-effective to take advantage of the easy drop-off service and let the excellent staff on site wash and fold my laundry. Even the fitted sheets come back perfectly creased at the corners, something I’ve never learned how to do. My clothes always smell great and are sometimes still warm when I pick them up. Then all I have to do is put everything away. So, I have no complaints about allowing myself this small luxury at this stage in my life. Except, sometimes I worry. What do the launderers think about me based on my dirty laundry? They admittedly witness things about me that I would never

include on a dating profile or job application. I imagine long conversations based on my weekly batch as they work to decipher who I am, like a crime team solving a murder on NCIS: Bronx. Some comments that may be inspired by my average consignment: “Boy, she must live in these torn red sweatpants with the shot elastic.” “When she’s not wearing her comfort waist jeans.” “Do you think she borrows all these XL shirts and hoodies from a pretty big son?” “Does she borrow his socks? Look how huge! What size shoe does she wear?” “Her place has to be small. She sleeps on twin-size, daisy-patterned sheets.” “Why would a woman with such big feet sleep in such a small bed?” “Flamingo boxer shorts, it’s a choice.” “These cotton undergarments are certainly practical.” “I guess she doesn’t like spending money on new towels.” “If she’s going to have a cat, why does she insist on wearing black?” “One hopes this long garment that says CRANK IT UP is a nightgown.”

“OK, she owns a couple of tasteful button-down shirts. Does she work remotely and dress only from the waist up?” “Maybe she hand-washes silk blouses, expensive lingerie and slim-fit spandex executive pants at home. But we doubt it.” From my T-shirts alone, one might speculate: • With this many logos of various colleges, she is either very smart, educated a lot of kids, or is trying really hard to earn a degree. • She’s a big Beatles fan. • She Paris, France and Racine, Wisconsin. • She is the world’s best sister. • And a badass mom. Maybe what the people at the laundromat think of me, if they think of me, isn’t all bad. I hope they know I’m grateful for the valuable and discreet service that enhances my life week after week. n  Susan Brady Konig, the author of three books, has just completed a memoir about identity, loss and joy at midlife.

FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 71

On Our Nightstand iStockphoto.com/ArtMarie

, FOOD GLORIOUS

FOOD Japanese authors weaving tales of eating and life’s mysteries BY JANET REYNOLDS

ven people who don’t consider themselves foodies know deep down that food is memory. Special recipes handed

down from generation to generation, celebratory meals, even meals gone horribly wrong — they are all part of our psyche in ways that often go unnoticed. These books are a reminder that many of our stories begin, and perhaps end, with food.

Butter Asako Yuzuki, translated from Japanese by Polly Barton, Ecco, 452 pages, $19.99

Where the other recommendations in this column are quiet, feel-good reads, Butter is a psychological food thriller. The coverlines call it a “novel of food and murder,” but really this international bestseller is about women, food, body standards and social norms. The novel is inspired by the real-life case of Kanae Kijima, who was convicted in 2009 of poisoning three men. In Butter, journalist Rika Machida becomes fascinated by the story of Manako Kajii, a serial killer and gourmet food blogger, seeing landing an interview with her as a potential way to become the first woman to make it to the editorial desk at her magazine. The story unfolds as Rika begins meeting with Manako in the Tokyo Detention Center, following up on the hints Manako doles out about her life in

72 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

teaspoonfuls — indeed, most of them are food-related — as she tries to uncover the “real” story. But this novel is also one of transformation for Rika, who mostly has traded food and even thinking about her body for hard work and a fairly ascetic life. As she begins to cook and eat — the first meal Manako gives her to try as a test is simply rice, a drop of soy sauce and butter — the act becomes one of the most sensuous experiences of her life. It’s as if Rika has never eaten before. As her awakening begins — to herself, her body, her relationships — Rika undergoes a transformation that includes gaining weight in a culture where females are held to impossible standards. Nor is she alone. Her boyfriend, her best friend and a long-trusted source are all inevitably changed. And the chef stirring the pot throughout? Manako. Butter is a delicious if unsettling novel that will leave you thinking long after the last page — probably as you eat something dripping in butter.

Menu of Happiness Hisashi Kashiwai, translated from Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood, G.P. Putnam, 213 pages, $27

The third book in the Kamogawa Food Detectives series, Menu of Happiness once again follows the father-daughter duo who do more

than serve up delectable meals at the Kamogawa Diner. They know inherently that food is memory, that specific meals last far longer than the last bite, and that in some instances eating that meal once more can help heal a spiritual wound from long ago and therefore, potentially, change the future. Chef Nagari is the father and food detective who seeks and then recreates each meal, while his daughter, Koishi, interviews the people about the meal they are seeking, asking the necessary questions to try to better understand why they came to the diner. Each chapter is devoted to one person’s tale. We meet a once-renowned pianist who ended her promising career with a self-inflicted wound. She wants to eat once again the yakisoba her first and only love made her before the relationship disastrously ended. In another chapter, a man regrets his behavior toward a former lover. The gyoza he seeks could be the start of change. A short but delightful read, the book will leave you thinking about the important recipes and meals in your life, some of them happy and some perhaps seasoned with a bit of regret — and the reminder that there is still, possibly, time to change those memories.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Before Your Memory Fades

HEREWHEN I T

MA hS MO S T

Weper s onal i z ec ar ef orever yi ndi vi dual — s of ami l i esc ans har emor e meani ngf ulmoment st oget her . Seewhyf ami l i esc hoos eWes l eyat TheWes l eyCommuni t y . or g

(Picador, 2019, 272 pages, $19.99; Picador, 2022, 320 pages, $21.99) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, translated from Japanese by Geoffrey Trousselot

The second and third books of what is now a six-book series, Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Before Your Memory Fades both ask the same question: What would you change if you could travel in time? Who would you want to meet and why? Each of these books features an unusual café where customers can travel in time. Customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the seat or the café after they travel back in time, and they must drink the coffee before it gets cold in order to return to the present. Also, nothing they do or say in the past will change the present. Each book follows different customers trying to come to a better understanding or acceptance of something that has happened. The stories are poignant and filled with twists. Every single customer comes back changed in all the best ways — just like the reader. If you love historical fiction, are a fantasy fan or are just interested in thinking more about why and how you’re doing what you’re doing, this is a series worth checking out. n

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FALL 2026 | 55PLUSLIFE.COM 73

The Vine

Finding

joy

in the

Little Things

Simple ways to make room for more happiness, connection and laughter every day

BY ROD MICHAEL

right back at it. Build new friendships, strengthen old ones and be as positive as you can. Give thanks. Go out and meet new people. Volunteer. Get outside more. Take a walk, ride a bike, start gardening, or stare up at the clouds or stars. We need sunshine in our lives. Connect with the simple pleasures of life. Smile, then smile a little more. Put some music on. A song can take you through time and space. It can bring out so many emotions. Put the windows down, and turn it up. Watch your diet and get a good night’s sleep. Try laughing as much as you can, and stop dwelling on the negative. Practice positive self-talk and don’t say anything to yourself you wouldn’t say to someone else. Try to make other people laugh. I have a little voice I’ve used since I was a kid, and I make weird noises when people are not paying attention. Trust me, it gets people going crazy — we all start laughing like a bunch of kids. I call it playful communication. Become the new simpler you: healthier, stronger, more thoughtful, more helpful, more loving, more mindful, more caring, and yes, a lot funnier. Please smile because it is contagious. And clean out that closet. n

iStockphoto.com/Anna-av

appiness is all around us if we pause to see it. Here is the advice I give to myself daily, weekly and yearly to bring more joy into my life. For me, it’s simple: Start with some exercise. It’s not just good for your body; it can also help regulate brain chemicals and ease anxiety, stress and depression. I have gotten back on the exercise train recently, and I feel so much better. Find the simple beauty in everyday moments — and pass it on. Gratitude and an openness to positivity can make each day brighter. It can be as simple as holding a door, asking someone how they’re doing, offering to help. Smile more. Say hello. Say thank you. Most of all, be present. It’s called the present because it’s a gift. Can you say declutter? I can. I am a shining example of too much stuff. We all like to collect stuff, so start cleaning out closets. Give your clothes to someone who will wear them. While you’re at it — we all, myself included — have some bad habits that need to be tossed out, too. Have you ever said, “He or she never calls me. I’m always picking up the phone.” Well, someone might be saying it about you. So pick up the phone, send a text or email, be the catalyst. Start the conversation and you’ll be

74 55+ LIFE | FALL 2026

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