Lifestyles After 50 Polk Edition, April 2016

Polk April 2016 • Vol. 27

Leaving a Legacy

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 2

Unlocking the key to your legacy Dear Readers, They say a writer should always shy away from the outwardly cliche, but perhaps there’s a time and a Amanda Smith, Editor place to embrace many an old adage. Never much an ambassador for proverbial mastery, producing this issue brought me face to face with a truism that may just be one of the oldest sayings around: “Silence is golden.”

When I first heard its sounds I can’t quite recall. But thanks to a vicious showdown this flu season with a brutal bug that appeared out for blood, my familiarity with the sounds of silence returned once more. Bronchitis and laryngitis may have robbed me of my voice - but in exchange, I gained a rather golden opportunity.

The April issue of Lifestyles After 50 is our annual “Leaving a Legacy” issue, which poses the deep - and difficult question of what exactly you plan to leave behind. For some, it’s a question of how you’d like to be remembered, for others it’s about dedicating gifts of generosity.

We probe deeply this issue, asking if you’re embodying your creative potential, serving your community and living true to the values you’d like to pass on.

Not exactly questions for the entertainment section - don’t worry! we’ve still got sudoku! - topics like “Leaving a Legacy” can leave you feeling quite contemplative... luckily, silence is perfect for that! As I experienced the imposed silence of

a super virus, I asked myself - whose legacy did I most admire? I was met with the memories of the two people I loved most - my late grandmother and grandfather on my father’s side.

Proof that leaving a beautiful and memorable legacy has a vast number of permutations, they couldn’t be more different - and yet, more the same. I remembered my grandmother for her laugh, her glow, her patience and her presence. Her reverence for life made every moment with her

his painstaking research produced the family tree to top all family trees, and his hard work and forward thinking helped me to approach the present with an eye on the future.

His death was very much a surprise, and so were his generous gifts to so many - gifts planned long before his passing and gifts that will serve long after. Teaching the valuable lesson of learning from the past and planning for the future, best describing his legacy would be “be prepared.”

Thanks to the silence, and its resulting contemplation, my grandparents came to life again. I realized what was passed on from each of them was incredibly different, but what I loved about them was exactly the same.

They lived true to themselves.

They knew what mattered to them and they aligned their actions accordingly. Sitting in the silence begged the question feel special. Never off in the future - are my priorities straight? Am I or reimagining the past, she was embodying what I claim to be most with you, fully, always. When she important to me? passed, I was prepared, she cherished every moment before her departure This month, as you enjoy Earth Day, and gave me everything from her and reflect on how much the earth wedding dress to her resilience. means to you, and as you enjoy Best describing her legacy would spring, and celebrate how great it is probably be “the power of presence to be alive, perhaps you’ll join me for a little respite in silence and look and the gift of living in the now.” into your heart for a legacy all your My grandfather lived on for over a own. Whether it’s through giving a decade without her. I have to smile generous gift, giving the community thinking of him now, because I your time, or simply giving a smile, remember his laugh just as clearly I hope this issue inspires you to give the gift only you can give - that as his wife’s. Always the planner which is uniquely you. Hint: it’s and the historian, my grandfather’s often found in silence. legacy is one that reveals time as a continuum with the past, the present and the future existing all at once. He Sincerely, gave me the gift of my heritage when Amanda Smith

Polk Edition Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc President Richard Reeves richard@lifestylesafter50.com Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing Kathy J. Beck kathy@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Amanda Smith editor@lifestylesafter50.com Office Manager Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com Administrative Assistant Allie Shaw allie@lifestylesafter50.com Production Supervisor/Graphic Design 813-689-6104 Distribution Nancy Spencer: (941) 244-0500 nancy@lifestylesafter50.com

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 3

Around Town W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G A P R I L 2 0 1 6

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Top Chef of Polk County.

Enjoy a multi-course finedining experience that places the spotlight on leading chefs while raising much needed funds for programs and therapies that provide care for the children of Achievement Academy.

First course begins at 6:30 p.m. after opening cocktails. Lakeland Center, at 701 W. Lime St. Lakeland, 33815.

Rebel with a Cause Reception: Seats are limited; call (863)683-6504 or American Impressionist Women go online to achievementacademy.com.

Welcome an outstanding collection of The 863 Local FiArt Fest. paintings, drawings and sculptures This free community event from the Sellars Collection of Art by American women as the exhibition is features live music, food trucks and unveiled at Lakeland’s Polk Museum talented central Florida artists who will of Art. Recently acquired by The compete for cash prizes and sell their Huntsville Museum of Art, this unique artwork. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in borrowed collection will be displayed Central Park, Downtown Winter Haven in Lakeland from April 9 - July 3. The 33881. To learn more: (863) 258-3561. opening reception is free for members, Moonlight Carillon Concert. $10 for non-members. 6 - 8:30 p.m. at Enjoy a carillon concert under the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, 33801. To learn more: (863) 688-7743. the light of a full moon and at this unique opportunity to visit Bok Tower 14, 21. Three-part Grief Series. Gardens after-hours. Opt to have a light Rica Walker, LMHC hosts a grief dinner at the Blue Palmetto Café before series exploring topics "Grief 101," the concert, for an additional fee.

"Stages of Grief," and "The New Concert is $5. 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Bok Normal." Seating is limited - please Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, 33853. register early. Free. 3 - 4 p.m. at The For more information, call (863) 676Tribute Center, Heath Funeral Chapel, 1408 or visit boktowergardens.org. at 328 S. Ingraham Ave. in Lakeland, Symphonic Celebrations. See 33801. Free parking next to the Tribute art, hear music, and enjoy Center. To learn more: (863) 226-7257. dance and theatre at the event with & 23. Market in Downtown something for everyone. Celebrating Winter Haven. The 2nd and 4th the remarkable range of styles and roles Saturday Market offers food trucks, played by the symphony orchestra, antiques, art and crafts of all kinds, FSC offers an extraordinary program of book signings and much more. Free. 9 impressive performances designed to a.m. - 3 p.m. at Central Park in Winter showcase the beauty and breath of expression in music. $4 students; $8 Haven, 33880. Call (863) 258-3561. adults. 7:30 - 9 p.m. at the Brancomb Play It Forward Polk. Enjoy Auditorium at Florida Southern a fundraising concert while College, in Lakeland, 33801. For more helping a great non-profit organization information, call (863) 680 – 4296. raise money in order to provide musical instruments to underprivileged kids in SUBMIT AROUND TOWN EVENTS: our Polk County public school system. Please send Around Town news to News The event includes activities, food and Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, entertainment. General admission is Seffner, FL 33583; fax (813)651-1989 $15; $10 w/ student ID. 12 p.m. – 11 or email info@lifestylesafter50.com by p.m. Polk Theatre, Lakeland 33801. the 10th of the month prior to the event For more information: (863) 682-7553. (i.e. submit May events by 4/10/16).

Rock the Park. The Lakeland Flying Tigers will host an exciting concert featuring the music of Bob Seger, Journey, Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks and the Eagles. A family-friendly event, you're welcome to bring your dogs as long as they're leashed. $25. 12 - 6 p.m. Joker Marchant Stadium.

Lakeland, 33805. Call (863) 413-4140.

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Leaving a Legacy Unique and powerful ways to let your values live on

Give of yourself to friends, family and the community

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fter a chance encounter with an extraordinary 90 year-old woman, renowned gerontologist Karl Pillemer began to wonder what older people know about life that others don’t. He set out on a quest he called The Legacy Project; its mission to compile the insight of over 1,000 Americans ages 65 and up.

Pillemer sought advice on all the big issues: children, love, money, aging - even death. Their uncompromising honesty and moving stories were all compelling, but he said some of the most thoughtprovoking shares were related to what they wanted to pass on when their lives ended. Overwhelmingly, they reported “transmitting their values and core principles as their most important legacy.”

Yet, defining the values and principles of a life well-lived is as unique as the person describing them. A highly individual inquiry, the criteria for living well is not only deeply personal, but may change wildly over time, as fleeting desires prove unfulfilling, or a date with destiny changes one’s course in ways never imagined. As our paths twist and turn, delivering unexpected lessons, we come to realize it often takes a lifetime - and tremendous courage - to truly discover what matters to us the most.

As we amass the precious wisdom gained only through life experience, we become more in touch with who we are and what we value. Interestingly, this carving of character often occurs in tandem with a dawning acceptance that life is finite. The beauty of embracing the startling limitations of individual existence is the chance that it may ignite a fire within us, inspiring us to truly make the most of our unique opportunity to outlive our own life through our deeds.

Now is the time. Outlive your life.

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” - Shannon L. Alder

W As intimate an endeavor as any, leaving a legacy is not a science, but an art.

Some pass on material wealth to their families, fostering educational or entrepenurial opportunities unheard of by previous generations. Some leave seeds of transformation in the hearts of people, or in their social or natural environment.

Some craft artistic masterpieces that transcend their mortality, while others pass on quietly, leaving without a trace.

Pillemer’s wise interviewees understood the true value of leaving a legacy is the chance to immortalize our hardest-won lessons, passing on our greatest wisdom and values to all who follow us.

Make your masterpiece “Creativity takes courage.”

- Henri Matisse

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hether it’s paint you’ve always wanted to splash across a canvas, or words you’ve always wanted to dash across a page, there’s no legacy more uniquely you than your own creative masterpiece. If you’ve always feared but secretly desired - to be an artist, ask yourself what you’ve got to lose by pursuing the creative yearnings that have long stirred your spirit. Writing an autobiography is a wonderful way for future generations to get to know you, and a crafted piece of art or furniture may later become a prized heirloom. If “art” isn’t really your thing, there are plenty of other ways to leave something handmade behind. Try delving into the history of your kin by creating a fascinating family tree that will help your relatives understand their roots. Fulfill a deep part of yourself by pushing the boundaries of your creative limits to offer your family and the world a little piece of your soul.

Support meaningful causes “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” - Mother Teresa

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great way to leave a legacy is by contributing money (or the equivalent) to a charitable cause that reflects your values. If you lost a loved one to a particular illness you can support research for its cure; or if you greatly benefited from a college scholarship, you can afford a young person from your alma mater the same opportunity. How and what you choose to support can be as unique as you and your life are.

When considering charitable donations, always do your research - even if you think you already know who you want to support. It’s advised to build a personal relationship with the charity’s leadership prior to making any longterm financial commitment. Contact charities of interest directly and ask for a tour or overview meeting. When you meet, discern how inspired you feel by their work and whether you believe your money will be well spent. Don’t be afraid to inquire about how well they are progressing towards existing research or development goals and if they are fulfilling their mission. If you don’t want to go onsite, at least ask them to send you an annual report. Here you’ll find out what percent of their proceeds go to funding specific research projects, and how else their financial gifts are allocated.

As for how to donate, there are many options, each with different tax benefits.

See our “Giving Wisely” article in this issue for a brief explanation of some popular approaches, but always talk to your financial advisor about which option works best for you and your family.

hen envisioning your own legacy, it helps to consider those who have passed on before you - especially those you admire the most. Pay attention to what you vividly remember about them, which of their qualities stick out most in your mind. Maybe they accomplished really big things, like starting the family business or getting the family’s first college degree. But maybe you most cherish the so-called small things, like your grandmother’s laugh as she watched you play in the autumn leaves.

Some legacies open doors, funding opportunities otherwise impossible; they can honor our heroes, if we mentor in the community and pass on our skills. Then there are those legacies built not on what was given, but what was sacrificed, in hopes of a brighter future for coming generations. No matter how big or small they may seem, all are legacies of greatness if they embody the lessons and values that have come to shape our character.

After all, we really build our legacy every day, with every helping hand we offer, every dollar we donate and every dream we dare to achieve. Whether your parting gift to the world is an impressive endowment or a sultry sonnet, it’s important to remember we influence far more than we’ll ever know - and maybe, simply living with kindness and a true reverence for life is the greatest legacy of all.

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The new adventure seekers The active senior travel movement reveals a legion of athletes, trailblazers and explorers unencumbered by age.

By Amanda Smith

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he days of dismissing senior travel as nothing more than a trip to the grandkids’ house, the casino, or the golf course are over. Health-conscious, highly educated and culturally-curious, modern-day seniors can now be found embarking on exotic adventures - with an element of intense physical challenge - thanks to “active senior travel,” the explosive travelling trend they inspired.

Now accounting for over 50% of the Western world’s discretionary income, seniors (ages 50-80) cite “travel” as the number one way to spend their extra cash, giving them plenty of purchasing power to redefine “the older traveler.”

And travel companies are taking note. Besides responding to their clear desire for trips of substance (50% of senior travelers surveyed said they won’t even consider a trip that’s not “a meaningful, stimulating holiday”), travel companies are also responding to the impressive physical condition this gen-

eration of seniors have maintained.

Aimed at those well-educated, fitnessfocused, energetic baby boomers responsible for cultural catch-phrases like “60 is the new 40,” active senior travel provides off-the-beaten-path small group cultural immersions to those seniors with a taste for adventure and a body that can keep up. Instead of bus rides to historical landmarks or booze-cruises to the Caribbean, active senior travel trips include exciting expeditions by icebreakers to Antarctica or active hiking treks through the Himalayas..* For those seeking a tamer trip without the international price tag, there’s a great six day bike through California wine country or a six day walking tour featuring a visit to a ghost ranch as you conquer New Mexico’s Taos and Santa Fe.** With so many different difficulty levels, international and domestic destinations, and plenty of price points - deciphering your best bet for trying active senior travel quickly becomes an adventure all its own. Here are two companies we’ve deemed safe bets to consider.

VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations With award-winning vacations and glowing reviews, VBT is a great way to dip your toe in the world of active travel. They specialize in walkGet ready for an adventure of a lifetime with active senior travel. ing and biking tours, and their website offers a comprehen- over 100 countries, and over 25 years of sive overview of what to expect from succcess. Evidence of their success is the their truly all-inclusive packages. Their list of clients who’ve completed over 30 prices are some of the best in the busi- trips, and an impressive repeat customer ness - one reviewer writes, “VBT could rate of 75%. President Gary Murtagh honestly stand for ‘Value Bicycling says he’s definitely seen a shift in senior Tours’...they give you that much bang travel. “When we started, 50 was old. for your buck.” Other perks: Guides tend Today, our adventurers are 60, 70 - even to be local; there’s usually a cooking 80 - and they go just about anywhere we lesson and a language lesson on the trip. offer.” Elder Trek trips include strong el- and they’re got solid bikes, good direc- ements of sustainability, wildlife consertions and a strong emphasis on safety. vation and charitable efforts, delivering that sense of meaning boomers long for.

Elder Treks One of the earliest 50+ active travel- So, who’s ready for an adventure? specialists, Elder Treks boasts a senior- *Elder Trek trips. Visit ElderTreks.com. centered adventure model with trips to **VBT tours. Learn more at VBT.com.

HAVE YOU EVER WISHED YOU COULD HELP? But thought you couldn’t afford to give?

www.CornerstoneHospiceGiving.org Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 6 R

Lic. #5019096

Giving Wisely Deciding how best to support the causes you believe in

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ne of the countless benefits of achieving a certain degree of financial comfort is the opportunity to give monetary support to causes you value. If your hard work has afforded you the ability to make a charitable contribution, you can choose to fund anything from cutting-edge medical research to building a community playground. Your money becomes a way to honor whatever it is that most inspires your generosity.

Once you decide on a cause to support, and complete your due-diligence to identify an impressive and accountable organization to align your financial resources with, it’s crucial to decide how best to give your money. More than simply writing a check, donations may involve updating your will, renaming policy beneficiaries and navigating tax benefits.

With so many ways to give financially, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a list of common donation strategies, along with a brief explanation of each option. This list is by no means exhaustive, and it is always recommended to seek counsel from your professional advisors (lawyer, accountant, financial advisor, etc) before making any major financial commitments. With their help, you can decide which options work best with your personal finances and best achieve your goals for giving wisely.

Life Insurance. A gift of life insurance is made when you name a charitable organization as the beneficiary of your policy, transforming modest premium payments into a significant charitable gift.

Cash and security gifts. Gifts of cash offer immediate use when donated in the form of cash, check, credit card or preauthorized monthly withdrawals. A gift of securities is a cost-effective way to transform an asset into immediate, significant support; anything from stocks, bonds, mutual or segregated funds. By donating publicly traded securities, you eliminate the capital gains taxes assessed if you were to sell these assets on the market and then donate the proceeds.

Retirement funds are one of the best ways to grow wealth during your life but one of the worst ways to transfer wealth to family members, as they are so heavily taxed.

Gifts of retirement plans are made by naming a charity as the beneficiary, thus counterbalancing your final tax return.

Endowments are donations of cash, marketable securities, mutual funds, etc. held in perpetual trust - making it an everlasting gift. Endowments may be general in nature or designated for a specific area or purpose, but no matter how they are used, their donors play a major role in fund allocation, ensuring a consistent flow of financial resources for the future.

Charitable bequests. These are distributions from your estate through your last will and testament. There are different kinds of bequests (general, specific, residuary) but for each bequest, it is important to use very specific language indicating the precise use of your assets to successfully carry out your final wishes.

Charitable remainder trust. In a charitable remainder trust, a gift of trust is made when you decide to make an organization the secondary beneficiary to an irrevocable trust. The primary beneficiary includes you and if applicable, your spouse.

Throughout your lifetime, you receive a pre-determined amount of the trust; and upon death, the identified organization receives the remainder of the trust.

A gift in memory of a loved one honors a close friend or family member who has passed away. Perhaps they lived with a certain disease and you would like to help those diagnosed in the future have opportunities for more advanced treatments.

A gift of real estate is made when you donate property, buildings or land. You will receive a charitable tax receipt to be used in your final income tax return.

Florida Gardening Guide: Tips & Tasks for April L ast month’s issue featured a calendar devoted to gardening in the Sunshine State, complete with Floridaspecific tips and unique monthly tasks to keep your garden growing all year

April in the Garden: Start warmseason plants, like papaya (pictured), and order seeds for fall

long. April invites you to start seeds of warm season plants (papaya, spinach & okra) now, and order fall garden vegetable seeds so you’re prepared for later.

For expanded advice on April’s tips and more words of gardening wisdom, visit LifestylesAfter50.com where you can download a free copy of our “Florida Gardening Guide” calendar and follow along online for more detailed tips every month. Have you grown a great garden with tips worth sharing? Email a photo to editor@LifestylesAfter50.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 7

Breaking the Taboo: Evolving perspectives on aging and intimacy As life expectancy extends at inconceivable speed, experts deem baby boomers a sexual force to be reckoned with.

Anticipated to abolish the exclusivity of youth centric sexual values, boomers may finally dispel the myth of forbidden senior sexuality.

By Amanda Smith

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years ago, a group of maverick gerontologists published a provocative research review candidly criticizing the ageist, stereotypical view towards sex so pervasive in American culture.

“Sexuality and Older People: Revisiting the Assumptions” openly addressed age-related physiological changes affecting sex habits, but it also illustrated the sweeping consequences of defining sexuality in youth centric terms. Armed with decades of research, authors established that physiological and cultural factors are key determinants of sexual behavior, but ultimately argued advancing age should not reduce the opportunity to enjoy sex.

The study questioned why sexual expression did not evolve with the inevitable bodily changes that accompany age; finding fault in our culture’s narrow conception of sexual expression. Authors also questioned why it was not a priority to reassure the aging population that physiological changes (sometimes drastic) were normal and no indication of their attractiveness or inherent value as a partner. They illustrated the significant effects of a failure to address such a universal issue had by interviewing subjects to establish their knowledge about aging’s changes on biology, the sexual indications of those changes and most importantly, how experiencing these changes affected the ease and confidence with which they approached sexuality. Study after study revealed how the lack of education about normal bodily changes stifled the sexual confidence of the uninformed, who felt “weird,” “unsexy” and “inferior” in light of age’s physiological effects.

What stood in the way of intimacy in old age, they concluded, was the cultural Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 8 R

lens through which we view sexuality as exclusive territory and an exaltation of the young and beautiful. Culturally age averse, we prefer not to confront the inevitability of growing old; so the issue of aging sex is viewed with discomfort or even hostility, and remains a subject largely unspoken of.

Underrepresented at best and pitifully mocked at worst, the sexually-liberated elderly remain illusory in the cultural landscape. This socially-sanctioned taboo subconsciously inhibits an embrace of sexuality with age, creating a widelyheld myths of asexual seniors.

At the dawn of the new century, many believe the conditions neccessary to dispel these myths have finally arrived. Just as the world witnessed the most dramatic increase in human life expectancy ever recorded, a generation of change-makers are entering their later years. With their large population and a marked increase in life expectancy, baby boomers are now the fastest-growing segment of the US population. In 2000, one out of ten Americans were 65 and older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau; by the year 2030, it’s estimated that one in every five will be 65 or over.

Notorious for their sheer size and influence on social convention, boomers may redefine aging and sexuality as well.

Recent experts say as boomers age, more and more studies dispel the myth that older people don’t have sex or enjoy it. “There is no age limit on sexuality,” reports Stephanie A. Sanders, PhD, and director at a top sexual research group.

She reports that while frequency/ability to perform declines modestly as seniors experience normal changes with age, the majority of those currently ages 50-80 are far more enthusiastic about sex and intimacy than those in the past.

“If you stay interested, stay healthy and have a good mate, you can have good sex all your life,” says geriatrics expert Walter Bortz, geriatrics professor at Stanford Medical School. “Best of all, it’s good for you! There’s strong data all over: It’s a matter of survival,” he says. “People that have sex live longer. People need physical connection.

The more intimate the connection, the more powerful the effects.”

Experiencing their mature years with greater wellness than ever before, boomers are are able to assign increased importance to personal relationships, as their health lasts long past the demanding decades devoted to children and careers.

Modern seniors have more time and energy to explore their love lives and innovate their expression of intimacy.

And the research confirms it, boomers are making intimacy a priority. An AARP study revealed a clear majority of both genders age 45 and up say a satisfying sexual relationship is important to quality of life. Of those aged 45-59 with sexual partners, 56% said they had sex once a week or more; of those ages 60-70 with partners, 46% of men and 38% of women have sex at least once a week, as did 34% of those 70 and up.

Similar findings emerged in a survey conducted by the National Council on the Aging - nearly half of all Americans ages 60 and up have sex at least once a month. Not only were they having sex, they desired to have it more frequently. Another finding: people find mates more physically attractive over time.

As for the act of making love, it just gets better with age, says Cornelia Spindel, 75, who married her husband Gerald, 75, when she was 72. “We feel like young lovers or newlyweds. I felt like I was able to make love better when I was

30 than when I was 20, and now I have a whole lifetime of experience.”

Gerald agrees, and dislikes the patronizing attitude many people display toward older people who enjoy intimacy. “Whenever we’re asked how long we’ve been married, we say ‘two years,’ and they say, ‘Oh, that’s so cute.’

We’re ‘cute?!’ What does that mean?”

Cornelia agrees. “I don’t know anything about being cute. Our love life is very warm. And very satisfying.”

Evolving sexual attitudes have also prompted a more open dialogue surrounding sex and the aging body. No longer viewed as a barrier to a healthy sex life, age-related sexual changes are increasingly treated as a normal part of life by medical professionals. Often, it’s as simple as reassuring couples they are not defective, instead advising them to spend more time on arousal.

Boomers also enjoy medical advances facilitating longer traditional sex lives.

As estrogen levels drop in postmenopausal women, decreasing the physical response to arousal, doctors can offer effective remedies like hormonereplacement therapy. Men may suffer from impotence as blood circulation slows and testosterone levels decrease, but revolutionary drugs like Viagra, Levitra and Cialis have breathed new life into older men - at least the ones willing to approach their doctors. In spite of these hopeful pharmaceutical advances, studies show only a fraction of seniors suffering from sexual dysfunction actually seek medical help.

That’s too bad, experts say, because it’s often as simple as removing excess alcohol and changing medications that interfere with sexual function.

Medical breakthroughs aside, the real sexual contribution of the boomer generation may be their ability to redefine the social concept of “lovemaking” by focusing more on intimacy and closeness instead of sex alone. By normalizing aging’s effect on sexuality, seniors may feel free to transcend the preoccupation with sexual performance in a traditional sense, transforming cuddling, kissing and other methods of sexual enjoyment into celebrated staples of mature sexuality.

Liberated from culture’s rigid definition of sex, boomers may revolutionalize social views on intimacy and sexual expression, redefining yet another cultural convention of American life.

Arches National Park in Utah: Prepare to be astounded

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riving through Arches National Park in Utah is nothing short of surreal. With the highest density of natural stone arches in the world (more than 2,000 of them) you’ll feel almost as if you’ve landed on another planet - especially when compared to the Florida landscape. The park is named for its sandstone arches that awe visitors, frame horizons and cast precious shade in the summer months, all while nobly withstanding the withering forces of nature and time. Arches is our pick for the best

Celebrating the Centennial

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years ago, the United States created the National Park Service, a federal agency designed to preserve the breathtaking beauty of the American landscape. Visit LifestylesAfter50.com for our Celebrate the Centennial series as we highlight our favorite parks all year long.

park to visit in April because you’ll just beat the start of the busy season, and the arches look even wilder when surrounded by nothing but natural expanse. Temperatures are a delightfully mild 60 degrees and if you missed a snow sighting this past winter, the La Sal Mountains in Utah are still snow-capped. A staple of any nature photographer’s bucket list, Arches is a camera lover’s dream and spring can deliver some pretty startling photographs as the orange sandstone arches pop against a backdrop of white-kissed La Sal peaks.

If you’re more of the adventure type, Arches is conveniently situated next to the small town of Moab, lovingly known as Utah’s “adventure capital.” Moab is a great base from which to explore by foot, and the town also offers rentals on anything from a bicycle, to a balloon, to a watercraft - even a four-wheeler. In fact, we encourage you to satisfy your urge for excitement in Moab so you may

Arches National Park, Utah - Home to over 2,000 water and wind-carved sandstone formations. better experience the natural peace and serenity available at the arches.

Speaking of natural beauty, one of our favorite activities in Arches won’t cost you a dime - the truly world-class stargazing in Utah, thanks to minimal light pollution.

Just remember to bundle up for your evening of astronomy; temperatures steadily drop as the sun goes down.

If you still need a little convincing, keep in mind Arches really won’t be around forever - at least not as it

stands today, anyway. Nicknamed “Treasures Hanging in the Balance,” Landscape Arch and Balanced Rock are two stone formations that look like they might topple tomorrow, and they could! The water and wind-carved natural formations of the park erode and evolve constantly, offering all of Arches visitors a unique and unforgettable adventure.

Do you have a favorite National Park?

Memories of a special visit? Email your story to Editor@LifestylesAfter50.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 9 R

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For information call: 813-653-1988. For directions call: 813-884-8381 www.lifestylesafter50.com Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 10

The Power of the Paw Polk County pets and their service-minded owners provide a special kind of friendship to those who need it most

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here are some things pets can do that humans, well, just can’t. The unconditional love offered by a furry, four-legged friend can make almost anyone feel better, and a volunteer program in Polk County is using that “power of the paw” to make a big difference with a special population.

Innovators at hospice group VITAS Healthcare® were looking for unique ways to improve the endof-life care they provide when they introduced a new volunteer program called “VITAS Paw Pal® Volunteers.” Based on the belief that pets offer comfort and a special kind of friendship that aids quality of life, the Paw Pal program relies on the kindness of its community members to volunteer their animal friends to those in need of love.

These affectionate animals - and their compassionate owners - are trained to provide warmth and cheer to anyone who needs it. VITAS Paw Pal volunteers often find themselves visiting patients in nursing homes, assisted living communities and private homes. Offering patients a welcome distraction from illness, these pet visits may give a little lightheartedness to those facing a most difficult time - even helping them to feel less lonely. Many pet owners say they leave their patients smiling and more at ease.

The therapeutic use of pets is gaining more attention than ever, as its measurable benefits earn it widespread acceptance from charitable organizations and health providers. With increasing research in this fascinating field - it even has an acronym; HAI research (Human–Animal Interaction research) - the study of the association between pet caregiving and physical and mental health only seems to be gaining momentum.

While studies confirm that hospice patients are noticeably more active and responsive during and after animal visits, hospice teams, patients and families say they can see the change right before their eyes - as the pets produce a lift of spirits only the power of the paw can bring.

Become a VITAS Paw Pal® Volunteer today!

If you’re the owner of a friendly, well-behaved pet and you’d like to make a difference in your Polk County community, complete a simple yet comprehensive training program to become a registered VITAS Paw Pals volunteer. All potential volunteers, and their human companion, are also screened. For more information, please call (863) 583-7100 or search for Paw Pals online at www.vitas.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 11

STAYING A STEP AHEAD OF COPD Don’t just treat the symptoms.

Treat the disease itself.

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hronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has grown in prevalence and is now the third leading cause of death in America. People diagnosed with an incurable illness tend to search for alternative treatments, and this quest for options can beoverwhelming.

Take courage - as you’ll read later, not only the symptoms of COPD, but the disease itself can be treated. First, here are a few coping strategies for managing COPD.

Coping Strategies Stay Positive Talk with someone when feeling anxious or depressed.

Enjoy favorite activities, and explore stress management techniques like yoga, tai chi or meditation that produce holistic benefits. Finding reasons to laugh often and maintain a positive outlook can improve your quality of life.

Bolster Resilience Choose activities that create

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 12

a sense of accomplishment.

For those who love gardening but feel breathless, consider a container garden. Get a friend to help. You could have both healthy, growing plants and a new gardening friend.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Consider pulmonary rehabilitation class to improve lung capacity and blood oxygen levels. Rehab involves improving nutrition with ironrich foods, such as meat and green, leafy vegetables that promote blood oxygenation.

Alternative Therapy Treating COPD itself - rather than only the symptoms - using the patient’s own stem cells shows promise. The same cells that repair a cut or bruise can promote healing in lung tissue.

Adult stem cells do this naturally, but need a boost to keep up with degenerative lung disease.

One medical clinic, the Lung Institute, uses adult, autologous stem cells taken from the patient’s blood or bone marrow to boost natural healing.

Lung Institute’s Jack Coleman, Jr., MD, recently released a white paper demonstrating the potential of stem cell therapy to improve pulmonary function. Coleman’s paper, “Autologous Stem Cell Therapy and its Effects on COPD: A Pilot Study,” cites results from 100 COPD patients. Within three months of therapy, 84% found their quality of life improved, with an average improvement of 35%.

“COPD is currently the third leading cause of death in the United States, and we give our patients an alternative that doesn’t just mask symptoms,” Coleman said in a press release. “People hear

things like, ‘COPD is a chronic illness that is both progressive and terminal,’ and hear that the traditional options all consist of prescription medications, supplemental oxygen and a highly invasive lung transplant. People are dissatisfied with this prognosis. With a rise in alternative options like stem cell therapy, revolutionary medical advancements to better address COPD could be around the corner.”

The Lung Institute is an innovative leader of regenerative medicine dedicated to providing stem cell therapies & other regenerative treatments for lung diseases. To learn more about this state-of-the-art facility and its internationally recognized physicians, call (855) 313-1150 or visit their website: LungInstitute.com/lifestyles.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 13

Tis the season with this light spring salad

Celebrate spring with a seasonal salad that’s both delicious and nutritious

Seasonal salad nutrition benefits:

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ith all of the amazing produce available at springtime, one of the best ways to enjoy it is in a fresh seasonal salad. It can be as simple as tender greens tossed in oil and vinegar, or you can step up your salad by adding seasonal treats like leeks, radishes, and cucumbers. But to really maximize the nutritional benefits of your veggie assembly, you better throw an egg on top.

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition furthers prior research about the benefits of eating fat and vegetables together, by demonstrating higher absorption of certain antioxidants when a salad is eaten with eggs as opposed to without. Because antioxidants are fat-soluble compounds, the fats from the yolk help them enter the blood stream. So this spring, make the most of all that delicious and nutritious seasonal produce with our simple spring salad recipe - complete with egg.

Simple Spring Salad (Serves 12) • • • • • • •

2 heads of romaine lettuce 2 med. (1½ lb.) cucumbers ½ lb.green onions, diced ½ lb.young leeks, thinly sliced 5 (¼ lb) radishes, sliced ¼ cup of parsley, diced 6 hard-boiled eggs, halved

• ¾ cups olive oil • ¾ cups red wine vinegar Instructions: • Evenly split first seven ingredients into 12 small salad bowls, arranged in the order listed (lettuce on the bottom of the bowl; half an egg at the top).

• Mix olive oil & red wine vinegar for a basic dressing accenting the veggies.

• Cucumbers contain fisetin, an antiinflammatory flavonol believed to play an important role in your brain health; as well as polyphenols called lignans, which may help to lower risk of breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancers.

• Radishes contain significant amounts of vitamin C and a few not-so-familiar phytochemicals such as detoxifying indoles and the powerful antioxidant flavonoid beta carotene. They also contain an important antioxidant called sulforaphane, a proven cancer fighter. A true health-giving workhorse, radishes aid in other healthful tasks like purifying kidney and urinary systems, regulating blood pressure, relieving congestion, and preventing respiratory problems including asthma and bronchitis.

• Leeks contain notable quantities of antioxidants, and vitamins A and K, along with healthy amounts of folic acid, niacin, and magnesium. Like onions and garlic, leeks have mighty sulfur-containing compounds - such as allicin - that fight dangerous free radicals in your body and protect your heart.

Oh, that crazy cucumber!

By Teri Pizza

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ommonly conceived as a vegetable, originating from the gourd family and technically a fruit, although its contents are actually 96% water, the widelycultivated cucumber definitely qualifies as crazy!

Adding to its identity crisis, even the cucumber’s status as a food is limiting - it’s been used as aromatherapy, a beauty secret to treat puffy eyes; when rubbed across the bathroom mirror, a cucumber slice will even defog the view of the your reflection after a shower. Legend has it, it’s even a hangover cure (if eaten before going to bed).

When not beautifying and detoxifying, the cucumber also serves as formidable defender of gardens, scaring away a variety of grubs and slugs. To make use of them this way, just lay a few slices of cucumber in an aluminum pie pan and place them in your garden. Combining cu-

cumber and aluminum gives off a scent that makes pests eager to leave the area.

Known for their hydrating and energizing properties, cucumbers are even handy when kicking a coffee habit - their high nutrient density makes them an instant pick-me-up with lasting energy.

To use this way, throw peeled, sliced and diced cucumbers in a pitcher of ice water as an alternative to your favorite caffeinated beverage.

Try energizing cucumber water as a healthy caffeine alternative.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 14 R

Types of Cucumbers This all-purpose plant comes in three basic types: the slicers, the picklers and the burpless variety. Slicing cucumbers are the long, straight cucumbers commonly seen in supermarkets.

They’re bred for fresh eating, with thin, non-bitter skins and slow-developing seeds. Pickling cucumbers are shorter, stouter and have more spines, as well as drier flesh that allows them to soak up more of the brine they’re pickled in. “Burpless” cucumbers are technically slicing cucumbers, bred to produce less of the bitter chemical that releases gas in the stomach.

Selecting and Storing When selecting cucumbers from the garden or the farmer’s market, try to avoid the “fruits” with yellow or shriveled skin. Choose those even in color, without bruises and firm to the touch.

Once in the kitchen, don’t wash your cucumbers until you are

ready to use them. Wrap whole cucumbers in plastic and store them in your refrigerator for up to seven days. Cut cucumber will store no more than two days.

Produce Powerhouse Cucumbers are pretty impressive in the nutrition and health department. They contain most of your daily vitamins, including vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 & C as well as folic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Its high water content also makes the cucumber a dieter’s dream, great for both di-

gestion and cleansing the bowel.

If all that’s not enough, the cucumber’s photochemicals kill the bacteria responsible for bad breath just like a breath mint!

With its endless uses and potent nutritional value, this puzzling cucumber surely deserves a little space in your refrigerator.

It may be crazy, but it’s one produce powerhouse!

Find more great tips on 70 varieties of produce in Teri Pizza’s new book Simplicity of Fresh Produce, available at www.Amazon.com. Teri resides in Ocala.

Navigating Change: Understanding how new Social Security legislation may affect your benefit claiming strategies

By David Novak

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ou may have heard about recent changes to Social Security claiming strategies, but aren’t entirely sure how they affect you, if at all. A subject as complex as Social Security is easy to misunderstand, especially considering that factors like divorce, disability, death - and even your spouse’s earnings history - may greatly alter your benefit eligibility. Notoriously complicated and hotly debated - this federal program recently changed dramatically when new legislation passed in late 2015; rules that may very well alter your optimal claiming strategy. Here’s what you need to know, and how it will affect you.

What aspects of Social Security were altered by the late 2015 legislation?

Back in 2000, the Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act was created, intended to avoid penalizing people for working longer. There were two main “voluntary suspension” claiming strategies created by this act, which allowed those who had already claimed Social Security to stop benefit payments and build delayed retirement credits.

• File-and-Suspend. This strategy enables a spouse to file for spousal Social Security benefits before the worker is ready to claim his or her own benefit.

This has allowed spouses the ability to increase their combined net benefit.

• Restricted application for spousal benefits. This enables the higher-earning spouse to receive only the spousal benefit from the lower-earning spouse while his or her own benefit accrues delayed credits. As with File-andSuspend, this strategy also results in a higher overall benefit for the couple.

How have these voluntary suspension strategies recently changed?

As claims grew much faster than contributions, Social Security became more underfunded with each passing year.

Soon, voluntary suspension strategies -

entirely legal under Social Security rules - were labeled as “loopholes” for the affluent, and mounting pressures to resolve a hemorrhaging system resulted in a recent budget deal closing the “loopholes.”

As a result of the new legislation, File-and-Suspend ends on May 1. No more spousal or dependent benefits will be paid from suspended benefits, with one exception: those born before May 1, 1950 will be grandfathered in under old rules. If that’s you, be advised that the deadline to formally apply for Fileand-Suspend is April 30. The restricted application for spousal benefits will also end, and grandfather in some Americans, those born before Jan. 1, 1954. Everyone else entitled to both his/her own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit will now only be paid the larger of the two.

In light of these changes, what do I need to now consider when calculating my estimated Social Security benefits?

First, many of the advertised Social Security calculators available online claim to analyze your personal work history, tax filing status and financial information to offer you a custom optimal claiming strategy. Be aware, many of these online tools may not have been updated to reflect the new voluntary suspension regulations, so verify directly that they apply current legislation before counting on an automated tool’s advice.

Second, since paper Social Security statements are only sent every five years, be sure you’re working with current details. For access to the most up-to-date information, set up a personalized account at SocialSecurity.gov/MyAccount.

Changes like this are a great time to review not only your Social Security claiming strategy, but your overall retirement plan, to ensure you are maximizing income in this new environment.

David Novak, CFP® is a Certified Financial PlannerTM at Novak & Powell Financial Services in Pinellas County. For more information, email him at david@novakpowell.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 15

BEYOND THE OBVIOUS Unexpected paths to cancer prevention

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he central focus of most common cancer prevention strategies is to live a healthier life. While timeless tenets like eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting adequate rest, and avoiding too much alcohol or sun exposure are unrivaled pieces of advice, those at high risk for cancer - and those who have already survived it - often seek additional ways to protect themselves from this difficult disease.

In an effort to treat an illness of such massive proportions, researchers are approaching cancer from every angle - in search of innovative ways to cure it, and prevent it. By studying the relationship between cancer and the complex systems that comprise our bodies, unexpected - and clinically-proven - ways to reduce cancer risk have revealed themselves. Here’s a few of the top new tips.

1

Amp up your protein intake. Often associated with muscle-building efforts, protein-rich diets aid more than athletic performance and the crafting of an impressive physique. Fuel for cellular maintenance and repair, vital to fluid balance and antibody production, and key to transporting iron and oxygen to every cell, protein powers a whole host of physiological processes. Since your body is best at staving off any disease when it’s in optimal condition, incorporate at least 6-8 oz. of high-quality protein (especially those rich in omega-3s) into your daily diet.

Keep your bedroom dark and your sleep schedule strict. Nightly exposure to light may lead to increased risk of ovarian and breast cancer in women, research reveals. Light suppresses production of melatonin - the brain chemical that regulates human sleep cycles - which could increase the release of estrogen-fueled cancer. One study demonstrated increased breast cancer risk among women who didn’t sleep during times when their melatonin levels are naturally the highest - levels begin to rise in the evening, remain high for most of the night, and then drop in the early morning hours - so maximize health with a sleep schedule attuned to your body’s natural rhythms.

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Making friends with Prebiotics & Probiotics. Colon, rectal and colorectal cancer are now understood to be linked to microbial problems in the gut. Studies show those diagnosed with these cancers have less “good gut bacteria” and increased harmful gut strains known to be linked to cancer. Because beneficial flora (probiotics) may prevent the growth of these harmful strains, they’re increasingly recommended for cancer prevention. They modify the overall balance of gut bacteria in favor of the beneficial kind, and are thought to help prevent harmful enzyme activity in the gut, prevent damage to gut cells, and promote beneficial interactions with the cells of the colon. Recently, prebiotics and probiotics have been found to stimulate the immune system and several other biological processes important for maintaining good health and preventing can-

cer. Try to include regular sources of probiotics and prebiotics in your diet, like asparagus and banana (prebiotics) and coconut water and yogurt (probiotics).

Get 15 minutes of sunlight every day. Almost 90% of your body’s vitamin D is absorbed directly from sunlight - not food or supplements.

And research reveals a deficiency in it lowers cellular communication and cooperation, which allows cancer cells to spread. Proper levels of Vitamin D promote proper cell maturation and reproduction - both of which prevent cancer growth - and people with Ddeficiency have a higher risk of many cancers: breast, colon, prostate, ovarian and stomach, as well as osteoporosis, diabetes and high blood pressure. But avoid overexposure, which can cause skin cancer - 15 minutes a day is all you need for adequate levels of vitamin D.

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April’s “Share Your Story” Challenge: ETIQUETTE & ELECTION SEASON “No part of the education of a politician is more indispensable than the fighting of elections.” - Winston Churchill

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 16 R

Observing the chaos of our current presidential race might make the innocence of America’s earliest election - Washington ran unopposed, heroically agreeing to do so only at the people’s insistence - a little hard to believe. Resembling nothing like the unanimous win of the world’s first popularly-elected president, races run by contemporary Chiefs-of-staff have been called everything from a war to a circus.

Spending billions of dollars and multiple years on political campaigns characterized by massive media exposure, intimate personal investigations and negative advertising attacks, presidential candidates’ bids are being increasingly condemned by critics as boundary-less battles birthing unchangeable domestic shame and irreversible international embarassment.

But is the absense of etiquette from American presidential campaigns really all that new? Rosemarie Ostler, author of “Slinging Mud...Two Centuries of American Politics,” says contrary to

popular belief, campaigns weren’t more gentlemanly in the past and the 1800 race between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson is still one of the dirtiest in history.

So this month, we want to know...

Has the etiquette of presidential elections devolved in your lifetime, or is mudslinging the American way? Why? Who is really responsible for fighting dirty media, PACs, special interest groups or the candidates themselves? How can we mend the system to mirror ideal values?

With “Etiquette & Elections” as the subject line, email an essay or response to editor@lifestylesafter50.com for a chance to be published in April’s issue!

Celebrate this Earth Day in new and old ways Classic and creative ideas honor the origins of a holiday more relevant than ever

By Amanda Smith he conception of Earth Day was literally a grassroots affair. Engaged American citizens concerned about the future of their planet declared an annual holiday called Earth Day, intent on sending a clear message to their nation’s political leadership that they expected legislative action and environmental change. Credited with launching the “Environmental decade” with a bang - Earth Day cemented a conservation crusade that affected real legislative progress, as the resulting Superfund law of 1980 cleaned up some of the nation’s most contaminated areas. In spite of impressive environmental activism, modern society’s relationship with the Earth is still very much strained. According to the activist group EcoCycle, in the past 50 years we’ve consumed more natural resources than in all previous history combined.

In an age of inflation, technological takeover and international conflict, it’s easy to deprioritize preserving the planet in the face of what appear to be far more pressing issues. But Earth Day’s annual return reminds us not to lose sight of preserving Earth’s beauty and value, awakening us to all the ways it sustains us. Fortunately, showing green gratitude and doing green good deeds are activities where the more you give the more you get, and time outdoors is almost always time well-spent. Connecting to the earth, whether through preservation efforts or just the sheer enjoyment of it, always offers the opportunity to absorb its peace and tranquility.

So in honor of the holiday’s humble beginnings, here are a few everyday ways to affect environmental change in your little corner of the world. This Earth Day, not only will you help the planet, you just might realize new reasons to love it.

2. Turning more trash into treasure If you’re a gardener and you’ve never heard of composting, here’s some good news: not only does it reduce the amount of waste you produce, it also transforms earth-based waste into a product for gardening, landscaping and tending house plants. Make a homemade composter by routinely adding natural waste into large, old garden pots on a daily basis. Stir to help break things down. In a few months you’ll have a fertilizer supplement that you can spread all over the garden as you watch “garbage” become rich dark dirt that makes your garden grow.

1. A crafty way to put less in the landfill If you’ve got an artsy thumb in addition to your green one, here’s a great activity reusing two items that often end up in the landfill - plastic water bottles and old newspaper. Reduce your waste and create unique art all at once by making a beautiful paper mache vase to hold fresh flowers from your garden.

3. Revive the fundamental spirit of Earth Day by getting back to its roots Honor those who envisioned Earth Day by awakening your own inner-activist.

Write letters to policymakers and corporations about key environmental issues.

Research which issues impact your local community most, and do what you can do to make a difference for planet Earth.

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DIY Pretty Paper Mache Vases • Cover plastic drinking bottles with several layers of strips of newspaper dipped in liquid starch (or a watered down glue or flour mixture)..

• Paint the bottle with acrylic paints and a coat of Modge Podge, then allow ample time to dry.

• Decorate them with yarn, beads, buttons, or glass beads - get creative!

• Your new vases are waterproof so they can be used to display fresh, dried or silk flowers. Enjoy!

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 17

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 18

RN HOW TO PLAN FOR PETS IN AN EMERGENCY

hure "Our Best Friends Deserve Better Plans" has all tion on Estate Planning for Pets and Florida's Pet is FREE! This brochure helps pet owners plan for their emergency or in case their pets outlive them. Use this r your free materials.

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MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR HOME SWEET HOME Maximize your home’s potential with improvements that actually increase value

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ndertaking home improvements is no leisurely task, and if you’re making major changes you’re probably talking major bucks. One of the many reasons homeowners invest in such a costly endeavor is because they foresee selling their home in the future - maybe to downsize, maybe to move closer to family - and they want to maximize the market value of the home. However, not all home improvement projects are created equal and it’s all too easy to get it all wrong. While you may think stainless steel appliances will “wow” prospective buyers, if the roof leaks or the air conditioning system in a Florida home is less than stellar, it won’t matter how shiny the kitchen is. If you’re considering home improvements this spring and hope to achieve an impressive ROI, here are our expert tips on getting the most bang for your buck.

Focus on your curb appeal. First impressions are key and your home is no exception. That’s why investing in curb appeal - your home’s attractiveness as viewed from the street - is always wise. Studies show in a buyer’s mind, a home’s interior is only as nice - and as valuable - as its exterior. Buyers won’t even consider viewing the inside of a home if its exterior doesn’t impress.

BOOST CURB APPEAL • Update your front door with a fresh coat of paint and a new handle.

• Manicure the lawn. Mow, prune and weed to show you take pride in your home. You’ll be surprised what a fresh layer of mulch can do.

• Pressure wash the driveway. Oil stains make a bad first impression.

Choose your big projects wisely.

When making upgrades, always consider the ROI potential - even if you don’t plan to sell your home right away.

To predict which projects will pay dividends, balance the trends - see the Top 3 to the right - with factors specific to your home. Ensure that the improvements you invest in are proportional to your home’s estimated market value.

Fix leaks before tweaks. Prioritize your projects and put first things first.

Before spending your entire home improvement budget on granite countertops and fancy appliances, get back to basic and check things most buyers take for granted. In a place like Florida, a weak air conditioning system will overshadow even the most impressive of indulgent home upgrades.

• New entry and garage doors play to the curb appeal factor.

• Decks are such a smart home addition because they increase living area at a minimal cost per square ft.

• New windows are pricey, but the right ones add light & aesthetics - as well as making a room appear larger.

FIX THESE FIRST • Walls and ceilings are all freshly painted and crack-free • All gutters are clean, with functional draining patterns leading away from the house • All windows are in good condition (inside and out), sealed well and have damage-free screens

Don’t price your home out of the market. Having a limitless budget is never a bad thing, right? Wrong. If expensive projects become excessive, you run the risk of raising your home’s market value too far above your neighbors. Then, you’ll alienate buyers in the pricier range (they want to live in higher-priced neighborhoods) as well as buyers who like your area but now can’t afford your home.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 20

MAX OUT YOUR ROI

NICE BUT NOT TOO NICE • Familiarize yourself with your street’s average home price - buyers won’t buy the most expensive house in the neighborhood.

• Consult local real estate experts before beginning renovations.

• If your goal is to sell, choose classic & conservative upgrades..

Do you know a special senior?

Nominate an extraordinary senior in your life for the 2016 Salt & Pepper Outstanding Senior Awards hosted by Senior Connection Center

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f you know an amazing senior whose accomplishments should be recognized and celebrated, now is the time to help them shine. Senior Connection Center is currently accepting nominations for the 2016 Salt & Pepper Outstanding Senior Awards, created to celebrate the countless contributions of extraordinary older Floridians.

To be considered for an award, a senior must be nominated by a fellow community member. Award eligibility to open to all nominated residents of Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Highlands or Hardee County, who are ages 60 and up. Community members must nominate senior candidates for one of the following categories: Education & Mentoring, Health & Wellness, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, or Community Service & Philanthropy. The deadline for nominating a special senior in your community is April 29. Five winners, one from each category, will be selected by the Senior Connection Center Event

The secret habit of the happiest couples

A pair of relationship experts claim a willingness to fight - fairly - may be the key to unlocking relationship bliss.

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2016 Salt & Pepper Outstanding Senior Awards: It’s time to honor the backbones of our communities

Planning Committee. Winners will be announced and presented with their Awards at the Rise & Shine Inspirational Breakfast & Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 25, at the Embassy Suites Tampa - USF. To nominate your favorite senior for the 2016 Salt & Pepper Outstanding Senior Awards, download an application at http://tinyurl.com/h3ju9r4. For more information about the 2016 Awards, visit SeniorConnectionCenter.org.

here’s always some new relationship advice out there, but this one might take the cake. A married pair of relationship experts just put out a new book called The Heart of the Fight, because, according to co-author Dr. Judith Wright, “Arguing is the most powerful tool that a couple has for growing stronger. Only when a couple masters the art of productive fighting can they reach the highest levels of intimacy and closeness.”

Much like mine, if your eyebrows raised at this premise, Dr. Wright elaborates: “Happy couples are happy because they’re willing to fight! It’s actually how you fight that really matters.”

Her new book is not so much about fighting advocacy as it is about how to turn ugly fights into golden opportunities for greater intimacy. Here’s a brief rundown of The Heart of the Fight’s “Seven Rules for Fighting Fair.”

1. Reduce negativity. Avoid destructive tactics (blaming, sarcasm, etc.) No fight is perfect but low blows get you nowhere.

2. Promote positivity. Pair each complaint with a way your partner matters to you.

3. Never take or give over 50% of the blame. It’s not easy, but if you can stick to this rule, you’ll be amazed how much more productive your fight will be.

4. Be 100% responsible for your own happiness. It’s your job. If you need help, a partner is not a mind reader. Be direct.

5. Express & agree with the truth, always. Fights reveal a lot of truth, but we don’t admit it. If you were wrong, fess up.

6. Fight for, not against. Identify your desired outcome and go towards that.

7. Assume goodwill. Extend the benefit of the doubt by keeping in mind your love.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 21 R

Sudoku #261 Solution #260

SUDOKU

Last Month’s Answers

9 8 Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.

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7 is last month’s winner!

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April Sudoku Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well.

Good luck! The first correct answers selected from the drawing on the 20th will win.

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: Lifestyles After 50 P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

WIN GREAT PRIZES! SUDOKU MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE 20TH OF THE MONTH.

# 262

Question: When was Earth Day first celebrated? (hint: the answer is in this issue) Your Answer: Send in the correct answer to be entered in a drawing to win a prize each month!

Deadline for entries: Apr. 16, 2016. Drawing held Apr. 20, 2016.

Name Address City

State

Email

Phone Mail to: Lifestyles After 50, P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL, 33583

Gary Anderson Jr. from Ocala is last month’s winner!

The answer was: Hawaii and Arizona Play more trivia online and win more prizes at www.lifestylesafter50.com

Click on the Trivia Palooza button and answer a Trivia question each week for a chance to win a prize at the end of each month.

# 261

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Solution #261

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Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: LIFESTYLES AFTER 50 P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 22

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The first correct answers selected from the drawing on April 20 will win.

MYSTERY PRIZE!

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

MYSTERY PRIZE!

(Puzzles must be received by the 20th of the month)

M R E T N U O C C P B R

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Today's Category: Fruits and Vegetables

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# 261

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Jean Burt is last month’s winner!

P D S L I D S V C G F S A F Congratulations!

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Seniors Getting Together

WOMEN SEEKING MEN

4541 – WW WHITE LADY, SENIOR, is looking for a Gentleman, 70 - 75 for 4119 SEEKING CHRISTIAN friendship and a nice conversation.

GENTLEMAN Former airline Pasco, Ocala, Pinellas area. stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., widow, slender, white with Ph.D. in MEN SEEKING WOMEN healthcare. Fulbright scholar, eats 4472 WHITE MALE, 5’9”, 165 LBS., healthy & exercises. Likes sports age 61, Looking for female, age and animals. Loves the Lord.

61 to 71, HWP, NS. Looking for laid 4485 CHRISTIAN LADY, WHITE, back woman, likes fishing, going to YOUNG for my age, in the 70s, ISO the beach, taking day trips. Looking gentle man, 68 – 80, NS, presentable. for romance. Send letter and photo.

I like music, exercises, movies, etc. 4481 SBM, 5’11”, 160 LBS., in Attractive, loving and nice. good health, retired government 4510 SEEKING WHITE MALE employee, active, honest, SM, SD, White female, 5’7”, medium build, ISO similar lady, loves sports.

4513 SWM, WIDOWED, 84, 6’2”, 180 lbs., good health, Korean Vet. Polish, Catholic, Democrat, former Chicagoan, looking for tall slender gal.

Like dancing, biking, travel & Chopin.

Let’s get together and have fun.

4522 SWM, 80YY, WW, honest, very active. ISO SWF for companionship.

SOH, likes walks in park, short trips, other choices. Dinner or coffee?

4545 White Male, 6’, 195 lbs., very active 80 year old, ISO female, 60 - 75 that likes sports, travel, music and golf, together with humor and fun.

TO PLACE AN AD

Send your ad, stating what category you would like it placed in, your edition(s), along with a $6 fee for 30 words (25¢ for each additional word, abbreviations not charged) to the News Connection USA, Inc. address listed below. Ads received by the 15th of the month will appear in the following issue. No more than three ads will be accepted each month per person. The editor reserves the right to edit any ads for space or content. In order to protect our readers’ privacy, we will not include phone numbers, e-mail or home addresses in the ad copy. City or area included at no charge.

TO RESPOND TO AN AD: Write a letter to the person you want to contact. Place that letter in a stamped envelope and write the ad number on the bottom left hand side of the envelope. Place your stamped, numbered envelope(s), along with $2 for each letter enclosed, into another envelope and send it to: Lifestyles After 50, Seniors Getting Together, P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33584

some college education, loves the 4523 MATE: 5’7”, 190 LBS, 80, beach. Davenport Area. white. Looking for fun and romance.

Lady ages 60-75. Send letter and 4518 RETIRED EDUCATOR. WWF photo please. seeks NS, ND, aged 60 – 70 with SOH. I am a hopeless romantic, love 4545 White Male, 6’, 195 lbs., very to cuddle, enjoy most any activities, active 80 year old, ISO female, 60 - 75 seeking LTR. I am loyal, trustworthy, that likes sports, travel, music and honest and seeking the same. golf, together with humor and fun.

F-Female, M-Male, S-Single, D-Divorced, WW-Widow, A-Asian, B-Black, H-Hispanic, I-Indian, W-White, C-Christian, J-Jewish, YO-Years Old, YY-Years Young, ISO-In Search Of, SOH-Sense Of Humor, SM-Smokes, S-Light Smoker, NS-Non Smoker, ND-Non Drinker, SD-Social (Light) Drinker, DR-Drinks, NDrg- No Drugs, LTR-Long Term Relationship, HWP-Height & Weight Proportional, R-Retired, P-Professional, FF-Friendship First, TLC-Tender Loving Care.

I’D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT...

RUN YOUR AD FOR ONLY $6 A MONTH

o o o o o

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o o o o o o

Housing Options Home Improvement Leisure Time Finance/Law Funeral Planning Other:

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SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER Personal Ad Placement

Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month prior to placement.

Only $6 to place an ad!

Mark The Edition(s) You Would Like To Run Your Ad In: Polk Tampa Bay & Suncoast (Hillsborough/Pinellas/Pasco) Lake/Marion/Sumter Southwest (Lee, Collier, Charlotte)

Ad Copy • Please Print Neatly • 30 Word Limit

Check box(s) above to let us know what you’d like to read about in Lifestyles After 50.

Title (First 4 Words):

Please contact me by: o Mail o Phone o E-mail Entries will be collected by Lifestyles After 50 for future promotions, special offers and marketing.

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If more room is needed, please use separate sheet. Mail this form along with $6 for each ad per month (add $4 for each additional edition/market in the same month).

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PK

Complete this form and mail it to Lifestyles After 50 • P.O. Box 638 • Seffner, FL 33584

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Name: Address: City: Phone:

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MAIL TO: ATTN. / SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER, NEWS CONNECTION, USA, INC. • P.O. BOX 638., SEFFNER, FL 33583 Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 23 R