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Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081 P.O. Box 498 Sterling, IL 61081
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Fall 2015
BOOMERS
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Boomers Fall 2015
A history of caring.
Rehab/Skilled Care | Outpatient Therapy Senior Housing with Services | Affordable Housing To learn more about our community in Prophetstown, call (815) 537-5175.
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society provides housing and services to qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, disability, familial status, national origin or other protected statuses according to applicable federal, state or local laws. Some services may be provided by a third party. All faiths or beliefs are welcome. Š 2015 The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. All rights reserved.
Boomers Fall 2015
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WHAT’S INSIDE Publisher Sam R Fisher
Business: It’s early to bread, early to rise for Erie woman ...............Pages 4-6
Advertising Director Jennifer Heintzelman
At Home: Parents are fluffing their empty nest ...............................Pages 8-9
Advertising Sales Jill Reyna Kelly Shroyer Editors Kathleen Schultz Rusty Schrader
Pastimes: Local couple enjoys their role in history .................... Pages 10-11 On The Road: Older bikers are born to be wild – and mild ...... Pages 12-13 Recreation: Give them a home, where the boomers can roam .. Pages 14-15 Pets: Retirees debate whether to own a pet ............................... Pages 16-17 Planning: Too much info can be a family recipe for trouble ....... Pages 18-19
Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media, P.O. Box 498, Sterling, IL 61081, 815-625-3600. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this guide is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.
A Community that cares for you in Whiteside County
One and two bedroom Assisted Living apartments each with its own private bath and kitchen or kitchenette. Some of the services included are restaurant style meals, personal laundry, and housekeeping services, along with assistance with the activities of daily living. Windsor Manor also offers 10 memory care studio apartments in its Windsor Gardens neighborhood, with service and programs tailored to people who are living with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. Designed to help residents and their families feel safe and secure, additional building features include a personalized emergency wireless pendant system and round-the-clock assistance.
www.windsor-manor.com/home/find-a-community/morrison/
Scenic Street
Candle-icious
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Sycamore Street
403 Scenic Street Morrison, IL 61270 815-772-4031
Sunset Drive
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Boomers Fall 2015
BOOMER BUSINESS | ‘THE BREAD LADY’
BY LONNIE C. MILLER Special to Boomers
, d a e br o t y l r a E
o t y l r ea
le p o e p t s o When m in bed, are still on a roll s i g n E i l Shel
ERIE – Some people watch the sun rise. Shelli Eng watches the dough rise. It just so happens that she does both at the same time. The Erie woman is no stranger to hard work. She gets up before the crack of dawn to make her homemade treats, which she sells at the Morrison Farmers’ Market, and at her Erie farmhouse. Eng, 55, began baking in response to her daughter’s health needs, which required specific ingredients be used to avoid illness. Shelli uses organic ingredients, such as cage-free, hormone-free eggs sourced from Clay Hill Farms in Woodhill, and homegrown herbs. Those ingredients, coupled with her grandmother’s recipes, are used to create products that folks line up to purchase. Like the Proverbs 31 lady, She rises while it is yet dark, and starts baking. She got her nickname “The Bread Lady” from local farmers who would smell cinnamon rolls baking before the sun rose, and stop on their way to the fields to buy fresh, hot rolls topped with old-fashioned frosting. At 5 a.m. Shelli would hear a knock on her door, then, “Hey, Bread Lady, are the rolls ready yet?” These days, she sets up a beautifully arranged farm stand in front of her home every Sunday to sell her homemade treats, as well on Saturdays at the Morrison Farmers’ Market when it’s open (the last market for 2015 was Sept. 26). By the time she opens for business, there are baskets and trays filled with homemade scones, garlic bread and sticks, French bread, brownies, wholegrain breads, and northern-style cornbread – and, of course, those aforementioned cinnamon rolls. BREAD LADY CONTINUED ON 6
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Boomers Fall 2015
Customers come from near and far BREAD LADY
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The steady flow of customers at her stand attests to Shelli’s inherited baking skills. Her grandmother, who taught Shelli cooking from a batch of recipes with no measurements listed, was once asked to be the personal chef for President John F. Kennedy’s mother, Rose Kennedy. It was a job that she turned down to stay near her family. Now, Shelli has achieved a sort of notoriety of her own, and her customers are loyal, sometimes traveling from out of town just to buy “The Bread Lady’s” goodies on Saturday and Sunday. At a farmers market earlier this year, Madalyn Barta, 9, and her younger sister, Molly, were more than happy to purchase giant muffins stuffed with fruit for breakfast. They were visiting their grandmother, who’s a customer at the Morrison Farmers’ Market. “We love these muffins, and the brownies, and the cinnamon rolls!” said 6-yearold Molly, while Shelli carefully packed their purchases into a pink, reusable shopping bag that she provides to her customers. She shuns plastic bags, preferring instead to provide free totes to her customers. Phylicia Meiers, 29, and her daughters, Mariah, 4, and Angeliek, 10 months, traveled the nearly 15 miles from Albany to shop the farmers market. They purchased cinnamon rolls and blueberry muffins. “I stop whenever I am in the area, which is every couple weeks,” said Phylicia. “The prices are really reasonable, too.” Shelli also makes homemade doggie treats and biscuits – Poochie Crunchers, she calls them – but it’s not always the pooches crunching them. Bicycle riders stop for the dog biscuits to eat on long rides. The all-organic treats are coveted by the riders and eaten to sustain energy between meal stops. Although the farmers market is closed for the year, customers can still get their Bread Lady fix. Special orders can also be called in on Fridays and picked up on Sundays. So, if you happen to be in the Erie area one morning and catch a mouth-watering whiff of homemade dough, it’s probably Shelli, hard at work. Don’t be afraid to follow your nose; it’ll be well worth your time – and who knows, chances are you’ll be another person hooked on her home cooking, lining up at her door before the sun rises, asking “Hey, Bread Lady, are the rolls ready yet?”
Shelli Eng, aka “The Bread Lady,” helps customers choose baked goods in June at the Farmers Market in Morrison. Photos by Lonnie Miller/Special to Sauk Valley Media
More Info
You can find “The Bread Lady” selling her good goodies on Sundays at her farmhouse, 825 12th St., Erie, just one house off state Highway 2 at the Albany exit, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information or to place and order, call 309-912-4556 Online: facebook.com/The-Bread-Lady-1540890599473014/timeline/ The Morrison Farmers Market is done for this year, but you can check its website for updates and more information at morrisonfarmersmarket.com.
Doggie Treats made from organic ingredients are a favorite of bicyclists who use them for between-stop snacks. Dogs love them, too.
Boomers Fall 2015
The Serenity Shed:
A New Bereavement Center Opens in Oregon Serenity Hospice and Home is always looking for ways to stay innovative and smart in their approach to bereavement and grief. The Serenity Shed is their latest project and it opened its’ doors in August in downtown Oregon. People grieve in many different ways when faced with the loss of a loved one. Many people find that having a project to focus on alongside others in a similar situation helps a person work through their grief and sense of loss. The Serenity Shed, a new bereavement center in Oregon, will be a functional workshop where anyone can spend time working on the re-purposing of donated items or just visit with others while enjoying a cup of coffee. All supplies including power tools will be available and the center always welcomes donations of workshop materials or pieces of furniture. Repurposing old furniture and home items and turning them into beautiful new functional pieces has become the hobby of many Americans and Lynn Knodle, the Executive Director of Serenity saw a real opportunity when it came to the old furniture being donated to Angel Treasures, which is a resale shop supporting hospice. “At Serenity we are always looking for ways to help people handle their grief in new and creative ways,” said Lynn Knodle, the Executive Director of Serenity. “Working on projects with your hands and designing new pieces of furniture or doing something as simple as painting are proven therapeutic
to get you started.Once the items have been successfully repurposed, they will be sold in Angel Treasures and at the Serenity Shed. They will also be posted on our Facebook and other social media sites. All the proceeds will go to Serenity Hospice and Home.
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“We are always looking for ways to be smart and effective at Serenity,” Knodle said. “With just a little work, some of these donated items can be re-sold. But most importantly, we can now offer yet another type of grief assistance that has been proven to be very effective.”
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techniques to help handle grief. If you have ever been lost in a project or had a great conversation while working alongside someone, you can see the power of using this type of facility to work through the bereavement process.” People donate items to Angel Treasures all the time that cannot be sold “as is”. For example many pieces, such as a baby crib, cannot be legally re-sold, but they can be turned into a lovely bench or wine rack. Also pieces that are outdated can be re-painted and look like new.Some of the re-purposing gets quite creative, such as an old suitcase turned into a dog’s bed or an old coffee table transformed into a Lego play station. You do not have to have previous experience. We have people to help teach you the equipment and we have many ideas and instructions
The Serenity Shed has received the support of a grant offered by The A. Charles and Lillemor Lawrence Foundation based in Oregon, IL. The foundation looks for innovative thinkers and ideas in the local community that they can collaborate with on many different projects. The Serenity Shed has also already received support from the Village of Progress’s clients and hospice volunteers who have spent many hours helping to get the facility ready to open. We invite anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one to stop by the facility which is located at 131 N. 3rd St. in Oregon next to Conover Square. They are open Monday through Friday from 8-4:30 and evenings and weekends by appointment. “We invite everyone to stop by and get a real feel for what The Serenity Shed is all about,” Knodle said. “There are examples of repurposed items and people will be able to tour our new facility, ask questions and learn all about this new and exciting place.”
1668 S. Illinois Route 2 Oregon, Il 61061
Care, Comfort, and Compassion
For More Information, please call:
815-732-2499
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Boomers Fall 2015
BOOMER LIVING | AT HOME
Time to fluff your empty nest When your kids finally get a home of their own, it’s time to rethink yours Tribune News Service
Many baby boomers are finally saying goodbye to their adult children, who are moving out of the house and starting the next chapter in their lives. While some empty nesters are excited about this new phase, it can be a stressful time for others as they deal with this time of transition in their lives. When your kids move out and you’re faced with an empty nest, lots of questions come to mind. Should you move and downsize? If you stay, how should you use the kids’ rooms? What other changes should you make as you get older? Here are some different ways you can fluff that nest:
Focus on small DIY jobs
Although it can be bittersweet for boomer parents when they’re kids stop being kids and fade from the picture at home, it can also be an exciting time for Mom and Dad, who look forward to using the extra space.
With the kids out of the house, you may be surprised at how much free time you have. Use this time to tackle some of those home renovation jobs that have been on your to-do list for a while. Before you begin any project, however, look at your house – room by room – with a fresh set of eyes. EMPTY NEST CONTINUED ON 9
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Home offices can be a perk – and a necessity EMPTY NEST
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Now that the kids have grown up and moved out, it might be time for Mom and Dad to consider turning their bedrooms into a craft room or home office.
Now that your house doesn’t need to accommodate a growing family, how do you want to use each of the rooms to fit your new lifestyle? Perhaps the mudroom is no longer needed, but a craft room has always been on your wish list. Now you can focus on making those changes.
Create a home office You may be an empty nester, but you’re still an active member of the workforce. An extra bedroom or den previously used for family activities would be a great place to turn into a home office. Home offices are becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity with more people telecommuting or running their own businesses from their house.
Expand your space Depending on the age of your home, you may find that your master bedroom or bath is too small for comfort. Expand into space that isn’t being used to build the master bath of your dreams or to
Metro News Service
create a separate seating or dressing area in your bedroom. Incorporating these changes will not only create a home that suits your new lifestyle, but also may increase the value of your home when you decide to finally sell.
User-friendly home Many empty nesters hire remodelers to adapt their home to make it easy to use and maintain. Stairs often become a problem, but moving the master bedroom and the laundry room to the ground floor can be part of a solution
that gives homeowners many more years in the home they love. Building professionals who have earned the National Association of Home Builders’ Certified Aging-inPlace Specialist designation have received training on how to build or renovate a home so that the occupants can live in the home safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of their age or ability level. While most CAPS professionals are remodelers, an increasing number are general contractors, designers, architects and health care professionals.
IF YOU’RE 50+ Sterling Federal’s Four Seasons Club is for you. Have fun, enjoy friends on Four Seasons daytrips and tours. Join us for monthly card parties and special Four Seasons events.
Only Sterling Federal’s Four Seasons Club offers… • Travel Points Program. Members earn valuable points redeemable for free travel. • Free Trips to selected members on each trip. • Special Opportunities and benefits you deserve from your bank.
UPCOMING EVENTS Nov. 28 - Dec. 1
Christmas at Opryland, Nashville & Galt House, Louisville
“Put yourself in the Four Seasons Picture!”
Wednesday,October 21
Tuesday, November 3
Friday, November 13
Friday, November 18
Boetje’s Mustard Tour and Route 66 Circa ‘21 Dinner Theatre, Rock Island, IL
Seminar: Preparing to File for Social Security
Terry Fator: Singer,Ventriloquist, Comedian Paramount Theatre, Aurora
A Wonderful Life Fireside Dinner Theatre Ft. Atkinson, Wi
Rooftop Garden, McCormick Center
C’mon, join the club today! There’s no membership fee.You simply need to be age 50+ & have total deposits of $20,000 or more with Sterling Federal Bank. For details, call one of our Club Directors: Pam Stange 815-622-3362, Lynn Todtz in Clinton 563-242-9111
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Boomers Fall 2015
BOOMER PASTIMES | CIVIL WAR RE-ENACTMENTS
They have a role in history Sauk Valley couple are among the ranks of Civil War re-enactors ANDREW W. HEY Special to Boomers
Civil War re-enactors Tim and Mary Tedrick pose in period clothing of the 1860s.
STERLING – History has cast the Civil War as one that tore families apart and pitted brother against brother. But for a Sauk Valley family, that chapter of American history has brought them closer together. Tim and Mary Tedrick of Sterling have enlisted as history’s foot-soldiers. Their mission: not only preserve the past, but bring it to life. They and their family are among the thousands of people across the U.S. – Time magazine estimated their ranks at about 50,000 – who are Civil War re-enactors. Most people have a hard time imagining what it would be like to live during the Civil War. It was a different time when our country’s men were pitched in battle on American soil. CIVIL WAR CONTINUED ON 11
The health care needs of today’s seniors are changing. And, we are changing too! For more details call Dennis Grobe, Administrator, at: (815) 379-2131 HeritageofCare.com/walnut • Facebook.com/HeritageofCare 308 S. Second St. Walnut, IL 61376
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Some actors take their Civil War duties seriously CIVIL WAR
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But thanks to the dedication of Civil War re-enactors, people don’t have to leave it up to their imagination to wonder what life was like on America’s front lines in the 19th century. The Tedricks have been taking part in re-enactments since the early 1990s. Tim and Mary were high school sweethearts who met while participating in theater productions. She and Tim took part in their first re-enactment in 1991 and have been doing them since. When Mary, 58, was in first grade, her great-aunt gave her a dress she had worn in the 1800s. This served as the spark for Mary’s interest in history and the catalyst for taking part in the historical recreations that would become part of her life. Tim, 60, was introduced to re-enactments through one of his business clients. Today, Tim’s a member of Battery G, a Civil War re-enactment group based in the Rockford area. Civil War re-enactors play their roles for many reasons. For some, it’s a passion for history. Others revel in the role of soldier or officer. Still others enjoy being a part of something that unites people to remem-
ber the war the divided a nation. The role a person plays can vary. Some people like to be general characters because it allows them to change who they are portraying. Others prefer playing a specific character. “Some people like to create and build the character they have become more and more at each event,” Tim said. Although many people, like the Tedricks, enjoy reenacting as a hobby, some raise the bar, taking the event seriously and honoring their responsibility to preserving history. They’re diligent about details, right down to the stitching on the pants and following military commands. One such event Tim and Mary attended was in Springfield. “It was a recreation of Lincoln’s funeral,” Tim said, complete with a stage and funeral service to immerse the audience in the experience of the President’s funeral. Tim and Mary both say reenacting has helped bring their family closer together. When their children, Sean and Alison, were younger, they experienced what it would be like to grow up during the Civil War through re-enactments. They have continued to attend events with their parents, as well as Tim’s parents, who
More info
To learn more about Battery G, go to Batteryg.org, or email Tom Lyons at tplyonsiii@gmail.com. To have a presentation done by Tim and Mary, call Tim at his Sterling office at 815-626-1277, or email him at timtedrick@hotmail.com. joined in 1992. But as time puts more distance between today and yesteryear, it’s also taking its toll on Civil War re-enactments. While the Civil War has long been the favored war to reenact, World War II re-enactments are growing in popularity. According to a 2014 article in The Week magazine, older re-enactors are retiring from their historic hobby, but younger ones aren’t filling the ranks at the same pace. The Great Recession has also had an impact on what can be a costly pastime. But despite a dip in popularity, it doesn’t look like Civil War re-enactors will be waving the white flag anytime soon. The war may have ended 150 years ago, but as long as there are people like the Tedricks, and others who want to continue the civil discourse, the North and South will rise again.
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Boomers Fall 2015
BOOMERS ON THE ROAD | MOTORCYCLES
Born to be wild – and mild Motorcycle makers shift gears to meet the demands of older riders Tribune News Service
MILWAUKEE – Jim Heppe bought his first motorcycle nearly a half-century ago, when he was a teenager, and has been riding most of his life. Now 65, he’s throttled back some from riding 800 miles in a single day, but he still takes an occasional trip to Sturgis, South Dakota, and many trips closer to his home. MOTORCYCLES CONTINUED ON 13
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2015 TOURS Nov. 2-7
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2015 DAY TRIPS
“Route 66”,
Circa ‘21 Dinner Theatre
History & Country Music (Christmas)
Galesburg
Woodfield Mall
Schaumburg
“A Wonderful Life”
Fireside Dinner Theatre
“Christmas in the Country” Craft Show
Sandwich, IL (indoors)
Gurnee Outlet Mall
Gurnee, IL
Downtown Shopping
Chicago
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2016 TOURS
Aug / Sept Alaska!! Plans being made now, Get your name on the list!! November
Branson
15049 Lyndon Rd., Morrison 815-772-2232 • 800-829-2130 Visit our website for complete list of trips & tours www.wiersemacharter.com
LEE-OGLE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Lee-Ogle Transportation System will take you where you need to go in the area Monday through Friday from 6am to 6pm.
Provides Transportation for all residents in Lee and Ogle County Regardless of age, ability, or disability Current Fare Schedule
• Age 0-5 In-Town $1.00 • Age 0-5 Out-Of-Town $0.35/mile • Age 6-59 In-Town $2.00 • Age 6-59 Out-Of-Town $0.35/mile • Age 60+/Disability In-Town $1.00 • Age 60+/Disability Out-Of-Town: $0.35/mile
Call 815-288-2117 to schedule a ride or to provide a donation today! Lee-Ogle Transportation System is located at the Reagan Transit Center at 210 E. Progress Drive in Dixon!
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Older bikers need to be mindful of riding risks MOTORCYCLES CONTINUED FROM 12
That bodes well for companies like Harley-Davidson Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of heavyweight motorcycles, which want to keep folks like Heppe in the saddle – and buying new bikes as long as possible. “I am going to keep riding as long as I can. I believe that when you quit, you get older a lot quicker,” said Heppe, who has owned about 10 motorcycles in his lifetime and now rides a 2009 Harley-Davidson Street Glide. Nationwide, 39 percent of motorcycle owners are 51 to 69, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. Americans 50 and older control 77 percent of the total net worth in the nation, U.S. News & World Report said in 2014, and that represents a huge market for companies like Harley-Davidson. Harley’s core customers – white males 35 and older – continue to be an important part of the business, even as the company aggressively pursues “outreach” customers – those 18 to 34, women, African-Americans and Hispanics.
The company takes a “balanced approach” to make sure it has the right products for customers at all stages of their lives, said Ken Ostermann, integrated marketing operations general manager. Some of that includes comfort features appealing to older riders and others who spend a lot of time in the saddle, but that don’t give the bikes a “senior look.” Some older bikers want fast motorcycles, known as “sport bikes,” where the rider is in a crouched position for aerodynamics and bike performance. That includes baby boomers, said Erik Buell, founder of the Wisconsin company that bears his name. “I am 64 and I ride a sport bike all of the time. I would also rather drive a sports car than a luxury car, and I am willing to bet that people who buy Corvettes are also a bit older. It makes you feel young,” Buell said. If there’s a downside to more older folks on motorcycles, though, it’s that a high number of them are seriously injured or killed in crashes. In 2012, the worst year for motorcyclist fatalities in Wisconsin in decades, 60 percent of the victims were between 46 and 65, an increase from years ago when
most of the fatal crashes involved much younger riders. Some of the increase stems from motorcyclists, overall, being an older crowd now. But some of it could be linked to more people starting to ride in their 50s or returning to the sport after a lengthy hiatus and losing their skills. “There are guys who rode when they were in their 20s, then got married, had a career, raised a family, and the bike took a back seat. Now they’re starting to relive their youth,” said Tony Sanfelipo, an accident investigator for the law firm Hupy & Abraham and a founder of Abate of Wisconsin, a motorcyclists rights group. “I suspect that guys are coming back with riding skills that are pretty rusty,” he said. Some midlife bikers are buying motorcycles that are much more powerful than the machines they rode in their youth, which can result in accidents. Sanfelipo said he would like to see more mentoring of inexperienced motorcyclists regardless of their age. “I would rather have somebody mad at me, because I offered them a little help or some suggestions, than have to attend their funeral,” he said.
All the Comforts of Home Skilled Care • Short Term Rehab • Traditional Care • Speech • Occupational & Physical Therapies
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Boomers Fall 2015
BOOMERS RECREATION | TRAVEL
Give them a home where the boomers can roam Older Americans have a lot pull when it comes to RV sales MINNEAPOLIS – Evelyn and Leo Carey never dreamed of buying an RV when they were raising kids and fully ensconced in the working world. But about 5 years ago, Evelyn spied a small teardrop camper trailer in the side yard of an art gallery in Wisconsin, and an idea was born. “I fell in love with the shape of it,” she said. “It was so artsy and so cute.” By then, the couple had sold their home near Lake Calhoun in south Minneapolis and downsized to an empty-nester condo in downtown St. Paul. About a year later, they ponied up for a 17-foot Casita travel trailer, which they have pulled across America’s roadways for months at a time, exploring state parks, historic trails and prime bird-watching spots. “It has everything you could possibly
need,” said Evelyn. “When we travel, we follow our nose – and follow our bliss.” Baby boomers and adventuresome seniors such as the Careys are driving the biggest resurgence in RV sales since the early 1990s. Nationally the $14.5 billion industry has enjoyed double-digit growth over the last 3 years. Overall sales are up 64 percent since 2009, when the recession pushed the industry to its worst year in 2 decades. Today, more than 9 million households own an RV, the highest level on record, and this year, shipments of tow-behind travel trailers are expected to reach their highest levels. The skyrocketing sales are fueled by the 10,000 or so baby boomers who are turning 65 every day, plus a large band of 50-somethings who are planning for an active or early retirement. Cheaper gas prices haven’t hurt, either. “People are retiring and living more for today than the future,” said Jeff Nobbe, general manager at Shorewood RV Center in Anoka, Minn.,
where overall sales are up 40 percent since the depths of the recession. “They weren’t doing that before. They were buying lake places before.” These active Americans feel the lure of nature and romance of the road – but sleeping on the ground isn’t part of the equation. Unlike previous generations of frugal seniors, many baby boomers are flush with disposable income, and they’re not afraid to spend it. RV manufacturers are taking note. But there’s more involved than just a “bigger is better” attitude. While rigs roomy enough to hold a hot tub and surround-sound stereo TV can be found on many RV sales lots, there’s a new emphasis on lighter-weight towable vehicles and more fuel-efficient motor homes. Manufacturers have ramped up on style and craftsmanship and added green technologies, such as solar panels and LED lighting. Many models are wired for Bluetooth and other necessities of our techno-centric world. RV’S CONTINUED ON 15
Metro News Service
Boomers Fall 2015
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Green tech, hi-tech – RV’s roll with the times RV’S
Types of RV’s
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“There are more options on travel trailers these days than there’s ever been,” said Mike Pearo, a third-generation owner of Hilltop Trailer Sales in Fridley, Minnesota. “And we’re definitely seeing people that want luxury.” This surge in sales comes as the economy gains steam, gas prices remain low and lenders are less reluctant about opening up credit lines – a necessity even for well-heeled RV buyers. When it comes to luxe, no brand can touch the cachet of the Airstream, which Nobbe said often becomes akin to a “family heirloom.” Models range from $45,000 to $150,000 and come with such optional upgrades as Corian countertops, leather seats and hickory hardwood cabinets. In a hot market for travel trailers, Airstream is even hotter. Last year, sales rose 35 percent from the previous year, far outpacing the industry’s 13 percent rise. And the majority of new Airstream owners are first-time RVers in the 50-to69 age range, the company said.
Folding camper trailers – Folds up for lightweight towing; fresh-air experience with RV comfort; sleep up to eight; average cost: $5,000 to $22,000 new Truck campers – Mounts on pickup bed or chassis; sleeps up to six; average cost: $6,000 to $55,000 new Conventional travel trailers – Wide range of floor plans and sizes; homelike amenities; sleeps up to 10; average cost: $8,000 to $95,000 new Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailers – Spacious two-level
floor plans; towed with a pickup truck; sleeps up to six; average cost: $18,000 to $160,000 new Sport utility RV’s – Available motorized and towable; built-in “garage” for hauling cycles, ATVs and other sports equipment; sleeps up to eight; average cost: $10,300 to $170,000 new Expandable travel trailers – Ends pull out for more sleeping room; lighter-weight towing; sleeps up to eight; average cost: $10,000 to $30,000 new Type A motorhomes – Generally roomiest of
Sales of fifth-wheel trailers, those large bi-level units with a raised forward section, are at an all-time high at Hilltop, Pearo said, and updated enhancements are sealing the deal. Auto-leveling features allow boomers with bad backs and knees to level the
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all RVs; luxurious amenities; sleeps up to six. average cost: $60,000 to $500,000 new Type B motorhomes – Commonly called van campers; drives like the family van; sleeps up to four. Average cost: $60,000 to $130,000 new Type C motorhomes – Similar amenities to Type A’s; optional sleeping space over the cab; sleeps up to eight. Average cost: $43,000 to $200,000 new Source: Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (rvia.org)
trailer with the click of a remote control instead of laboring over a hand crank. Residential-size refrigerators can be powered with banks of batteries that get charged while driving. “You can go as rugged as you want or as luxurious as you want,” Pearo said.
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Boomers Fall 2015
BOOMERS RETIREMENT | PETS
Boomers unleashed Retirees debate whether to own a pet, and some groups toy with rent-a-pets LOS ANGELES (AP) – Denise and John Stevens have had pets their whole lives – then they retired. “After our last dog passed away, we decided not to get another one. We like the freedom from worrying about her,” Denise Stevens, 63, said of the Long Island, New York, couple whose Jack Russell terrier died last year. “We tend to treat these dogs like children.” Baby boomers are retiring in record numbers, and many wonder whether a dog or cat belongs in their golden years. Some seniors want the companionship, but others worry about declining health, failing to outlive a new pet, moving to a facility that doesn’t allow animals and tighter budgets. Some, like the Stevenses, just want a break from the responsibility of owning a pet. For retirees who want a dog or cat – at least sometimes – there are programs to help connect older people and pets, said Kristen Levine, a pet living and lifestyle expert who works with those 50 and older. Organizations are toying with pet rentals, having senior citizens foster animals, arranging for several families to share a pet, or bringing therapy dogs to homes instead of just hospitals. A nonprofit program in Colorado helps low-income elderly and disabled people in Larimer County keep their pets as long as possible. Pets Forever is sponsored by Colorado State University and partners with local companies and organizations to provide in-home animal care and dog walking, said Lori Kogan, program director and founder. While retirees are making decisions about their lifestyles, rest homes, assisted living centers and retirement communities are looking at how to accommodate seniors over the next 2 decades, Levine said. PETS CONTINUED ON 17
Boomers Fall 2015
17
The decision to get a pet isn’t always easy PETS
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Officials at A Place for Mom, the nation’s largest senior living referral service, which is based in Washington state, say more than 40 percent of those seeking a housing referral ask whether pets are permitted. “The aging industry is receptive to working with the pet industry,” Levine said. Both will make money, “but ultimately the pet lover is the winner.” Even those who have spent their lives working with animals have to decide whether their future will include pets. “I’m edging up to that moment – I’m just about 60 and retired. We lost our dog of 15 years last year. We are thinking about what to do next,” said Stephen Zawistowski, who was a science adviser for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and was with the group for nearly 27 years. Much has been written about how pets
help people, but it’s not the same for everyone, he said. “The idea that pets are the panacea for stress and loneliness is not necessarily true for everybody,” Zawistowski said. For some, it might be painting or playing an instrument, he said. He believes money is the biggest obstacle to keeping a pet. He and his wife have two elderly cats and know how much it can cost to keep them. “I am taking my cat now for weekly acupuncture at $125 a week,” Zawistowski said. “That’s probably more than the planned food budget for many people.” Despite the costs, he said the couple likely will get another dog after they move from Pennsylvania to Michigan. And Denise Stevens says it’s just a matter of time before a pooch catches her eye. “Dogs are constant companions, full of unconditional love – it doesn’t matter what you do or what kind of day you had,” said Stevens, who works part time and whose 70-year-old husband is a
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Boomers Fall 2015
BOOMER FINANCING | PLANNING AHEAD
It’s a family recipe for trouble Parents should be careful about revealing too much about money to their kids Tribune News Service
Sure, you want your kids to know the importance of investing and how to avoid financial pitfalls. On the other hand, some information about your holdings and your future plans – particularly inheritance matters involving your children – should remain strictly confidential, experts suggest. Otherwise, children might not be as careful about fending for themselves financially. Here are some do’s and don’ts for parents.
Estate plans and trusts Michael Tove, president and founder of AIN Services in Cary, North Carolina, recommended that parents inform their children about an existing will or trust – but without divulging the details until they’re financially responsible. “If an investment portfolio has been set up for the long-term benefit of your
Metro News Service
Of course parents want to leave their children a nest egg, but telling them too much about could only be asking for trouble, say financial experts. kids, make sure it’s well documented in your will or trust, but otherwise, don’t tell your children about it at all ... so there’s no chance they’ll mess up something you carefully established for them later in
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life when it might be truly needed,” said Tove, a registered financial consultant. “When they’re old enough to be responsible, then tell them.” Tove also advises his clients to prepare what he called an emergency action plan. In the event of a death or disability, the plan details where a will and other important financial documents are stored. “The kids get a copy of that cover sheet – nothing more,” he said. If children know about their parents’ wealth, “they may want access to the funds sooner or all at once,” said Craig Brimhall, vice president of wealth strategies with Ameriprise Financial. If one child is more of a spendthrift than the others in a family, he added, then leaving that child a lump sum is not recommended. Setting up a trust in which funds are paid out in increments over time would be a better alternative. NEST EGG CONTINUED ON 20
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Boomers Fall 2015
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Financial info should be on a need-to-know basis NEST EGG
CONTINUED FROM 18
Brimhall said he encourages his clients to prepare a video or letter for their children explaining why they decided to structure their estate plan as they did.
Education plans Brimhall practices what he preaches. He has chosen not to tell his adult children that he set aside funds for his grandchildren’s education using 529 savings plans, which are sponsored by a state or educational institution to help families save for future college costs. There are tax advantages to these plans. “I don’t want to take away their incentive to save for their children, which is ultimately their responsibility.” Brimhall said. “I told my children a long time ago, ‘I’m your father, not your personal banker.’” His financial behavior has clearly influenced his adult children. They’ve established 529 plans for their children. And with Brimhall’s contributions, his grandchildren’s education will likely be paid in full before they enter college. His children just don’t know it yet.
Life insurance David Melnyk, a financial planner at Verus Wealth Management in Rockledge, Florida, suggested that parents avoid talking to children about their life insurance policies. Let them know they exist but nothing more. “I’ll never forget the nugget of wisdom my father told me as a teenager,” Melnyk said. “We had just finished a frustrating project together that left us both fuming at each other when he told me, ‘Today is a perfect example of why you never want to be worth more dead than you are alive.’” He said children also shouldn’t know about designated life insurance payouts, particularly if one child stands to gain more than another, to avoid fighting or hard feelings. “Adult children don’t necessarily need to be aware of the size of an estate or of a life insurance policy,” Melnyk said.
Your earnings Michael Clark, a financial planner at Keiron, a financial services firm in Orlando, Florida, said parents shouldn’t reveal how much they earn because children and young adults sometimes don’t understand the value of money.
“Any amount is going to seem like a lot,” he said. On the flip side, information about liabilities isn’t necessarily an asset. “Don’t bring up your debt to your children. There’s no need to worry them about your financial obligations.” Similarly, he said, bank account information should be kept confidential, as well as Social Security numbers. Gilbert Cerda, a financial planner and a partner at Cerda Munoz Advisors in Los Angeles, said baby boomers tend to want to share their financial information with their children. But they’re setting themselves up for possible trouble if they reveal their account balances in a 401(k), IRA or other savings plan. “When kids know what their parents have in a specific bank or investment account, they tend to go to their parents and say, ‘Hey, can you help me out?’ I’ve seen this many many times,” Cerda said. The bottom line is that parents should inform their children about how to access important financial documents. But sharing too much information could contribute to their children’s lack of financial independence. And that’s something to avoid.
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