Today's Boomer Vol.4 No.2 March/April 2015

s ’ y a d o T Vol.4 No.2

Boomers Risk Retirement Supporting Adult Children

Auto Show Muscle Mania!

Boomer Travel: Find Your Beach

Old & New Muscle Dominate Top Auto Shows

Lifestyle Trendz: Going to Pot? Boomers and Marijuana Rx

Boomer Healthy Eating: Kick start your day with

Quiche

F– Being Old: ‘The Villages’ People have Reinvented Retirement!

Today’s BoomeR Featuring The Only B2B -Business 2 BoomeR Marketplace!

Up Coming CruisesBook Now! Romantic Rhine River Journey Credit Union Growth Forum June 25-July 6, 2015 Deep Amazon River Exploration Credit Union Competitive Edge Forum August 7-August 16, 2015 Spanish Mediterranean Odyssey Credit Union Volunteers Symposium August 16-August 27, 2015 Canada/New England Fall Foliage Cruise Credit Union Winds of Change Symposium September 26-October 2, 2015

WWW.EDUCRUISES.COM

2 Today’s BoomeR

This Issue March / April 2015 Volume 4, Number 2

Boomer Travel

5

Find Your Beach

Boomers Risk Retirement Supporting Adult Children

9

Boomer Consumer Watch

11 12

Spring into Stress-Free Retirement

Old & New Muscle 13 Dominate Top Auto Shows Boomer Healthy Eating

18

Start Your Day with Potato Quiche

Lifestyle Trendz

21

Going to Pot?...Boomers and Marijuana Rx

New Blog: F-Being Old

22

’The Villages’ People Reinvented Retirement

B2B Marketplace

Founders: John Vardallas & Alexandra Maragha Editor-In-Chief: Alexandra Maragha

5 Senior Discounts to Avoid

Social Security

’s y a d To

24

Business 2 Boomers Marketplace

Contributing Writers : Bob Trotter: Social Security Chef Eben Atwater: Healthy Eating Advertising: Team For Letters to the Editor, articles and feedback as well as advertising inquiries email Alexandra@TheAmericanBoomeR.com

The American BoomeR.com John Vardallas CEO/Founder Professional Speaker Business/Lifestyle Strategist Boomer Sage and Blogger JohnVardallas@TheAmericanBoomeR.com (608) 577-8707 Alexandra Maragha Founder & Editor-In-Chief Today’s BoomeR Alexandra@TheAmericanBoomeR.com Today’s BoomeR Vol.4 No.2 Today’s BoomeR is published six times (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/ June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec) a year by The American BoomeR.com 769 North Star Drive (Suite 207) Madison, WI 53718 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

The American Boomer @American_Boomer Today’s BoomeR 3

EDITOR’S LETTER

’s y a d To

Newton’s Law Let the ease of warm winds lift you up and into motion this spring.

In this issue, our feature report from The Barrett-Jackson Auction and Chicago Auto Show, two of the country's most well known and biggest auto shows, again demonstrates that Boomer buying power and influence are not to be underestimated from American muscle car manufactures. With an old classic going for a top bid of $5.1 million, the 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake is a legend that continues as the new 2015 Mustang was voted MotorWeek’s “Best of Year” Driver’s (feature) p. 10 Choice Award.

Wherever you decide to move for your spring vacation, we have the best beaches around the world to help you “Find Your Beach” as you travel. If you are searching for a more permanent move for your golden years, our boomer blogger John Vardallas took a trip to The Villages, where retirement communities have been reinvented to active moving cities! Keep your finances moving with positive numbers as you retire with ways to avoid risk by supporting your adult children, watch out for senior discounts that may not be all that they seem, and manage your Social Security stress free. And last but not least, Boomer Chef Eben Atwater has a potato quiche to start your day and get moving in our Boomer Healthy Eating.

As days get longer, grass greener, and skys clearer, let this time of year bring you to enjoy something longer, keep your wallet a little greener, have your dreams and goals clear in mind and p. 4 keep moving forward!

And always remember : “An object at rest will stay at rest. An object in motion will stay in motion...” -Sir Isaac Newton

p. 12

4 Today’s BoomeR

Alexandra Maragha Editor-In-Chief Send Letters and Feedback to: Alexandra@theamericanboomer.com

Find Your Beach Best Beach Awards 2015 travelchannel.com

BOOMER TRAVEL

Just when you’re daydreaming of getting away to somewhere warm, we give you 10 times the beach inspiration. We sifted though the sexiest beaches and island vacations to narrow down the nominees for the Best Beach Awards 2015 in 10 categories, including the Best Party Beach, Best Family Beach and the Best Beach You Haven’t Heard of … Yet. Each winner was chosen by our expert panel of advisors including Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Nina Agdal, professional kitesurfer Chris DuComb and Travel Channel’s resident beach host Marianela Pereyra.

Sexiest Beach: Miami Florida You don’t have to leave the East Coast to slip away to this year’s sexiest beach. An easy getaway from New York, Miami has everything you need according to Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Nina Agdal. “Soft sand, beautiful warm water, interesting people, volleyball and fun spots to go to for a bite or a beverage nearby” says Agdal. Plus, “it’s acceptable to wear tiny bikinis.” Whether you’re reveling in South Beach’s legendary nightlife or sleeping off the night before in a private cabana, Miami is the place for hot days and nights.

Best Unusual Beach: Santorini Greece Named the “No. 1 most spectacular getaway on earth” on Travel Channel’s 101 Sand ‘n Surf Hot Spots, Santorini’s Today’s BoomeR 5 Red Beach is also the Best Unusual Beach, thanks to its striking crimson and black volcanic sands. “Set off by the

and catch an unrivaled sunset over the whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches.”

Best Romantic Beach: Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands “The crescent-shaped beach at Little Dix Bay is the epitome of barefoot elegance with its palm-lined half a mile of white sand,” says luxury travel writer and founder of Chic Family Travels Tamala Prickett. Characterized by pristine, private beaches, exclusive yacht clubs, hidden coves and luxurious resorts, the island invites romance – and you’ll find it’s worth the price. Check into the 5-star Rosewood Resort, originally owned by Laurence Rockefeller, and you’ll discover why the timeless romantic retreat has earned a fiercely loyal following. “It’s common to see couples having a candle-lit dinner on the beach arranged by the excellent hotel staff,” says Tamala. “It’s a scene right out of the The Bachelor.”

Best Beach for Adventure: Praia do Futuro, Fortaleza, Brazil Characterized as one of the windiest places in the world, Fortaleza draws extreme sport enthusiasts from deep indigo waters, there’s really nothing like it” says Sara Gilliam, across the globe. “Whether senior producer for TravelChannel.com. “To do Santorini justice, you're a kitesurfer, check in to a chalky cave house built into the lip of the volcanic crater windsurfer or someone who

just wants to be close to the action, Futuro Beach will not disappoint,” says professional kite surfer Chris DuComb. “On a daily basis, athletes reach speeds of over 40mph and boost over 100ft in the air.”

On the off chance the wind isn't blowing, you'll find athletes and beachgoers congregating at the many sand volleyball courts.

Best Beach Bar: VICE also known as Nissakia Surf 6 Today’s BoomeR

Club, Artemida, Greece “In Artemida, Greece, a seaside town better known to locals as Loutsa, VICE is an epic beach bar situated on one of the most active shorelines in the country,” says Chris DuComb. Tucked away 20km outside of Athens you won't find many tourists at VICE, but you’ll be met with a serene shoreline and mountainous backdrop. The bar features local dishes like grilled octopus and spins the most current, upbeat music attributing to the lively atmosphere. “Local kite surfers

and windsurfers frequent views, but also absorb the vibrant pink, yellow and blue colors of the this hidden gem for the surrounding vegetation,” says Sara Gilliam. “In fact, Atitlán is Mayan warm water, local food, for “where the rainbow gets its colors.” delicious drinks,” says Chris.

Best Beach You Haven't Heard of ... Yet: Lake Atitlán, Guatemala The Best Beach You Haven’t Heard of … Yet does not find itself alongside an ocean, but the most beautiful lake in the world.

Situated in the highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlán is Central America’s deepest lake. “Nestled in the valley of 3 volcanoes (one of them still active), you’ll not only take in peaceful volcanic

Today’s BoomeR 7

Best Beach Boardwalks: Coney Island, NY If you don’t consider a boardwalk a boardwalk without kitschy shops and Atlantic Ocean views, than Coney Island is your quintessential American beach boardwalk. With extensive renovations in 2010 (Luna Park) and 2012 (after Hurricane Sandy), Coney Island has returned to its former glory. “Bring the family and enjoy rides, fireworks, shows and plenty of food all summer long,” says Sarah Fazendin, family travel blogger at A Week at the Beach. Coney Island manages to feel like a seaside escape and yet quintessentially New York.

Best Party Beach: La Barra, Punta del Este. Uruguay This lush getaway spot, which used to attract the likes of Bridgette Bardot and the Rat Pack, is still bringing the party.

“Rage with socialites and celebs alike at Bikini Beach in La Barra, Uruguay” says Marianela Pereyra, host of Marianela’s Beaches. “With a name like that expect lots of skimpy tops and supermodel bodies blessed with perfect tans.” This small strip of sand in Punta’s trendiest neighborhood is known for its upscale 24-hour fiesta, where no one finds a siesta necessary and the beautiful landscape keeps you going long after the sun goes down comes up.

Best Family Beach: Seaside, Florida “Seaside is a beach community located near Destin, FL, but could not be more different in its features,” says Tamala Prickett. In place of high-rise condos, you’ll find pastel colored houses lined with white picket fences and beach cruisers. “Families love to vacation in Seaside as it is commonplace for children to jump on a bike to grab snow cones from an air stream trailer on the way to the beach,” says Tamala. As night falls, families cover the amphitheater with picnic blankets to enjoy outdoor movies and live music.

Best Exotic Beach: Ihlabela, Brazil Ihlabela, Portuguese for “Beautiful Island,” is Brazil's largest island and a coastal Atlantic rainforest filled with more than 400 waterfalls, mountain peaks, incredible wildlife and tropical fauna. “It's without a doubt one of the most beautiful natural paradises,” says Marianela. 85% of the island is designated in Ilhabela State Park, which includes a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve to protect the ecosystem.

Beyond its natural beauty, tourists revel in Ihlabela’s popular sailing week, exploring underwater wrecks and the legends of pirate treasure.

8 Today’s BoomeR

Boomers Risk Retirement Supporting Adult Children

By Carol Hymowitz, Bloomberg News

?

said Cathy Egan has been supporting herself since she was 18, Pamela Villarreal, when she worked as a waitress in Minneapolis. Her 23year-old son lives at home and relies on his single mother a senior for transportation, food, and other expenses. Egan, now fellow with the National Center for Policy Analysis in Dallas. “The more 50, began putting money aside for retirement only five boomers put out for adult kids, the years ago, after she started working as a licensed practical nurse for the Veterans Health Administration — less they can put aside for themselves, which is scary as they live longer and need savings to last her first job with benefits. them into their 80s and 90s.”

More than a third of adult millennials receive regular financial support from their parents, and one in five still live at home and pay no rent or expenses, according to a November 2014 survey by Bank of America.

It isn’t just the unemployed or the low-paid who are needy. The poll, which had 1,000 respondents ages 18 to 34, found that among those earning more than $75,000 a year, 25 percent had their parents pay for groceries at some point and 21 percent got money for clothing.

Brett Goldstein, a financial adviser in Jericho, N.Y., hasn’t had much success dissuading clients from prematurely Although she also has a son in high school, the single mother can’t bring herself to cut off her eldest, who earns withdrawing money from their individual retirement accounts to cover expenses for grown children. $8.50 an hour plus tips delivering takeout orders part time for a restaurant in St. Paul. “Right now, I’m still the “I’ve learned it’s very hard to get between a parent and supporter,” she said. his or her children, even when the parent has very Baby boomers are putting their retirements at risk by spending too much on their adult children. With real wages stagnant and unemployment among those age 16 to 24 running above 12 percent, large numbers of households continue to dole out cash to children no longer in school, covering rent, cell phones, cars and vacations.

A July 2014 survey by American Consumer Credit Counseling, a Boston nonprofit, found that one in three U.S. households assist adult children financially - compared with one in five supporting elderly parents.

“This is putting a huge wrench into retirement savings,”

modest savings,” he said. One client in his mid-50s recently withdrew $32,000 from a $140,000 IRA account to pay for his daughter’s wedding. Another couple with IRA accounts totaling about $200,000 cashed out $61,000 to help pay for their daughter and son-in-law’s first home.

Parental largesse doesn’t have to reach such extremes to be potentially harmful. Consider that couples age 55 to 64 had just $111,000 in savings for retirement in 2013 (the median balance in 401(k) and IRA plans), according to the Federal Reserve’s most recent Survey of Consumer Finances. That will amount to a little more than $4,000 a year in retirement, assuming an annual 4 percent withdrawal rate. If parents have money left over each month, Today’s BoomeR 9

they should be maxing out their contributions to 401(k) plans or paying down mortgages or other debt, not subsidizing their kids, financial advisers say.

“You can’t take out a loan for retirement,” said John Sweeney, executive vice president for retirement and investing strategies at Fidelity Investments. “So the less well-off you are, the more you have to say to grown children, ‘I don’t have it to give.’ ” Gillian Anderson, head of Anderson Wealth Management in Westport, Conn., said so many of her clients are helping their 20- and 30-something kids financially that she advises other parents who consult her to budget for the possibility that they may have to do the same.

“It runs the gamut from giving regular allowances because millennials often aren’t earning enough to cover rent and food, to help with legal bills if a child is going through a divorce, to occasional payments for a coat or plane ticket,” she said.

Whatever the reason, this prolonged support is squeezing even affluent boomers. A 48year-old woman in Westport, Conn., sheepishly admits that she and her husband, a finance executive, give their 22-year-old daughter tens of thousands of dollars each year to supplement the $30,000 she earns as a writer at a beauty website. The money covers her share of the rent on a Brooklyn apartment, her frequent use of Uber car services, clothing purchases, and regular manicures and pedicures.

“I tell my daughter, ‘We’re going to help you, but do you really need to buy $4 lattes every day and $14 kale salads?’ ” said the mother, who didn’t want to be named because she doesn’t want to embarrass her daughter or her husband.

“When I was 22, I ate pizza every night.”

Egan is also torn. “I wanted to give my boys more help than I got growing up,” she said. She makes about $23 an hour working a 5:30 a.m.-to-2 p.m. shift at a VA hospital in Minneapolis and earned about $50,000 last year, including overtime. Egan puts 3 percent of her income into an employer-sponsored savings plan, which gets matched, and has accumulated about $15,000 so far. She’ll also be eligible for a small pension if she continues working for the federal government for at least another five years. She knows she’s a long way from having enough to retire comfortably. “I don’t want to be a burden on my kids,” she said.

Fidelity’s Sweeney said it’s a bad idea even for affluent parents, to fund their adult kids. “Giving them tens of thousands of dollars a year for apartments, cars, and restaurant meals sends the message that you’ll keep paying for a lifestyle they can’t afford on their own-and you probably can’t or don’t want to fund forever,” he said. “Better to teach them to burn less than they earn, and save all you need for a long old age.”

Top 5 Things to Avoid Further Retirement Risk From www.TheAmericanBoomeR.com 1. Make sure you have enough money to take care of your long term healthcare.

2. Don’t feel obligated to fund your child or grandchild’s college education. Young people have duration (time on their side) and resources such as loans, grants, scholarships.

3. Do not enable your children by funding their fun life. ie: Cell phones, happy hours, vacations, etc.

4. Establish financial and social ground rules for multi-generational living in one household.

5. Don’t feel guilty about putting your immediate needs over your children’s potential needs.

10 Today’s BoomeR

BoomeR ConsumeR Watch: 5 Senior Discounts to Avoid Older adults sometimes can get better deals by opting for rates or discounts that are available to all ages.

By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com Most money-savvy adults know that they can take advantage of discounts once they reach a certain age -- starting at 50 but usually 60 and older. Some of these senior discounts represent outstanding bargains. Take, for example, the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass, which costs just $10 and gives adults 62 and older lifetime access to 2,000 national parks and recreation areas. There's an additional $10 processing fee if you order through the mail, buy you can avoid the fee by purchasing your Senior Pass at one of these locations.

But there are plenty of so-called special senior rates that aren't that special because there are deeper discounts for the same goods and services available to the general public. Here are five senior discounts that older adults shouldn't always say yes to because they could be missing out on better rates. Plus, we've identified a strategy for doubling up on some other popular senior discounts.

Attractions Many museums, theme parks and other tourist attractions offer discounted rates for seniors. However, older adults should check for other non-senior discounts before flashing their photo ID or retirement group membership card at the ticket counter. For example, in Boston the New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Skywalk Observatory, Museum of Fine Arts and Harvard Museum of Natural History all offer special rates for seniors. It would cost a total of $89.95 to buy discounted senior tickets to visit all five attractions. But seniors can visit the same five attractions for just $54 by purchasing a regular adult Boston CityPASS. CityPASS, which offers discounted admission to popular attractions, is available for 11 major North American destinations.

(membership is $16 a year) get discounts of 5 to 20 percent at several hotel chains ranging from Best Western to Wyndham. The discounts apply to the best available rates offered by the hotels and can't be combined with other discounts.

If seniors always default to these discounts, though, they'll at times miss out on better rates offered by discount travel Web sites and apps. For example, the senior discount rate for a one-night stay on Feb. 28 at the Holiday Inn Nashville is $252 -- the same as the advanced-purchase rate for anyone. But we found a room at that same hotel on Feb. 28 for just $177 on discount hotel-booking site Hotels.com.

Phone Plans Some wireless service providers offer plans available exclusively to adults of a certain age, touting that the price is lower. However, adults that meet the age criteria might be better off with plans that are available to anyone. For example, Verizon's Nationwide 65 Plus Plan, available to customers 65 and older, charges $29.99 a month for just 200 "talk" minutes. You'll have to pay extra, though, for text messaging and a data plan. For example, it costs another $20 for unlimited messaging and $30 for 2 gigabytes of data -- for a total of $79.99 a month. However, a standard single line plan with unlimited talk and text and 2GB of data costs $75 a month (or $60 if you purchase a smartphone through the Verizon Edge plan).

Rental Cars

You occasionally also can find better deals than the senior discount rate for attractions and tours on daily deal sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial. For example, we recently found a Groupon deal on admission for two people to tour the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, a World War II Liberty ship, in San Francisco for $12. That's $4 less than the price of admission for two with the discounted senior rate.

AARP members can get discounts of up to 25 percent on Avis and Budget car rentals when using a code provided by AARP and booking through the rental companies. But book through a deal aggregator such as Hotwire.com, and you can save even more. For instance, when we compared prices for a one-day rental from Miami International Airport, we found that the rate listed on Hotwire for an economy car was 22 to 31 percent lower than the discounted rates offered through Avis and Budget. Hotwire often offers the best published deals on cars by collecting rates from its eight rental-car partners including Alamo, Enterprise and Hertz.

Checking Accounts

A Trick to Double Up on Discounts

Before you sign up for a senior checking account, compare it with the bank's basic checking option. A Pew Charitable Trusts study of checking accounts offered at the 12 largest U.S. banks and 12 largest credit unions found that some senior accounts actually cost more than basic accounts unless the customer maintained a high balance.

In some cases, the special deals that are available to anyone can be paired with a senior discount to score even bigger savings. One way to do this is with discount gift cards. Websites such as CardCash, Cardpool, GiftCards.com and Raise buy gift cards at steep discounts from people who don't want them and resell them for less than face value. For example, you could purchase a $25 gift card for $20 -- an instant $5 savings. Then you can use the discount gift card to pay for something at the senior rate, so you're taking advantage of both the gift card discount and the senior discount at the same time.

Hotels Some hotel chains including Holiday Inn offer discounted rates to travelers 62 and older. And AARP members who are 50 and older

Today’s BoomeR 11

Social Security:

Spring into a Stress-Free Retirement

By Bob Trotter, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

Spring is around the corner! As we say “goodbye” to winter

address and phone number,

weather hardships and “hello” to gardens budding with vibrant change your electronic payment color, we welcome the season by celebrating Stress Awareness method, and obtain an instant benefit verification letter and Month in April.

replacement SSA-1099/1042S. You can easily sign up for my Social Security at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

If you’re thinking about retiring at an age not shown on your Statement, reduce the stress of the unknown by using our Retirement Estimator. The Retirement Estimator allows you to calculate your potential future Social Security benefits by changing variables such as retirement dates and future earnings. You may discover that you’d rather wait another year or two before you retire to earn a higher benefit. Or, you might see that this is the season for you to kiss that work stress goodbye and retire right now. To get instant, personalized estimates of your future benefits, go to

Did you know that stress, also called the “silent killer,” could

www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

cause heart disease and high blood pressure? Recognizing the

When you decide it’s time to start receiving your retirement

sources of stress is the best way to understand how you can

benefits, the application process is far less stressful now that

start eliminating factors in your life that put unnecessary strain you’re prepared. You can securely apply online without picking on your body and mind.

up the phone or leaving your house. Simply go to

Social Security wants to make your retirement planning as

www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline, and, in as little as 15

stress-free as possible, which is why we have a number of

minutes, you can breeze through our online retirement

online tools available for you. You can create your own secure,

application.

personal my Social Security account from the comfort of your

Our website and online tools are always available. You can

living room and avoid unpleasant traffic and a possible long

enjoy Social Security’s stress-free

wait in one of our field offices. Once you have a my Social

retirement planning tools any time

Security account, you can view your Social Security Statement,

of the year, giving you more time

verify your earnings record, and find out what to expect in

to enjoy these warmer months.

monthly benefits if you retire at ages 62, 67, or 70. Once you

Doesn’t that put a spring in your

begin receiving Social Security benefits, you can use my Social

step?

Security to check your benefit information, change your 12 Today’s BoomeR

Old & New Muscle Dominate Top Auto Shows for 2015

By John Vardallas, TheAmericanBoomer.com

The new year has started out hot for car loving boomers despite all the cold and snow around the country.

The early year car shows have drawn thousands out of their winter doldrums to gawk and gear up for the new auto makes, models and trends of the season.

And even though this is the "year of the sheep", baby boomers are anything but sheepish regarding their retro auto mindset and new vehicle spending.

Today’s BoomeR 13

Barrett-Jackson January 2015 Scottsdale, Arizona Barrett-Jackson, known as "the world's greatest collector car auctions", was attended by thousands of baby boomers who made the pilgrimage to Scottsdale, Arizona to dream, participate and buy in what can be described as the Mecca of American Classic Car Shows. By far this is the most comprehensive nine days for true classic and retro car lovers and serious car buying collectors from all over the world.

This year's show broke the record by selling more than $130 million dollars worth of vehicles, the most in the 44 year history of the show with over 1,600 vehicles sold.

The Ron Pratte Collection brought in over $40 million in vehicle and automobilia sales. Automobilia sales alone tripled world records, totaling over $6.55 million. Also attending were hundreds of auto related vendors, ride & drive demonstrations, seminars, food and beverage tents, and least not to mention a live bull riding challenge.

14 Today’s BoomeR

Barrett-Jackson Auto Show Top Five Cars Sold: 1. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake -$5.1 million 2. 1950 GM Futurliner Parade of Progress Tour Bus -$4 million 3. 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special Motorama Concept Car -$3.3 million 4. 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport Franay -$1.65 million 5. 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster -$1.595 million

Celebrities like NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon and the Gas Monkey Guys all were spotted checking out rides during the show. The one stand out note to self that this observer took away from the show is Finish & Chrome is everything‌..the finish and chrome on the BarrettJackson vehicles was truly pristine and separates a simple sweet ride from an ultimate classic!

Chicago Auto Show February, 2015 The Chicago Auto Show is the largest and oldest auto show in the USA and has been showcasing America's new vehicles since 1901.

Held at the McCormick Place, it boasts the largest square footage of cars under one roof in the world.

This year's show was no disappointment. For baby boomers, there was plenty of retro new muscle showcased. The Big Three Detroit automakers highlighted some of the coolest rides ever. Continuing in the return of the new muscle car theme Ford, General Motors and Chrysler did not let consumers down for 2015.

Horsepower was in the air and permeated all pavilions!

At the top of the muscle car chain was Chrysler celebrating its 100 year anniversary by introducing the new Dodge Hellcats in its Charger and Challenger Models. These 707 horsepower retro style rides are the Today’s BoomeR 15

Chicago Auto Show “Best of Show”

fastest production cars ever to roll off an assembly line. At 0-60 in 3 seconds, these auto beasts (along with the SRT and available in a variety of colors) will really tempt contemporary muscle car enthusiasts, especially now with gasoline prices are heading south.

These Dodge "bad boys" are eye catching and will be rocking the roads of America.

General Motors, not to be outdone, displayed the finest array of Chevrolets and Cadillacs this attendee has ever



Best All-New Production Vehicle: Ford GT



Best Concept Vehicle: Toyota FT-1



Best Green Vehicle: BMW i8



Best Exhibit: Ford



Vehicle I'd most like to have in my driveway: Ford Mustang GT350

Each of the first four winners beat out seven other vehicles. The eight finalists in Best All-New Production Vehicle, Best Concept Vehicle, Best Green Vehicle and Best Exhibit were selected by a jury of automotive experts. In the fifth category, "Vehicle I'd most like to have in my driveway," voters could choose from any of the hundreds of vehicles on the show floor.

According to the results, voters considered the Ford GT Mustang the Best All-New Production Vehicle. Though the GT was a run-away favorite, the Acura NSX and MercedesBenz AMG GT also garnered a considerable number of votes, finishing second and third, respectively.

The BMW i8 took the honors for Best Green Vehicle. The unique hybrid-electric sports car can reach 60 mph in less than four seconds, has a top speed of 155 mph and a cruising range of 300-plus miles.

Best Concept honors went to the racy Toyota FT-1. The striking coupe is a considered to be a forbearer of a soonto-be announced Toyota sports car. A close runner-up for Best Concept was the ready-for-production, four-door Buick Avenir.

Taking top honors as Best Exhibit was Ford. With its new GT as a centerpiece, the Ford display was consistently one of the most popular at the show.

Every year the tightest race of all is the pick for “Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway.” This year was no different as the Ford Mustang GT350 and Bugatti Veyron battled neck and neck to the last day.

The awards for Best of Show will be presented at the annual Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally, held annually at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.

16 Today’s BoomeR

seen. The highlights were the new Corvette Z-06, the Camaro Z-28 and the Cadillac CTS-V sedan, all showing off their supercharged high performance engines and sleek body styles.

Ford was not to be forgotten when it came to their array of high performance muscle rides. MotorWeek voted the new 2015 Mustang with the “Best of Year” Drivers Choice Award. The 6th generation original pony car packed both with style and muscle really roared during its burn-out demonstrations.

Also, perhaps the most talked about at the show, the new Ford GT will be a car to be reckoned with in the future.

The new trucks from all manufacturers were a huge part of their offerings, with this year's models designed to be lighter and more streamlined aimed at becoming the new generation of family and working

SUVs. The Ford 4 Series, the Chevy Silverado, the GMC Canyon and the Dodge Hemis have all upgraded their styling and appeal. The Chevy Colorado was voted Truck of the Year.

High tech and All Wheel Drive were very much a highlight for many of the new models. Gone are the days of CD Changers. Bluetooth, I-Pod stations, WI-FI hot spots, Self Park and Apps for starting and unlocking your car are in. Dash display screens do everything short of driving the whole way for you.

AWD is not just for SUVs anymore. Tons of models and body styles from all manufacturers were showcasing this added safety feature on their vehicles.

Foreign car manufacturers also showcased their high performance rides. The BMW i8 series, the Jaguar F4 series and the new Mercedes and Lexus Coupes were all standouts.

Needless to say the Chicago Auto Show gave thousands who attended a preview of the cool new vehicles hitting the road this year. This event should be on all car enthusiasts "bucket lists" for the future!

Today’s BoomeR 17

BOOMER HEALTHY EATING: Kick Start Your Day with Quiche

Recipes and Photos from Chef Eben Atwater

www.urbanmonique.com

Breakfast is the meal we love best here, and that’s where I do some of my best work.

Here's a recipe for a signature dish that I literally worked on for years before offering here.

It is incredibly good, fun to make, very impressive visually and unbelievably delicious. Ladies and gents, I give you the potato crusted quiche.

Quiche is a member of the custard family, of course, which encompasses everything from crème brûlée to the savory breakfast variants, like frittatas and tortas and quiche. Eggs are a perfect food, and quiche is the best possible savory application utilizing them that I can think of.

As with all things custard, there are a few little touches that will make the difference between good and great; 1. Bring your eggs and cheese out with enough lead time to have them pretty close to room temperature before you mix and cook.

2. Scald your milk before you mix – In a sauce pan over medium high heat, until tiny bubbles form right around the very edges of the milk, then take it off the heat and let it cool a bit; this helps things made with it to cook quicker and more evenly in the oven.

3. Blend your egg-milk mixture well. the more it is blended, the smoother your custard will be – Use an immersion blender if you’ve got one, a stand mixer or blender if you don’t.

For the Crust: 1-2 potatoes 1/2 Cup shredded Swiss Cheese 2 Eggs 18 Today’s BoomeR

Sea Salt and fresh ground Pepper Preheat oven to 400° F. Grate about 2 cups of your favorite hash brown potato; Russets are most traditional, but any high-starch potato will do fine. Transfer the grated potato to a mixing bowl, and cover the potatoes completely with ice cold water.

bottom and sides. Form the sides of the crust over the height of the pie pan, as they'll shrink a bit during blind baking.

Bake the crust for 15 minutes at 400° F, until the eggs have set and the cheese has melted slightly; this is important, as it forms an impermeable layer for the egg mixture to come.

Remove from heat and reduce baking temp to 350° F. For the Filling: 3 large Eggs 1/2 Cup Swiss Cheese 1 Cup Whole Milk 1/2 Cup Sour Cream 1 Tablespoon fresh Chives 1/4 teaspoon granulated Garlic 1/4 teaspoon granulated Onion Sea Salt and fresh ground Pepper

Let them stand for about 5 minutes, then strain out the water, and refill the bowl with ice water again, and allow a second 5 minute soak.

Drain the potatoes into a single mesh strainer, then grab handfuls of the shredded spud and wring the water out of them. Transfer the potatoes to a dry bowl.

Add the grated Swiss and crack the eggs into the mix as well, then season lightly with salt and pepper. Combine everything thoroughly by hand or with a wooden spoon.

Lightly coat a pie pan with olive oil, then spread the crust into the pan by hand and form a nice, even layer on Today’s BoomeR 19

Bonus: Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bars Bottom Layer: ½ Cup Unsalted Butter ¼ Cup Dark Brown Sugar 5 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder 1 large Egg 1 ¼ Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs ½ Cup Almonds 1 Cup flaked Coconut

Scald the milk and set aside to cool a bit.

Cut the cheese into roughly 1/2″ cubes. Chiffenade the chives.

Whisk eggs briskly, then add sour cream. Add the milk slowly, to temper the mixture and avoid cooking the eggs prematurely. Blend all very well with an immersion blender.

Add seasoning and mix well.

A classic quiche is simply eggs, cheese, and some seasoning, but you can certainly add more as you desire.

Avoid ingredients that hold a lot of water, like tomatoes, as they'll tend to make your final product runny. If you wish to add things like ham or onion, it's best to lightly sauté them first, which will concentrate flavors and drive off excess moisture prior to baking.

Bake for 45 minutes at 350° F, until the quiche has risen nicely and is golden brown on top.

Remove from heat and allow a 10 minute rest, then cut, serve and enjoy.

In a sauté pan over medium heat, melt 1 ounce of butter, then add the almonds, and sauté until golden brown. Remove from heat and allow to cool. In a food processor, add graham crackers and process to a rough crumb. Add the almonds and coconut and pulse to a fine, even consistency. In a double boiler over hot, but not simmering water, melt and combine the butter, sugar, and cocoa powder. Add the egg and stir gently but continuously, until the blend is thoroughly heated through and the begins to thicken. Remove from heat, add the wet to the dry mix, and incorporate thoroughly. Press the mixture into an ungreased 8″ x 11″ pan; your base layer should be roughly 1/2″ thick. Slide the pan into the freezer while you work on the next layer.

Second Layer: ½ cup Unsalted Butter 3/4 Cup fresh Peanut Butter 3 Tablespoons Sour Cream 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk briskly to a creamy consistency. You want to incorporate enough air to notably lighten the feel. Taste and adjust proportions so that you taste peanut butter over sweet for this layer. Spread evenly over the bottom layer, then return to the freezer.

Third Layer: 4 Ounces 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate 2 Tablespoons unsalted Butter 2 Tablespoons Sour Cream Pinch of Sea Salt In a double boiler over medium low heat, melt the chocolate.

Cut the butter into roughly 1/2″ squares, add a couple at a time and let them melt and incorporate before adding more. Finally, add the sour cream and salt and whisk to an even consistency.

Remove from heat and allow to cool until the blend starts to thicken. Pour and spread evenly over the second layer. Chill the bars in the fridge for at least 2 – 4 hours before cutting into roughly 2″ x 4″ bars. Bars will be good for at least a week refrigerated, but there’s no way on God’s green earth they’ll last that long.

20 Today’s BoomeR

New Cannabis Search Engine Targets Baby Boomers SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -While US marijuana laws change and society retracts itself from previous prohibitionist attitudes, the baby boomer generation is consuming cannabis at a higher rate than ever before. As of 2013, 44% of adults between ages 50 and 64 reported using marijuana, up from 9% in 1985, according to the Gallop Poll. Weedy.com is the newest dispensary discovery website specifically catering to the medical marijuana needs of the baby-boomer generation.

organized information surrounding medical marijuana for the common individual. Being a medical marijuana patient himself, Mr. Hunt states: "I was really sick and needed another alternative, and there was no information to be found online for patients. We built this platform so that patients like me can get the resources and information they need on how medical marijuana may help them, and where they can access doctors and dispensaries."

Weedy specifically caters to the baby boomer demographic. "The Boomers are an untapped market especially for the cannabis industry. Boomers are the 80 million people aged 50 to 64. 70% of disposable income in the US comes from this group," says Hunt.

"The baby boomer demographic is turning to cannabis for 3 key reasons: Pain Management, Rising Health Costs, and simply living in an Empty Nest where they can be free to use marijuana again."

Weedy welcomes patients, doctors, and cannabis educator as well as general enthusiasts to explore Weedy.com as a resource and learn all the medical marijuana benefits. SOURCE Weedy.com

Weedy.com (Weedy) is the first platform released by Green Web Services, Inc., located in Silicon Valley, CA, founded by Ryan Hunt, Charlyn McNamara, Trang Nguyen and Noosphere Ventures. Focused on consumer education, Weedy allows users to search for doctors, strains, and dispensaries for medical marijuana from any geographic location. Medical marijuana has largely been stigmatized in the United States especially amongst baby boomers. Weedy was deliberately created to fill the void in the lack of education within the medical marijuana space, and to counter that stigma with information—and an abundance of it. The education-based platform connects patients to dispensaries and provides in-depth information regarding which strains and methods aid various health problems.

CoFounder of Weedy, Ryan Hunt, created Weedy because he found there isn't enough documented and Today’s BoomeR 21

F– Being Old The Villages People Have Reinvented Retirement!

The Villages is broken into three themed community town centers acting as the maypole of activity for residents and guests. Each town center acts as its own local neighborhood hub for activity offering

By John A. Vardallas Founder/CEO, TheAmericanBoomeR.com What has 200,000 legs and thousands of activities a month? It’s not a retirement center—it’s an active hometown community called The Villages. This privately owned and operated community founded by the Harold Schwartz family is located about one hour north of Orlando and is an amazing retirement destination thriving in the heart of Florida s citrus groves area. Yours truly had a chance to visit this complex to see first-hand how and why boomers and retirees are reinventing the aging process as we know it—and this planned community lifestyle seems to be working out fine for its residents, families and friends.

shops, numerous church and religious denominations, eateries, movie theaters and town square types of outdoor activities.

Concerts and events with vendors are weekly common The Villages is a community of more than 100,000 attractions for all to retirees from all around the U.S. who have come partake. The Villages has its own radio together to form what only can be described as a "back and television station, web page and to the future" lifestyle for us 50 plus crowd. And you daily newspaper. don’t call it a retirement center, it’s an active lifestyle Residents live in 5 types of home community with the moniker “Florida's Friendliest (cottage, patio, villa, designer and Hometown”. premier) neighborhoods to choose from Included in this thirteen by five mile piece of terra firma at a variety of (may I mention affordaare grocery stores, shopping, fast food and restaurants, ble) price ranges. Many of the home's schools, hospitals, clinics, nightly entertainment and garages even include a golf cart recreation activities, all on steroids geared for us older parking stall for those who choose to boomers and our senior peers. The Villages even has live on a golf course, while other setits own postal zip code. tings include ponds or cul-de-sac neighborhoods.

Ages of the residents range from the late 50s into the 90s, so for many, it’s the last stop on the moving train The real draw to this boomer/senior of life. "mecca" is the vast number of activities offered to fit all types of residents.

There are miles of bike trails and 27 golf courses in The Villages, with many of them executive championship caliber and no membership fees to the country clubs.

Residents can golf free for life. Each week over 1000 indoor and outdoor activities and events are offered at the recreation centers and on property! There is a performing arts center as well as professional polo matches and numerous special events offered monthly.

The mission statement of Recreation News, published every week reads, “To create and implement excellent recreational opportunities that promote an active & 22 Today’s BoomeR

healthy lifestyle”. And folks take their recreation very seriously—“motion is lotion” to all who inhabit The Villages!

There are around 2,000 clubs and more sports teams that folks could join per capita than any other place I have ever experienced. So if you don’t find your activity here, you will never find it. Activities like bocce, shuffleboard, tennis, pickle-ball, rollerblading, croquet, lawn bowling, cards, bingo, chess, mah-jongg, ballet, billiards, badminton, basketball, softball, horseshoes and hulahoop are plentiful.

Specialty clubs that anyone with a likeminded interest can join include: art, dance, Doo-whap, sailing, cricket, hiking, soccer, water skiing, woodshop, acoustic guitar, Beatlemaniacs, baton twirling, belly dancing, Bluegrass, Boomer loomers, Bunco, Bonsai, favorite car and sports team clubs, Gold Wing, Italian and Greek American and other ethnic clubs, polka and Tai-Chi as well as a Villages Losers club for those that want to continue their weight watching activities.

There is even an outdoor archery and shooting range.

(Romeo) which gave the impression folks were hooking up for social companionship on a regular basis.

During my visit and having met 65 year old twirlers who were excited about cheering for their favorite teams and senior members of the pickle-ball and softball teams who ride bikes and golf carts to games on property, I left with the thought The Villages might be the kind of place where I want to be when the end comes. For active lifestyle and like-minded Boomers, The Villages is a one of its kind final living destination.

But watch out for the golf cart traffic jams that can occur during the happy & dinner hour (4pm) and last call is 9pm!

For more information check out www.thevillages.com

Upon observation, and after

several interviews with residents one could not help but notice the higher percentage of women living in The Villages. I was told there was a 7 to 1 ratio of women to men.

Also, there are a good number of singles clubs available to join like Boomers or Jewish Today’s BoomeR 23

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS

MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

Advertise with us and connect directly with America’s Baby Boom generation!

Be apart of the “B2B - Business 2 Boomer Marketplace” and allow Boomers to visit your Today’s BoomeR storefront direct! Become one click away from your Boomer consumer!

Advertise With Us! s ’ y a Tod Take Advantage of Our Special 2015 Rates!

Click on the “storefront” ad to enter each store in the B2B Marketplace!

For more information about how to Advertise and Subscribe email Alexandra@theamericanboomer.com Rates

1/4 Page

1/2 Page

Full Page

1 time

$200.00 per ad

$400.00 per ad

$600.00 per ad

6 times

$150.00 per ad

$300.00 per ad

$500.00 per ad

(When paid in Full)

(When paid in Full)

(When paid in Full)

Ask About Our Special 1st Time Ad Discount!

24 Today’s BoomeR

Don’t Miss an Issue!

Subscribe to Today’s BoomeR FREE by visiting www.TheAmericanBoomeR.com!

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

Today’s BoomeR 25

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

26 Today’s BoomeR

B2B—BUSINESS 2 BOOMERS MARKETPLACE

(262) 716-4301

Peggy Smithson Ift.seniorstrategies@gmai.com

The Marketplace for Everything Boomer!

Today’s BoomeR 27

Read and Subscribe to Today’s BoomeR Free!

Visit www.TheAmericanBoomeR.com

Download the ISSUU app on your mobile device and follow Today’s BoomeR to get each issue direct on the go!

28 Today’s BoomeR