Category: Home and Garden
February 18, 2017 -- Winter's silver lining is that being trapped indoors much of the time gives you the leisure to experience what we think is the golden age of TV. There has never been the quality and the range of programs that is available right now. Cable and streaming television has become such an exciting place to work that many of the best creative people - actors, directors, producers - are moving to television where they have more opportunities and control than in the movies or network TV. In fact there are so many quality programs to watch that even if you did nothing else you couldn't keep up. You can try though, as one of the the great things about being retired is that you can stay up as late or get up as early as you want!
The Options
One of the hardest parts of deciding what programs to enjoy is deciding where and how to watch them. There are so many options, and they are changing so fast, it is hard to stay current.
Let's look at the where to watch first, and the choices are endless. Besides the major networks, you have hundreds
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Published on February 18, 2017
Comments 35
Category: Home and Garden
October 14, 2016 As our snowbird friends say goodbye to summer up north, it’s time we link to the “Snowbirds Leaving for the Winter Checklist” that we originally published in 2010. Every year we add to it in different ways, based on our own experiences and suggestions from Members. We…
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Published on October 9, 2016
Comments 0
Category: Home and Garden
June 22, 2016 -- We can all use help in the art of staying youthful for as long as we can. Especially if getting to be 55+ has brought a few physical limitations along with our increased experience.
The list of helpful products reviewed recently by NextAvenue.org runs a wide gamut. Predictably it includes computers, tablets, and smart phones. It also reviews portable music devices (with the advent of wireless, just about anything is possible), smart watches, and cameras. At least one, such as the Garvin Nuvi-Cam, would be great additions to your car when checking out possible places to retire (in addition to navigation, it includes in-dash camera and driver awareness features).
Electric bikes are another innovation that is game changing for many people. We experienced
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Published on June 22, 2016
Comments 5
Category: Home and Garden
April 19, 2017 -- Just about everybody has an iPhone, smart phone, or at least a vintage flip phone. If you own one of the former two devices, you have made a significant investment, one that would hurt if you lost it. Unfortunately you could experience that pain all too easily if you lose it (done that several times!), take it swimming (that too), or have it stolen. This article will focus on what to do if you lose your phone, and why you have pretty good odds of finding it again, if you take the right steps.
Although Apple claims in advertising that the iPhone 6 starts at $200, higher performance models can easily go to $400 (plus a $450 subsidy from your carrier). But by the time you attach it to a 2 year plan, your total cost will probably not be less than $500 and could go over $1000 (See ZDNet article on costs). Models from other manufacturers are also expensive.
Ouch
So when your editor lost his
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Published on April 19, 2016
Comments 7
Category: Home and Garden
By Jan Cullinane
June 10, 2014 -- Single women are the second-largest group of homeowners after couples, and they purchase almost twice as many homes on a first-time and repeat basis than single men do, reports the National Association of Home Builders.
More women than men live alone, and single women are more likely to own their homes than single men (56 percent compared to 47 percent). Recognizing that women are the prime drivers of the transaction in 91 percent of home purchases, more and more builders are creating
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Published on June 10, 2014
Comments 19
Category: Home and Garden
Feb. 11, 2014 -- While consumers still prefer transitional kitchens by a slight margin, contemporary will be the fastest growing kitchen style this year. In bathrooms, contemporary already surpassed transitional to take the top spot in design for 2013, with even more growth anticipated in 2014. These trends are according to the annual Design Trends Survey released last week at the 2014 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA).
Fading fast are Provincial, Tuscan and country/rustic styles and the distressed cabinet finishes that often accompany them, along with
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Published on February 11, 2014
Comments 2
Category: Home and Garden
Jan. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cool, soft colors, open spaces with natural lighting and modern, angular details are the top home design trends of 2014, according to newly released information by Pulte Homes.
"Many of the prevailing trends from 2013 will be seen in 2014, but with a softer and more modern edge," said Janice Jones, vice president of merchandising for PulteGroup, Inc. "We'll still see soothing colors, bold accent pieces and open layouts, but 2014 is about mixing and matching a warm, comfortable environment with modern finishes and angular
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Published on January 14, 2014
Comments 2
Category: Home and Garden
September 16, 2013 -- By Angelo DiGangi
As we get older tasks that used to be done without a second thought now require a bit more effort. Luckily, there are some easy do-it-yourself tweaks that baby boomers can use to make our homes safer and more accessible as we age and physical abilities change.
This article will explore some of the easier projects that incorporate the principles of universal design, which means designing the space for accessibility to everyone, regardless of physical abilities.
Baby boomers will be able to live longer in their homes
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Published on September 16, 2013
Comments 6
Category: Home and Garden
November 18, 2011 -- Earlier this month we generated a lot of member feedback with our article, "If You Could Break the Mold, What Would Your Ideal Community Look Like". Members have made 34 comments so far that reflect a wide range of opinions, from those who love the idea of an active adult community to those for whom that is the worst idea ever. Your input has been terrific!
This week we thought we would take this a little further - into the features and kind of home you as a baby boomer want to live
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Published on November 18, 2011
Comments 43
Category: Home and Garden
Thanks to the economic downturn, it's become a lot more common to have 2, sometimes 3 generations living in the same home. In some cases it's the adult child who comes home to live with parents in an effort to save money during a career change/challenge. Other times it's a decision to keep elderly parents nearby - either as a cost cutting move or because the parent doesn't want to move to an assisted living facility. Occasionally, all 3 generations are living under the same roof.
Fortunately, builders and architects are taking note of this trend, and designing some helpful solutions to its many challenges. Professional Builder ran a recent article, "Design Trends in Multi-Generational Housing" that should be required
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Published on January 18, 2011
Comments 4
