So Baby Boomer: Life Tips

Blogging Boomer Carnival #147

For what's happening today in the life and times of Baby Boomers, please visit this week's Blogging Boomer Carnival #147 hosted by Andrea Stenberg, The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur.

How old are you...really?

Just about every major disease of aging, from Alzheimer's to cancer, has been linked to low-level inflammation.  So, you may be taking anti-inflammatory drugs, like an adult low-strength aspirin, every day.

From caloric restriction studies to genes that may extend lifespan, researchers are looking for ways to extend healthy lives.  But don't expect miracles.  If the effects of caloric restriction are any indication, anti-aging drugs won't boost human life expectancy much past 100 anyway, says Richard A. Miller, a University of Michigan researcher.  Still, that's a lot better than the current 74.4 and 79.8 life expectancies for U.S. men and women, respectively.  And those extra years may well be very good ones.

To take a free test to determine how your chronological age compares with your calculated actual age, go to: www.RealAge.com

To extend your life, change your behavior.  Here's how an average guy in his 40s can buy six more years of life:

Get stress under optimal control  =  Gain 1.5 years
Drop blood pressure to 115 over 76 = Gain 1.3 years
Walk/exercise 90 minutes a day, 7 days/week = 1 year
Give up a pack-a-day smoking habit for 5 years = 11 mos.
Take the right vitamins; avoid the wrong ones = 10 mos.
Floss and brush daily = 5 mos.
Have good sex 14 times a month = 3 mos.
Have one or two drinks a day = 2 mos.

Source: FORTUNE magazine, April 19, 2004

For more on what's happening now in the life of Baby Boomers, consider visiting Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels for this week's Blogging Boomer Carnival #146.

Blogging Boomer Carnival #145

Come and visit the Blogging Boomer Carnival hosted this week by Laura Lee Carter, the Midlife Crisis Queen.  You will enjoy what you discover Baby Boomers are about today!

Blogging Boomer Carnival #144

Come to the carnival where approximately a dozen participating blogs focus on Baby Boomer issues from health to midlife crisis to finance and travel.  As the boomer generation's 60s become the new 40s, this week's boomer-centric articles document newsworthy happenings in their lives.

Be sure to visit SoBabyBoomer's tent at the Blogging Boomer Carnival #144 hosted this week by Wesley Hein at LifeTwo.

Blogging Boomer Carnival #143

As we say goodbye to 2009 and welcome in the New Year, it is my pleasure to host carnival one-hundred-forty-three for my fellow Blogging Boomers during this holiday season.

We begin by visiting Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels who wrote a piece about her encounter with a homeless man on Thanksgiving. Her reflections on gratitude are perfect for the upcoming Christmas holiday.

It is that time of year to learn about the December 21st solstice, what it used to mean, and what it could mean for you.   Laura Lee, the Midlife Crisis Queen, also tells us that she has started a new blog devoted to recent medical discoveries and midlife health of aging boomers at: Medical Research on Aging

When holiday shopping, do you find yourself enticed to buy more for yourself than for your friends and loved ones?  At Writing Without Periods, Mary discusses the many ways the holiday season lures her to spend money...on herself!

What’s one of the prettiest new trends in Christmas cocktail dresses for boomer fashionistas?  The Glam Gals have the answer at Fabulous after 40.

If you are all stressed out about the health care discussions in Congress during the holidays, Vaboomer has some thoughts about the status of the Health Care Reform bill....or....From Its All About Aging…In the spirit of the holidays, here is another good reason to lift a glass with family & friends?  Red wine may help you live longer with fewer cavities.

Janet's end-of-the-year gift to you, from Gen Plus, is a movie recommendation.  How can that be a gift?  Read on, my friends, and you'll see how a princess and a frog can make you remember what is important in life.   Also, here is an interesting story, Christmas Love by Candy Chand, that speaks to the Law of Love.

Don't miss The Boomer Chronicles’ 5 New Year’s Resolutions before jumping into 2010.

Welcoming in the New Year is a good time to reflect on what we have learned in the prior year.  Ann at Contemporary Retirement wishes you joy and happiness for the holiday season and offers you the gift of the most useful thing she's learned this year. 

Others have experienced some life lessons, as well, from tweets to managing relationships. One prominent divorce attorney believes that Tiger Wood's marital problems began with the decision to have a prenuptial agreement. She explains her reasoning at LifeTwo. 

Twitter allows users to create lists of people they follow. But are these lists of any use?  Andrea J. Stenberg at The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur learned this year the top eight ways to use Twitter lists.

...and to finish this end-of-the-year carnival, here's what Johnny learned in class before the holiday period break from school. The students had turned in all their work and there was really nothing more to do. All the children were restless and the teacher decided to have an early dismissal.

Teacher: "Whoever answers the questions I ask, first and correctly can leave early today."

Little Johnny says to himself: "Good, I want to get outta here. I'm smart and will answer the question."

Teacher: "Who said 'Four score and seven years ago'?"

Before Johnny can open his mouth, Susie says, "Abraham Lincoln."

Teacher: "That's right Susie, you can go home."

Johnny is mad that Susie answered the question first.

Teacher: "Who said 'I Have a dream'?"

Before Johnny can open his mouth, Mary says, "Martin Luther King."

Teacher: "That's right Mary, you can go."

Johnny is even madder than before.

Teacher: "Who said 'Ask not, what your country can do for you'?"

Before Johnny can open his mouth, Nancy says, "John F. Kennedy."

Teacher: "That's right Nancy, you may also leave."

Johnny is boiling mad that he has not been able to answer any of the questions.

When the teacher turns her back Johnny says, "I wish these girls would keep their mouths shut!"

The teacher turns around: "Now who said that?"

Johnny: "Tiger Woods. Can I go now?"

 

Blogging Boomer Carnival #140

Come to the carnival where a dozen participating blogs focus on Baby Boomer issues from health to midlife crisis to finance and travel.  As the boomer generation's 60s become the new 40s, this week's boomer-centric articles document newsworthy happenings in their lives.

Be sure to visit SoBabyBoomer's tent at the Blogging Boomer Carnival #140 hosted this week at Vaboomer.com

Blogging Boomer Carnival #138

Baby Boomers make up 28% of the American population and keep setting trends throughout their lives.  The Blogging Boomers take a chronological view of these boomer trends and report them to you weekly.

Blogging carnivals start out by the thousands, but those that can sustain themselves for as many as 100 episodes are rare.  And a carnival which has turned out its 138nd edition while heading toward 150 editions is practically unheard of!

Today, be sure to visit Blogging Boomer Carnival #138 hosted by Rhea Becker at:

The Boomer Chronicles 

  

Blogging Boomer Carnival #137

Check out what happening in the world of Baby Boomers at this week's carnival hosted by Fabulous After 40.

Is it time for a Roth IRA?

By most accounts the single best retirement savings plan is the Roth IRA.

The main reason: Since you've already paid tax on the money going in, you don't have to pay taxes on accumulated gains when you withdraw money during retirement.  And earnings limit on conversions to a Roth is set to end in 2010.

Employer-Sponsored Retirement Savings Plans

If you are over 59.5 years old and still working at your company, you can withdraw the money in your employer's 401(k) plan without penalty and place it in a Roth.  Your company pension plan documentation must allow for such an "in-service' distribution (while you are still employed), and a majority of large companies permit it.  "The move can potentially save you a lot in future taxes," says Laurence Kotlikoff, an economist at Boston University and head of Economic Security Planning, a financial advisory firm.

The benefits of an in-service withdrawal from a 401(k) to a Roth extend beyond income, too.  For one thing, no minimum distribution is required at age 70.5 from a Roth like there is from a 401(k).  And withdrawals from a Roth aren't counted in adjusted gross income, either.

Source: BUSINESSWEEK, November 2, 2009

For more on the joys and challenges of Baby Boomers, visit Ann Harrison, founder of Contemporary Retirement Coaching and creator of the Retirement Detox Program, who is hosting this week's Blogging Boomer Carnival #136.

Blogging Boomer Carnival #134

Check out the intriguing and eclectic issues being discussed by our Blogging Boomer members at this week's carnival hosted by Barbara Weibel at Hole in the Donut Travels.