It has been almost a decade since I retired as an editor for the American Psychological Association magazine, the Monitor. I had a lot of ideas that day in 2000 when a reporter from the New York Times tracked me around town. I made many predictions about my future life in the golden years; most of them turned out to be inaccurate. So, today, I thought for the benefit of those contemplating retirement, or even ... [full story]

Let us start off with that popular myth that we seniors are worst off in economic hard times compared to our children and grandchildren. That's nonsense. Let's look, instead, at how recession-proof we are. For one thing, our Social Security checks are not affected. And we still receive Medicare — chances are we receive defined benefit pension rather than those shaky 401 (k) plans that have supplanted defined benefits. Plus, we get all of those ... [full story]

Back in the 1930s, Army life looked pretty good to a lot of young Americans mired in a Depression with unemployment at 25 percent. They used to have the saying: At least you got "three hots and a cot." Now, with unemployment heading toward 10 percent, the economic advantages of Army life are looking beneficial. It is definitely not the Army this GI Joe remembers. Forty-five years ago, I was a $110-a-month intelligence analyst assigned ... [full story]

Glacier Point, perched high on the south rim of Yosemite Valley at 7,214 feet is one of Yosemite National Park's most popular tourist destinations. And from late May through December, its parking lot fills with cars and buses as visitors jockey for position to enjoy the spectacular views.   After a cross-country ski trek of 10 1/2 miles, the winter view of Half Dome from Yosemite National Park's Glacier Point is magnificent. Photo by Jim Farber.    The ... [full story]

Recently, scientists have started looking to nature and emulating natural processes to replace carbon-intensive manufacturing. Think about the humble spider web, three times stronger than steel yet light and flexible. We humans have not been able to design anything quite so useful and biodegradable.   Emulating natural processes to solve human problems, e.g., using seaweed to improve antibiotic efficiency, is a new field of science, called biomimicry.  Biomimicry stems from the Latin words "bios," meaning life, and ... [full story]

Dear John: I am the other woman, although not in the usual sense of the word. By that, I mean that "Herman," the married man I've been seeing for nearly a year now, has introduced me to his wife and told her all about me. It doesn't bother her because they have an "open" relationship. However, this does bother me! I really enjoy being with him, and we see each other a couple times a ... [full story]

"I bought my mom a Yorkie for her birthday." "Yorkie, huh? Cute breed. How old is your mom?" "She's 92." And so began the story that, all told, included four trips to the hospital in five months for Mom, as she repeatedly tripped over, tangled with and stepped on her rambunctious gift. Happy birthday! The potential benefits to pairing the elderly with pets are immeasurable, but clearly there are risks to consider. Large dogs can ... [full story]

Q: Since retiring, my husband stresses out easily. Before going to bed, he makes a daily detailed "to-do" list. During his career, he managed a large staff. Now, when he is unable to accomplish his list, he nearly freaks out. He is always in a rush and has little time for me. He even makes it difficult to fit in time to visit our children. Should I suggest he go back to work? A: During ... [full story]

For decades, she drank alone, in the dark shadow of her own shame from the consequences of blackouts, poor choices and a baffling inability to control her use of alcohol. Not long ago, in desperation, she asked for help from an unorthodox resource: the Web site of ABC's "Good Morning America" television program. At first, she even agreed to be interviewed, as long as her identify was protected, and thus, when the cameras first rolled, ... [full story]

Once there was a time when the best way to travel was by train. As the late great poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay, put it, "There isn't a train I wouldn't take." But the war, with its technological advances, changed so many things, including the way we traveled in peacetime. The airplane, which could get you there much faster, took a lot of business away from the railroads. And President Eisenhower poured millions into a ... [full story]

The couple—she’s 86 and he’s 88--farmed for a lifetime, reared four children and lived conservatively. Five years ago they sold their farm, placed the net proceeds of $250,000 in joint certificates of deposit and moved into a modest apartment.  Their older car ran well.  Household belongings were adequate.  Two children lived nearby.  Life was reasonably secure.  Then, “Mom was admitted to a nursing home today,” emailed the daughter.  “We are concerned that Dad will not ... [full story]

Ocean fish are the last wild creatures that people hunt on a large scale. We used to think of the ocean's bounty as endless. Recently, we have discovered its limits. Between 1950 and 1994, ocean fishermen increased their catch by 400 percent by doubling the number of boats they used and using more effective fishing gear, according to Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch. In 1989, the world's catch leveled off at about 82 million metric ... [full story]

Dear John: My soon-to-be ex-husband, "Jerry," and I are a month away from finalizing our divorce. Our 5-year-old son is my only joy in life. Our son goes over to Jerry's house, and has learned about Jerry's new girlfriend — someone whose existence Jerry kept from me, until our son spilled the beans. This divorce has been very hard on me. After all, it was Jerry who did not want to remain married to me. ... [full story]