Extraordinary Experiences Around The Globe

Travel is an ever evolving business. Years ago a tour of Italy would include tours to the major sites, a nice hotel, a little shopping and a few meals. Things have changed. For high end clients, private jet travel has become very popular. Four Seasons just had a 757 reconfigured for private jet travel on round the world trips. In May, Four Seasons unveiled it's Extraordinary Experiences Collection, promising exclusive experiences at its hotels around the world, from a Texas boot camp that has nothing to do with exercise, to private viewings of art collections.

In Punta Mita, Mexico, Four Seasons offers a private helicopter excursion to the family run Jose Cuervo distillery in Tequilla. In addition, clients are offered a behind the scenes tour of the facility by an expert sommelier to demonstrate the tequila making process. Then, guests will feast on a gourmet lunch prepared by a Four Seasons chef, while sipping tequila and listening to live music.

Boot camp Texas style is being offered by Four Seasons Austin. The trip starts with a consultation for custom boots made by Lucchese. The Package also includes lunch from Franklin Barbeque, named the top barbeque restaurant in the country, and two-step dance lessons at Austin's legendary Broken Spoke dance hall.

Other packages include stargazing in Costa Rica, hiking in Japan, private jewelry viewings in Florence, and tailgating at the Santa Fe, New Mexico opera. In time, more hotels will offer more interesting experiences. These trips sound truly extraordinary. I hope I have a chance to try one.

Post Op: Day 17

Today is Jul 26, 17 days since I received my partial knee replacement.  There have been ups and downs, but fortunately no real setbacks.  Norco 10 is the pain killer that was prescribed for me.  It's a combination of Vicadin and Tylenol.  Almost from the beginning I hated taking painkillers.  It inhibits your ability to think, to follow a conversation, it makes you so sleepy.  For me, the pain was better than the feeling I got from the painkillers, so I cut them out, except for one at night to help me get to sleep.  I can't lie.  I had quite a bit of pain on many days, but at least I could drive a car and go out for lunch without falling asleep.

Scripps Home Health has been with me every step of the way.  They have been outstanding.  I have a case worker, who oversees my general health, PT, and Coumidin treatment.  Twice a week I have a nurse come to the house to check my health and take a blood sample.  Coumidin is a blood thinner which Dr. Bugbee prescribes for a month after surgery, to cut down on the possibility of blood clots.  Your blood levels are tested 2-3 times a week, and medication is modified depending upon your numbers.  I have been 2.1-2.4 which is perfect.  They want your numbers at 2.0-3.0.  Scripps Home Health also arranges for in home Pt.  My therapist is Nancie, and unfortunately Monday will be my last day with her.  She says I am free to go, get back to regular workouts (with modifications) and continue my stretching and strengthening.  As much as I've enjoyed seeing her 3x a week, I will be happy to end all the medical personnel comings and goings.

Pain.  There are times when I feel no pain (about an hour after the pain meds kick in), but for the rest of the time I feel constant "surgery pain."  It's not the pain I felt before surgery, but one I attribute to the trauma to my body.  I know that it's just a matter of time before it goes away, and my nighttime need for Norco 10 will go away too.

I never needed a walker or a cane.  Actually, I did use the cane for a few days, just to make sure I didn't get bumped.  My balance was good from the beginning, and I felt confident I would not fall.  I have been walking daily since I came home, probably the equivalent of about 4 times around the block, per day.  By the end of the day I'm tired, and Ron takes over walking Pepper.  I started back at the Y on day 10, and have been there everyday since.  I started with 5 minutes on the bicycle, adding a minute or two each day, and am now up to 18 minutes.  I can't wait to get back to my spin classes.  I do chair barre classes and aerobic and weight training with the help of a chair.  As soon as my incision is fully healed, I will get back in the pool.  Just kicking on a kickboard is great exercise.

Today I am meeting Fran at the Lumberyard for our first official Saturday morning walk since my surgery.  We are going to do a slow, very abbreviated version of what we used to do.  We plan to walk for just 20 minutes.  I will do what feels right, and will NOT overdo it.

Knee replacement has not been what I thought it would be.  I was prepared for the worst, as that seems to be what everyone told me about.  Everyone's experience is so different.  There is no NORMAL.  I hear stories everyday from the PT that surprise me.  A lady just had the surgery and it turns out she's allergic to the glue they used to close her incision.  They are going back in to redo it.  My roommate Kathy became allergic to one of the drugs she was taking and broke out in a terrible rash.  Another woman I know had extreme swelling in her knee, leg and ankle.  Oh, the things that can happen.  I consider myself very lucky to have come through this so easily (so far).  I think that my good physical condition before surgery had something to do with it.  There's no medical evidence that proves this, but I think it is true.  If you're having this, or any orthoaepedic surgery, get yourself in shape.  Your body will thank you.

Have You Tried Pickelball?

There's a new sport that's sweeping the nation, especially amongst  seniors.  Pickelball is not actually new.  It was created in 1965 in Bainbridge Island near Seattle, by three dads.  It's a combination of tennis, badminton  and ping pong.  It's played on court smaller than a tennis court, with a net a little lower than a tennis net.  It's played with a small racquet, with a perforated ball.  It is played either as singles or doubles.  The advantage for seniors is that they don't have as much ground to cover as they do in tennis.  They still get a great workout, are social, and competitive.  How did it get its name?  One of the creators of the game had a dog name Pickles, that kept stealing the ball while they were playing, hence the name Pickelball.

Pickleball has been gaining in popularity over the past decade, but I was unable to find any hard numbers on how many players are active in the sport.  All I know is that everywhere I go, to senior centers, Y's, 55+living communities, pickleball is one of the most popular activites.  I have heard that there are Pickleball leagues and traveling teams, which play at a very high level.  Check it out on U Tube.  You can see pictures of games being played, and see how much fun participants are having.  Even men and women in their 90's can compete!  The game requires good hand/eye coordination, so if you played tennis or ping pong, this might just be for you.  I can't wait to try it, as soon as my knee is ready.

I Can't Do What I Used To Do

I just returned from spending four wonderful, but exhausting days with my son Phil, his wife Deborah, and their two children, Lennon, age 4 1/2 and Elsa age 2. Did I ever do what they did when I was their age? I guess so! There's a reason child rearing is for the young. When I was in my 30's I had three children, two dogs, a large house (yes, I had a housekeeper), a husband, and a full time job. I also took my kids for play dates, baseball practice, piano lessons, doctor appointments, marketing, did the cooking, helped with homework, and occasionally saw my husband. It was a grueling time, but also very rewarding.

As the children left the house and I worked less and less, my activities were more centered around my self. Reading, cooking, walking, gym exercise and yoga, golf, part time travel agent and mystery shopper, Brandeis classes, bridge and boogie boarding have replaced my full time job and child rearing duties. Still, I have found in the last 15 years my body can't do what it could do in my mid 50's.I started to analyze how much less I do now than I did just 15 years ago.

Today a typical day looks something like this. Get up at 6:45, take Pepper for a quick 15 minute walk, then head to the gym for a one hour spin class, group strength class or barre class. Come home, clean the house, maybe write a blog, and do some paper work. Often I will take Pepper to the dog park for some exercise. Lunch time may find me at a mystery shop location or possibly out for lunch with my book club friends after discussing a good book. Each day I usually have a book club, a Brandeis class, an outing with my Newcomer friends, or a long walk with a friend. If the weather is right, I might be at the beach boogie boarding or walking. Late afternoon is "nap" time. I don't often actually nap, but I do lie down and rest every afternoon from 4-5. I will usually relax, read a book (try to read an hour a day), and watch a little political TV. (Chris Matthews or Chris Hayes). Then, make dinner and either go out to play bridge for the evening, read or veg out and watch The Voice or Amazing Race. Don't say anything about my choice of shows! By 10pm I've had it. I get in bed and doze through whatever Ron chooses to watch, rarely getting to the end of the show. It sounds like a pretty full day as I write it down, but compared to what I used to do, it's not.

I've found one of the most important things about aging is to recognize your limitations. I can no longer do step classes at the Y or high intensity zumba classes. I need to spin, which is non impact, do yoga or walk. I can no longer go all day and night. I need to have a rest in between. I can no longer eat late dinners. I just don't feel good when I do. I can no longer stay up late at night. I fade around 10pm. I found out that I can't lift the grandchildren the way I'd like to, or run after them the way I could a few years ago. I need to accept that I'm aging, I'm changing. I can either fight it or accept it, and modify what I do to make sure I stay safe. I hope to be around for awhile, and I will just keep modifying what I do and how I do it, because I have no intention of becoming a couch potato that sits home and does nothing. That's just not me.

Raising Kids in the 21st Century

Every generation thinks they're going to get it right. They will not make the mistakes their parents made. One generation thinks children should be seen and not heard, the next generation allows them to do and say whatever they want. There is no right or wrong way to raise children. Each parent has to find what works for their child. All children are not created equal (by this I mean they are not equally hard or easy to raise) and one approach does not fit all families. I have noticed in the past 15 years a change in parenting, that I, not an expert, think may have long lasting effects.

Parents and children do EVERYTHING together these days. From the cradle, parents take their children pretty much everywhere they go. A big dinner at a fancy restaurant, it's likely small children will be there too. Play dates for pre-school children include the parent staying at the house while the children play nearby. In the home, the children often play in the family room, nearby mom and dad. Children enjoy being the focus of everyone's attention, so the family room becomes the playroom. At the mall, the child must be close to his parent at all times.

I have always maintained that allowing children to be independent is one of the most important things we can teach them. Children need a certain amount of freedom to explore, to experiment, to be creative. If we're constantly on top of them, monitoring their every move, will they learn these very needed skills? I know that parents today are extremely concerned about the safety of their children. There is so much media coverage of kidnappings, abductions and murders, that parents are scared to death to let their children out of their sight. (statistically there has not been an increase in these activities in 30 years. We just hear much more about it). But how can they grow up and be anything but fearful when this is what they have been taught? At the very least, children need an opportunity to play by themselves, in their own room, without having an audience. This is so important, in my opinion, for success later on. They need to learn to please themselves, not just their parents.>p>

Things have changed dramatically since my oldest son, Brian, was a child. When he was 10 years old I used to let him ride the public bus all over Los Angeles. I wouldn't even think of doing something like that now. When David was small we used to go to Rancho Park in Cheviot Hills to watch Brian play baseball. David must have been about six years old. He would walk to the snack bar, go over and play on the swings, and I wouldn't think anything of it. I must have been crazy! By the time Philip came along, I was much more cautious. I did not allow him to take the bus alone, and although I did allow him to walk two blocks to a friends house (age 10), he had to call immediately when he got there. When the kids were in high school, cell phones were new, and we would often give our cell phone to our kids to take with them at night. This would save us endless hours of worry.

There's a fine line between protecting our children and smothering them. We need to give them space to develop, without always having someone there to cheer them on. They need to learn to be alone, get along with their peers, and explore. I contend that a lot of the time parents spend with their children today is not quality time. Parents are constantly on their cell phones, texting or talking, and paying very little attention to their kids. I watch some parents who are with their children, but really not engaged with them.

Oh, these kids will probably all turn out just fine, and the next generation of parents will have a different approach with their kids. I guess the key to raising mentally healthy kids is to give them lots of love, and encourage them in whatever their passion may be. That's often how we develop our greatest thinkers.

Surgery: Seven Days Post Op

It is Tuesday afternoon, July 15.  It has been seven days since my partial knee replacement, and I'm doing very well.  One thing I have learned throughout this ordeal is that you can't compare yourself any other person.  Everyone heals differently and handles pain differently.  I am happy to report that most of the stories I heard before surgery did not apply to me.

Here's a brief update of my progress.  I came home on July 11.  On July 12 I put the walker away, finding it was in the way more than helping me.  I have a can that I take with me on walks for added stability, and to ward away anyone who might bump me.  When people see you coming with a cane, they take extra care to be nice.  Ron and I went to Starbucks this morning, and doors were held open for me, something that wouldn't happen without the cane.  I have kept the ice on my knee as much as possible, probably 6-7 times per day.  I always ice after PT or a long walk.  (around the block is a long walk).  I rest as often as I need to, which is pretty often.  I take a more nap and an afternoon nap (or rest), then go to sleep around 10pm.  I do find myself pretty tired, and I listen to my body and rest.  I am taking Norco 10 for pain.  It's a combination of vicadin and Tylenol, and was prescribed every 3-4 hours.  Since my goal is to get off the meds as soon as possible so I can drive, I only take Norco 10 when I really need it.  Everyone always says "Stay ahead of the pain,"  which means to keep taking the meds even if you don't have pain, because once you have it you will have difficulty getting rid of it.  I have not found this to be the case.  My last pain pill was at 10pm last night, and I plan to take another just before bed tonight.

I walk around the block several times each day, do all my PT exercises twice, and do almost everything around the house.  My philosophy is that the more I do, the faster my recovery will be.

Today I had two visitors and went out for lunch.  I was tired at 2pm and took a one hour nap.  I find my mind wandering right now as I try to write this, so I know the anesthesia and pain meds are still in my system.

If you're having a total or partial knee replacement, listen to your body.  Everyone handles pain differently.  Pain to you may not be pain to me.  Some people are on walkers for months after surgery, others just a few days or weeks.  There is no "average" amount of time your recovery will take.  I just hope that you listen to your body and do what you can.  Don't use this time to get sympathy, although a little TLC is nice.  I hope you have as positive an experience as I had.  I've got visitors for the next few days, and by Saturday I plan to be driving.  If you're on the 5 on Saturday morning, look for me.  I'll be on my way to the Y to meet friends for coffee.

Treating Burns

I've never been exactly sure of how to treat a burn. I used to think that you should put butter on the burn. Then I was told not to do that, but to rinse the burn with cold water and put ice on it. Recently I was given some information on another way to treat a burn, which actually makes sense. In fact, this is what they are teaching future firefighters in the classroom. Take a look at this treatment.

Keep in mind this treatment of burns is being included in teaching beginner firemen. First Aid consists of first spraying cold water on the affected area until the heat is reduced which stops the continued burning of all layers of the skin. Then, spread egg whites onto the affected area. One woman burned a large part of her hand with boiling water. In spite of the pain, she ran cold faucet water on her hand, separated 2 egg whites from the yolks, beat them slightly and dipped her hand in the solution. The whites then dried and formed a protective layer.

It turns out that egg white is a natural collagen and the egg white forms a protective layer over the burned area. The woman who burned her hand with boiling water continued to apply layer upon layer of beaten egg white over the next hour, and by afternoon she felt no pain and the next day there was hardly a trace of the burn. In ten days the burned area was totally regenerated due to the egg whites. This makes perfect sense to me, and will definitely try it next time I burn myself. I wonder if this is a new treatment, or an old one that I never heard about.

Surgery: Two Days Post

It is Friday, July, 11, and I've been home for nine hours.  I feel fantastic.  I wanted to get down a few thoughts about the surgery before I forget, so here goes.

I arrived Wednesday morning at Scripps Green at 8am, check in time for 10am surgery.  Ron dropped me off, then went to breakfast with a friend, and waited for the call from the doctor saying I was in recovery.  Dr. Bugbee called Ron around 1pm telling him that all went well, and to come over to the hospital.  From  9:30am-12:45 I remember nothing.  The staff at Scripps Green were WONDERFUL.  I met the anthestheisiologst at 9:45 and he told me about the nerve block he was getting ready to administer.  I was a little worried about that shot in the groin, but he assured me I would be in la la land and feel nothing.  He was right.  I was gone in an instant, and don't remember anything until recovery and trying to read the clock.

I arrived in my room, 414B, at 1pm.  I had the most beautiful view you could imagine.  I looked out on Torrey Pines Golf Course, Pacific Ocean in the background and hang gliders everywhere.  If you have to be in a hospital, this is where you want to be. At this point, I was feeling no pain.  Ron arrived and visited with me for about 2 hours.  I finally kicked him out, telling him I couldn't follow the conversation and just wanted to sleep.  He left me alone, to try to get some rest.

It's hard to rest in a hospital.  The staff arrives like clockwork every 2-4 hours to check your vitals and see how you're feeling.  Just when you doze off, in comes a rattling cart ready to take BP, temperature and straighten out your bed.  Don't ever go to the hospital and expect to rest.  At about 5pm my roommate arrived.  Her husband, mother in law and daughter where there too.  They stayed about an hour, and then left, giving us a chance to meet one another and then rest.

My roommate was Kathy.  We had actually met about 10 days prior at our surgery education class.  A sign in sheet was going around the room, and she noticed that she and I had the same doctor on the same day, so she introduced herself.  My surgery was at 10am, hers was at 2pm.  We ended up  sharing a room, and had two wonderful days getting to know each other and sharing our post op experience together.  It turns out we have many friends in common.  Such a small world.

Kathy had a full knee replacement, and I had a partial, and there definitely is a difference in recovery.  Of course that makes perfect sense.  We were both feeling great initially, as the nerve block takes 24-48 hours to wear off.  You know the block is gone when you can lift your straight leg off the bed.  It took 36 hours for both of our blocks to wear off.  I had very little pain at this point, whereas Kathy had more significant pain.  I was ready to go home early Friday morning, and Kathy opted for another day.

PT is started on the afternoon of surgery.  At first I was simply standing with a brace on my leg (to prevent my rubbery leg from collapsing), taking a few steps, and doing a few simple leg lifts in bed.  The real PT started the next day, again consisting of warm up exercises in bed, then a brace on my leg for protection, finally walking down the hall.  Once I got going I felt great.  By the time I left on Friday morning I was walking without the brace, around the nurses station, and practicing walking up and down steps.

Kathy and I became fast friends.  Our husbands enjoyed meeting each other, and we will definitely get together soon to compare notes.  We had so many common friendships, and in just 36 hours we knew so much about each other.  It made the time go fast.  She met my visiting friends, I met hers, and our time together was one big party.

Just two things were not to our liking:  anti inflammatory injections that went right into the IV burned like hell.  Whoa.  I can feel that sting now.  Also, we wore little booties that pumped up constantly, to prevent blood clots.  Just when you felt yourself dozing off, the bootie would pump up and wake me up.  All in all, it was a wonderful hospital experience, not like I was expecting at all.  I'm home and on my way to recovery, and I'll write one more surgery blog about what comes next.  I can tell that for me, this is going to be a quick recovery.  I have to believe that all that exercise at the Y has made my recovery faster.  More later.

Road Trip To Orange

I'd never been to the city of Orange, until I took a road trip with my daughter-in-law Tracy, my mom Dorothy, and four friends, in late June. Tracy had mentioned to me that she thought the Huell Howser artifacts were house in Chapman University, in Orange. I checked it out, and sure enough, she was right, so I got together a group to check out the exhibit on Huell Howser, and explore a bit of Orange. Was I ever glad I did.

 We drove together to Orange, about an hour north of Carlsbad. The drive was half the fun, as it gave us a chance to talk, talk, talk. Orange is just Northeast of Newport Beach. It began as a farming community, first farming grains such as barley and oats, then grapes. There was a blight in the early 1800's that wiped out the grape crop, and in 1873 Orange began farming oranges. They were a huge producer of oranges for decades, but this crop diminished in value during the depression and many farmers went out of business. Today, Orange is a beautiful little community, with lots of Victorian houses, a one square mile historic area filled with antiques shops, thrift shops, and funky clothing stores. Many wonderful restaurants and bars also fill the area, so spending a day there is worthwhile.

  Orange is also the home of Chapman University, a prestigious liberal arts university. That's where we started our tour.  Housed in the Leatherbys Library of Chapman University is the Huell Howell collection. We spent about 45 minutes going through the exhibits, and learned so much about this extraordinary man, who died too soon. He produced and edited most of his shows, in addition to starring in them and determining the content of them. He met famous men and women from all over the world, and had such a down home folksy approach to his interviews, that people just opened up to him. Must be his Tennessee roots. We finished our visit to the library, then moved over to Glassell Street, the main commercial area of town.  Store after store of beautiful antiques, old collectibles, and funky clothing stores made this an area we knew we had to come back to. You could spend several hours browsing the area, building up your appetite, and getting ready for lunch.  There are so many dining choices, you won't be able to make up your mind. One thing I did not see was a Starbucks, or any other chain café or restaurant. I love that. We ate at the Citrus City Grill. What a treat. The restaurant is contemporary, noisy and very upscale. Soups, salads, small plates, and big entrees are all available. Other fun restaurants in the area are Bruxie, Blue Frog Bakery, Filling Station and Rutabegorz .

 If you've never been to Orange, take a day and explore. You will be happy you did. The town is right out of the old U.S., the people are friendly, and the retail shops and restaurants are top quality. In rediscovering Huell Howswer, I also discovered a delightful little town that I will definitely return to.

 

A True American Hero: Louis Zamperini

Several years ago our book club read "Unbroken," by Laura Hildenbrand, the story of Olympian and WW11 Hero, Louis Zamperini.  It was one of the most moving books I have read in years, and his story touched us all.  A simple man from California, he overcame great odds to survive WW11.  While searching for a downed B-25,  Zamperini and his aircraft crashed in the Pacific, killing eight of the 11 men.  He and one other  crew member survived 47 days on a raft in shark-infested waters before being captured by the Japanese.  He then spent more than two years as a prisoner of war, surviving torture and hunger.  Louis Zamperini died days before July 4, at age 97.

Prior to enlisting in the military, Zamperini was a runner at USC.  He ran for the USA in the 1938, finishing 8th.  Zamperini confronted challenges in his life that would cause most of us to surrender, but he always persevered.  After WW11, Zamperini fell into alcoholism and depression, but he never gave up.  He conquered his illness, and went on to spend the better part of his lifetime sharing his message with others.

I had the good fortune to see and hear him speak at Cal State San Marcos several years ago.  I will never forget this diminutive man in a USC baseball cap, bounding down the aisle of the auditorium to reach the stage.  I felt honored to hear him speak.  I consider him a hero, in a time when we have too few heroes.  Had Laura Hildenbrand not known his story and written about him, we might never have found out about this truly amazing man.  She did, thank goodness, and we are all better off knowing his story, knowing that heroes like this are out among us, and realizing what a difference they make.  If you have not yet read Unbroken, put it on your list.  Louis Zamperini is a man you will not soon forget.  Louis, we will miss you, but your unbreakable spirit and winning smile will live on forever.

My Personal Journal

There has been a lot of coverage lately of the prison system. Frontline recently had a big story on the prison system, and there have been various other stories that have hopefully educated those that know little about it. Most stories have focused on the long sentences being served for minor drug offenses. Some stories deal with the financial reasons that so many men and women are in jail. Prisons are big business, and many prisons have been privatized. The more men and women incarcerated, the more money the private enterprises make.One aspect that is not talked about much is the division of inmates, by race. This was one aspect of prison that Ron was not expecting. During his first week at Taft, he sat down for dinner at a table with four African Americans. As soon as he pulled out his chair, the four men asked him if he knew what he was doing. He was not supposed to sit there, but was supposed to stay with the "whites." He did not move, and some of the African American inmates became his closest friends. In the state system you often hear about the "white prison gangs" to which most whites that are in for a long time must join. In the state system it's a matter of survival, of protection. At Taft, men divided themselves by race, religion, and education. There were three TV rooms. One was for the black inmates, one for the brown, and one for everyone else. The Jews also seemed to stick together, as did the Mormons. The doctors, most of them Asian, also stuck together. I find it interesting how in the larger society we want everyone to get along, integrate, accept one another, but in prison there is massive segregation.Among Ron's bunk makes in the 19 months he was a Taft were a big hunk of a man originally from Pasadena (in for drugs), a farm worker from Bakersfield (in for drugs), a Muslim man from Stockton (white collar)and a man from San Juan Capistrano (white collar). He got to experience all kinds, all races, all religions, but when they left their sleeping room, they segregated. Lucky Ron was in a federal prison where violence is unheard of, because he broke the color barriers all the time. He spent time tutoring Hispanic young men in accounting, he watched football and basketball with the blacks, and he had interesting intellectual discussions with the doctors, lawyers, judges, and mayors. Yes, prison is a cross section of life on the outside in just about every way.

Chairs Make A Difference

I've belonged to the YMCA for years, in fact it's a routine part of my life that I look forward to every morning. Not only do I get a great workout, but I get to meet old friends and socialize a little, and get to know new people, some of whom will become friends.About a year ago the Y did a major remodel of the lobby area. In place of empty space, they put in seating areas for 30 or more people. There are conversation areas and a free drink bar with coffee and tea. (also a few food items for purchase). Here's what has happened. People are arriving 10-15 minutes early for their workout, getting a cup of coffee, and sitting down and talking. People are also hanging around the lobby after class, again to socialize.
  It's our nature to socialize, and the lobby remodel has given Y members a wonderful opportunity. The walking groups have been social for years, often going out for coffee after their walk, but also taking overnight trips, and having weekend gatherings in members homes. With the new lobby area inviting people to socialize, many new friendships have been formed.I often attend a barre class on Tuesday morning, but until recently did not really know anyone in the class. Now I arrive early, and sit and have coffee with them. We chat about our lives, and I've gotten to know some of them quite well. Knowing some of the people you're working out with just makes it more fun. You can complain together!
The addition of a few tables and chairs in the lobby has certainly made a difference to me in my Y experience. Sure, there are those hard core people who simply want to get to the gym, do their workout, and get out of there, but for many of us, especially those who are retired or semi-retired, we want more! We want a good workout, a chance to socialize and possibly even make some new friends. I've done all that, and am so thankful to have such a wonderful Y in my community.
When I left LA, I thought I would never find another gym like the one I had belonged to there for 20 years. It was an all women's gym, and one in which many members socialized over coffee before or after working out. We would have great discussions, and I feared I'd never find another place like it. Well, the Y is nothing like it, yet I have found all I could ever need. One of the most important things in maintaining good health and longevity is SOCIALIZING. The Y provides a place to work your body and engage your mind. That may be why they have so many seniors actively involved.

Open Space Office Design Is Replacing Cubicles

The cubicle is being replaced by the cost efficient, open-space office design. GlaxoSmithKline is one company that has moved away from individual offices and cubicles, and to an environment where no one has a desk of their own. The concept is called "hoteling." All workers, even top management, are assigned to "neighborhoods"-areas of workers engaged in related tasks-but no one has a permanent desk. Personal belongings are stored in a small lockerMany employees work at computer terminals standing. Everyone is encouraged to float-in the lunchroom, on a sofa in a quiet place, anywhere that chance encounters will spark conversations and collaboration that would not happen when creative minds are stuck at a single desk. At GSK they call it "smart-working." It's also saving the company a lot of money. The new design allowed GSK to fit the same number of employees-1,300 at one facility-into square footage that is a quarter of the size previously occupied.The goal of the open office space is to enhance collaboration and trust, break down hierarchical barriers, reduce emailing and formal meetings and help decisions get made more quickly.I was recently in downtown San Diego and walked by a commercial building near the new library. I looked in and noticed a start up company (I think it was a coffee distribution company) with about four employees, all sitting around one big desk in an open space. Each worker had a laptop, and they were working and conversing with each other when necessary. I said to myself that it seemed so different that the old style office, with individual offices for the executives and cubicles for the workers. With the new style office you are more likely to interact with all level of workers, including the CEO. I never worked in a cubicle, but from what I've been told workers did not like it. They felt "boxed in." I wonder why. They were! The new office design sounds promising both because it will increase creativity and production, and save money on office space. Sounds like a win/win to me.