By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist
Guest Blogger

Millions of boomers love to take photos. However, many boomers aren’t able to use their photos or enjoy them because they don’t have them organized.

Taking photos for me is one of the great pleasures of life. But, for years, my photos stacked up because I didn’t know how to store them safely in a way that would preserve them over the years.

A friend of mine took the best dozen or so photos of each of her children every year and put them in a notebook. She used colored construction paper and pasted the photos on with rubber cement.

It looked great. And, when her two children graduated from high school, she presented them each with a huge notebook of photos.

I was envious. Most of my photos were still in boxes.

But, her method didn’t seem right to me. And, sure enough, it’s now known that rubber cement damages photos. In addition, acid-free, archival-quality papers are now available that are much safer to use than construction paper.

About a dozen years ago, I finally found a system that works:

• Place photos and negatives in acid-free plastic sheets with pockets for different size photos or negative strips.

• Put the pages in notebooks that hold 8 ½ x 11 inch photo sheets.

• Organize the photos by year.

The photo to the right shows one of the notebooks that I’ve completed.

The method is working well. A big breakthrough came when I realized that if I purchased sufficient supplies ahead of time, I could make the notebooks as photos and related materials came in. This avoids photos stacking up with articles, catalogs, and magazines that need to be filed.

I’ve assembled about 50 notebooks, and I’ll probably need to make 50 more.

It’s wonderful to be able to find photos when I need them. For example, I’ve made a number of photo boards for my friends and family for special events. I’m also scanning photos to use on my blogs.

If you need to develop a method for photo storage, the article “How to Organize Your Photos” on the ehow.com Web site offers these tips:

• Gather your photos.

• Label the photo packets on the outside top edge with the event and date, and put them in a shoebox.

• Put your loose photos in plastic recipe boxes with tabs labeled for time periods or events.

• Choose a system to store and display your photos.

• Don’t worry if you don’t have time to make scrapbooks now. Protecting photos is the first step.

• Label and store photos in albums as you get each roll of film processed.

Some photo stores and retail outlets offer acid-free pocket pages for sale. This photo shows the sizes that are available. Among the online sources are:

Print File Archival Storage

Ultra Pro

Light Impressions

As for digital photos, I’m figuring out what to do about them. I purchased an i-Mac in January. My photos are nicely stored in the Apple photo library. However, I haven’t backed up any of my photos on CDs.

Here are some references for organizing, storing, and backing up your digital photos.

“Be Sure to Back Up All Your Priceless Digital Photos” – USA Today

“Archiving and Backing Up Your Digital Photo Collection” – Dummies.com

“Preserve Your Digital Photo Memories” – AARP

“Archiving and Backing Up Your Digital Photo Collection” – Sympatico.msn

“Five Ways To Never Lose Your Photos” – Digital Photography School

For more information for boomer consumers, see my blog The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.

Popularity: 17% [?]

You have probably seen the user name ‘Beyond50Radio’ next to many articles on the www.Boomer411.com website. Some of you sent in comments that you like the wide array of topics covered by this trustee. (Definition: A “Boomer411 Trustee” is a person selected by Boomer411 board based on his or her expertise in the field;  a trustee selects articles and recommends them to be included in the search engine called, Boomer411, based on their working knowledge with Baby Boomers. So you can be sure that any article you find on Boomer411 is already reviewed and recommended by an expert). We are delighted to present you a closer view of the person behind this user name you often see on Boomer411, Daniel Davis and his amazing work on the ‘Beyond 50 Radio Show’. We thank Daniel Davis and his team for doing such a wonderful job in bringing interesting material to Baby Boomers through his radio program and for sharing their intriguing collection (click this link to access the complete listing of articles tagged by Beyond 50 Radio, to date) of valuable resources with our readers on Boomer411.com.

Boomer411: What is the “Beyond 50 Radio Show” and what makes it so unique?

DD (Daniel Davis): So many people think the name “Beyond 50” refers to age.  It actually means to get beyond half-way thinking toward solutions. At the heart of it, “Beyond 50” is not only an educational program for Baby Boomers (in their 40s – 60s), but also a socially and creatively-responsible one to bridge the generations in an inclusive way.  We like to regard ourselves as an alternative form of media that serves our growing audience with heart and intelligence. 
“Beyond 50” has been on-the-air for close to 5 years, getting our start in local radio stations in Portland, Oregon. We later moved the show online in November of 2007, which turned out to be an excellent move.  By offering the interviews as a podcast (in mp3 format), we’ve been able to syndicate our interviews on 125+ podcast networks and directories (like iTunes that has millions of listeners).  Every week, we have “new ears” from all over the world downloading past interviews from our archives.  It’s amazing to see the numbers of people tuning in double every 2 – 3 months and to interact with them during a broadcast. 

What makes our show a standout is our knack for seeking out and attracting exceptional radio guests who are innovative, cutting edge, top experts in their field, offbeat, and visionary leaders.  We’re constantly getting remarks from people wondering where we find these people because they’re so interesting.

Because of the high quality of our show’s content, we’ve got listeners who are young adults to seniors in age, but mostly those in their midlife who are listening regularly. 

Boomer411: Who were some of your favorite guests you’ve had on-the-air?
DD: To date, we’ve had over 700 guests on “Beyond 50”.  A common tie between all of them is that they are great educators. We prefer that.

Some of our most remarkable guests include Jeanne Keene, the lady in Homer Spit Alaska who feeds breakfast to hundreds of eagles in her backyard daily; Jacques Gauthier who walked all across Canada, then all across the United States after healing from debilitating all-body pain; TJ Marrs who teaches how to pay off your mortgage through his unique rapid mortgage payoff program in less than 5 years; Dr. Gabriel Cousens who has helped many with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes reverse their condition completely within 30-days; the “Columbo” actor, Peter Falk; Futurist Thomas Frey on the future of money; and so many more. 

Boomer411: Do you find that Boomers are receptive to listening to your show online?
DD: Absolutely! At first, we were apprehensive about moving “Beyond 50” from terrestrial radio to being totally online. Our assumption was that Boomers are so used to tuning in on their radio dial that they don’t want to change their habits. Not so. We’ve been told by many that they like the convenience of being able to hear our episodes whenever they want because everything is archived online. 

The other surprise was seeing a lot of Boomers with their own podcast show. The number of people doing this will increase as entrepreneurs in midlife use podcasting as a means to market and educate to new and existing customers. It is becoming more mainstream for many tuning in to broadcasts from their computer.

By listening online, there’s just more variety, compared to what’s offered in traditional radio on the AM and FM side.  This is similar to the numerous offerings on cable television versus free programming. What’s amazing is that podcasting has only been around since 2004.  Over time, you’ll notice a lot of traditional radio stations moving totally online to grow their listener base.  

Boomer411: What are your thoughts about how Boomers are portrayed by the media?
DD: We can tell that most of the media are having trouble figuring this group out. There’s no regard for diversity and complexity within the Baby Boomer population. Many in media just lump them together as if they all shared the same age and life experiences. The biggest no-no we find is lumping Boomers with Seniors like that. The media can be quick to offend their audience unknowingly by doing this.  That’s the same as when AARP says that 50 is Senior age. There’s definitely no group agreement on that, no matter how great the senior discounts can be.

Someone in their mid-40s doesn’t necessarily relate nor have the same practical interests with a Boomer in their mid-60’s. There’s definitely a generational gap. Media is slow to recognize emerging trends like those in their 50’s still having children or older Boomers going back to school and starting a business. There’s even a growing number living back home with their parents due to layoffs or from unfortunate circumstances. They are not all looking into retirement anytime soon or have lots of discretionary income as the media and mass marketers want you to believe.

Boomer411: Can you please share your experience of being a trustee on Boomer411?
DD: We like it a lot because we’re able to serve an even larger audience of Boomers.  We’ve never been a part of a combination search engine and bookmarking service before. It took us by surprise when some of our entries on Boomer411 started showing up as high rankings within the first few pages on major search engines like Google. This was within 24-hours to a few days after posting them on the site.
 
Also, we love to share the best of what we know and treat the privilege of being a trustee responsibly because there are thousands of readers every month going to Boomer411 that really want to find reliable and good information. We want them to keep coming back for more.

*Since 2004, Daniel Davis has served as the Radio Host of Beyond 50 Radio: America’s Talk Show for Baby Boomers. To tune in to the educational program, live broadcasts are every Friday, from 12 – 1 p.m. (PT)/3 – 4 p.m. (ET) on http://www.Beyond50Radio.com . They also offer a free e-newsletter from their website to learn more about their interviews.

You can tune in to the show by going to www.Beyond50Radio.com.  And check out our blog as well at www.Beyond50Radio.Blogspot.com.

Popularity: 19% [?]

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist
Guest Blogger

Many baby boomers aren’t interested in pursuing a traditional retirement of leisure. The majority of boomers say they plan to keep working and earning in retirement. However, they’ll do so by cycling between periods of work and leisure.

But as you approach the retirement age you’ve selected, how can you determine just what it is that will keep you engaged and fulfilled in retirement?

“Smart Women Don’t Retire – They Break Free,” a book by Gail Rentsch, offers suggestions for women who know they want something different when they leave their jobs, but can’t figure out what it is or how to get it.

“This kind of transition is new to us as well as to the experts,” Rentsch says in her book, which is quoted on the blog Boomer Café.

Some of the suggestions Rentsch offers women are to observe what other women are doing, seek advice from emerging experts, and give weight to their own thoughtful insights.

“Smart Women Don’t Retire – They Break Free” is the first book from The Transition Network. The network focuses on the needs of women as they explore new possibilities and redesign the old model of retirement.

For more information for boomer consumers, see my blog The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.

Popularity: 23% [?]

A scan of the news headlines in newspapers these days could make one sick to their stomach. Though you can find a variety of viewpoints, many are ususally negative especially whent it concerns the economy, the housing market and so on. Though it is not without basis, some times it may be exaggerated. One has to always take the opinion presented in the articles with a grain of salt or assess its value and usefulness for himself or herself.

For example read this recent interview titled ‘U S House Price Decline Could be Worse than Great Depression: Economist Schiller says‘. In this interview the famous economist and MacroMarkets Chief Economist, Robert Schiller presents his analysis of the present situation and states how the house price decline when adjusted for inflation looks much worse. And this report about the ‘U S Oil prices closing at 5-month low on U S gas report‘ states how the reduced consumption of oil and gas by the U S Consumer confirms that the U S economy is in doldrums (Big surprise, huh?).

Read this article from The Economist’s website titled ‘Economics Focus: Home Truths‘ and it talks about how the housing price decline has impacted the credit available to consumers and their spending power. But argues against equating the impact of the so called ‘wealth effect’ from liquid investments such as stocks, bonds, etc with the ‘wealth effect’ from the housing price (not so liquid investment) changes.

The article concludes with the following statement

There is also a more general point that emerges from Mr Buiter’s paper. Very often there is too much emphasis on the losers from falling house prices and too little on the winners. A fall in house prices is not bad for everybody. In an important sense, a house is much like any other durable good: a fall in prices is a boon for those consumers who have yet to buy one.

Speaking of a good opportunity for those who have yet to buy one, read this article titled, ‘Affordable Housing Exists, if you know where to look‘. It lists top-10 Most Affordable Housing Markets. So if you are looking to buy one, this may very well be the golden opportunity you have been waiting for.

Bottomline (in my opinion) is that housing is not an area that people invest in for liquidity. It is a long-term investment and in most cases more than a mere investment, it is the place we call home. So the recent volatility does not really hurt everyone who owns a house. For those that are disciplined and careful and have the liquidity, this may be an opportunity to get in and grow their assets. Having said that, for those that are in need of cash and house is their only remaining source of that cash, the pain is acute and hard, especially since emotions are attached to this investment, more so than other types. It may help them to assess their situation in a non-emotional way (some times it helps to listen to the advise of good friends or a counsellor) and make the right choice that is good for their families and for their wallets in the long-run.

Whatever we do, we should do it while keeping in mind our ultimate goals of a good retirement.

Popularity: 15% [?]

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist
Guest Blogger

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a National Historic Landmark in Coconut Grove near Miami, features a main house and 10 acres of formal gardens.

Built by agricultural industrialist James Deering between 1914 and 1916, Vizcaya was designed in the style of European estates that Deering had visited and adapted to the subtropical climate of South Florida.

Deering was vice president of International Harvester.

On European trips, Deering and an adviser purchased almost all of the decorative elements of the home – furniture, light fixtures, doors, and fireplaces. The estate was designed to look as though a family had lived in it for 400 years, with each generation adding furnishings of the period.

Vizcaya cost $22 million to built. Eighty servants staffed the home, and 40 gardeners maintained the gardens.

The Deering family invested in land in the West, and financially supported the development of agricultural machinery to make this land more valuable.

The Deering Harvester enabled farmers to harvest an acre of grain in an hour – a substantial increase in productivity that made commercial agriculture in the West profitable. As more reapers were sold, Deering’s land investments grew in value, and, by the end of the nineteenth century, the Deerings became one of America’s wealthiest families.

By the turn of the century, James Deering owned homes on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago and in nearby Evanston, as well as in New York City and at Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris. His name appeared in social columns as an active partygoer, traveler, and cultural ambassador, hosting visiting French dignitaries at his homes in New York and Chicago. He never married.

Two of Deering’s nieces inherited Vizcaya when he died in 1925, and they attempted to open the property as a museum. With the financial crisis of the Great Depression, they weren’t successful in their efforts. Deering’s nieces sold Vizcaya to Miami-Dade County in 1952 for $1 million.

Unlike many other house museums from this era, Vizcaya still possesses almost all of its original furnishings.

On a recent hot, muggy, rainy day, I enjoyed visiting Vizcaya with my daughter while I was on vacation.

Although the villa is remarkable, I couldn’t help thinking about how the richness of Vizcaya contrasted to the lives my ancestors lived as farmers who bought farm equipment from International Harvester. My forbearers toiled from dawn to dusk, lived in small homes, and saved little money.

James Deering owned five lavish homes. Today’s wealthy also own many homes, some as many as seven.

As a consumer advocate, I’d like to see income levels rise for working people. Corporate executives often receive enormous salaries, while workers struggle to make it from paycheck to paycheck.

For more information for boomer consumers, see my blog The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.

Popularity: 12% [?]