Firsthand | Experiences with aging
By Ron Anderson
For many years my wife and I have enjoyed a trip to Florida or California in January and a timeshare week in Mexico in March. Because I am approaching 80 and travel has become more work, we agreed that this year would be our last to take winter vacations. We decided to splurge: A month in San Diego and two weeks in Mexico.
We found a perfect condo rental in San Diego with a beach view. For months we dreamt of warm walks by the ocean. Upon arrival we found poor heaters, broken windows, stained carpets, and dirty floors. Our greatest shock came from discovering the ubiquitous staircases. We knew there were stairs to the bedroom, but we had no idea that entering the condo required going up a steep, 15-step staircase. My knees let out little yelps each time I took a step up.
So much for winter vacations
We had spent a lot of time senior-proofing our primary living space—no staircases, grab bars in the bathroom, etc.—but we neglected to think about these in vacation planning. We resolved the staircase challenge by cutting short the vacation by two weeks.
Our Mexico trip posed a totally new challenge: Travel during a pandemic. Over our two weeks (March 1–14) in Cabo, at the southern tip of Baja California, we nervously followed the daily news. We almost returned early because I had less than a month’s supply of meds and we worried that the U.S. might halt flights from Mexico. The tension made it hard to enjoy the sun.
We had flown into MSP airport hundreds of times, but never before had our landing felt as wonderful and secure as it did this time.
Two weeks later we read about a travel group of 70 who chartered a plane to Cabo San Lucas the week we left. Over half of them were later reported to have caught the coronavirus while in Cabo. During our stay, there were no reported cases; the next week there were 42. This is a true story! Boy, did we feel blessed.
We may never travel for a winter vacation again, but if we do, we will plan for frailties, possible quarantines, and viral super-spreading.
News
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The election of UMRA officers and new board members for 2024–25 will be conducted via an online poll from May 13 to 19, with the results to be announced at our annual meeting on May 21. Look for the ballot in your email inbox on May 13. Diane Young has been nominated to be president-elect.
“I convinced myself I could handle this problem without support groups or doing additional research, but that’s only because I didn’t want to make it any more real than it already was. Denial comes in many forms, and one is to avoid thinking about the problem any more than need be.” —Alice A. Larson
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The University plans to remove retirees from the @umn.edu internet identity domain on December 7. UMRA has advocated for ensuring continued access to this identity (including email, Google Workspace, and associated services), citing University retirees’ enduring contributions to and engagement with the University. Thus far, our efforts have not prompted any change of plans.
Leading the online Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays has been a labor of love for Kris Bettin. Alas, a change in family needs has necessitated her retirement. So, JOIE is seeking a new leader to join a savvy editorial committee of five and bring fresh ideas for continued development of the UMRA-sponsored journal.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to explore your photographic interests, hone your photographic skills, and hear what other retirees are up to, the UMRA Photo Club is a great place to be. We have fun! And whatever your skill level, there is room for everybody.
Soon you will receive an email or letter inviting you to renew your UMRA membership for the 2024–25 year. Please renew before you get busy with your summer activities. Your support helps to make our programs and many other member benefits possible!
This will be a new regular column where you can find organizational tasks that need your help! We are currently looking for help researching a new UMRA Membership Database and URVC volunteer database, and a co-producer for UMRA's Zoom webinars. See more details: