I'll take what they're having

Congress has wonderful health care--they have choices. Lots of them. Apparently, that works for them.

The current US senate turns out to be the oldest on average of any senate in history. It makes a good selling point for young challengers, but it’s really a side effect of increasing longevity. The Senate Historical Office reports that the average age of senators at the start of this, the 111th congress, was 62.7 years. The average in the first congress, over 200 years ago, was a mere 47. Blog, Prospect Magazine

"As soon as members of Congress are sworn in, they may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). The program offers an assortment of health plans from which to choose, including fee-for-service, point-of-service, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). In addition, Congress members can also insure their spouses and their dependents. . ."

Read more at Suite101: Health Care for U.S. Congress: Politicians Receive the Country’s Best Care - at Taxpayers' Expense

Here come the Boomers

"By 2029, all of the baby boomers (those born in the post World War II period 1946–1964) will be age 65 years and over (1). As a result, the population age 65–74 years will increase from 6% to 10% of the total population between 2006 and 2030 (data table for Figure 1). As the baby boomers age, the population 75 years of age and over will rise from 6% in 2006 to 9% of the population by 2030 and continue to grow to 12% in 2050. By 2040, the population age 75 years and over will exceed the population 65–74 years of age." Health, United States, 2008 Chartbook section

Heard you were retiring

Dear Cousins,

I see by your Christmas cards and letters of 2008 and 2009, that you both have retirement plans--now or soon. Congratulations if that has actually happened. I retired in 2000 and have really enjoyed it. I’m doing a lot of things I had on my PEP list (post employment plan), but the most time consuming, blogging, wasn’t around then. I’ve been a blogger since 2003, and now have 12 blogs. I’m out of control, obviously. But writing and writing workshops were on my list.

My biggest worry about retirement (other than money, of course) was that I had no hobbies. Like my dad in that respect. And we have no grandchildren, which seems to take up the time of most of our friends. But, time certainly hasn’t been a problem. About a year before I retired, I kept a note book in my purse and jotted down things from the local paper that looked interesting. Then, being a librarian, I organized them, and guess what? Everything I liked to do as child floated to the top: writing, drawing/art, reading/research and animals! Whoddathunkit? One of the very last things on this list was “bird watching,” and my colleagues had even given me binoculars for a retirement gift in 2000 when they saw it. But this past summer at Lakeside I joined the bird watching group and volunteered for the Midwest Bird Symposium in September and just loved it. Boy--are those folks committed!!

Together we started an art ministry at our Lutheran church, and I just finished up 10 years with that, but he’s stayed with it. I did take a few years of art lessons, and do participate in art classes during the summer, but that’s been pretty slow. I’m a better artist than most people who try it, but not good enough to suit me! He paints much more than I do, and sold 11 paintings last year.

We have traveled much more than I ever imagined--we go with U. of I. Alumni groups when we can because of the educational component, but have done some on our own too, like an Alaska cruise, Amtrak to California and back, Finland and Russia, and local U.S. stuff with some architects.

Finding a good balance for volunteering hasn’t been easy. I do quite a bit at the church, and served lunch at the senior center and used to visit nursing homes, but I tend to be somewhat of a loner--not much into committees, task forces and groups. So I help out where I can--I don’t think God is keeping a check list of approved agencies--plus, laws are so strict now on what volunteers can do. Just keep a casserole in the freezer, and take it out when needed. No license needed to be neighborly.

I also joined a book club--so I am forced to read fiction, which I rarely did before, although we do all types. I visited a horse show which was on my list, but only one. Those are expensive, but I did get to pet some noses. Genealogy--I’m a dabbler. I need the names and dates of your grandchildren for the database.

So let me know how it’s going--you can always catch up with me at my blog http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com