January 2025

Retiring to Reno

I know that you have moved from Escondido to Reno in your retirement. How are you finding life in your new community?

Tom and I have found a wonderful, friendly place in Reno’s high desert climate.

We miss the warm weather of San Diego’s winters and the nurturing of our friendships formed over the last fifty years. We don’t miss the increased traffic in San Diego.

Becoming members of the inviting Reno community has been an adventure! We have been here six years and are just beginning to get groups of friends we see regularly and can share honest conversations.

Jon Nachison and Stand Down

I’ve traveled to interesting, exotic places for the last few months. If my wife reads this, she’s going to exclaim,

What are you talking about? You haven’t been traveling anywhere unless you have some secret life I don’t know about.

So, how do I explain all this? My travels have been interior, not in the external world. I have a meal with Jon Nachison every three weeks at Denny’s in Del Mar. After ordering my 55-plus senior breakfast, consisting of 1 egg, one slice of bacon, a small portion of home fries, and an English muffin, I begin my journey by talking with Jon.

Dementia

Falling through space,
With no handles:
Speeding through the void,
Yesterday is gone,
Tomorrow soon to leave,
The present is fleeting,
Yesterday’s tomorrow,
No more,
Like a ship in space
Traveling
To a place unknown,
Dark times, lost times,
Falling through endless space.

Le Bambou: Vietnamese Cuisine

Many SDPA members don’t know that a gem exists near their homes. What am I talking about? Le Bambou is a Vietnamese restaurant in the Beachside Del Mar shopping center. Though it has been there for many years and has won numerous awards for its fine food, many people remain unaware of its existence.

Le Bambou, although located in a nondescript space in a small mall, represents quiet elegance with its white walls and art showcasing Vietnamese culture. White tablecloths adorn the well-spaced tables in the dining room.

The family-owned restaurant is well-run and has friendly, efficient staff. Reservations are recommended as the eatery is popular with locals. Parking is easy.

What about the food? It is excellent, reasonably priced, and French-influenced. I particularly enjoyed the roll-your-own fresh spring rolls that come in three options, Ground Shrimp on Sugarcane (BBQ grilled shrimp), Vegetable Ambrosia (sautéed vegetables, tofu, rice noodles), and Golden Coins (BBQ ground pork). I also liked the Combination Fried Rice “Le Bambou” that is special fried rice with shrimp, shredded chicken, egg, BBQ pork, and minced onion.

The restaurant is relatively quiet and has a sophisticated air about it.

Creativity in Retirement:

Imagination, Courage and “Never Retiring”

Preston Sims

I know you have always been creative. Can you describe how your creativity influenced you in your early years? Do you have any idea where it came from?

I had to look up the definition of “creative,” which I found online as “relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.” Regarding imagination and not so much “original ideas,” that was with me from an early age. Partly because I had alcoholic parents who had a great (LP) music collection, I could put on a record by Elvis Presley or Louis Prima or the Beatles and not just listen to it- I would stand in the middle of the living room and become Louis Prima or Elvis or one of the Beatles. If I was one of these guys- everyone was interested in me- everyone wanted to be me, and by pretending to be them, I was transported to another (albeit make-believe) world.

Later Life Transitions:

Loss of Physical Capabilities – Vestibular

In 2023/2024, the SDPA Aging Issues Committee produced six ninety minute Zoom presentations entitled Later-Life Transitions Luncheon Series. Topics covered in this series included Retirement, Loss of Physical Capabilities, Moving to a Senior Facility, Becoming Caregiver to a Family Member, Loss of a Spouse/Partner and The Final Transition. We are presenting a summary of the material covered in each of the six series presentations in installments .

The second topic Loss of Physical Capabilities was facilitated by Cynthia A. Cotter, Ph.D. and Kenneth S. Dellefield, Ph.D. on June 16, 2023 and covered vision, hearing, vestibular and musculoskeletal systems. The summary below covers the material presented on the vestibular system.

VESTIBULAR

The vestibular system is a set of organs in the inner ear that helps us maintain our balance and tells us where our body is in physical space. This system is critically needed for us to engage in coordinated movement.

Land and Sea

Here is a tasty, healthy, and nutritious dish: Slice up a fresh tomato. Add sliced zucchini or summer squash to the dish. Microwave a small square of pita bread with flakes of sharp cheddar cheese. On the bread, place a slice of smoked salmon. On top of the salmon, place a poached egg.

This is an easy luncheon dish to prepare, and it is delicious!

Sober Seniors

Years ago, non-alcoholic beers could have been better. There were few choices, and major breweries weren’t interested in producing such products. The recent demand for tasty non-alcoholic brews has jump-started a sleepy industry and unleashed healthy competition for market shares.

Many seniors note a diminishing of their driving skills as they age, and impaired brain function due to alcohol doesn’t help an already compromised situation. The new brews are tasty and don’t cause impairments!

The new beers cost about the same as their alcohol counterparts, and most markets these days carry a supply of these libations. Here is a list of some of my favorites.

Stella Artois
Bitburger
Sam Adams
Alesmith
Heineken
Athletic Brewing Company
Beck

Hulu: Say Nothing

Say Nothing is a 9-episode series currently available on Hulu. Adapted for the screen by Josh Zetumer, who grew up in Del Mar, it chronicles the struggles of people growing up in the 1970s, 80s and 90s in Belfast during the Troubles conflict in Northern Ireland. The series is an adaptation of the 2018 book by Patrick Madden Keefe. The Catholics sought an independent, unified Ireland, while the Irish Protestants in the North wanted to remain aligned with Great Britain.

The show, featuring Irish and British actors, is well done throughout. It is a gritty, intense drama that captures the era’s essence.

Month: January 2025