grow older better

Tag: Portland

  • There’s Something About Portland [Oregon]

     my-moorage

    10 years ago I bought a house, actually a floating home, in Portland Oregon.

     

    At the time when I was told things would need replacing or work would need to be done in 10 years, and I thought to myself:

    “Who cares, I won’t be here.”

    FYI – I never stay anyplace more than seven or eight years.”

    Well – here we are 10 years later and I am still in that very same house. In fact this is the longest I have stayed put in one house since I moved away from New York City – and that’s 50 years of moving!

    There is obviously something about Portland that has kept me here. I had to stop and think about it and I’ve come to the conclusion it’s

    • my neighbors
    • my house
    • the river
    • the city itself
    • the friends I’ve made here
    • the love of beer wine and dogs
    • and lots more

    And another thing I do think about as I have aged 10 years since I’ve lived here – is that I feel safe. Moorages are pretty safe, there’s people around most of the time and it’s just a friendly, neighborly situation where we all watch out for each other – so it’s a very safe place to grow old[er.]

    The downside, though, of staying put for these 10 years, is that those things that I was told would need fixing – now need fixing.

    When you move every seven or eight years, you don’t have to deal with a lot of repairs on houses, new appliances, or other things that might need being done. You go out and buy another house that meets your new requirements.

    Well here I am, and I guess it’s time to start remodeling this house,

    because frankly – I really don’t feel like moving again.

     

    Thoughts? Comments?

    Thank you!

  • 10,000 Steps! Good For Me?

    Today in honor of Earth ay [and a rare sunny DRY day,] I walked to my nearest library branch.

    According to my pedometer it was 10,325 steps [or 5 plus miles!]

    In less than 2 hours, I got there and back, got some new books, took some photos, sat for a rest in the library, and stopped to shake grit out of my shoes.

    Not a bad pace for an old lady! But then I love walking and do lots of it.

    Health providers, including mine, say that one should take 10,000 steps a day to remain in good health! Duh? That would mean that I should walk to and from the library EVERY day! Or do the equivalent of this round trip.

    Not gonna happen. Not on a regular basis. Besides does it add to my health to have breathed in whatever the cars and trucks speeding by were spewing out their exhausts? And what of the “stuff” kicked up by their tires that I not only had to remove from my shoes, but also got in my eyes, nose, throat – and assume is now in my lungs!

    I’m not sure who comes up with the “you musts” for health…but this is one I shall say no thank you to. I’ll stick with my shorter cleaner walks along the levee and along my street – and the next time I am inclined to walk to the library – I’ll go by bicycle!

  • For Pacific North West people: heat wave coming!

    Having lived on the hot and very humid East Coast with a personal history of heat exhaustion – I know the symptoms and what to do to take care – yet even then I have had problems in Portland.
    Dealing with many days of hot in a row is something to be serious about. In fact, as a NET person we got warning that we may be put on stand-by…
    Here are some precautions to take that we got from NET:
    Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
    Never leave anyone in an enclosed vehicle, even with the windows partially open.
    Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Start drinking fluids at least 30 minutes before going out.
    Avoid beverages with caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar because these can actually result in the loss of body fluid.
    Eat smaller meals, more often, but be sure meals are well balanced, cool and light.
    Take frequent breaks when working or recreating outside.
    Wear sunscreen SPF 15 or higher, wide-brimmed hats and light-colored, loose-fitting clothes.
    Dress infants and children in cool, loose clothing. Shade their heads and faces with hats or an umbrella. Use sunscreen as directed on small children!
    Consult your health care provider about the added effects of sun and heat when taking prescription drugs, especially diuretics, antihistamines and antidepressants.
    Check on your animals frequently to ensure they are not suffering from the heat, have water and shade.
    and my own added warning – don’t just drink water – you need electrolytes added to it – I use a product I market but there are others available – water alone can flush your system of needed resources. This many learn from experience – so learn from mine and take care this week.
    glyconutrients, healthy aging, growing older, aging, nutrition, exercise, eating properly,