Whatever you’re interested in reading, we curated the best retirement blogs for you that’s created and run by retirees, for retirees.
— Read on 4retirees.com/the-33-best-retirement-blogs-on-the-planet/
Category Archives: blogging
The paths I’ve travelled. City sidewalks
#Sunday stills
Terry Webster Schradt posts a weekly photo challenge and what better way to fill up guarantine time than culling pictures on your computer. I figure this will be a weeks worth of work.
So here are photos of some of the paths I’ve taken. I am an avid walker and have taken lots of pictures along the way. Let’s start out in Mexico. You never know what you will encounter on the sidewalks of Mexico but it is sure to be colourlful.
The sidewalks in Toronto are a little European in flavour and you also may be suprised by encountering sculpture or weddings!!!
Moving on to Ottawa, the seasonal colours are one of the distinctive features of the landscapes. There is a unique walk around the parliament buildings that few people take.
Vancouver sidwalks are often wet, but if you look carefully you will find little and big surprises.
Ijeoma Oluo’s new book interrogates white male mediocrity
In her latest book, out now, Oluo examines the cultural and political underpinnings of what she calls the “mediocre-white-man-industrial complex.”
— Read on www.fastcompany.com/90580960/ijeoma-oluos-new-book-interrogates-white-male-mediocrity
Why Do Most Blogs Fail? – ELENA PETERS | MIDLIFE BLOGGER
Why Do Most Blogs Fail? – ELENA PETERS | MIDLIFE BLOGGER
— Read on elenaopeters.com/2020/10/18/reasons-blogs-fail/amp/
My Social Media Experiences
Social media friends & followers
I was curious to put my experiences on social media down on paper as another blogger asked me about posting blogs to different platforms. I have also reflected on the pros and cons of the social media platforms I use.
Most of my friends are on Facebook so it is my core friend platform. I have followers on other platforms that are strangers to me. Not many of my friends use the other social media platforms apart from Facebook. I have the impression my WordPress blog is mainly viewed by my followers on WordPress or WordPress Reader.
Word press
In the diagram below I show the distribution of friends and followers among social media sites. The arrows show where I post my WordPress blog. WordPress does not automatically post to a Facebook Page so I selectively post to my facebook page depending on the topic. I stopped the automatic posting to Linkedin as I did not see many Linkedin readers were picking up the WordPress link. I have posted to Facebook Hornby Island occasionally and this generates a lot of viewers when the topic is pertinent. This group is like a Twitter feed and I have blogged about this. My WordPress blog post is automatically posted to my Twitter feed but I have the impression no one on Twitter reads the link.
My perception of friends and followers use of social media
Pros and Cons of Different Social Media Platforms in my experience.
I went on to compare the strengths and weaknesses of the social media I use and have to confess I am a twitterholic.
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Facebook Group Hornby Island |
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Word Press |
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Linked in | Business contacts in theory | Very little communication |
Seniors using the internet
This study explores internet use by seniors in Canada and mirrors my experience. Seniors uptake of social media increased with the onset of COVID-19. This might be considered a positive spinoff. Tech Use by Older Canadians for Health, Wellness and Independence in the Time of COVID-19. oatechsurvey-sep2020-final-1.pdf
The dark side of social media
In lieu of watching the presidential debates I watched a documentary on Netflix about the effects of use of the internet on society called The Social Dilemma. Ex-employees of major social media companies are interviewed and they raise alarms about intense use of social media. A revealing look behind the scenes.
Blogging in the Time of Coronavirus: A Reading List

Writing and art in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Blogging in the Time of Coronavirus: A Reading List
The minimalist retirement wardrobe re-titled Quarantine Wardrobe.
Now that many people are working from home.. there is an opportunity to downsize your wardrobe. I did this when I retired but it has some relevance for the quarantine wardrobe. It is tempting to hold on to work clothes, but it is at the expense of freeing up room in your closet. A lot of my work clothes were kind of dated anyway. Joe Fresh has almost everything you need for retirement. Yes I know their hiring practices in Bangladesh have been controversial but you can’t beat the prices and styling and there are no snooty ageist sales people. Ok no sales people. I have converted many of my friends to Joe Fresh who already shop at the Salvation Army. What is about baby boomers that draws them to the Salvation Army? The Tyee has written on the role of clothing in global warming. Most of my peers have had minimalist wardrobes most of their life.
Yes you need a two season wardrobe in Vancouver.. Winter/Spring/Fall and Summer. Don’t forget Junuary. Are you working part time? Ok let’s say you need business casual two days a week. Save something from your work wardrobe. Do laundry once every 2 weeks. If you do laundry once a week you can do with a smaller wardrobe.
2 days a week work wardrobe all year round.
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- 1 pair black pants or tights
- 1 long black/grey/burgundy warm sweater
- 4 long sleeve t-shirts any colour. I suggest Patagonia if you want a good quality t-shirt that fits loosely. Or Joe Fresh but their stock varies from month to month.
- 4 short sleeve t shirts any colour
- 4 pairs black socks
- 1 pair shoes/runners depending on dress code
- 2 scarves – warm, fancy etc to dress up wardrobe and keep neck warm.
This takes care of 4/14 days all year round.
Winter/Spring/Fall in Vancouver
- Tights – 2 pairs black, 1 multicolor for fun
- 10 long sleeve t-shirts -various colours
Outerwear
- Rain coat with lining: Hely Hansen is my favourite because it has a zip up collar at the neck, a two way zipper and flannel lined pockets as well as a light weight lining
- Windproof shell you can wear over down or fleece jacket.
- I seldom wear wool sweaters in the winter in Vancouver.
- 1 Fleece Jacket
- Down coat, knee length. It can be very windy in Vancouver and the dampness goes right through you. Here is my favourite from Eddie Bauer. I am on my second one.. buy a dark colour!
- Short lighter weight down jacket with shell – Eddie Bauer and North Face have lots to choose from.
- And of course you need socks. I love socks that have padding! These are winter socks with lots of padding
Summer in Vancouver/Travelling south in the winter
- Knee length tights – 2 pairs, black and multicolour. Joe Fresh has a great selection. Very cute patterns.
- 2 pairs LLBean Comfort trail shorts because the waist is adjustable, quick dry, will last forever and good for travelling south. Black and khaki. $ 50.00 US.
- The Mountain Hardwear Women’s Dynama Capri cropped pants, they are stretchy and have pockets big enough for an iphone. The Mountain Hardwear Dynamo line come in shorts and long pants as well. I have replaced both shorts and knee length tights with the MH cropped pants.
Short Sleeve Split Neck Butterfly Print Blouse
- 10 short sleeve t-shirts various colours and styles.
- Two dresses with short sleeves. Can wear to work.
In Vancouver you will seldom need: Sundresses, tank tops, tops with spaghetti straps or bathing suits. Vancouver is pretty casual so the work wardrobe can work for upscale events. Layers are the best way to go as the weather changes hourly and from area to area in the city.
Underwear
Now that we are in quarantine mode..you can shift to a more comfortable bra. I have been shopping around for the best sport bra/no wire and found it online at La Vie en Rose. Once you switch it will be hard to go back to a regular bra. I have found this style also reduces rashes under your breasts. I have recently discovered a similar model as Walmart.
Finally I have added the Quarentine Hoodie for those cool evening quarentine walks and hikes.
Places to shop for masks.
The Power of Cute Things to Make You Feel Better | Psychology Today
Need a work-from-home pick-me-up? Research says that looking at cute puppies could improve your work performance.
— Read on www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-online-secrets/202004/the-power-cute-things-make-you-feel-better
The Reasons Behind The Unhealthy Rise In Incivility During The Interview Process
Things dramatically took a turn after the stock market meltdown—in the wake of the financial crisis. Over 10 years later, a large portion of the American population has still not fully recovered.
— Read on www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2020/02/21/the-reasons-behind-the-unhealthy-rise-in-incivility-during-the-interview-process/amp/
Anyone glad they are not working any more? I see a trend toward decreasing civility in general and I think that Twitter is the canary in the coal mine. An old fashioned expression for sure!
The Hornby Chronicles 2018-2019
I didn’t realize I has so many posts about Hornby Island so here they are all together. I guess the next project should be a book??
Merry Christmas from Hornby Island
Vancouver to Hornby -The Kindness of Friends
My adventure with standup comedy.
