Status: Senior
- bought to you by Seacroft
Status: Senior - brought to you by Seacroft

Keeping connected a two way effort

Cross country family checkup - worth the effort?

This May the spouse and I set out on separate trips.  Me to visit my Mom in Ontario, son and daughter-in-law in British Columbia, and English cousin in Alberta, with various other cousins, aunts and uncles met along the way.

The spouse didn’t travel as far, but he connected with friends in family in the Ottawa area.

This cross-country family check-up thing has become a bit of an annual event for us.  We both feel compelled to keep in touch.  We are however, starting to wonder why.  You see the effort doesn’t go two ways.  Few of these family members who say they cherish our visits so much, ever return.  They don’t make the effort to come visit us. 

Its too far, they say.  Funny, do they think distance only works one way?
It costs too much, they complain.  Ummmm, do they think it somehow doesn’t cost us?

We are now planning a major trip for next year, but taking different routes.  We are not mapping by where family lives.  Instead we will let folks along the way know where we will be and when.  If they want to visit with us we would love to see them.

Life with pensions freeing

Just recently 9 of us gathered in an Irish Pub in my home town intent on celebrating my 65th birthday.  Rather than seeing it as a depressing event (as many do) I found myself feeling uplifted, enthusiastic about the future.  I just felt good.  Still do.   I think part of that feeling came with the knowledge that I will now have a base income every month from pensions.  Not that I could survive on what money comes in - reality is I couldn't.  I can however tone back on work a little.  Our combined family income isn't bad.  We can live fairly well on it.  We can travel a little and have enough coming in to cover living moderately well.

As a person who has freelanced for the past 30 years, earning my living as a writer, I am used to an uncertain cash flow.  This entrance into the life of a pensioner is liberating.  Life is good.

IT'S ALL IN THE NAME

We got into a discussion about what to call our blog and the website to follow. Why do we have to use the word senior? And, what does that 'status' mean anyway? Reality is that other words often used to define those of us who have reached the golden years just don't work: ELDERLY (my Mom isn't elderly yet and she's 88), MATURE (heck, I thought I was mature at 21), AGED (well, like fine wine or cheese, we do get better when stored properly), GEEZERS (arn't those things that squirt water in the air?), BABYBOOMERS (baby??!! and who gave those kids drum sets anyway), OVER THE HILL (heck, the way my knees are I'll be a while before I even reach the top), OLD FOLK (well, I like the folks part. Its friendly. The old? Might relate to how my joints feel, but the personality me feels just like I always did. Just doesn't fit). So, even with the choices out there 'senior' if more in keeping with my objectives - somehow the others just don't cut it. As for the 'status', well by definition status means high rank or social standing, or and official classification. At 50+ we have attained a certain place in life that give us a place of status. After all, think about it. We are the fastest growing population demongraphic in North America. We are active, on the go and enjoying it. We have spending power - maybe not as much as we want but most of us are OK. We are eager to live life, to travel, to do and experience. So there you have it. The why behind the name Senior Status.

Mission Statement

To provide a positive look at travel and adventure, lifestyle and leisure, for 55+ individuals with a zest for life: focussing on Canadian destinations, opportunities and issues.