Instant Communication

“What’s a telegram?” my grandson asked when I mentioned the word. While I explained that it used to be an efficient way of communicating important information, it dawned on me that while now defunct, its life was decades-long in contrast to the speed at which the newest and the latest in communication is forever evolving. But do the methods of communication that have appeared since the telegram of (what seems) only a few years ago always good for us?

I worry that in our rush to be in constant communication with the rest of the world we may be in danger of having too much information. Are we able to distinguish the truth among all the information instantly reaching us?

Those of us who still read newspapers know that they exist by their reputation and that news stories have been checked and rechecked for accuracy before being thrown at the world. And those of us who read newspapers online are assured that this high standard also applies there as well. But what about all the other information, comments, ideas on countless websites and blogs? Can we recognize the real grain among all the half-truth circulating in cyber space?

Another danger looms in instant communication. The never-ending bombardment of images may make us immune to feelings. Somewhat like the horrific images of the Vietnam War, the first “televised” war which made the news daily at the time, today’s images of bloody conflicts and disasters are instantly seen by millions all over the world. And we get used to them. After a while, all shock value is lost. Unless it’s personal, of course.

 In the olden days, if someone was injured or killed, the family received a telegram and were spared the visuals. Today, chances are family members will see a video of the actual event someone has posted on line before anyone has time to officially inform them of their loss. The telegram was kinder.

 

 

The Condo Option

When it comes to housing preferences the condo is certainly a good choice for those whose families have moved on and who would rather not be taking care of a house, the lawn, the snow shoveling, etc.

One of my sisters has been living in a larger 144-unit condo complex for more than two decades and has acquired a lot of condo-related experience. When I asked her what anyone looking into buying a condo should know, she had some interesting advice.

 Cost: Before putting in an offer on a condo unit, be sure you understand what your costs will be. A condo may be an apartment, but it becomes your personal property which the municipality will tax just like any other real estate.  And when you live in a condo someone has to be paid for the care and maintenance of common areas, and that’s where the monthly fee comes in.  It covers care and upkeep of hallways, stairs, lawns, etc. as well as keeping the contingency fund at an appropriate level to cover major expenses such as roof repairs.

History: Prospective condo buyers would be well advised to get a clear picture of the history of the building. If built some years ago, what have the major problems been? And how were they tackled?  If you are looking at a new building or are buying sight unseen from the builder’s plans, be sure you understand the builder’s guarantees should things not live up to your expectations.

Management: Part of the condo fees are used to pay for the management of the building. It can either be an owner-manager or an outside firm. The best way to find out if management has been satisfactory is to ask to read the minutes of the last two general meetings of the condo co-owners. This should be done before an offer is made so that you can assess what problems have come up or what problems are bound to come up.

Be neighbourly: Potential condo buyers should talk to a few people in the building to get a sense of the atmosphere. If you don’t like dogs, would you be happy if some co-owners have large dogs? Will one of your neighbours be a musician who practices at all hours? It’s a good idea to find out what the people in the building are like before buying.

For women: Many condo buyers are women who have become single as a result of a divorce or are widowed. Many have never purchased real estate by themselves and as novice buyers should be especially careful. Examine all aspects of the transaction with a trusted friend, family member or even a lawyer before purchasing.

Caveat emptor certainly applies here.

 

 

A Choice for Fun

It used to be people retired and did little—little planning, little exercising, little smiling. Things have improved, thank God. It used to be you were old at sixty while now seventy is the new fifty. Baby boomers are more active than ever and, because of advances in health care and wide information dissemination, can look forward to a long retirement. In fact, it is predicted that most of today’s boomers will live well into their nineties. That’s a lot of years to do little.

I firmly believe that, like any other stage of life, retirement has to be planned to some extent. We certainly cannot plan every minute of every day, but there should be a guiding desire toward a goal. We are all different so goals will be different for everyone. But I don’t know that I have goals, Bob told me recently. He is about to retire and has not planned anything beyond playing golf as much as he can. That’s certainly a nice enjoyable goal, but there has to be more to fill all that free time, especially in the winter months.

Just as we chose careers that appealed to us, that fit our personalities, our choice of activities in retirement should be based on what moves us, makes us feel good, not what friends or family feel we should be doing. I know a man who turned to photography in retirement and is having a grand old time. He was a chef all his life so his children thought he would spend his retirement preparing meals for them. But he wanted out of the kitchen to embrace a new passion.    He’s the perfect example of a fulfilled retiree. Good for him, I say.

A retiree’s mantra should be change for the new, the fun.