Camp Codger

How to not get scammed should be easy for senior citizens. We're experienced, wise old folks who learned, when we were children, the golden rule of scam avoidance—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Yet the FBI reports that people over 60 lost $1.7 billion to fraud in 2021. Today's challenge is simply the pervasiveness of online scamming. When we were growing up, fraudsters needed to show up on our doorstep to sell us over-priced, poor-quality aluminum siding. Today, a scammer, with little effort, can send out millions of emails for virtually nothing. Robocalls are equally easy to generate cheaply and efficiently.

The good news, as the old codgers discuss in this episode, how to not get scammed isn't difficult. Starting with a healthy dose of skepticism followed by a good measure of common sense, most folks in their senior years can avoid the clutches of the online fraudster. We explore how often we see email scams (daily, of course), and how we identify fraudulent messages in our inboxes. And, because it is all too common, we relate stories of friends and family who have been the victims of fraud.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode about how to not get scammed, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Leave a comment below and receive a free Camp Codger bumper sticker!! Read the blog post for details.

The secrets to a happy life are pretty basic as the old codgers discover. A recent book by the leaders of the long-running (84 years!) Harvard Study on Adult Development reports that one path to achieving happiness in our golden years is quite straightforward—senior citizens who have good relationships are happier. The authors lay out different practices to help develop and nurture relationships of all types. They range from long-running, intimate relationships with our life partners to casual interactions with folks we meet going about our business every day. Notably, practicing the secrets to a happy life is not difficult. Just do it. Strengthening relationships can be as simple as saying "Hi! How are you doing today."

The guys discuss whether digital communications can help build relationships. Gary says sending emails and texting help him maintain contact with friends and family while Randy prefers plain old face-to-face and telephone conversations. However they each approach it, they all agree that relationships are core to uncovering the secrets to a happy life as we grow older. And the codgers are all committed to doing a better job with all their relationships.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode about secrets to a happy life, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Leave a comment below and receive a free Camp Codger bumper sticker!! Read the blog post for details.

Forks in the road confront all of us. Most are relatively trivial, but we all have faced major decisions that changed the course of our lives. The old codgers examine some of the life-determining choices they have made. Career choices and where to live are often at the top of the list of critical forks in the road. The codgers all made these choices, frequently early in their lives, but they also made decisions in their golden years that represented major life changes. Fortunately, their collective choices brought them together to bring their Camp Codger listeners rocking chair wisdom from Richard, Randy, and Gary.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode about forks in the road they have taken, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Leave a comment below and receive a free Camp Codger bumper sticker!! Read the blog post for details.

Too much stuff!! Isn't that a common complaint when we head out to the garage or go to our offices? After 60, 70, or 80 years on this planet, most of us have collected more stuff than we really use. Unfortunately, the process of getting rid of clothes we will never wear again, tools we don't use, books we have already read, and other ephemera gathering dust around our homes is not as easy as it should be. In this episode, the old codgers examine their own "too much stuff" problem and offer some suggestions about reducing clutter. The guys are definitely not Marie Kondo, the queen of decluttering, but their hints might help our a few folks. They all committed to a stuff-reduction program in their own lives and will report back later this year on the success of their stuff-reduction efforts.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode on dealing with too much stuff, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Leave a comment below and receive a free Camp Codger bumper sticker!! Read the blog post for details.

Get your butt off the couch! It's Randy's strongly worded suggestion that exercise makes a real difference in our physical and mental health. The first step is easy—stand up and just get your butt off the couch. The old codgers describe their individual regimes for exercise as well as acknowledge that, as they have grown older, their physical limitations are beginning to constrain what they can do. The good news is there are still many paths to finding enjoyable and beneficial exercise even as we age. Gary might just try pickleball at some point.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed our suggestions on how to get your butt off the couch, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Seniors and pets go together. Survey data shows that over half of folks in their golden years have pets. However, there are pros and cons to pet ownership. As owners know, there is nothing quite like the unconditional love of a dog, but having a pet has downsides. As we get older, sometimes just the simple act of caring for a pet can seem overwhelming. For many, the costs can seem prohibitive with expensive vet bills. And the logistics of finding pet care for active senior citizens who travel frequently can be a challenge.

As the old codgers explore seniors and pets, they recount their experiences sharing their lives with dogs and cats. Mostly, they all agree having pets is a positive thing even with the caveats. Randy tells us all about Baxter, his best non-human friend. We were lucky enough to meet Baxter last year. Fortunately, Randy is the youngest codger who is better equipped to deal with a very big, high-energy dog like Baxter.

In this episode, the guys mention a couple of websites that can help with the challenge of finding pet care while traveling. Randy recommends Rover.com, a market leader in offering petsitting options. Gary offers up Trusted Housesitters, an interesting free alternative that connects people looking for a petsitter with folks willing to sit at no cost in exchange for travel housing.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers about seniors and pets? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Go with the flow is the 2023 mantra for the old codgers. In this episode, the guys ramble on about subjects ranging from dealing with the holiday season (it's finally over) to using turn signals. They discuss running an experiment where they would lock away their constant companions (you know, their cell phones) for 23 hours a day. No takers since they are all confirmed users of communications technology even if it does seem maddening at times. They agreed they could hardly go with the flow if they didn't "accept" (an important term when you are flowing...) their phones for what they are.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

In this "holiday special" episode, we introduce the codger wives who have become a regular part of the podcast as we mention them often during our episodes. Patti, Alison, and Bee share a little about themselves and tell us what they like about the podcast. They also make excellent suggestions about topics we might cover in future episodes. So, join us in the last episode of the year to meet the codger wives. The old codgers are in complete agreement that these lovely women are our much better halves.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Sleep challenges of seniors are frequent topics of conversation. Most of us have experienced the occasional bout of insomnia, but many senior citizens find it increasingly persistent as they get older. In this episode, Richard vividly documents a recent bout of insomnia that kept him up for several hours in the middle of the night. He reports that he used to sleep like a baby until he hit his mid-70s.

We shouldn't be surprised that the sleep challenges of seniors are so prevalent. Research indicates that as many as 40% of older people suffer from insomnia. Dealing with the after-effects of losing several hours of sleep can take the luster off your golden years. The obvious impacts are easy to spot and include fatigue and a sense of being in a fog, but the health and behavioral consequences are equally concerning.

While completely eliminating regular bouts of insomnia is often not possible, there are tools available to reduce their impact. Sometimes they can even prevent a night of sleeplessness. Many sleep specialists recommend developing and following good pre-sleep habits. Others suggest setting your iPad or Android tablet to "night mode" when reading in the evening. Some folks even find ingesting a cannabis gummy allows them to get a good night's rest. The old codgers, especially Richard, encourage their senior citizen peers to make a commitment to investigate and try some of these practices to see if it helps. We offer more sleep tips for seniors in our blog.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

This week, the old codgers deliver money-saving tips for seniors. Their ideas range from simple practicality like always grocery shopping with a list that helps avoid wasteful impulse buying to saving money on books. Many senior citizens may already be using Richard's suggestion to take public transit more often. Gary's take on using food packing expiration dates more wisely might strike many as a bit risky but, it's not. Done carefully, it's a technique that can save money by not tossing out perfectly good food items.

Randy weighs in with several clever ideas and the codgers all agree we all need to monitor our cable TV bills more closely. Cars are a big expense in the budgets of many senior citizens and we offer a couple of automotive-related, money-saving tips for seniors. Join us as we drill down into other ways to save money in our golden years.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].