Camp Codger

Happy hour with the codger wives is always a fun way to relax after a rigorous day of investigating snowbird life. During a round of whiskey sours, the old codgers and their better halves discussed retirement, winter vacations, and snowbirding. The consensus was a few warm days in the sunshine while winter was still raging up north was a pretty good life. We considered ourselves lucky senior citizens to be able to enjoy this respite and we're already planning next year's retreat. This may just become an annual event during our golden years. We must confess that the libations we consumed during our happy hour with the codger wives did change the tone of the conversation a bit. Indeed, it did seem to degrade into a festival of ridiculousness. Oh, well. It was fun while it lasted before we headed back north to the snow and the cold. Connect with Us 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 an enjoyable happy hour with the codger wives, 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 campcodger@gmail.com.

ChatGPT and seniors drive this week's discussion. It's everywhere in the media and we wonder if it's hype or if it is something people in their golden years should think about. Spoiler alert—the answer is both. It's a compelling topic attracting boatloads of media attention and represents significant progress in the decades-long effort to move the dial in artificial intelligence. While the old codgers are not experts in this arena, they signed up for ChatGPT online accounts and put this chatbot through its paces. 'Sydney'' (the internal code name for this huge bundle of computers, data, and algorithms) always had an answer to our queries. Spoiler alert number two—they were sometimes quite wrong. Regarding ChatGPT and seniors, we wonder if there may be more hype than reality for most senior citizens. As a chatbot, it's very clever and can almost make you believe it's human. Spoiler alert number three—ChatGPT is definitely not human and not really that much fun either. Don't go to a party if this chatbot has been invited. Boring! So full of facts (most presented correctly) that ChatGPT quickly gets tedious. Connect with Us Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter for 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 ChatGPT and seniors, 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 campcodger@gmail.com.

Codger snowbirds? Us? You betcha! We're off for a short visit to Arizona to join our fellow senior citizens in a game of pickleball, a dip in the pool, and hikes in the warm sunshine. Surprisingly enough, even Gary decided that being a snowbird had its good sides. Randy came to that conclusion long ago and Richard has emerged as a confirmed "sunbird". The old codgers appreciated the opportunity to get away from the snow for a few days as they investigate what it means to be a snowbird. What they discovered being codger snowbirds was a lifestyle that reminded them of the freedom of their golden years. Take a walk, enjoy time with friends, and just be warm. Not a bad way to spend a few days in late winter. The guys are already planning next year's trip to snowbird country. And apologies to our Canadian snowbird friends. We love you but just couldn't help ourselves. Connect with Us 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 codger snowbirds, 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 campcodger@gmail.com.

Classic TV of the 50s and 60s included shows ranging from I Love Lucy to Bonanza to The Ed Sullivan Show. Many of the genres such as sitcoms, dramas, and Westerns are still with us today, but variety shows have largely disappeared. Our venues have changed dramatically, too. No longer does the whole family gather in the living room around the huge TV box to watch. We are no longer transfixed by the limited, black-and-white offerings on ABC, NBC, and CBS. Today, the family disappears to their individual spaces to stream an almost unlimited supply of online content on their mobile devices. For senior citizens of the boomer generation, the classic TV of the 50s and 60s was a defining cultural element as we grew up. Maybe it wasn't the golden age of television, but it did leave an impact on those of us now in our golden years. In this episode, we stroll down memory lane, recalling our favorite television shows. They weren't all great TV, but they were memorable. Richard, Gary, and Randy each recall different periods in this two-decade era. As the older codgers, Gary and Richard clearly remember the black-and-white TV days of the 1950s. Randy was more of a 60s kid, loving the sitcoms and variety shows that dominated that period. Connect with Us 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 classic TV of the 50s and 60s, please click the Share button below. And it would be great if you would Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to campcodger@gmail.com.

Seniors and volunteering can seem tightly coupled. After all, who else has the free time that is available to most retired senior citizens? We also like the idea of "giving back" to the communities that nurtured us as we were earning a living and raising our families seems good. But is it for everybody? The old codgers admit that they have not been the most active volunteers for a variety of reasons. Gary even confesses to just not being the volunteering type. In this episode, the guys discuss whether it's time for them to revisit the idea of volunteering. Gary explains what he thinks is a "volunteering type" while Richard reminds us that folks in his profession of journalism were often discouraged from volunteering. As they drill down into the topic of seniors and volunteering, they return to the idea of giving back, a common feeling held by many senior citizens. 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 seniors and volunteering, 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 campcodger@gmail.com.

The old codgers vs ChatGPT? It's certainly not the battle of the century. In fact, it's just the old counselors at Camp Codger asking for your assistance. Listen to this short plea for help as they plan an episode about what ChatGPT means for senior citizens. Then send Gary an email (gary@campcodger.com) with your ideas for questions or requests they can put to the world's newly famous robot. R2D2 and 3-CPO, mover over. There's a new sheriff in town. 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 the old codgers vs ChatGPT, 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 campcodger@gmail.com.

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 campcodger@gmail.com. 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 campcodger@gmail.com. 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 campcodger@gmail.com.

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 campcodger@gmail.com.

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 campcodger@gmail.com.

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 campcodger@gmail.com.

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 campcodger@gmail.com.

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 campcodger@gmail.com.

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 campcodger@gmail.com.

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 campcodger@gmail.com.

Ills and pills. Sometimes it seems like it's the number one topic of discussion at the table when a gaggle of senior citizens gathers for dinner or coffee. And it's natural. Our aging bodies are beginning to fail us in our golden years and retirement gives us time to ponder our increasing infirmities. A game that one of the old codgers likes to play is to quietly track how long it takes during a gathering of his aging cohort before the first mention of the aches and pains of growing older. Quite often, it's the first conversation after the usual greetings. In this episode, Richard and Randy share their recent experiences in local hospital emergency rooms. These surprise events managed to derail a scheduled Camp Codger recording session a few weeks back. Fortunately, all is well with the guys, and we managed to pull together a replacement episode with a bit of fancy footwork. It also gave us the impetus to record our first episode on the medical issues of older people. Listen as the old codgers regale us with the trials and tribulations of visiting the ER. They wax eloquent about the exceptional medical care they received during their unexpected journeys into the healthcare system. Richard and Randy close the episode with the thought that they need to do a better job listening to their bodies. Equally important, they need to listen to the counsel of family and friends when something doesn't seem right. Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about ills and pills or 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 preferred 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 campcodger@gmail.com.

The best bands of the 60s is often a popular topic of discussion when old codgers get together. In this Camp Codger episode, we take a trip down memory lane to reminisce about our favorite bands and musical artists. We touch on the obvious great bands like the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Rolling Stones, but we also take side trips during our musical journey and recall other, lesser-known favorite artists. Richard reminded us of the prolific Leon Russell while Gary brought back one of his favorite bands, Blood, Sweat & Tears. Randy was spot-on when he added The Kinks to our list of great bands. It's impossible to decide which of the best bands of the 60s is really the "best". We love them all and relish the thought that we grew up during an incredible era of influential music. 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 on your preferred podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page.

Whether you celebrate the season with utter abandon or just hunker down and try to survive Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, a holiday survival guide might be in order. As you might expect, the old codgers have a range of opinions on how to handle the holiday season. In this episode, we explore the challenges of Christmas tree lights that don't work and buying the perfect gift. We also look at the pleasures of big dinners with family and friends as well as starting an ugly Christmas sweater tradition. Our holiday survival guide provides a few tips on making it through another holiday season. 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 on your preferred podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page.

Are retirement communities on the horizon for the old codgers? As they look forward to another winter of shoveling snow, the guys wonder when they are ready to consider the big move. They discuss whether the advantages of warm weather and endless leisure activities are right for them if they head to the Sun Belt. Retirement communities affiliated with universities are attractive alternatives for lifelong learners. And then there is the looming elephant in the room—the challenge of downsizing into a smaller space. Spoiler alert! The old codgers are still pondering this major life decision. 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 on your preferred podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please click the Share buttons below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page.

Birthday celebrations for seniors are top of mind for the old codgers this week. They discuss how they like to celebrate their birthdays (Gary quietly celebrated his 74th last week), their best birthdays, and whether they like birthday parties. Gift ideas for seniors are on the agenda as well as the sad decline in sending real paper birthday cards, not digital "cards". When it comes to birthday celebrations for seniors, the guys do represent diverse views ranging from "Meh, don't bother me" to "Yea, another birthday party!" They all agree that when it comes to the big numbers—70, 75, 80—a serious celebration is in order. In the final analysis, they all agree that recognizing that they made it another year is worth a modest celebration. 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. And, if you enjoy our episodes, please ‘Like' Camp Codger on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CampCodger.

In this episode, the old codgers offer a few travel tips for seniors they learned during their recent adventures on the road, in the air, and while in Europe. While the news reports about the challenges of air travel can seem overwhelming at times, we suggest a few travel tips that can make it a bit easier on the body and soul. Travel in our golden years can be exciting, frequently fun, and almost always memorable. Folks who follow our travel tips for seniors may find their trips less hectic and more relaxing by not trying to cram too much into their sojourns. As a special treat in this episode, Randy delivers a little ditty he composed to help senior citizens remember what to take with them when they head out to run errands. Randy titled it An Old Codger Leaves the House. Be forewarned, after listening to Randy sing his masterpiece, the lyrics have the potential to become a first-class earworm. On a positive note, you will never leave your glasses, wallet, keys, or phone behind again. Glasses, wallet, keys, and phone. Keys and phone. Glasses, wallet, keys, and phone. Keys and phone. These are the things we find before we roam. Glasses, wallet, keys, and phone. Keys and phone.© 2022 Randy Schultz Randy gives you royalty-free permission to sing or record this song anywhere as long as you mention the Camp Codger podcast. 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. And, if you enjoy our episodes, please 'Like' Camp Codger on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CampCodger.

Retro toys 2 continues our discussion of memorable toys from our childhood. In this episode, the toys we discuss range from our first bikes to the always popular Mr. Potato Head. We didn't forget about yo-yos, coin collections, the basic red wagon, and the real antique toy, a View Master. Who needs YouTube when you have a large collection of reels? Speaking of YouTube, check out this video of a serious View Master aficionado. Join us for retro toys 2 as we wrap up our trip down memory lane. Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode.

Cars were a defining element of the old codgers' lives as children, young adults with their first cars, and even as they grew older. Randy and Gary along with guest host John Foster reminisce about the vehicles they grew up with and their favorites. Surprisingly, all the guys shared a passion for Volkswagens of all vintages ranging from Gary's 1960 VW Microbus to John's 2004 VW Phaeton. As discussed in this episode, Randy and John retain their love for cars (Gary, not so much). Randy is looking forward to the car of his dreams, the VW ID Buzz which blends the nostalgia of his 1966 VW Microbus with the practicality of an electric vehicle. Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode.

Randy and Gary discuss whether keeping score in retirement makes sense. We both spent long careers measuring ourselves against our peers and cultural norms. Competing was implicit in our work environments. Promotions, winning new business, or just being recognized for our capabilities were important metrics. Even our recreational activities like golfing, running, and bicycling often included keeping score. In retirement, we can travel, golf, hike, bike, or take up painting. While meant to be relaxing and enjoyable, these activities could present opportunities to measure ourselves and compare our results to others. The reality is that, with the exception of a few professional athletes, age impacts our ability to perform competitively. Should we even bother keeping score in retirement? Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode.

Retro toys capture the imagination of the old guys in this episode. From Schwinn bikes, Radio Flyer wagons, and Frisbees to Play-Doh and chemistry sets, these lucky old codgers seem to have owned all the classic toys from the 1950s and 1960s. Richard recalls his delight at collecting rocks (yes, rocks...), stamps, and coins while Randy waxes nostalgic about the fantastic bounce of Superballs. Gary's Red Ryder BB gun was an exciting (and considered dangerous by mothers) and popular toy for boys. Join us as we take another trip down memory lane to discuss retro toys. Would you like to hear when we have a new episode? Sign up now for our weekly newsletter.

Bookstore memories animate this episode as the old codgers fondly recall their visits to bookstores. Richard and Randy remember bookstores as defining places when they were in college as well as destinations with their young families. As Camp Codger's resident geek, Gary firmly embraced modern reading technology with the first Kindle in 2007. He finds bookstores less relevant today. Gary firmly prefers digital books over print books, but he does have many good bookstore memories. For print book lovers, the good news is that bookstores are actually enjoying a comeback as the New York Times reports. Would you like to hear when we have a new episode? Sign up now for our weekly newsletter.

Old dogs new tricks? Is it realistic? The old codgers discuss old folks that have learned new things. They also make a feeble attempt at understanding the science behind learning in senior citizens (serious neuroscience is a "trick" way beyond their pay grade). The science be damned, they optimistically conclude that it seems quite feasible that there are a few new tricks in their future. After all, these three old guys taught themselves how to record, produce, and publish a podcast. And there are boatloads of their senior citizen cohorts committed to learning new things as they get older. Old dogs new tricks? You bet! Would you like to hear when we have a new episode? Sign up now for our weekly newsletter.

People often have a completely irrational understanding of what the odds are of an event happening to them. Typically, the worse the outcome, the greater the perceived probability of a horrible ending. In reality, the likelihood of dying in a plane crash is extraordinarily low yet. However, people board planes with sweaty palms fearing for their lives. The old codgers, nary a gambler among them, accurately assess the odds of winning the mega millions lottery—save your money since it's one in 302 million odds. Led by Randy, the senior citizens of Camp Codger take some wild-ass guesses at the odds of getting struck by lightning, living to 100, and leaving a baseball stadium with a foul ball. Life is full of long shots as the old codgers discover. Would you like to hear when we have a new episode? Sign up now for our weekly newsletter.

There is no question that the news media isn't what it was when Camp Codger listeners were growing up. Today's senior citizens are challenged by the technology used to collect, develop and deliver the news, the unrelenting 24x7 news cycle, and the vast array of news sources and delivery platforms. In this episode, we explore the news media, then and now. Our conversation ranges from lamenting how local news is dying as the classified ad business disappears to offering up our techniques on how we handle the daily tsunami called the news. Would you like to hear when we have a new episode? Sign up now for our weekly newsletter.

The old codgers were enjoying an online "chinwag" a few weeks ago when the conversation took an interesting turn. We started recounting the many amazing senior citizens who have accomplished incredible things well into their 70s, 80s, and 90s. Many are well-known, some are people we know, and others are just ordinary folks like us. From musical accomplishments to innovative intellectual efforts to achieving records in physical performance, old folks in their golden years provide proof that age does not have to be a barrier. We begin by recalling John Glenn, one of the many amazing senior citizens who returned to space at the age of 77. Want us to let you know when we have a new episode? Sign up now.

Randy and Richard turn to Gary, the resident geek at Camp Codger, for answers about the metaverse. They really want to know what it is and whether they and our listeners should care. Is it just hype or something that might be important to us in our golden years?

The old codgers discuss the challenges of making friends as we grow older. It's not always easy, but they offer some tips on how to make new friends in our golden years.

We make a valiant effort to pick up where we left off in the last episode discussing the strange habits of old folks. Not surprisingly, the old codgers quickly meander into the weeds and ramble on about aging and generational differences.

We all believed we would never pick up on those habits that identified us as old. After all, boomers are forever young, right? Bad news, folks. We’re starting to do things that our children and grandchildren probably find utterly foreign. In this two-part episode, the old codgers confess to having some of these “old folks” habits including eating dinner at 5 pm, wearing comfy clothes, eating prunes, and fondly remembering enjoying fruit cocktail Jello.

We turn things around in this episode and Richard interviews Gary on his feelings about aging. How is Gary dealing with the reality of getting older?

In this episode, Gary takes on the role of host and interviewer while Richard is the Camp Codger featured guest—a full-throated member of the boomer cohort. Our topic is the ever-popular dinner-table discussion about aging.

Richard and Gary explore their mutual reluctance to retire. They admit that losing their work-defined identities might make retirement seem less than ideal, but Gary finally concluded that not working is a grand thing. Richard, not so much. He still has one foot firmly in the working world with a couple of interesting gigs.

Richard and Gary are a couple of semi-retired boomers in their 70s. They introduce themselves as two of the old codgers hosting this podcast and remind their listeners that they are not experts, famous, or even particularly brilliant. During their ramblings, they discuss who they think their audience is and some of the topics they might cover in future episodes.