Boomers on a new sport, the blessings of sons, summer safety, and more 

Summer has arrived in my piece of paradise, and I am celebrating by playing hooky, avoiding chores and other tedious to-dos in favor of a few hours of backyard bliss. Our world is in turmoil and I need to decompress. I garden, read, and complete New York Times puzzles, a challenge in a positive way. If a puzzle is too complicated and time-consuming and my frustration level rises, I move on. Solitude, sun and shade, moderate temperatures, a comfortable Adirondack chair, and I enter a blissful land of peace and tranquility. A mini-staycation. I cannot get too lazy for too long, but a few days to recharge is essential in these chaotic times.

Meanwhile my fellow boomers created thought-provoking posts this week.

Have you ever played Pickleball? Rebecca Olkowski, with BabyBoomster.com has not, but she interviewed a man named Peter Galbraith who is an avid player and lives in a Vermont retirement community. The game is gaining popularity, particularly with seniors. Galbraith explains the benefits of playing the game in later life.

Are you a non-traditional thinker? Or do you prefer to keep your beliefs within standard bounds? Over at her blog this week, Carol Cassara talks about a way of looking at unusual possibilities in her post, Don’t Reject, Inspect!

It seems like last week Laurie had two little boys sitting on the school bus. This week they’re in their thirties with full beards and lives of their own. What happened? Where did the time go? Here are five reasons she’s so glad sons were invented…  

With a new report showing more kids are dying by drowning, Rita R. Robison, consumer and personal finance journalist, reminds families with young kids that constant vigilance is needed around water. See her article on what to do such as (1) always designate an adult Water Watcher, who shouldn’t be reading, texting, using a phone, or being otherwise distracted and (2) install layers of protection if you have a pool or spa like door alarms, pool covers, and self-closing, self-latching devices on fence gates and doors that access pools.

A final note. Enjoy the season but be careful if high temperatures visit your area. Wear sunscreen, keep hydrated, and stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day.