How a Community Starts Feeling Like Home, Lifestyle Changes That May Protect Against Alzheimer’s, and a Wealth Preservation Strategy for Couples

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History (Non-Fiction): Squadron: Ending the African Slave Trade by John Broich – This gripping history follows Royal Navy officers fighting to suppress the East African slave trade in the nineteenth century.

Memoir: Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci – This warm memoir uses memorable meals and favorite dishes to share stories of family, travel, acting, love, and a lifelong passion for food.

Self-Help: The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane – This practical guide explores the science of personal magnetism and offers techniques for building confidence, presence, and stronger connections.

Romance: The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye – A British officer raised in India falls for an Indian princess, setting the stage for a sweeping romance amid political intrigue and cultural conflict.

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A community can have thousands of residents and still feel surprisingly small. Especially after a move, a community can seem massive, filled with unknown places populated by faceless strangers, only to then contract into a smaller, more recognizable group.

That evolution happens gradually. You recognize someone at the grocery store. The librarian remembers which authors you enjoy. You wave to the same people on your morning walk. A quick trip downtown includes two unexpected conversations.

Nothing about the community has physically changed. What's changed is your connection to it.

Feeling connected doesn't require knowing everyone in town. A single known face goes a long way.

Often, that first connection emerges by returning to the same places:

Repeated encounters turn strangers into acquaintances and then friends. Eventually, a nod becomes a greeting, and a greeting becomes a conversation.

Having one or two places where people recognize you can make a surprisingly big difference in how a community feels. Try learning the name of the person who serves your coffee, chatting with a vendor at the market, or introducing yourself to someone you see frequently at your exercise class.

You don't need to turn every acquaintance into a friendship. Those brief connections have value of their own. They create the pleasant feeling of being known in the places you regularly spend time.

Communities often become smaller through introductions. A neighbor mentions a local gardening club and connects you to a member. Someone at the library tells you about an upcoming author talk and mentions a friend who could give you a ride. A friend invites you to a community fundraiser, where you meet three more people you recognize the next time you're out.

Following one connection often naturally leads to another. And you can do the same for someone else. Introducing two neighbors to each other, welcoming a newcomer to a group, or simply saying, "Come sit with us," helps strengthen the community for everyone.

Feeling at home in a community isn't necessarily about how long you've lived there. It's about accumulating small points of connection—familiar places, recognizable faces, and people who are pleased to see you.

Cool air, colorful leaves or a whole new city skyline: There's still time to book your fall escape with Alaska Airlines. Watch the aspens turn golden in Denver, catch a set on Broadway in Nashville, or trade sweaters for sunshine in Palm Springs.

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We're looking for seniors who are embracing life with enthusiasm, purpose, and adventure. Whether you're traveling the world, starting a business, volunteering, pursuing a passion, learning new skills, or simply making the most of every day, we'd love to hear your story.

Think that might be you?

Email [email protected] with a photo and a short bio. We may feature you in an upcoming edition of Seniors Magazine.

Your younger self would probably be amazed by some of the things you take for granted today.

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“The Day We Bought the Farm”
From the life overview of Linda R., 79, Lexington, Kentucky. Shared with permission.

In 1993, my husband and I bought a small farm outside Lexington, even though we had no farming experience whatsoever. We had both lived in town for years before then.

The property came with thirty acres, an old barn, and a fourteen-year-old horse named Pepper.

We didn’t know about the horse until closing. The previous owner had mentioned him casually, as though he were a lawn mower, so we had no idea he was included with our purchase.

My husband looked at me. Then I looked at him. We now owned a horse.

Pepper didn’t seem bothered by the transaction.

The first few months were a learning experience. We learned how to mend fences, clean stalls, and tell the difference between something looking broken and actually being broken.

One morning, I found Pepper standing in the kitchen. The back door had been left open.

He was enjoying a loaf of bread that we had left on the counter.

My husband came running when he heard me shouting.

Pepper looked at both of us and continued eating.

Eventually, we figured out how to keep him outside.

We lived on that farm for eighteen years, although we never became real farmers. We had gardens, chickens, and more than one failed attempt at growing tomatoes.

Pepper lived to be twenty-eight. When he died, we buried him beneath an old oak tree.

I still drive past the farm occasionally.

The barn is gone now, but the oak tree is still there.

***

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There's something captivating about watching a miniature locomotive wind through a landscape of tiny houses, bridges, stations, and trees. Model railroading combines several hobbies in one: collecting, woodworking, painting, electrical work, and even historical research.

You don't need an entire basement or an elaborate layout to get started. A simple oval of track on a tabletop can be the beginning of a hobby that grows with your imagination.

Model trains come in different scales, which describe how their size compares with real trains. HO scale (1:87) is especially popular because it offers a balance between detail and space. N scale (1:160) is smaller and allows more track in a compact area, while O scale (commonly 1:48 in the U.S.) features larger trains.

For a straightforward introduction, explore Bachmann's train sets, which include locomotives, cars, track, and power equipment. Starting with a complete set helps ensure the basic components work together.

Running trains is only part of the fun. You can create a miniature mountain town, a 1950s railroad station, a rural farming community, or a bustling city.

Woodland Scenics offers materials for making miniature landscapes, including trees, ground cover, buildings, roads, and realistic terrain.

Start small. A station platform, a few trees, and a painted backdrop can make even a basic track arrangement feel like a complete scene.

The National Model Railroad Association's beginner's guide covers choosing a scale, planning a layout, selecting track, and finding the right equipment.

Visiting a model railroad club or exhibition is another excellent way to explore the hobby before investing heavily. You can see different layouts in action, ask questions, and discover techniques you might want to try at home.

There's no need to build everything at once. Begin with a train and a small track layout, then add scenery, buildings, or extra track as your interests develop.

The real pleasure of model railroading is that there's always something new to create. Whether you enjoy running trains, recreating a favorite railroad from childhood, or building miniature landscapes, your little world can keep evolving for years.

You may have noticed that services such as banking, shopping, and email can be accessed through either an app on your phone or a website. Although they often provide similar features, they work a little differently.

A mobile app is downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and installed directly on your phone or tablet. It appears as an icon on your home screen or in your app library.

Mobile apps can offer features such as push notifications, fingerprint or facial recognition, and limited offline access. However, they use device storage and may require occasional updates.

A web app runs through a browser such as Safari, Chrome, or Edge. You visit a website, sign in if necessary, and use its features without installing a separate app.

Web apps generally require an internet connection, although some offer offline capabilities. They also typically update automatically, so there's nothing to download.

Which should you use? If you access a service frequently, its mobile app may be more convenient. For occasional use, the web version may be sufficient. Both can be secure, provided you're using the company's legitimate app or website.

Today: Asheville, North Carolina

Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville combines mountain scenery, a charming walkable downtown, arts, restaurants, and the impressive Biltmore Estate. It works particularly well for a relaxed getaway with plenty of variety.

Ingrid’s Tip: Give the Biltmore Estate most of a day rather than squeezing it between other plans. There’s much more to enjoy than the house itself, including the grounds and gardens.

Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object. Think you know it? Reply with your answer and show off your brainpower.

Today’s clue: Low-riding plastic tricycle remembered for its oversized front wheel.

GIB LEHEW

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