Organizing Key Documents, Making Healthier Food Choices, and Strengthening Your Finances in Your 60s

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Preparing your essential documents in an organized, easy-to-find place is one of the most helpful gifts you can give your family. In an emergency, loved ones should be able to locate what they need without searching through drawers or guessing about your wishes. A good system keeps everything current, secure, and accessible to the people you trust.

Start by collecting the documents your loved ones would need most: your will or trust, power of attorney, advance directive, insurance policies, bank and investment account information, property deeds, mortgage paperwork, pension or Social Security details, and a list of monthly bills. Include copies of identification such as your driver’s license, passport, Medicare card, and any military records. Keep everything in a single labeled folder or binder placed in a secure but reachable location — a locked drawer or fireproof safe works well. Add a simple checklist at the front so family members know exactly what’s inside. If you use online accounts, include a list of where these accounts are held along with access instructions stored in a safe, separate location.

Choose one or two trusted people and let them know where the documents are stored. Make updates easy by reviewing the folder once a year — after tax season is a convenient time — and removing anything outdated or unnecessary. If you prefer digital storage, services like Everplans, Cake, and some estate attorneys offer secure online vaults where you can upload your documents and give controlled access to loved ones. Whether digital or paper, the key is clarity: your family should be able to open the folder and immediately understand your wishes, contacts, and accounts without sorting through old paperwork.

💌 If you found these ideas helpful, forward this newsletter to a friend. Preparing these documents now makes a difficult moment easier for the people you care about most.

“The Yellow Raincoat”
From the life overview of Paul R., 83, Tacoma, WA. Shared with permission.

In my thirties, I owned a bright yellow raincoat. The cheapest one in the hardware store, it was stiff as cardboard and smelled faintly of rubber no matter how long I aired it out. I wore it everywhere during the first year I worked at the port, when the sky seemed to drizzle nine days out of ten. The hood never stayed up, the snaps never quite lined up, and the hem slapped loudly against my legs whenever the wind kicked against them. Still, that coat kept me dry enough, and it became something of a joke among my coworkers. “Paul and his canary coat,” they’d say as I splashed my way down the docks.

One morning, the rain came down so hard that it softened the edges of everything—the cranes, the stacks of containers, and even the gulls bobbing between the pilings. I was hauling a coil of rope across the deck when I slipped, landing flat on my back with a thud that echoed off the metal. Before I could catch my breath, two guys rushed over, one of them laughing so hard that he nearly toppled after me. “Could see you go down like a flare,” he quipped, wiping rain from his eyes. “Brightest thing in the whole damn harbor.”

I lay there for a moment, soaked and blinking up at the gray sky. I was surprised to find myself laughing, too. There was something grounding in that ridiculous fall—the shared laughter, the stinging cold, and the realization that even on the wettest, hardest days, a little flash of color could make the whole scene feel lighter.

***

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The Public Domain Review
A quiet trove curated by historians, this site highlights unusual art, rare books, forgotten scientific experiments, early photography, and curious cultural artifacts now free to explore. Each essay or collection opens a small window into a world that once was, offering a gentle sense of discovery without requiring long reading sessions. It’s ideal for anyone who enjoys wandering through history’s overlooked corners.

Loeb Music Library: Digital Scores Collection (Harvard)
This open-access archive lets you browse beautifully scanned musical scores ranging from early chant manuscripts to 20th-century compositions. Even if you don’t read music fluently, the pages themselves are artworks—handwritten notes, ornate calligraphy, and marginal doodles that reveal how music was shaped by human hands long before recording technology. It’s a contemplative way to spend a few minutes with the architecture of sound.

The Atlas of Emotions
Developed with input from the Dalai Lama and emotion researchers, this interactive map offers a calm, thoughtful way to reflect on how feelings rise, shift, and settle. It isn’t therapy and it isn’t prescriptive; instead, it provides a visual language for understanding subtle emotional patterns. Many readers find it grounding—something to return to when they want clarity rather than noise.

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Take a few minutes to jot down your thoughts. Even a few sentences are a memory preserved for loved ones.

In an emergency, first responders need fast access to key details: medications, allergies, medical conditions, and an emergency contact. Setting up a Medical ID (digital or physical) ensures help arrives with the right information from the start. Here’s how to make sure yours is shareable when it matters most.

If you prefer something low-tech, start with a physical ID. A medical alert bracelet or necklace clearly displays important conditions (like diabetes or heart disease) and often includes a phone number or an online profile link. Reliable options include MedicAlert Foundation bracelets and necklaces.

You can also keep a simple, fill-in-the-blank card in your wallet. This Emergency Medical Information Card is a straightforward option you can write on and keep with you at all times.

For your smartphone, both iPhone and Android devices allow you to create a Medical ID that can be viewed without unlocking your phone. On iPhone, open the Health app, tap Medical ID, and enable Show When Locked. On Android, open Settings, search for Emergency Information, and add your details. Once set, emergency workers can access your information from the lock screen by tapping Emergency.

If you're comfortable with technology, you can go further by creating a digital health profile that links directly to a QR code. Services like MyID offer scannable bracelets, wallet cards, and keychains that connect responders to a secure medical profile.

iPhone users can also share their Medical ID automatically with 911 dispatch centers in many areas. Turn this on by opening the Health app > Medical ID > Share During Emergency Call.

Another option is storing your medication list and key documents in a shared folder with a trusted family member using Google Drive or Dropbox. Keep it clearly labeled—something like “Emergency Health Info.”

No matter which method you choose, make sure your information stays updated. A Medical ID only helps if it’s accurate, easy to find, and ready to share when every minute counts.

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Today’s clue: Hemline that shocked parents in the swinging ’60s.

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