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Well, you're not alone. We come from a generation that lived through the Depression, World War II. and Korea. We saw things in a much different light that people see them today. We have a different way of observing things now and sometimes it seems that we don't fit into today's world vision.

So, The Question: How can we survive in today's world and have a happy and productive life? Here are a few suggestions that may help you.

1. Don't sweat the small stuff and it's mostly all small stuff.

   You will be inundated every day with many things from many directions. Stop to analyze each thing that comes to you and sort them into small stuff and important stuff. Put the small stuff behind you for a while and concentrate on the important stuff. Don't get hung up on every little detail. After you've taken care of the important things for the day, go to the small things. Do as many as you can, and if you don't finish them, save them for the next day. Many of the small things will disappear.

2. Watch out for con artists

   Con artists come in many shapes, forms, and disguises. They are everywhere. One of the main things to watch for are the telemarketers. While there are many fine telemarketing companies in business, it is hard to tell the good from the bad. Its best not to talk to them. One way to handle telemarketers is to take all your calls on an answering machine phone where you can listen to see who is calling. Telemarketers hate answering machines and will hang up. After awhile you will get many fewer calls and you can always answer the ones you want.

   Remember, if it's too good to be true, it probably isn't.

3. Finances

   As a seasoned veteran, finances are very important to your well-being. One of the first things you should do is find a very good bank with low fees. Check around and compare fees on all services. Make sure that there is no fee on ATM transactions if you use your banks machine. Some banks will waive ATM fees on other banks ATM fees

   Another thing to watch for are low fees in checking and deposit transactions. Most banks have many different kinds of checking accounts. Compare them and select the best for your needs

   Above all, talk with the bankers at the branch office that will deal with. You can tell a lot about their bank by the way they talk to you. They should be willing to spend some time with you and answer all of your questions in a professional and courteous way. If they don't seem to have time for you, go to another bank quickly.

4. Credit cards

   DON'T USE THEM. The fees and interest associated with credit cards is exorbitant. Once you get into them, you may never get out.

   Well, you may want to get one card for emergencies and travel. It's hard to rent a hotel room or rental car without a card. Make sure you get a low interest card and pay it off each month. Charge a small amount to it each month so they wont cancel it.

5. Your home is your castle

   We all need a fairly large amount of cash at times. If you own your own home you may have a ready source of money in your equity. There are 2 ways to get the money. You can refinance or get a reverse mortgage

   You are probably familiar with a refinance loan where you get a new loan, take some of your equity in cash and make new payments. This is a good way to go if you don't need a large amount of money. If you refinance and pull out a lot of money, your payments will go up significantly. You may not be able to afford the higher payments.

   If you are 62 or older and have your home essentially paid off, a reverse mortgage(RM) may be a way. An RM is a type of home equity loan that allows you to convert some of the equity in your home into cash while you retain home ownership RMs work like regular mortgages, only in reverse. Rather than making a payment to your lender each month, the lender pays you. Most RMs do not require any repayment of principal, interest as long as you live in your home. [The last sentence is not clear to me.] You can use the funds you obtain for any purpose.

   No matter which way you go, the best deals are made when you consult with professionals. Getting any kind of loan is really very complicated. In many cases the process can be very stressful. Make sure you really need the money before you proceed.

You can also check the Internet to get information before you talk to professionals. There are many good sites such as AARP or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

I hope the above suggestions will help you with your everyday life. Above all, think for yourself, ask questions, and don't let anyone intimidate you because of your age. You are much smarter, tougher, and more experienced than most people you talk to.

BE A SEASONED VETERAN.

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