I just returned from a "mini" college reunion with 3 of my buddies where we reconnected, reminisced and relaxed on the shores of beautiful Briggs Lake in Michigan. The conversation never stopped flowing as we picked up with each other's lives as if 2 years had never passed. We looked over the Alma College Face Finder or "Pig Book" as it was affectionately referred to and marveled at how young we looked and cringed at the late 70's hair styles. We wondered what became of others who never made it and dropped out, imagining their fate's. We were able to find some on Face Book to help fill in the blanks over the past 30 plus years. We talked about what attracted us to the small liberal arts school of 1200 students in the middle of nowhere, far from cool Ann Arbor or Central Michigan. For two of us it was our parent's college where we had grown up hearing their stories about Alma College. My father and his frat buddies were the original "Animal House" where he found out many years later at one of his class of 1953 reunions, were considered legendary by the younger generation of Delta Gamm Tau, known as the "Delts".
We have all fared quite well with our prospective careers and also in the marriage department with all four of us married over 20 years and 2 marriages close to the 30 year mark. We represent a cross section of our generation with 2 of the group choosing to remain childless, in a world that is different from our mother's with more options for women. One out of the four battled and overcame cancer, bearing out the statistics.
 Despite the years and struggles along the way we are still those same girls that found each other at such a pivotal point in our lives.  It was in college that we all had our first taste of freedom living on our own for the first time away from parent's in a stimulating, yet secure environment. It was an exciting time to seek out new experiences, explore ideas and discover who you were. A carefree time in life where we only had to worry about papers, grades and who was throwing the next party.
We are entering a point in our lives now where we have the time and desire to reconnect. Retirement is in the picture and our children are grown and out of the nest. Our attention is shifting away from careers and looking after others to rediscovering what we want out of life, a stage very similar in some ways to our youthful days of college. Fostering friendships both old and new is important for your health and emotional well being. I know I felt re-energized for many days after I returned from our reunion. Next year I am looking forward to "hosting" the next get together in the Finger Lakes wine country where we will sample some Rieslings along the Finger Lakes Wine Trails, and go down memory lane again, fondly remembering our Alma College days.

There is an interesting rent vs buy movement emerging as a result of the economic downturn. With money in tight supply due to job losses, early forced retirements and stagnant wages, many are renting out their possessions and services, ranging from parking spaces to baker's secrets. It also stems from the backlash to excessive consumerism and the reuse, recycle mentality that has griped Americans. You can find just about anything you can imagine on "Rent It Today" rentittoday.com
Then there is the French company "Zilok" us.zilok.com where you can rent items from both businesses and individuals. They provide the rental agreement and the parties arrange the exchange.
If you need a high end look for a special event then check out "Rent The Runway" www.renttherunway.com, where you can rent a designer dress, handbag and jewelry to make a lasting impression with out a huge outlay of money. To rent a villa or couch for the night depending on your needs and budget, go to "Air B & B  airbnb.com. There are a variety of dwellings worldwide that range from the unusual tree house to the more traditional city apartment. The company has a million dollar insurance policy against theft or damage for those worried about sharing their dwellings with strangers. If you are in need of a vehicle or want to make money renting out your vehicle then check out "Get A Round" www.getaround.com
The renting movement is an interesting concept born out of the necessity to offset costs during these challenging economic times. You just might want to check out your cluttered garage or think about that spare bedroom that could provide some extra income.

I accidentally discovered  RL.TV while mindlessly channel surfing one night which is the only online cable network for those 50 and over. Among the line up are several shows in particular that are worthwhile viewing. "My Generation" is based on the AARP lifestyle magazine series that tackle a variety of topics of relevancy to Baby Boomers.
 The "Art of Living" has personal stories about Boomers from all walks of life and their accomplishments. "Second Act" looks at those reinventing themselves through starting second careers they have dreamed about. "Health Line" deals with health care topics and medical issues facing older Americans. Joan Lunden examines care giving in our culture in "Taking Care". Then there is my favorite," Bookmark" that chronicles books with author interviews. An off shoot of "Bookmark" is "Books and Beyond" that uncovers the motivation behind the author's works.
It is refreshing to find intelligent TV specifically geared to the interests and achievements of Baby Boomers, who are undoubtedly shaping society in ways that are different from previous generations. I'll be putting RL.TV on my list of worthwhile programs to watch from now on.