Tag: bay area

A little something to ponder…

I stole this from Facebook, so I don’t know who to give credit to. Whoever you are, thank you! Read on…

I asked one of my friends who has crossed age 70 and is heading to 80 what sort of changes he is feeling in himself? He sent me the following very interesting lines, which I would like to share with you:

1. After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, my friends, now I have started loving myself.

2. I just realized that I am not “Atlas.” The world does not rest on my shoulders.

3. I now stopped bargaining with vegetables and fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to burn a hole in my pocket but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.

4. I pay my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than me

5. I stopped telling the elderly that they’ve already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane and relive the past

6. I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.

7. I give compliments freely and generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down; just say “Thank you.”

8. I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances

9. I walk away from people who don’t value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.

10. I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat and neither am I in any race.

11. I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. My emotions make me human.

12. I have learned that it’s better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships I will never be alone.

13. I have learned to live each day as if it’s the last. After all, it might be the last.

14. I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time; just choose to be!

Why do we have to wait to be 70 or 80? Why can’t we practice this at any stage and age?

GUEST BLOG – From Finances to Moving: How to Upsize in Retirement

By Bob Shannon

A lot of seniors think they have to downsize in order to live comfortably in retirement. But this isn’t always the case. If you plan on having your kids and grandkids visit or take up homesteading, a smaller home simply won’t do, and you’re going to need wide-open spaces to make those golden-year dreams come true. These upsizing tips can walk you through the process from start to finish with less stress and hassle.

Budgeting for a Bigger Home in Retirement

As with any major purchase, you need to think about your budget and finances first before you decide to buy a bigger home. If you have a sizable amount of debt, you will want to start by coming up with a feasible plan to pay it down or completely off. In many states, consumers can turn to debt relief agencies for help coming up with this plan. You’ll need to factor in your amount of debt, employment situation, and ability to make payments to figure out which solution is right.

Once you have your debts paid down, you should have an easier time qualifying for home loans. You’ll also want to determine how much home you can afford before you begin submitting those applications. While this may seem like a daunting task, there are plenty of tools available online that make it simple, including calculators and worksheets.

Finally, you will want to figure out how much you will get from the sale of your current home. You can reach out to an experienced local real estate agent for a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis), but you also need to factor in any needed repairs into your estimated profit. For example, if your windows are cracked, repairing them could cost you anywhere from $170 to
$375. However, repaired windows can add curb appeal to your home, making it a worthwhile expense.

Finding Enough Room for Retirement

Now that you’re done with your finances, you can start looking for a home. You can check out local real estate sites or blogs like Walnut Creek Lifestyle for tips on searching and buying, but you may also want to start by hiring the right real estate agent.

A real estate agent can also narrow down home choices to ones that include the features you want most in retirement. For instance, if you plan on homesteading and hosting family members, a larger yard or land may be necessary. Then you will have plenty of space to play with the grandkids or grow your own vegetable garden and raise livestock.

Depending on the sort of hobbies you plan on taking up, you may also want to look for a home that includes a shed or workshop. You can always add one later, so long as you have the extra acreage. Also, make sure the features inside your home will keep you and your loved ones comfortable for years to come. This could mean making sure there’s an extra room that can be turned into a playroom or smart home features that can be used for aging in place.

Planning a Safe and Stress-Free Move

Once the deals are done, you’ll need to plan for a safe and problem-free move. For seniors, this may mean hiring professionals to help you pack and move your belongings. Otherwise, you could end up overdoing it and injuring yourself trying to do it on your own.

You can use an online move planner to figure out when to start hiring pros and when to take care of other essential moving tasks. That way, you won’t forget anything crucial, like changing your address with the post office or using up the food in your fridge.

When you have bigger dreams for retirement, a smaller home simply won’t do. If you do plan on upsizing your home, do make sure you know which steps to take to avoid added stress. Most of all, make sure you find a home that fits you and your plans to help you make the most out of your golden years!

If you want more information on upsizing, downsizing, or Prop 19, contact Kristin Lanham at (925) 899-7123 or kristin@lanham.com.

Check out Batch & Brine!

Batch & Brine in Lafayette is the newest venture from the siblings and cousins who co-own Broderick’s. I’m not the biggest fan of the latter, to be honest, but since this was a separate venture, I wanted to check out their new place. I’m so glad I did!

Batch & Brine was created by a dynamic group of relatives — siblings, Mike, Rolla, and David Ghaben, cousins, Sam Ghaben and Celina Gonzales, alongside their son, Victor Ghaben. With roots that extend from New Mexico and the Mediterranean to California, their restaurant’s culture captures the essence of growing up in their family’s kitchens and restaurants.

Their craft cocktail/Mixologist manager Casey Carr personally came to our outdoor seating area. We wanted margaritas, but not too sweet, so he made a recommendation on tequila and used all natural ingredients (no purchased sweet and sour), and the result was delicious, smooth, and not too sweet. We really appreciated the personal attention and had a nice chat. He mentioned the family hired a chef who has worked in some San Francisco restaurants, but is from New York with Jewish and Cuban family roots who uses quality ingredients in the food.

I tried their sliders, and my friend had the blue burger with whipped Roquefort and pretzel roll; both had homemade pickles. Our meals were clearly made from quality ingredients and all the food was very tasty. This is a place that will definitely be one of my new go-to restaurants.

What made it even more special on a Friday night was they had live music and happy hour M-F from 2-5 pm, all which make the ambiance more comfortable, enjoyable, and inviting. They are not allowing indoor seating right now because of COVID-19, but they did have a fire pit and heat lamps outside, so you can still enjoy the “normal” sit-down experience.

Thanksgiving Trivia!

Let’s have some fun this week! It’s Thanksgiving week and I hope you all are planning a safe, socially-distanced, and delicious holiday meal. You may not be able to gather with family like usual, but you can always do a video call and quiz each other with some Thanksgiving Trivia. Read on:

The first Thanksgiving lasted how long? (answers at the bottom)

  1. One day
  2. Two days
  3. Three days

Which Indian tribe taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land and were  invited to the Thanksgiving meal?

  1. Apache
  2. Wampanoag
  3. Cherokee

What is a snood?

  1. The loose skin under a male turkey’s neck
  2. A hat worn by a Pilgrim
  3. A hot cider drink served at Thanksgiving

Which President is believed to be the first to pardon a turkey and start this annual tradition?

  1. President Lincoln in 1863
  2. President Roosevelt in 1939
  3. President Harry Truman in 1947

Today, our Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November because…?

  1. It is the date the Pilgrims landed in the New World
  2. This was the date set by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 and approved by Congress in 1941
  3. It was the date people voted to have it on

What is a baby turkey called?

  1. A chick
  2. A nestling
  3. A poult

It has been estimated that how many Americans eat turkey at  Thanksgiving?

  1. 88%
  2. 50%
  3. 75%

True or False: All turkeys gobble

  1. True
  2. False

Ready for the answers…? See how you did! Scroll down.

The first Thanksgiving lasted how long? 

  1. One day
  2. Two days
  3. Three days

Which Indian tribe taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land and were  invited to the Thanksgiving meal?

  1. Apache
  2. Wampanoag
  3. Cherokee

What is a snood?

  1. The loose skin under a male turkey’s neck
  2. A hat worn by a Pilgrim
  3. A hot cider drink served at Thanksgiving

Which President is believed to be the first to pardon a turkey and start this annual tradition?

  1. President Lincoln in 1863
  2. President Bush in 1989
  3. President Harry Truman in 1947

NOTE: Lincoln was the first to do it, some say Truman, but he never pardon, the first president to do so was Bush.

Today, our Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November because…?

  1. It is the date the Pilgrims landed in the New World
  2. This was the date set by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 and approved by Congress in 1941
  3. It was the date people voted to have it on

What is a baby turkey called?

  1. A chick
  2. A nestling
  3. A poult

It has been estimated that how many Americans eat turkey at  Thanksgiving?

  1. 88%
  2. 50%
  3. 75%

True or False: All turkeys gobble

  1. True
  2. False

NOTE: Only male turkeys gobble. They do so to attract female turkeys.

Duncan Arcade Murals!

Walnut Creek has one of the most amazing ongoing public art projects a city can have and another one has just been completed. Strolling through Duncan Arcade downtown (the covered passageway that connects Main to Locust by the Amplify Barber Shop), I was thrilled to see some beautiful murals on the walls!

From: Bedford Gallery

Bay Area-based artists Velia De Iuliis, Cannon Dill, Casey Gray, Sirron Norris, and Ricky Watts are responsible for the art and did so in partnership with Walnut Creek Public Art. The murals were described by Bedford Gallery as “dynamic and colorful,” and that description really nails it.

As for the future, the city plans to rotate murals regularly, to give new artists a chance to participate in the project. For now, I’d highly recommend making a detour next time you’re wandering downtown to see these murals.

This visually improved the walkthrough from Main to Locust! Check out the shops along the way, Norf London always has fun items, and now there is a photography venue focusing on baby pictures.

Socially distance at Social Bird

I recently went to Social Bird in Lafayette, the latest venture from Esin & Curtis deCarion, who own Esin Restaurant and Bar and Revel Kitchen & Bar in Danville. I love exploring the new restaurants in the East Bay, and Social Bird is another great one!

Social Bird has two patios with lots of heat lamps and I was amazed on a Monday night how crowded they were, there was also 25% indoor seating and it was spread out well with side doors open to allow for ventilation. We went for a quick bite and some social time. I started off with one of their signature mules and what is great about them is they are not too sweet. They have small bites plates which are great for sharing and appealing happy hour from 3-5 pm.


This his restaurant is where Yankee Pier used to be, on Lafayette’s main drag Mt. Diablo Blvd. We had the chicken sliders and the meat balls recommended by the server. It was very good and the ambiance just perfect in the midst of covid.

Social Bird offers craft cocktails and rotating selection of beer, wine, and sustainable American fare. I’d highly recommend giving it a chance next time you go out to eat!