Birthday celebrations for seniors are top of mind for the old codgers this week. They discuss how they like to celebrate their birthdays (Gary quietly celebrated his 74th last week), their best birthdays, and whether they like birthday parties. Gift ideas for seniors are on the agenda as well as the sad decline in sending…

In this episode, the old codgers offer a few travel tips for seniors they learned during their recent adventures on the road, in the air, and while in Europe. While the news reports about the challenges of air travel can seem overwhelming at times, we suggest a few travel tips that can make it a…

Retro toys 2 continues our discussion of memorable toys from our childhood. In this episode, the toys we discuss range from our first bikes to the always-popular Mr. Potato Head. We didn’t forget about yo-yos, coin collections, the basic red wagon, and the real antique toy, a View Master. Who needs YouTube when you have…

Cars were a defining element of the old codgers’ lives as children, young adults with their first cars, and even as they grew older. Randy and Gary along with guest host John Foster reminisce about the vehicles they grew up with and their favorites. Surprisingly, all the guys shared a passion for Volkswagens of all…

Randy and Gary discuss whether keeping score in retirement makes sense. We both spent long careers measuring ourselves against our peers and cultural norms. Competing was implicit in our work environments. Promotions, winning new business, or just being recognized for our capabilities were important metrics. Even our recreational activities like golfing, running, and bicycling often…

Retro toys capture the imagination of the old guys in this episode. From Schwinn bikes, Radio Flyer wagons, and Frisbees to Play-Doh and chemistry sets, these lucky old codgers seem to have owned all the classic toys from the 1950s and 1960s. Richard recalls his delight at collecting rocks (yes, rocks…), stamps, and coins while…

Bookstore memories animate this episode as the old codgers fondly recall their visits to bookstores. Richard and Randy remember bookstores as defining places when they were in college as well as destinations with their young families. As Camp Codger’s resident geek, Gary firmly embraced modern reading technology with the first Kindle in 2007. He finds…

Old dogs new tricks? Is it realistic? The old codgers discuss old folks that have learned new things. They also make a feeble attempt at understanding the science behind learning in senior citizens (serious neuroscience is a “trick” way beyond their pay grade). Science be damned, they optimistically conclude that it seems quite feasible that…

People often have a completely irrational understanding of what the odds are of an event happening to them. Typically, the worse the outcome, the greater the perceived probability of a horrible ending. In reality, the likelihood of dying in a plane crash is extraordinarily low yet. However, people board planes with sweaty palms fearing for…

There is no question that the news media isn’t what it was when Camp Codger listeners were growing up. Today’s senior citizens are challenged by the technology used to collect, develop and deliver the news, the unrelenting 24×7 news cycle, and the vast array of news sources and delivery platforms. In this episode, we explore…