Category: Leisure & Recreation

  The government’s deadline for U.S. citizens to be Real ID compliant has changed to May 2025. At that time U.S citizens will need to present a Real ID or valid U.S. passport to board domestic flights, access certain federal facilities or visit U.S. military installations. What’s a “Real ID” and who needs one? A Real ID is a state-issued driver’s license or identification card that meets increased federal security standards. Real ID’s have a star on the upper right corner. If you have a valid U.S. passport you don’t necessarily need a Real ID, but I highly recommend having both. If you depend on your passport and accidentally let it expire or lose it, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise next time you try to board a commercial airline. Tip: If you plan to use your passport, make sure it’s valid for the duration of your trip. And check the expiration date way ahead. Renewals can take 4 months! Here’s a link to passport info in case you need it: U.S. Department of State. As of May 2025 anyone 18 or older will need a Real ID to fly without a passport. Kids under 18 don’t need a Real ID […]

When my kids were kids and I was simply a parent, not a grandparent, our favorite family games were Uno, Monopoly and a ridiculously fun game called Pig Pong. If sheltering in place finds you running out of ways to entertain the family, here are some ideas. If you have some favorite family games, please share them in the Comments section at the end of the post. Family games to play while sheltering in place Whether you’re tired of playing the same old board games,  or looking for games you can play play using items you already have in the house, see this article at Best Life Online. Most of their suggestions are for families with small children. For game ideas for all ages see HabiLinks’ Leisure and Recreation category under “Games.” Looking for the best family friendly video games? See suggestions from the discerning editors at CNET. Lost the instructions or pieces that came with your board game? Forgot the rules for Canasta or Charades? No worries. Find links to instructions and sources of replacement parts for many games at HabiLinks. Find more links you can use at HabiLinks Curated Guide The internet is full of great resources, but page […]

      Building a library of the best podcasts for you can be a daunting task. There are lots of podcast player apps to help you find, download and organize shows. And there are hundreds of thousands of podcast episodes. They cover every topic you can imagine and some you can’t. Unlike radio, podcasts aren’t regulated by the FCC. Almost anyone can create one. As a result, content can be good, bad or even offensive. Explore various podcast player apps before making a choice Not all podcast apps are created equal. Although many offer the same popular shows, the rest of the content can differ widely. Some apps are user friendly, others seem complicated. Some are free, like Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts, while others are paid. Also, many podcast apps only work with certain operating systems. So it’s important to explore the options. Once you start building your library, switching apps can be a big nuisance. To help decide which podcast player is best for you see the reviews at PC Magazine’s 10 Best Podcast Player Apps and Tom’s Guide Best Podcast Apps. Tom’s Guide reviews most of the same players as PC Magazine, plus at least ten more worthy of your consideration. Find […]

Let’s face it, sheltering in place is getting very old. I’ve got plenty of work to do, but at the end of the day I like to relax. Just when I thought I’d go nuts with boredom, my friend Candy came to the rescue. She forwarded a great list of “Things to Do While Sheltering in Place” from Marin Villages, a local non-profit that supports aging in place. Some of their ideas are included below. See the World from the Best Seat in the House. Your Couch. If you’ve ever used ZOOM, don’t miss the last link. Scroll down to “Olive and Mabel.” It’s not very useful. It’s not educational. It’s not music to your ears. In fact, I don’t know how to describe it. But it offers something we can all use these days, a good laugh! Art Art Online Art and more art, curated by Google Arts & Culture. Music Live with Carnegie Hall A new series of performances you can watch live streamed or on demand. Bolero Julliard Created by over 100 students and alumni. You’ll Never Walk Alone Singers and musicians from around the world. Sent chills up my spine even on a hot day. How […]

  The government has changed the deadline for obtaining a Real ID  to May, 2025. Meanwhile, you may have questions. What is The Real ID? Do I really need it? By when? How and when can I get it? If so, you’ve come to the right place for answers. What’s the Real ID? The Real ID is a state-issued driver’s license or identification card that meets increased federal security standards. Real ID’s have a star on the upper right corner. Starting in May2025 travelers must provide a Real ID or other approved form of identification such as a valid passport to board domestic airlines, access certain Federal facilities or visit military installations. Who needs it? If you have a valid U.S. passport you don’t really need a Real ID, but I highly recommend having both. If you depend on your passport and accidentally let it expire or lose it, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise next time you try to board a commercial airline. Tip: If you plan to use your passport, make sure it’s valid for the duration of your trip. And check the expiration date way ahead in case it takes a long time to renew. Anyone 18 or older […]

All vacation pack lists are not created equal. If you search online you’ll get 171,000 results! You can’t customize most of them. And when you click a link you often end up on a site that wants you to pay for a list or buy something else like luggage. Everyone’s packing list will be different. And it’s likely to change over the years. Just ask any new parent. The pack list below is a good start. You’ll want to customize it (does anyone need phone cards or travelers checks anymore?) but once you do, you’re good to go. Download, customize and print the list. It’s free. You can download the pack list at freeprintable.net. I print several and keep them in my suitcase so I’m always ready for a quick trip. The list will come in especially handy in September when I expect news that my daughter is in labor with her second child. Fortunately, she’s just an hour’s plane ride away. One of the smartest things on the pack list is a plastic poncho. It takes hardly any room in your suitcase. In case of a downpour, you may not be the best dressed person on the street, but […]

Have you ever left for vacation and worried that you forgot to turn the sprinklers off, the alarm system on, or something else you meant to do before leaving home? Once I forgot to leave the key for the cat sitter. It’s a good thing my neighbor and I keep each other’s house keys. I called and asked her to put the key under the mat.   This list helps you remember important details before rushing out the door. Here’s a good vacation checklist from Real Simple Magazine. You can use it for starters, then add things that are unique to your household. I keep mine in my suitcase. That way I can’t even start packing without reminders of what I need to do before I leave! A few additions from my personal vacation checklist. Leave keys, payment, instructions and your vacation contact info for pet and house sitters or cleaners. Water houseplants. Turn alarm system on or off. Turn home phone answering system on or off. Put away private papers if others will be in your home. Make sure there’s an updated copy of your Emergency Information  in your suitcase. Password protect and shut down computers. Discover more links […]

Without a packing list it’s hard to remember what to pack for a trip. If you’re a parent, you’ll want to make sure the kids pack what they need, too. When raising my family I kept several pack lists. One for summer camps. Another for back packing trips. Still another for road trips and eventually one for going off to college. These days I only pack for myself, but still keep a list. I keep the list in the suitcase so I can add things when they occur to me. Everyone has different needs, but at the very least you should be able to customize, update and print your packing list easily. Click here for a packing list you can really use. This link will get your list off to a good start. It’s much more usable than others I found online. I suggest downloading the .doc version, not the PDF. The .doc version is easier to edit. Downloadable Comprehensive yet fits on one page Editable Printable Checkboxes to help you pack Other things to consider adding to the list: A reminder to take liquids and sharp objects out of carry-ons if flying A reminder to keep medications and valuable […]