Nude and Old (But Young at Heart, Part 2)

Dear S.Q. My wife and I kept our nudist roots and like-minded friends since we met and married 40+ years ago. We’re searching for a retirement village that caters to the unclothed. Not sure how that’s going to work when our squeamish friends visit. Or our grandkids. Thoughts?

Dear Grandpa, This one has me a bit stumped. While a quick internet search says there are tons stateside and internationally, I didn’t find many, and those were pricey with heavy emphasis on community recreation with middle-aged fit neighbors. Sun belt states have mobile homes from $100K, or land available for cabins and homes. The HOA heavily vets potential residents with hoops to jump. They recommend you travel to visit your skittish guests rather than expose them to your nude neighbors. -SQ

The Goal Of AI...

Dear S.Q., In 2019, my dad lost his GM job after 40 years when they closed their Michigan plant. They offered an insulting retirement package. He was devastated -no warning, no compensation for loyalty or respect. Now my husband is facing mayor layoffs in the aerospace industry, but this time, he's the one that's obsolete. AI scares me. 

Dearie, GM's bankruptcy was one of the largest in U.S. history, partly due to unsustainable retirement and health care benefits, and poor decisions to continue gas-guzzlers. Restructuring failed with electric and self-driving, autonomous vehicles. 

Today, according to "AI Overview" (beware of the source, and the doublespeak) major corps are "actively upskilling their current workforces to transition into artificial intelligence roles and adapt to AI-driven operations." The Google overview notes that Northrop Grumman "provides foundational AI training courses to every single employee across the country," (much too little, much too late).  AI concludes, "The absolute end result of AI is not necessarily to eliminate human interaction, but rather to shift where and how humans interact with technology and each other." NOT NECESSARILY TO ELIMINATE HUMAN INTERACTION" Now if this doesn't scare the bejesus our of you, it should. -SQ

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Order in the Court!

Dear S.Q. My dad’s dying and my sibs are at war for control over his hospice care and estate. I’m appalled and want to stay out of it, but they beg me to testify for them in Court. Is there a crash course -where to sit, what to wear, what to say? I don’t want to get in trouble with the judge.

Dear Son, How awful to worry about all these tribal and trivial things when your dad should be the focus. There are many informative videos and pamphlets both at the courthouses and on-line. Familiarizing yourself will ease worries of this intimidating experience, and help you concentrate on the Court’s questions and orders. The Court relies on facts, but listens to opinions. Trust in their experience, expertise, and knowledge to do right by your dad while disregarding all the “chaff” of angry family and friends from the “wheat” of the matter. -SQ

From My Book (a snippet), The Shower Scene

After a sticky afternoon rendezvous, a shower cooled us down but slippery bodywash heated us back up.  We stroked the soap off one another, pinching and playing with the other's taut body parts. Top to bottom, front to back, outside and in. Inside and out. Again. And again. I was having fun, and so was my guy of the moment, reminding me of days long gone -before the divorce, the empty nest, the dread of an empty future. I gave myself permission, there and then, to rediscover the fun me.

--A story from my debut 2026 book: Cyber Frogs And Princes: A Sex Manual Of On-Line Dating After 50 by Suze Q available on Amazon (with free browsing of select pages), Google Books, and Walmart. Please check out my blog www.cyberfrogsandprinces.com, and Facebook page (Cyber Frogs and Princes) too. Whoo hoo! -SQ

 

Thank You, Gloria Steinem

Dear Readers, The Mother of Feminism passed away at 92 on September 2, coincidentally VJ Day marking the end of WWII. Big date for a big star. Gloria Steinem was a journalist and activist leader of the second-wave feminist revolution advancing gender discourse throughout the 21st century. Many viewed her as a troublemaker for the establishment. Many men were threatened by her political organizings and views, and scared shitless of her power. As well they should have been as her consistent voice for social justice and reproductive rights was globally recognized. In 2013, President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor. She is said to have loved the tradition of signal fires that represented guidance and unity in lighting the path for others. To you, Gloria! We stoke the fires. -SQ

Ozempic Divorce

Dear Suze Q. My wife and I started Ozempic together two years ago. It worked for her but not me. Now 30 pounds lighter, she's full of herself and acts like she's 20 again. I was happy at first, but her late night work stories are bull, and friends are telling me she's hitting on them. She calls me jealous, which is true, but that's not the point. She refuses to see a counselor and laughs it off. Options?

Dear Hubby, New name for old problems (mid-life crisis, empty-nest divorce) when marital balance is off-kilter, often due to one person's elevated self-image and independence that causes (or intensifies) marital friction. Common reasons are transformation of one person’s identity, health, or status. Forget the labels, watch the signs -excuses, lies, flirting, deflection of who has the problem, and refusal to discuss issues or seek help. If you want a divorce, now's the time. If not, fight like hell to talk honestly about every problem and solutions. If you can't get her on the same page, and she continues to refuse professional help, then she's told you her answer. Save yourself since she won't help you save the marriage. -SQ 

I Can’t Live with a Slob

Dear Suze, My guy and I want to live together rather than continue to alternate houses. We live close and can run home when we need our own space. He’s a slob, lives like a bachelor and never seems to think about my needs. I find my makeup buried under his stuff, his clothes wherever they land, haphazard piles in every room. Ugh. 

Dear Ugh, If you run away now when his slobiness overwhelms you, where will you go when you live together? A housekeeper will help, but it’s a temporary fix and won’t cure the underlying problem. What else are you running from? Make a pros/cons list. Talk out the nitty-gritty details, brutally honestly, of what bugs you. Try a trial run of living together for a month. If that feels great, finalize the move. If not, DON’T move now, maybe in the future. Don't lie/pretend/exaggerate about whether it works, and NEVER settle for less. -SQ