Traveling long distances with your dog or cat in the car can be a troublesome experience. Here are some helpful tips that will make the journey pleasant for both driver and critter.

1. For at least a week before the long trip, give the pet familiarization rides once a day. Prepare a comfortable sitting area in the passenger or rear seat area. If the pet is nervous, leans out the window or wanders throughout the car during your test drives, firmly put it back in the intended seat. Speak cheerfully and do some reassuring petting until the pet knows to stay in place during the long ride.

Community service? Are you telling me to go for a vacation that isn't a vacation, but just a tough job helping other people? I worked hard to earn my sunset years. So, I'm entitled to bask at the shore, toss dice in Vegas, sip vino in Tuscany or dine at an outdoor Paris cafe.

If that’s your attitude, please reconsider. A volunteer vacation allows you to do something as satisfying as a fun trip. At the same time you’ll experience the great satisfaction of knowing you're doing something to help others.

Remember what John F. Kennedy said many years ago, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country". If you truly believe in that theme, would it be so bad to use some of your vacation time, labor and skills where they're needed? In some cases, desperately needed?

The savvy senior traveler who’s planning to go on a cruise explores all of the options. It starts with daily surfing for internet travel agencies and cruise line websites. The secret is no secret if you do it right.

1. Book very early or very late: There are two widely-separated time frames when prices are hottest. First, by early booking of a cruise several months in advance, you can get your choice of cabins. Additionally, cruise lines want the income generated by having as many of their cabins booked as early as possible. As incentive, advertised prices are lower then.

Conversely, when you make a last-minute booking, you could also get a lower price. Ships must sail on schedule whether totally full or not. Fearing empty cabins, cruise lines will lower prices, sometimes drastically, in the last three or four days before sailing. This can be particularly appealing to retirees, who can pack and go on short notice.

2. Ask for upgrades: When booking with an online or hometown travel agency, select your cabin at the listed price. Then ask if you can get an upgrade to a larger cabin or more convenient deck location for a modest extra payment or at no extra cost.

You almost have to admire the cleverness of a British con man who, according to a recent report, made up to $20,000 a month for 15 years. His trick was hanging around airports, and when spotting a well-dressed, mature woman, acted out a very convincing scam on her.

He said he was due to take a flight within a few minutes for a family emergency, but lost his ticket, wallet and credit cards. He didn’t have any money on him for a new one. If the woman gave him the cash, he promised to reimburse her in a few days. He’d then offer a phony home address.

The crook worked his scam at airports throughout Europe. He had been reported many times over the years, and it finally took a policewoman to induce him to approach her and be caught in his criminal act.

Moral to the tale: Sob stories are great in movies and on TV. However, in real life, senior travelers who are too kindhearted to scam artists end up doing all the sobbing.