First, I admit there are occasions when dragging along and checking heavy bags may be necessary. Long overseas journeys, cruises, group excursions, and if you’re a spoiled rotten rich family or entertainment celebrity with way too much money and stacks of clothing. But even many of those trips don’t always require schlepping and checking weighty luggage. Especially now that airlines are charging $50 and more for the service.

My spouse and I retired nearly 20 years ago, and since then we’ve flown a hundred times throughout the world, sailed on 20 or more cruises and joined dozens of group excursions. We’ve also traveled several times independently throughout Europe, Canada and the US by train, taxi, bus, often for three weeks or more. Soon we’ll be on our way again, this time for a two-week journey to several US destinations. Once again, all our gear will be in carry-ons. Would you believe, except during the first retirement year when we were travel-clueless, we’ve never, ever checked our bags. After our first experience with disappeared checked-in bags, we made our commitment to carry-ons for all future trips.

We see them doing it while racing by us along the highway. Talking on cell phones while driving was bad enough. Now, with latest devices, gabby drivers look away from the road and down to punch out text messages on little lighted boxes.

Drivers need to pay total attention to everything going on in all directions at all times. Texting while driving has caused many accidents, and some states have banned the dangerous practice. Any distraction that forces the driver to take eyes off the road for a second or two is a danger. It is considerably worse to text messages that take eyes off the road for five or ten seconds.

For the older traveler, what to eat on the go can be an ongoing problem. We’re away from home, not guided by the sensible three-a-day meals routine. We must meet schedules, disruptions and, worst of all, food temptations.

For instance, there’s the buffet at the hotel or aboard ship. At home, we watch our calories, keeping them down to 400 or 500 a meal. At the buffet, stacks of food are displayed in front of us, and we succumb to the all-you-can eat invitation. What’s wrong with two or three helpings of meat and that extra dessert or two? Everything.  

The need for restraint should govern everything we eat while traveling. Unless you want to gain a pound or two a day, here are some ideas for sensible eating while traveling.

We have to admit it. The economy’s in a mess, and for the travel industry, it could get messier after the summer vacation season ends. Quickie airlines, such as AirAmerica, may go broke before they can even get off the ground. A recent news release says there have been nearly a million dollars in pre-paid AirAmerica reservations that may or may not be fully refunded.

So, what happens if you’ve paid full price or put a deposit on a flight and it is cancelled? It won’t necessarily happen because an airline goes broke, but more likely be due of bad weather, mechanical difficulties, flight delays between airports and other everyday glitches. When it happens, how do you overcome the problem? Here are some tips for avoiding, or at least making the problem less painful: