Dear Doug by Doug Mayberry

Q: We have lived in our big house for over 37 years and plan to move to an active retirement community in July. We also want to host a fun-loving farewell party for our friends, but are at a loss as how to make it memorable. Can you help us with some ideas?

A: Although you may not have purchased or leased a new home yet, you are able to visualize and anticipate how many rooms and total space you will have available when you do.

At this time, a helpful way to prepare could include some of the following ideas. Buy packs of multicolored tags and attach a red one to the items that you "must take." Then ask your family over to hash out who gets what. Do not be surprised if some minor arguments break out! Then ask the family and relatives to blue tag their choices. This may save a lot of arguments later.

For your party, would you consider this as an idea? Send your friends an invitation to a potluck and once-in-a-lifetime garage party. Include a yellow tag. Put your final giveaways in the garage. When the guests arrive, explain that when you ring a bell, everyone moves to the garage with their yellow tag and tags the treasure of their choice.

Provide some Sinatra happy disc tunes and let the dancing begin. Provide sandwiches, drinks and dessert along with what your friends bring. During the evening, there may be some horse (yellow tag) trading or fighting over your snow shovel.

This should serve the dual purpose you have in mind.

I guarantee your party would be memorable. You may establish a new tradition. If there are any remaining goodies the next morning, call the charity of your choice to pick them up.

Q: We have planned an international trip in the spring and keep hearing about different airlines increasing charges depending on baggage weight. Even curbside checking is a fee at some airports. Some of our friends have had no problems, but others came home mad because of their treatment. How can we keep in touch with the new charges?

A: Each airline controls its own rules and regulations, and passengers are subject to changes whenever an airline chooses to do so. Even the type of ticket you hold, such as business class, can determine costs.

Keep yourself updated by checking the airline's website and calling before you go to the airport. Recently, during our security inspection, we were delayed while two passengers spent time repacking and removing items. They were asked to throw away cans of shaving cream and hair spray. These actions, along with late arrivals, traffic factors and misunderstandings, can cause tempers to flare, which does not make the processing easier. One woman, who wore 12-inch lace-up boots, held us up while she got her boots off and on.

Be patient, expect some difficulties, and count your blessings if you sail through without difficulty.

Doug Mayberry makes the most of life after work in a Southern California retirement community. Contact him at deardoug@msn.com. To find out more about Doug Mayberry and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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