Q: I am 67 and have never been much of a walker. My friends are encouraging me to set up a regular routine. It seems to me to be a little late to be doing so, and I am hesitating and a little afraid of doing so. Do you believe I should begin?

A: Yes! It is never too late to take good care of your health. You are fortunate in having friends who care for you and are aware of the benefits they receive from walking.

First, touch base with your doctor to make certain you are in good physical condition and ask for any suggestions he may have before beginning your routine.

Schedule your walk in the morning to avoid procrastination later in the day. It happens!

Wear comfortable shoes and bright clothing that makes auto drivers, bikers and others aware of your presence.

Begin your routine by taking short walks, and gradually increase the duration. If you are in pain or are tired, do your walks in l0-minute segments. For support and safety use a cane or walking stick, which will also help keep the load off your knees.

Choose level surfaces if you need to be careful of your balance.

Weather is always a factor. Simply walking through your local shopping mall is an excellent option in the event of rain, snow or wind. Plus, varying your routes will make your walks more interesting and stimulating.

Walking is inexpensive and it will improve your daily outlook, expose you to more socialization, bring you closer to nature, make you a more positive person and help extend your life!

If your friends are not Olympians you may qualify to join their group within a reasonable length of time!

HOME MAINTENANCE AWARENESS

Q: I lost my husband last year. He was always in charge of keeping our home in good shape by making the repairs himself or hiring others.

That is now my responsibility. I am not handling that responsibity well. Recently I had a major sprinkler disaster, which cost me a lot of money because I could not get a plumber here sooner.

Do you have some suggestions that would be helpful for house owners?

A: Become alert and anticipate the seasonal changes for taking care of your home maintenance. You may save a great deal of money by hiring a home maintenance company to inspect and make recommendations as to its condition. You are not under obligation to authorize the inspector to do your repair work. However, this does make you alert of what you need to do to maintain your home's safety and needs. Furnaces, air conditioners, roofs and appliances are top priorities.

Also, check with your neighbors for recommendations based on their experiences.

Anticipating storms, floods and nature's actions are priorities not to be ignored.

Remember that household repairs are necessary and should be accomplished as soon as possible. Failing to make repairs always costs more in the long run!

Doug Mayberry makes the most of life in a Southern California retirement community. Contact him at [email protected]. Betty is a friend of Doug Mayberry, whom she helps write this column. 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.