Sorry I didn’t do the full FHC today. I’m having an allergy attack. Currently attempting to not let the pollen air get in me and gonna sleep it off. Comment and share the vid please. Maybe I’ll wake up to a popular vid and my heatless curls 😂
As a father of two girls, I think you should use this channel to call out "Larry" with his real name and flight number. With your audience size someone knows this pervert. Shame this a-hole.
I worked at Walmart as a teenager and I noticed that the older employees were either retirees who wanted a small job to keep themselves busy or because they couldn’t afford to retire. I felt so bad for the latter because they were the kindest people.
Unless you own a house or have a union pension, rent is unaffordable. It's usually two or three times Social Security, excluding utilities and food, which may be at least part of the reason for so many living on the street or in vehicles.
Retirement income is very difficult to live on in cities. Rural towns and certain states are just cheaper to live in retirement. You get the same retirement income no matter wher you live. Some opt for to become ex-pats in other countries because their dollars go further. I myself am considering retiring in Mexico since I am Mexican descended, speak poor Spanish and have relatives. Panama has a LARGE retirement community...
@@michaelgonzalez6295 My father was from Argentina. I always dreamed of going to see where he grew up. My Mother was from ireland, I was lucky enough to go on a trip to ireland to meet some of my relatives when I was in high school back in 1974.
California experience does not necessarily match up with the other regions of the US. There has been a considerable amount of culture shifting during the lockdown period as well. Most sidewalks are made from Concrete, getting good shoes with padding helps.
I run, and try to run on sidewalks as little as possible. They're quite hard and often uneven, plus I have to dodge walkers. Streets, usually paved with softer asphalt, are much softer. And many suburbs often don't have sidewalks at all so you have to walk or run on the street.
The strange thing about experiencing the U.S. is 10 people can travel to 10 different areas, meet up after and disagree on what the "American" experience is. Sometimes there will be stark differences in people, places, and attitudes in the same city.
@@jimtrela7588 Yes, but many companies that have pensions have sold them to insurance companies who administer them as annuities. As such, they are not protected by the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. I have two pensions that went that way. Both of them are funded at the moment, but one of them is only around 90% funded to be the right level. It's possible, I could lose these pensions.
American here, and I agree with everything on this :). I'm sad about elderly folks having to work too. Our economy is failing and it's showing everywhere. Our toilets are loud! BUT I believe most of us have an innate ability to tune it out because we hear it so much. :)
Some old folks have been forced to go back to work because of the recent high inflation, but some of it is also that us old-timers grew up with a very strong work ethic. I'm closing in on 70, and was forced into retirement last year by a heart attack and surgery. I despise retirement, and hope to find some way to contribute again.
@@DianeJennings Yea, my grandpa was working until he literally was bed ridden (94). He didn't know what to do with himself so he just kept working. He was modestly wealthy so he didn't have to, but he just didn't know what else to do so he went to work and then came home and tinkered in his workshop.
My sister is 82 and works at Lowe's. Pretty sure it is voluntary and hope it is not a necessity. She also does a lot of the landscaping at her complex. She sold her house on a lake a couple of years ago so she can't be too poor. Although she was hit Pretty bad by Ian.
I don't know if it's considered a superstition but when I worked construction, there was this idea among some of the older workers that when you retire, death follows shortly afterwards. There are many workers who refuse to retire out of the fear that there health will decline. I don't subscribe to this idea, but I can understand why some do.
8:22 To be fair, I always thought public toilets in the US flush aggressively. If Diane broke into someone’s home to use the toilet, she’d find they flush little more quietly.
I live in Florida. When my oldest child was 3 1/2 we headed off to Disney World. It was horrible trying to get her to use the bathroom at rest areas. They are automatic so when you stand up, it would flush. I’m telling ya, I think they vacuum all the air out of the entire bathroom with each flush .😆 When I would help her sit on the toilet, and then stand up, it would flush. I tried covering it up with my hand. I tried sitting behind her on the toilet. For some reason, it never failed. It would flush with her on it. For some reason these “evil” toilets didn’t recognize that she was there. She would freak out & scream. My poor daughter thought she was going to be flushed down the toilet. She would scream every time we went to a rest area. I really wish each rest area had at least one manually flushing toilet!
My thoughts on older Americans working later in life. Most companies got rid of pensions and came up with the idea to have their employees save for their retirements with small contributions from the employer (these are called 401k plans and get some special tax treatments). Well of course that takes discipline and a lot of people don't have that when it comes to saving money. So many things already come out of a paycheck like taxes, medical insurance, Medicare and Social Security payments. Many people are in the now and don't worry about tomorrow or can't afford to worry about tomorrow today.
I used to walk 4 miles into work everyday, but I wore well padded sneakers, it beat taking the bus and being packed in like cattle, it was along the piers and Fishermans Wharf, so I'd say well padded trainers is a must. There are a lot of older people working especially at Wall Mart mainly to make ends meet, but there are those who just like staying in contact with people (can you imagine,lol). Hope you had a good time while you were here. Always fun to hear what you think about America. Thanks Diane, see you soon!
Funny thing about the older worker thing. Back in the early 90's, I lived and worked in middle class suburbs, about 15-20 miles (something-something kilometers) west from NYC. All the fast food workers were teenagers. Kids, doing their first job, as it were. Then I moved 50 miles further west, to Easton, Pennsylvania, and all the fast food workers were adults. I moved, and accepted the commute, because for what I was paying in house share, with three others, in North Jersey, I got a whole 2 1/2 story townhouse, with deck, private parking and backyard. It was odd enough even then, I mentioned it to my co-workers. Poverty. It sucks.
Welcome back, Diane. I never noticed it before but our toilets do like to announce when we're done. Eventually, we're probably going to start expecting applause.
Diane, you really need to visit other parts of the country besides the East and West coast. Come to the middle of the U.S. and you'll experience a difference.
California is NOT an American experience. Three stars used to mean something. I recently stayed at a 3 star with a kitchenette. There weren’t any bowls, I had a plate, 2 forks and a pan. Hilton House in Utah. And no, do not touch me. I lived in Canada for 4 years. A fellow American taught me how to stand in line at a grocery store. It involved using your cart, putting one foot up on the bottom while placing your hand on the handle with the elbow sticking out with your largest tote resting on the elbow. I have a friend that served a mission in China. She’s severely claustrophobic now. As for air hand dryers……they are filthy and do a great job of blowing poop particles everywhere
9:39 there is even a glass repair company in my area that will send people to your home to deliver and install a car windshield or repair it for you on the spot! You don’t even have to take the car in and leave it. Unless it’s like a really complicated job.
I recently broke my glasses. Called my optometrist, ordered a new pair. Since I'm nearsighted I could not see to drive. It was delivered by door dash that same afternoon.
Had huge tv delivered and installed. Covid was the start of delivery of everything. Also pickup of shopping orders where employees gather the items and store in bins.
My mom retired from the Post Office after 30 years. Within a year, she got a part-time job at a grocery store. She loved it! She worked there right up until she died at 72.
I do like how food or grocery store services deliver it also helps out the elderly with Heavy groceries. Thanks for making the start of the weekend joyful like you always do.
Just so you are aware, the "star" rating of a hotel isn't an indicator of how nice the hotel is. Stars merely indicate the level of amenities the hotel offers. To be sure, hotels with higher start ratings are, generally, nicer; however, that's not what the number of stars means.
I had a professor who lived in San Francisco in the 80s who told me he would get a rental TV and VCR with a VHS tape delivered. They just rented it as a set in case you didn't have one of the components. My professor was one of those people who refused to have a TV in the house, but liked to have parties where people watched French New Wave movies.
I'm not sure where you visited, but I know the last time I was in NYC my back and legs hurt more after walking than they do where I live in Albuquerque. Also it makes sense that you would see older people working if you were visiting a place with a higher cost of living like New York or San Francisco.
I believe I was at Disney Land years ago when I first noticed the personal space thing. If I was standing in line (or queued) and I felt someone getting friendly with my backside, invariably it was a foreigner. And if I moved up to avoid their friendliness, they moved up. When I finally got to Europe, I noticed this to be the norm. I believe this is because here in the States we have so much room (whether it's our streets and roads or our residential lots) we are used to having the space. In most other countries where people live closer together, they tend to assume smaller personal space. And of course since the "apocalypse" we have observed "social distancing" (a horrible name for what should be called "personal distancing") and it has gotten even worse (or better). Oddly, on my trips to Ireland and the UK, one of the first things I noticed was that the toilets flushed LOUDER. Perhaps it was because I was staying in older rural areas where the toilets were not modern and used a great deal of water when they flushed. However, I prefer flushing power any day and will endure the resulting noise!
There is also a totally different experience in living out in the countryside VS living in a city. I've lived in a wide variety of places, some city, some country, some *way out* in the country. In cities, everything is closer together, there is a lot of variety, and walking somewhere is fairly easy. In the country, there's not much nearer than a two-hour walk without sidewalks--yet a 5-minute drive away. And then there is way out in the countryside where the nearest gas station and paved road is a 45-minute drive away and the nearest city is something like two-to-three hours drive away. Out in the mid-West, it can be even longer to get to even a small city. The choices are "do you want to live an easy walk from the High Street, or do you want privacy, or do you want isolation?" Where I live it's a 3-minute drive/90-minute walk to the nearest Convenience Store/Gas Station that's 2 miles away, a 7-minute drive to the three nearest small towns, a 30-minute drive to the nearest city shopping centers, and a 2-hour drive to the nearest big city. One almost *has* to own a car of some sort to get anywhere in the US because we have so very little public transportation. As for pensioners working well beyond their retirement age, one either finds that one needs something to do to remain active, or that one's pension barely covers the necessary expenses to stay alive. I'll be retiring in a little over 6 months, and I'm praying I won't have to look for a "twilight years" job to afford everything. I *should* be all right, but one never knows until one is thrust into the experience. We shall see.
Haven't had anything weird delivered to me but when I needed to supplement my income for a bit I was a Doordasher for about six months. Mostly it was food but sometimes I'd have to deliver non-food items, like this one time I had to pick up a large framed mirror from a Home Goods store and deliver it to a townhouse. It wasn't packaged or wrapped or anything except for the paper corner protectors. Another time it was an order of bedding from Bed Bath & Beyond. I also once had an order from a pizza place of just a personal-size pizza and a drink though the delivery address was only a mile away. Like, he couldn't just go there himself? Turned out to be a trucker who was parked in a lot somewhere, I guess because he didn't want to deal with using his rig to get the food. Keep 'em coming Diane!
I walked all over Dublin when I went to visit and gosh my legs hurt the next day 😂😂 but I did relax back in the hotel room with “Ms. Brown’s Boys” on the television…
Enjoyed today's video Diane! It really had made me happy how much America has progressed with hand towels/hand dryers in public bathrooms! As someone that's in a wheelchair I find it invaluable to be able to dry my hands quick and easy. :)
The air blowers became widespread about 15-20 years ago, mostly because it was cheaper in the long run than paper towels and the person to restock those towels in the dispenser. The reappearance of paper towels was a COVID thing, because the air blowers aerosolize whatever liquid is on your hands - meaning that if you didn't wash long and aggressively enough, traces of bodily emissions will get spread into the atmosphere of the restroom. If you the hand washer are infected with COVID, you've just sprayed your COVID cooties throughout the air for the next person to inhale. Paper towels, at least, confine the infection to the used hand towel and the trash can.
One night my daughter and I couldn't sleep, so we had cookies delivered at around 2:00 a.m. from "Insomnia Cookies" . It wasn't cheap, but well worth it! They are so good! Two different kinds of chocolate and snickerdoodles.
Sidewalks are made of concrete. Where I live, in California, nothing is within walking distance, and if it is within walking distance its over 110 degrees and I don't want to die walking to the Post. The reason older folks work is because we are poor. I don't use hand blowers and try not to use public bathrooms, if I do have to use one I take TP out to dry my hands.
Diane, you're not just some random girl on the internet from Ireland. You're the *best* random girl on the internet from Ireland. Never stop being random.
Hi Diane, I can sympathize with your allergies . I went to an allergist and they did a scratch test on my back,150 little scratches with a different allergen. I had 73 reactions. They gave me a series of shots to desensitize me. It helped a little. Now I just take Claritin or Benadryl. About the delivery situation, it has created a new job market-- porch pirating. It's rampant! I hope you're having a good time. I love you and goodbye for now!
i’d say a lot of older folk in the USA are forced to continue to work because after retirement age is to qualify for Health Insurance reasons. Their bills would be covered through employer policies. They pay for this madness by continuing to vote for a system where the citizen comes last to the mighty Dollar
Depending on whose rating you are looking at, star ratings for hotels here in the US, refers more to the class, or type of service/ architecture ( room door opens to parking lot, vs single entrance and interior hallways) Rather than the quality of service. Most business class hotels will be 2-2 1/2 star and will have nice safe limited unlocked entrance doors, interior hallways, no bellhops, self service parking, no valet parking, no restaurant, but usually a complimentary breakfast in the morning. These are usually pretty safe and reasonable- If driving, always check out whether there is free parking- valets are nice in a big city with limited parking, but are usually very pricy, require a tip to the valet , and can delay your planned departure significantly depending on how many folks want to leave at the same time. I try to avoid them and bellhops when traveling- as I really hate to wait when I can do it myself. If it’s less than 4 stars stick with a property that’s part of a major family of hotels like Hilton, Marriott or other major brand , view Best Western, Red Roof, Motel 6, Days Inn, Ramada, etc with skepticism-check reviews - especially for comments regarding cleanliness, difficulty with refund if room was unacceptable,problems with failing to honor reservations, and especially any history of insect infestation, cockroaches, palmetto bugs, or the dreaded bed bugs. In bigger cities there are iconic older properties that deliver something closer old world level of service, at a price. Like The Roosevelt, Le Pavillon, The Windsor Court or the Monteleone in New Orleans , there are also some boutique or limited luxury brands, like Lowes, Four Seasons Ritz-Carlton, etc comes to mind. But Luxury isn’t cheap. Oh, don’t leave your bags on the floor, don’t walk barefoot on the carpet, and Don’t shine a black light on any bed linens or comforter-ever.
Some of these things are specific to wherever you were. Like where I live I can't get anything delivered to me door dash or any of those delivery services.
a lot of older folk are finding that their pension just doesn't cover everything when groceries cost 3 times as much now as they did before cockroach19. several seniors in my neighborhood have gone back to work to supplement their pensions.
@@DianeJenningswhere I live, rent has gone up so high that couples who had retired, including a veteran, have found that they can no longer afford to live in the town that they lived in for 42 years.
Start a savings account, even if it's like 15-20 bucks per paycheck, it adds up over the years. IF, you don't touch it. Max out your 401 k contribution if'n you have one. Good luck.
If your income is below average, file federal form 8880 to get a tax credit for retirement savings. Also start an HSA/Health Savings Account, if you can afford to.
I'm retired now. Took early Social Security. It's not a lot of money, but I look at it this way. I have time for a side gig or two that doesn't involve clocking in at Walmart. Still, smart financial planning when you're young is way better than depending on side gigs.
Diane, I'm retired and I keep my brain active by watching your videos! 🙂 Honestly, I do other things. I'm rehabbing and repainting an outside bench a neighbor gave away, for example. I'm lucky that I don't have to work anymore. Some older people live beyond what they saved for and have to get jobs again. Others, I'm told, just do little jobs to keep busy. Always great to hear your commentary!
One thing about older people working, MANY people don't plan for their retirements. I'm a retired Battalion Chief from the fire department, my PENSION is $55K/yr, my portfolio is valued at $600K, I have two IRAs, a National Guard pension, and Social Security. I have friends, from the hoods in south Phoenix, that are retired on only their Social Security of $14K-$20K a year! They still work just to survive.
Many seniors retire and quickly get bored after they take a long vacation. I don't think many Americans are good at planning their retirement and very few can make it on Social Security alone. So, some are forced back into the workforce, and some go back out of boredom. My brother retired and after 2 months he went back to work. I planned better and I love retirement. Every day is a Saturday, except for Sunday.
Your observations seem so "spot on" and I'm always thrilled to see what's new. I nearly laughed out loud at your mention of the contactless card purchases. After a recent vacation in Europe, I was absolutely enthralled by contactless cards. Now that we've returned to the U.S., I'm certainly embarrassing my wife by going, "Ooh, they have contactless!" I'm like a little kid at the register now and can't wait to pay using that method. I'm equally disappointed when that option is not available.
I'm not sure about the rest of the States Diane, but I believe (IMHO) that in the San Francisco Bay Area, older folks have to work to make ends meet (so-to-speak) The ones that can "truly" retire, are employees that are public, state and federal with decent retirement packages. (or those that are VERY careful with their money). BTW, really digging the cool nails.
Not always public or state, just people who had jobs that contributed to a 401k. Anyone with a job that matched their contributions to a 401k usually had a pretty good start. I've only been paying into a 403b since the age of 33, and I'm not rich, but it will do nicely to supplement my social security. Prior to that job, I had contributed for a couple of years to a 401k, which just sits there and collects interest and isn't a huge amount, but it's good to have
@@donovanfoto3263 ABAG, the Association of Bay Area Governments, announced somewhere during the early months of the pandemic that if you lived in the nine Bay Area counties and your household income was below $180,000 a year, they considered you poor. That's what the superheated Bay Area housing market has accomplished. I've lived in the same little bungalow in West Berkeley (definitely the not-rich part of town) since my parents paid $25,000 in 1965. The area was the last farm tract in town and was subdivided for housing for railroad workers just after World War One, so all the lots are the same size. There have been a few waves of housing development; mine is clapboard from the first wave in 1921 (maybe a kit house from the Sears catalog? they used to sell those, and send them wherever the railway went), but most houses are from the second wave in the late 20s - all stucco, in response to a massive 1923 fire in the rich part of town which wiped out several hundred of the cedar shingled houses which are a distinctive thing in Berkeley. A young couple with two sons moved in next door in late 2018; they paid $1.2 million for a small two-bedroom stucco house no bigger than mine. It took six months of renovation (new paint, new roof, new fence, general redecoration, foundation and sewer repair) before they could move in. They'll have to sell in 5-8 years, when their boys get big enough that they all start to go crazy from being packed into that small space.
Thank you. Most interesting to me was that a 3 star hotel in Europe is so much better than a 3 star in the US. I'd have thought it was the other way round.
Hotels have star ratings? LOL I had to look into sidewalks. The ever accurate Wikipedia says lots of sidewalks in the UK and Ireland are asphalt. What we in the US call blacktop. Asphalt is definitely softer than concrete. But down south asphalt would be a no go in summer. You’d lose your shoes because it gets so sticky. Fine for cars but not for walking.
Yeah, pensions aren't really a thing for most jobs in the US anymore and if you don't save for your own retirement, you'll have to basically work until you die. Also, unless you have a high paying job, you most likely can't save, if anything at all, enough to live without a job.
The older workers is a sad thing. Some of it has to do with keeping themselves busy, but more of it is people who cant afford to retire, or have to come OUT of retirement to afford living. But its something thats not new unfortunately, you probably missed it in your previous visits. Some of it might be because the cost of groceries has gone up so much, so people's retirement doesnt cover it.
Recently walked out of Shop-Rite with 2 bags, not full, for $65. As I walked to my maxi-scooter, $136/year insurance, I was happy I wasn't walking to a car, at $136/month insurance.
A few years ago, there was a security cam video of a guy trying to deliver a big flatscreen tv. There was a huge wide mail slot in the garage door, so the guy looks around to see if anybody was watching him. He DROPS the tv through the slot, and it SHATTERS. The guy panics, looks around afain, then RUNS OFF.
It's something that I usually see in bigger cities. A friend told me she has it done here, and we're in a city of 25,000 people, and I was shocked. I didn't know you could have your laundry picked up and delivered to you. She doesn't have a car. I thought that the best we could get was you could drop your clothes at the laundromat and they would wash and dry them, fold them for you, and return them to you, but you had to pick them up
I don't mind your comments on American things. It doesn't sound negative, just a true observation. Yes, workers here work laborious types of jobs late into their life. A coworker of mine is 76 and still working hard. There are two reasons that my coworker and others keep working. They've grown up with a strong work ethic. And, secondly, my coworker works for financial reasons. In America, people over a certain age receive Social Security financial payments. Her payments are not enough to pay for her living expenses, so she works.
Toilets are going "low flow" in America so a lot of them work off a high pressure system that uses a high power blast to flush. But we all know why you went into the restroom so the volume doesn't mean anything.
When visiting Ireland.... the water pressure!!! I prefer the higher... cause my whole trip... wellll I guess Ill scrub that now. Also 3rd flr attic remodel in Killarney, 3 switches to turn on the "shower" to stand 45degrees and essentially peed on. lol Grand times.
@@DianeJennings I did you make a lot of good points about how the world has changed with deliveries and everything is getting computerized with A.I., too.
I understand the pain of walking on our concrete sidewalks because I walk a lot here in southern California. I often suffer from a lot of lower back pain and how I deal with it is to use Dr. Scholl's Insoles. The company makes a variety of insoles but I prefer their relatively inexpensive Tri-Comfort insoles. I find they are an excellent cushion against the concrete and put spring in my step.
I'm not sure if this is what you intended by a weird delivery, or really if it's entirely all that bizarre of a thing at all, but it was surprising to me when I found out about it. In America, we have a thing called AAA, The Automobile Association of America. They actually offer various useful services, but primarily they're known for when your car breaks down on the road, they'll send a tow truck to provide assistance or tow your vehicle. I think there's something similar in the UK, but I don't know about Ireland. It's almost like insurance, in that you pay an annual subscription fee, but it's something most people generally never use, but it's very helpful when you do actually need it. Anyways, years ago, I realized that I needed a new car battery. Even with having to carry a heavy car battery, at the time, I actually did live within walking distance of an auto parts store, but it was late enough at night that any place that would sell one was already closed, and I had to have my car operational to go to work very early in the morning before any place would possibly be open. Then I found out that you can just buy one from AAA, presumably at any hour, they'll not only bring it to you, but also swap it out with the old one for you, and take away the old one to properly dispose of it. At the time, I had no other option, was grateful, but expected it to come at a higher price, but besides my annual membership fee that I'd already paid, it just cost me the price of the battery, which surprisingly was roughly the same price I would've paid to get one anywhere, if not even a bit cheaper. I also had a later incident where I needed a new windshield, or windscreen, and there's also companies that'll just come to you and replace it.
Hi Diane. I'm fairly new to your channel. You're charming and funny! Have you ever did standup comedy? You're a natural. I see that your videos go back 8 years, so you have a lot of knowledge and observations to draw from. The next time you're in America, you should try doing some standup comedy. Some comedy clubs have an open mike night so that people can try out their material (or routine). In America, you would be considered a "fish out of the water," which can lend well to comedy. People love people from other countries comparing their culture and customs with American customs and culture. You said several things in this video that were very funny!!
Most jobs in America don't pay enough for people to save up for retirement and our Social Security program is also dependent on how much someone earned when they were younger, so often older people have to work in order to eat and not be homeless.
We don't have a standardized system for hotel ratings. A property could have different ratings from a hotel industry organization, travel guide company, third party booking service, etc.
You have to realize that as in all countries, the places that tourists and visitors tend to spend time at aren't necessarily representative of what locals do and how they live and behave. For example midtown Manhattan and especially Times Square aren't in the slightest like what most of America and even New York city are like. You really have to go out into the outer boroughs and such to get a sense of the "real" America and "real" Americans. And, of course, eat at local eateries and not just chain restaurants, even the better ones, and avoid tourist traps. I mean, most Irish people aren't kissing the Blarney Stone and saying "Top 'O the Mornin' To Ya" all the time and drinking a pint of Guinness several times a day, right?
Stratford of Hudson and Sleepy Hollow are great examples of real America, that goes back centuries. Totally different from New York City, but only half an hour by train.
@@donovanfoto3263 Oh the list is endless. I've lived in and near NYC for much of my life but I went to college in central NY, and the contrast between NYC and the areas immediately surrounding it and upstate is massive. It's really two very different states, each with their own pluses and minus. And yes, you don't have to go that far outside of NYC to see this, in some cases just a few dozen miles. I live in a part of NYC that has a literal forest just steps from my door. A tiny forest, but still a forest.
@@HabaneroTi : Originally from Jersey, so I know the New York area. Have lived in California, Tennessee and currently in New Mexico. I have seen this all across the nation.
Yea, the old people working, that's the lack of a decent pension system. People don't retire, retire super old, or have to come out of retirement because they can't afford. Americans don't really get the whole social contract thing. Pretty sad.
@DianeJennings There is Social Security, which is our national pension fund, but it's super under funded and doesn't keep pace with inflation. Plus you have to pay taxes on them. Cost of living adjustments are super slow. Private pensions don't really exist anymore. 401k and IRA are where most people have retirement funding and those are tied to stock market, which sometimes crashes. So working people unfortunately have to keep working. They work until they are dead, disabled, or laid off. It's a national disgrace. I know there's aging populations in lots of countries but seems like Americans have no respect or care for the elderly outside they're immediate family.
@@fenrir7878a 401k will guarantee you your funds and some interest. It's the 403b that a lot of companies are relying on these days that require that that money be invested. I have indeed known people who bless their hearts, in their sixties lost everything due to the market crash
Happy Friday Diane! Bad News: A truck with Vicks Vapor Rub overturned on the highway. Good News: There was no Congestion for 8 hours. Have a Great Weekend!
@@DianeJenningsou can apply for Social Security at age 62 but the longer you work the more money you get every month. It’s based on the number of years you worked and other criteria.
@@DianeJennings62 retirement age is for widows and widowers. Traditionally, it's 65, but I am being told 67. It depends on the year you were born, Etc. If you retire earlier than that, you will get less money
My company has global conferences where many of my peers are speakers. They say that Europeans give the lowest scores in the post-session surveys. Same talk that is a 5.0 in the US will garner less than a 4.0 in Europe. I suspect hotel ratings suffer similarly. In the US, reviewers will start at a 5 and then “take points off” as bad things happened. In Europe I’m told people start at 3.0 and then go up or down as they see fit or based on expectations.
Older, retired construction workers are an asset in hardware stores👍 The toilets generate then store air pressure from the incoming water pressure to power the flush instead relying only on gravity on the water in a tank. Sort of. Potentially useful depending the users of public toilets.
That being said, or 3-star hotel where she lives in Spain looks like a four or five to us. There's one in particular in Toledo that I'm thinking about that is only three stars and it's amazing
as far as having something strange delivered, I saw a mouse in my house a couple of times in one day. It was winter, didn't want to go out, so I went online, found a store to deliver mouse traps and had them in an hour or 2.... actually caught a mouse within like 20 minutes, so it was well worth it
You probably wouldn't want to stay in the 2 star hotels in the US. It probably wouldn't be safe, for one reason or another. I'm an older worker, a generalist Jack-of-all-trades without a particular career. I personally expect to work my whole life, doing whatever comes my way, as long as it's something I believe in. Retirement comes only as disability, for me. I'm one of those weird people who enjoys working. Hand towels and blowdryers (and the highly unsanitary Dyson Blade dryers) have always been everywhere, but I suspect they were especially clean and new and well stocked around the time of lockdown release. DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, and PostMates (and a few others) all took off during the pandemic. And because people were so thankful for the delivery, and being mindful of the risk delivery drivers took, the tips were great during lockdown. Now people are less generous and the services are suffering to find good drivers, as is every other industry since Covid. But these deliver driving positions especially have had trouble, as the pay dropped so steeply in such a short time.
I walk the hills quite often, but....yeah when I'm in the city it does hurt come to think about it. I think it really might be the QuikCrete we use for sidewalks. Imma research this
I don't know, because some of the cities in Spain have brick or cobbled streets and sidewalks, and those uneven streets seem to pound my knees and feet more than concrete. Then again, some of the days where I have been most exhausted from walking are my trips to New York, but that's probably because we took the subway and walked everywhere. That being said, I do remember that on my last trip to Spain, I couldn't wear my Crocs out on the street on the rare day that it rained, because my Crocs would be slipping and sliding all over their sidewalks. So there is some sort of difference in the material I think maybe it's in part because when you're traveling or on vacation, you tend to do more and walk more to see more places then when you're at home, when you tend to do the minimum, or you schedule the places you visit more strategically
Life long "Yank" here. I hope you won't pull your punches when it comes to observations of the USA. Believe me, we need to hear it. Especially coming from a lovely and charming observer. Keep up the great work.
When you talk about older workers, it sounds kind of like you're talking about going to a Walmart or something and seeing them stocking the shelves or greeters or things like that. Usually, specifically Walmart, does that because they are open to hiring older people, and they are more freely available to work whenever hours that are needed. So it's usually the case that Walmart has a quite elderly staff, but that staff is all part time workers, less than maybe 20 hours a week. This usually happens in smaller town Walmarts especially, and is quite common for retirees. People want to supplement their income or just have something to do. Generally, there's not a lot to do in them small towns anyway.
Sorry I didn’t do the full FHC today. I’m having an allergy attack. Currently attempting to not let the pollen air get in me and gonna sleep it off. Comment and share the vid please. Maybe I’ll wake up to a popular vid and my heatless curls 😂
As a father of two girls, I think you should use this channel to call out "Larry" with his real name and flight number. With your audience size someone knows this pervert. Shame this a-hole.
Because we use real American toilets. Here's the greatest American ever to explain. th-cam.com/video/IMYZLXDabEg/w-d-xo.html
3 star hotels usually much safer than 2 and 1 stars. 3 star is the normal non luxury but also not a "sleep at your own risk" place.
Seems like allergies are really bad this year, hope you feel better soon.
I’m with you on the allergies. I mowed the yard today and later sneezed my head off. Hope you feel better tomorrow.
I worked at Walmart as a teenager and I noticed that the older employees were either retirees who wanted a small job to keep themselves busy or because they couldn’t afford to retire. I felt so bad for the latter because they were the kindest people.
😢
Unless you own a house or have a union pension, rent is unaffordable. It's usually two or three times Social Security, excluding utilities and food, which may be at least part of the reason for so many living on the street or in vehicles.
@@DianeJennings Diane, What is a pensioner's monthly pay from the state in Ireland? Is it enough to live on if they had no other money coming in?
Retirement income is very difficult to live on in cities. Rural towns and certain states are just cheaper to live in retirement. You get the same retirement income no matter wher you live. Some opt for to become ex-pats in other countries because their dollars go further. I myself am considering retiring in Mexico since I am Mexican descended, speak poor Spanish and have relatives. Panama has a LARGE retirement community...
@@michaelgonzalez6295 My father was from Argentina. I always dreamed of going to see where he grew up. My Mother was from ireland, I was lucky enough to go on a trip to ireland to meet some of my relatives when I was in high school back in 1974.
I'm in America and I'm disabled and homebound and everything I need I get delivered, so glad for the internet.
California experience does not necessarily match up with the other regions of the US. There has been a considerable amount of culture shifting during the lockdown period as well.
Most sidewalks are made from Concrete, getting good shoes with padding helps.
I run, and try to run on sidewalks as little as possible. They're quite hard and often uneven, plus I have to dodge walkers. Streets, usually paved with softer asphalt, are much softer. And many suburbs often don't have sidewalks at all so you have to walk or run on the street.
@@HabaneroTi In the rocky terrain of Afghanistan, it has been found that soft tennis shoes are often more comfortable for walking than combat boots.
The strange thing about experiencing the U.S. is 10 people can travel to 10 different areas, meet up after and disagree on what the "American" experience is. Sometimes there will be stark differences in people, places, and attitudes in the same city.
Its almost like we're a continent spanning nation or something :)
Almost every neighborhood is different. After all we are a land of immigrants❤ hell they deliver marjana pot weed .now that's weird.
It's almost as if 350 million people spread out over thousands of miles are not homogenous.
Editor Diane looks good in a mustache🥸
Also sounds like my Uncle Jessie🤠
Oh, really?!😂
The US has no national pension system. "Social Security" is a fallback, and many many rely on it, but its generally nowhere near enough to live on.
The U.S. does have the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, in case you have been given a pension.
@@jimtrela7588 Yes, but many companies that have pensions have sold them to insurance companies who administer them as annuities. As such, they are not protected by the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. I have two pensions that went that way. Both of them are funded at the moment, but one of them is only around 90% funded to be the right level. It's possible, I could lose these pensions.
American here, and I agree with everything on this :). I'm sad about elderly folks having to work too. Our economy is failing and it's showing everywhere. Our toilets are loud! BUT I believe most of us have an innate ability to tune it out because we hear it so much. :)
Some old folks have been forced to go back to work because of the recent high inflation, but some of it is also that us old-timers grew up with a very strong work ethic. I'm closing in on 70, and was forced into retirement last year by a heart attack and surgery. I despise retirement, and hope to find some way to contribute again.
Well, it’s good news that it’s by choice. I don’t think I could ever totally retire either. I hope you’re feeling better!
@@DianeJennings Thank you!
@@DianeJennings Yea, my grandpa was working until he literally was bed ridden (94). He didn't know what to do with himself so he just kept working. He was modestly wealthy so he didn't have to, but he just didn't know what else to do so he went to work and then came home and tinkered in his workshop.
My sister is 82 and works at Lowe's. Pretty sure it is voluntary and hope it is not a necessity. She also does a lot of the landscaping at her complex. She sold her house on a lake a couple of years ago so she can't be too poor. Although she was hit Pretty bad by Ian.
I don't know if it's considered a superstition but when I worked construction, there was this idea among some of the older workers that when you retire, death follows shortly afterwards. There are many workers who refuse to retire out of the fear that there health will decline. I don't subscribe to this idea, but I can understand why some do.
8:22 To be fair, I always thought public toilets in the US flush aggressively. If Diane broke into someone’s home to use the toilet, she’d find they flush little more quietly.
james7706,
Didn't know that, always fun to learn something new. Thanks
I live in Florida. When my oldest child was 3 1/2 we headed off to Disney World. It was horrible trying to get her to use the bathroom at rest areas. They are automatic so when you stand up, it would flush. I’m telling ya, I think they vacuum all the air out of the entire bathroom with each flush .😆
When I would help her sit on the toilet, and then stand up, it would flush. I tried covering it up with my hand. I tried sitting behind her on the toilet. For some reason, it never failed. It would flush with her on it. For some reason these “evil” toilets didn’t recognize that she was there. She would freak out & scream. My poor daughter thought she was going to be flushed down the toilet. She would scream every time we went to a rest area. I really wish each rest area had at least one manually flushing toilet!
@@andreabryant9979 how traumatic😧. My son also felt terrified about public toilets, but because of the hand dryers.
As usual, my dear, you make the common and mundane come alive and be interesting. Thank you.
My thoughts on older Americans working later in life. Most companies got rid of pensions and came up with the idea to have their employees save for their retirements with small contributions from the employer (these are called 401k plans and get some special tax treatments). Well of course that takes discipline and a lot of people don't have that when it comes to saving money. So many things already come out of a paycheck like taxes, medical insurance, Medicare and Social Security payments. Many people are in the now and don't worry about tomorrow or can't afford to worry about tomorrow today.
It's not just a "working to keep moving" thing it's a "working because at 80 I still can't pay my house""
We''re really really in trouble.
I used to walk 4 miles into work everyday, but I wore well padded sneakers, it beat taking the bus and being packed in like cattle, it was along the piers and Fishermans Wharf, so I'd say well padded trainers is a must. There are a lot of older people working especially at Wall Mart mainly to make ends meet, but there are those who just like staying in contact with people (can you imagine,lol). Hope you had a good time while you were here. Always fun to hear what you think about America. Thanks Diane, see you soon!
Funny thing about the older worker thing. Back in the early 90's, I lived and worked in middle class suburbs, about 15-20 miles (something-something kilometers) west from NYC. All the fast food workers were teenagers. Kids, doing their first job, as it were. Then I moved 50 miles further west, to Easton, Pennsylvania, and all the fast food workers were adults. I moved, and accepted the commute, because for what I was paying in house share, with three others, in North Jersey, I got a whole 2 1/2 story townhouse, with deck, private parking and backyard. It was odd enough even then, I mentioned it to my co-workers. Poverty. It sucks.
Welcome back, Diane. I never noticed it before but our toilets do like to announce when we're done. Eventually, we're probably going to start expecting applause.
If you ever feel like not filming, but still put out a video, a Best of Editor Diane compilation would go over well.
I like the different color of your nails. they look like star burst or skittles candies.
Thank you 😂
@@DianeJennings Your Welcome! 🥳
Diane, you really need to visit other parts of the country besides the East and West coast. Come to the middle of the U.S. and you'll experience a difference.
California is NOT an American experience. Three stars used to mean something. I recently stayed at a 3 star with a kitchenette. There weren’t any bowls, I had a plate, 2 forks and a pan. Hilton House in Utah. And no, do not touch me. I lived in Canada for 4 years. A fellow American taught me how to stand in line at a grocery store. It involved using your cart, putting one foot up on the bottom while placing your hand on the handle with the elbow sticking out with your largest tote resting on the elbow. I have a friend that served a mission in China. She’s severely claustrophobic now. As for air hand dryers……they are filthy and do a great job of blowing poop particles everywhere
Welcome back!
9:39 there is even a glass repair company in my area that will send people to your home to deliver and install a car windshield or repair it for you on the spot! You don’t even have to take the car in and leave it. Unless it’s like a really complicated job.
I recently broke my glasses.
Called my optometrist, ordered a new pair.
Since I'm nearsighted I could not see to drive.
It was delivered by door dash that same afternoon.
Had huge tv delivered and installed. Covid was the start of delivery of everything. Also pickup of shopping orders where employees gather the items and store in bins.
Knowing you were staying in Anaheim, visiting a laundromat had to have been an experience in itself.
Reminds me of an American soldier visiting the movie town of Chillingbourne.
My mom retired from the Post Office after 30 years. Within a year, she got a part-time job at a grocery store. She loved it! She worked there right up until she died at 72.
The Hotel scene depends on the city/Region. A 3 star hotel in California & NYC is a dive. In Florida, New Orleans, Arizona and the like it is average.
I do like how food or grocery store services deliver it also helps out the elderly with Heavy groceries. Thanks for making the start of the weekend joyful like you always do.
Or us non drivers 🚗
@@DianeJennings That's true too plus treats for Chewie from the store also. Eventually cars will drive themselves so we will all be passengers. 🚗
Just so you are aware, the "star" rating of a hotel isn't an indicator of how nice the hotel is. Stars merely indicate the level of amenities the hotel offers. To be sure, hotels with higher start ratings are, generally, nicer; however, that's not what the number of stars means.
I find many seniors work to stay busy and to save up for an event. Vacations. Ocean cruises. Resorts. Travel.
I get that, but in theory physical jobs, it’s not something you see very much of here
@@DianeJennings you should talk to them. Many will tell you their younger co-workers are lazy and can't handle a days worth of physical labor.
@@Dularrthis
Happy Friday! I really enjoy this video. Have a awesome week.
Thank you! You too!
I had a professor who lived in San Francisco in the 80s who told me he would get a rental TV and VCR with a VHS tape delivered. They just rented it as a set in case you didn't have one of the components. My professor was one of those people who refused to have a TV in the house, but liked to have parties where people watched French New Wave movies.
I'm not sure where you visited, but I know the last time I was in NYC my back and legs hurt more after walking than they do where I live in Albuquerque. Also it makes sense that you would see older people working if you were visiting a place with a higher cost of living like New York or San Francisco.
I believe I was at Disney Land years ago when I first noticed the personal space thing. If I was standing in line (or queued) and I felt someone getting friendly with my backside, invariably it was a foreigner. And if I moved up to avoid their friendliness, they moved up. When I finally got to Europe, I noticed this to be the norm. I believe this is because here in the States we have so much room (whether it's our streets and roads or our residential lots) we are used to having the space. In most other countries where people live closer together, they tend to assume smaller personal space. And of course since the "apocalypse" we have observed "social distancing" (a horrible name for what should be called "personal distancing") and it has gotten even worse (or better).
Oddly, on my trips to Ireland and the UK, one of the first things I noticed was that the toilets flushed LOUDER. Perhaps it was because I was staying in older rural areas where the toilets were not modern and used a great deal of water when they flushed. However, I prefer flushing power any day and will endure the resulting noise!
I have found on occasion that when someone is getting too close in a line they are picking your pocket. So I always double check for my wallet.
There is also a totally different experience in living out in the countryside VS living in a city. I've lived in a wide variety of places, some city, some country, some *way out* in the country. In cities, everything is closer together, there is a lot of variety, and walking somewhere is fairly easy. In the country, there's not much nearer than a two-hour walk without sidewalks--yet a 5-minute drive away. And then there is way out in the countryside where the nearest gas station and paved road is a 45-minute drive away and the nearest city is something like two-to-three hours drive away. Out in the mid-West, it can be even longer to get to even a small city. The choices are "do you want to live an easy walk from the High Street, or do you want privacy, or do you want isolation?"
Where I live it's a 3-minute drive/90-minute walk to the nearest Convenience Store/Gas Station that's 2 miles away, a 7-minute drive to the three nearest small towns, a 30-minute drive to the nearest city shopping centers, and a 2-hour drive to the nearest big city. One almost *has* to own a car of some sort to get anywhere in the US because we have so very little public transportation.
As for pensioners working well beyond their retirement age, one either finds that one needs something to do to remain active, or that one's pension barely covers the necessary expenses to stay alive. I'll be retiring in a little over 6 months, and I'm praying I won't have to look for a "twilight years" job to afford everything. I *should* be all right, but one never knows until one is thrust into the experience. We shall see.
Haven't had anything weird delivered to me but when I needed to supplement my income for a bit I was a Doordasher for about six months. Mostly it was food but sometimes I'd have to deliver non-food items, like this one time I had to pick up a large framed mirror from a Home Goods store and deliver it to a townhouse. It wasn't packaged or wrapped or anything except for the paper corner protectors. Another time it was an order of bedding from Bed Bath & Beyond. I also once had an order from a pizza place of just a personal-size pizza and a drink though the delivery address was only a mile away. Like, he couldn't just go there himself? Turned out to be a trucker who was parked in a lot somewhere, I guess because he didn't want to deal with using his rig to get the food. Keep 'em coming Diane!
Truckers must have 10 consecutive off-duty hours each day to rest. He most likely was on his off-duty time and could not legally drive the truck.
@@jeffragar3493 Yeah, thought of that too. Just driving my car for 4hrs wears me out, can't imagine how LD truckers must feel.
Thank you Diane, Have a good night's rest. And why not have a great day tomorrow.?
I walked all over Dublin when I went to visit and gosh my legs hurt the next day 😂😂 but I did relax back in the hotel room with “Ms. Brown’s Boys” on the television…
Enjoyed today's video Diane! It really had made me happy how much America has progressed with hand towels/hand dryers in public bathrooms! As someone that's in a wheelchair I find it invaluable to be able to dry my hands quick and easy. :)
The air blowers became widespread about 15-20 years ago, mostly because it was cheaper in the long run than paper towels and the person to restock those towels in the dispenser.
The reappearance of paper towels was a COVID thing, because the air blowers aerosolize whatever liquid is on your hands - meaning that if you didn't wash long and aggressively enough, traces of bodily emissions will get spread into the atmosphere of the restroom. If you the hand washer are infected with COVID, you've just sprayed your COVID cooties throughout the air for the next person to inhale. Paper towels, at least, confine the infection to the used hand towel and the trash can.
Thanks for the video I'm glad you had fun back in the States
One night my daughter and I couldn't sleep, so we had cookies delivered at around 2:00 a.m. from "Insomnia Cookies" . It wasn't cheap, but well worth it! They are so good! Two different kinds of chocolate and snickerdoodles.
Customization like the diner scene in the Jack Nickleson movie Five Easy Pieces
Sidewalks are made of concrete. Where I live, in California, nothing is within walking distance, and if it is within walking distance its over 110 degrees and I don't want to die walking to the Post. The reason older folks work is because we are poor. I don't use hand blowers and try not to use public bathrooms, if I do have to use one I take TP out to dry my hands.
Diane, you're not just some random girl on the internet from Ireland. You're the *best* random girl on the internet from Ireland. Never stop being random.
What a simp
Ahhhhhh the Friday giggles. Always enjoy how you take our everyday behavior and make me chuckle about it. Thanks Diane BOOP
You are so welcome! Thank you for the kind words
Sidewalks here are concrete and you may come across some that are unlevel or have a lot of chips and cracks in them
Hi Diane, I can sympathize with your allergies . I went to an allergist and they did a scratch test on my back,150 little scratches with a different allergen. I had 73 reactions. They gave me a series of shots to desensitize me. It helped a little. Now I just take Claritin or Benadryl.
About the delivery situation, it has created a new job market-- porch pirating. It's rampant!
I hope you're having a good time. I love you and goodbye for now!
I notice on US travel videos on the internet, there are a lot of fire hydrants. With timber-frame housing, that makes sense.
Thanks for sharing these things Diane!
i’d say a lot of older folk in the USA are forced to continue to work because after retirement age is to qualify for Health Insurance reasons. Their bills would be covered through employer policies. They pay for this madness by continuing to vote for a system where the citizen comes last to the mighty Dollar
I bet that Air con felt good in America 👍🇺🇸
You broke me
Depending on whose rating you are looking at, star ratings for hotels here in the US, refers more to the class, or type of service/ architecture ( room door opens to parking lot, vs single entrance and interior hallways) Rather than the quality of service.
Most business class hotels will be 2-2 1/2 star and will have nice safe limited unlocked entrance doors, interior hallways, no bellhops, self service parking, no valet parking, no restaurant, but usually a complimentary breakfast in the morning. These are usually pretty safe and reasonable-
If driving, always check out whether there is free parking- valets are nice in a big city with limited parking, but are usually very pricy, require a tip to the valet , and can delay your planned departure significantly depending on how many folks want to leave at the same time. I try to avoid them and bellhops when traveling- as I really hate to wait when I can do it myself.
If it’s less than 4 stars stick with a property that’s part of a major family of hotels like Hilton, Marriott or other major brand , view Best Western, Red Roof, Motel 6, Days Inn, Ramada, etc with skepticism-check reviews - especially for comments regarding cleanliness, difficulty with refund if room was unacceptable,problems with failing to honor reservations, and especially any history of insect infestation, cockroaches, palmetto bugs, or the dreaded bed bugs.
In bigger cities there are iconic older properties that deliver something closer old world level of service, at a price. Like The Roosevelt, Le Pavillon, The Windsor Court or the Monteleone in New Orleans , there are also some boutique or limited luxury brands, like Lowes, Four Seasons Ritz-Carlton, etc comes to mind. But Luxury isn’t cheap.
Oh, don’t leave your bags on the floor, don’t walk barefoot on the carpet, and Don’t shine a black light on any bed linens or comforter-ever.
Speaking distance in Europe is usually handshake distance, while in America, it's usually handshake distance, plus each person takes one step back.
Something to say about the hotel star system. The number of stars denotes what amenities it has. Not the quantity of the property.
When houses cost half a million dollars and social services are underfunded you get ancient people working.
Some of these things are specific to wherever you were. Like where I live I can't get anything delivered to me door dash or any of those delivery services.
a lot of older folk are finding that their pension just doesn't cover everything when groceries cost 3 times as much now as they did before cockroach19. several seniors in my neighborhood have gone back to work to supplement their pensions.
That’s really sad
@@DianeJennings very much. i feel really sorry for them.
@@DianeJenningswhere I live, rent has gone up so high that couples who had retired, including a veteran, have found that they can no longer afford to live in the town that they lived in for 42 years.
Yes incompetent Joe Biden’s record inflation has destroyed retirees lives.
Not to mention the cost of prescriptions.
Retirement is becoming more and more of a pipedream for people in the US. I'm 40 and don't have high hopes that I will be able to retire in 30 years
That's so sad.
Welcome to the club.. I'm 63 and will be working 10 more years if I live that long.
Start a savings account, even if it's like 15-20 bucks per paycheck, it adds up over the years. IF, you don't touch it. Max out your 401 k contribution if'n you have one. Good luck.
If your income is below average, file federal form 8880 to get a tax credit for retirement savings. Also start an HSA/Health Savings Account, if you can afford to.
I'm retired now. Took early Social Security. It's not a lot of money, but I look at it this way. I have time for a side gig or two that doesn't involve clocking in at Walmart. Still, smart financial planning when you're young is way better than depending on side gigs.
Diane, I'm retired and I keep my brain active by watching your videos! 🙂 Honestly, I do other things. I'm rehabbing and repainting an outside bench a neighbor gave away, for example. I'm lucky that I don't have to work anymore. Some older people live beyond what they saved for and have to get jobs again. Others, I'm told, just do little jobs to keep busy. Always great to hear your commentary!
One thing about older people working, MANY people don't plan for their retirements. I'm a retired Battalion Chief from the fire department, my PENSION is $55K/yr, my portfolio is valued at $600K, I have two IRAs, a National Guard pension, and Social Security.
I have friends, from the hoods in south Phoenix, that are retired on only their Social Security of $14K-$20K a year! They still work just to survive.
Many seniors retire and quickly get bored after they take a long vacation. I don't think many Americans are good at planning their retirement and very few can make it on Social Security alone. So, some are forced back into the workforce, and some go back out of boredom. My brother retired and after 2 months he went back to work. I planned better and I love retirement. Every day is a Saturday, except for Sunday.
Our Social Security does not pay retirees enough to retire. Also the age of retirement was moved several years ago from 65 to 67.
Your observations seem so "spot on" and I'm always thrilled to see what's new. I nearly laughed out loud at your mention of the contactless card purchases. After a recent vacation in Europe, I was absolutely enthralled by contactless cards. Now that we've returned to the U.S., I'm certainly embarrassing my wife by going, "Ooh, they have contactless!" I'm like a little kid at the register now and can't wait to pay using that method. I'm equally disappointed when that option is not available.
I just had to use it for the first time two days ago, because the chip reader wasn't working
I just received my new debit card in the mail, and was wondering, why does it look different? Contactless, baby. The future is now :).
Prepare for a new way to fraudulently charge your card by someone contactless walking behind you.
@@sterling557 yes
I'm not sure about the rest of the States Diane, but I believe (IMHO) that in the San Francisco Bay Area, older folks have to work to make ends meet (so-to-speak) The ones that can "truly" retire, are employees that are public, state and federal with decent retirement packages. (or those that are VERY careful with their money). BTW, really digging the cool nails.
Not always public or state, just people who had jobs that contributed to a 401k. Anyone with a job that matched their contributions to a 401k usually had a pretty good start. I've only been paying into a 403b since the age of 33, and I'm not rich, but it will do nicely to supplement my social security. Prior to that job, I had contributed for a couple of years to a 401k, which just sits there and collects interest and isn't a huge amount, but it's good to have
Poverty level, POVERTY, in San Francisco is over $115,000/year. When I was young, $115,000 meant you were RICH.
@@donovanfoto3263 ABAG, the Association of Bay Area Governments, announced somewhere during the early months of the pandemic that if you lived in the nine Bay Area counties and your household income was below $180,000 a year, they considered you poor. That's what the superheated Bay Area housing market has accomplished.
I've lived in the same little bungalow in West Berkeley (definitely the not-rich part of town) since my parents paid $25,000 in 1965. The area was the last farm tract in town and was subdivided for housing for railroad workers just after World War One, so all the lots are the same size. There have been a few waves of housing development; mine is clapboard from the first wave in 1921 (maybe a kit house from the Sears catalog? they used to sell those, and send them wherever the railway went), but most houses are from the second wave in the late 20s - all stucco, in response to a massive 1923 fire in the rich part of town which wiped out several hundred of the cedar shingled houses which are a distinctive thing in Berkeley. A young couple with two sons moved in next door in late 2018; they paid $1.2 million for a small two-bedroom stucco house no bigger than mine. It took six months of renovation (new paint, new roof, new fence, general redecoration, foundation and sewer repair) before they could move in. They'll have to sell in 5-8 years, when their boys get big enough that they all start to go crazy from being packed into that small space.
Thank you. Most interesting to me was that a 3 star hotel in Europe is so much better than a 3 star in the US. I'd have thought it was the other way round.
Hotels have star ratings? LOL
I had to look into sidewalks. The ever accurate Wikipedia says lots of sidewalks in the UK and Ireland are asphalt. What we in the US call blacktop. Asphalt is definitely softer than concrete. But down south asphalt would be a no go in summer. You’d lose your shoes because it gets so sticky. Fine for cars but not for walking.
Yeah, pensions aren't really a thing for most jobs in the US anymore and if you don't save for your own retirement, you'll have to basically work until you die. Also, unless you have a high paying job, you most likely can't save, if anything at all, enough to live without a job.
The older workers is a sad thing. Some of it has to do with keeping themselves busy, but more of it is people who cant afford to retire, or have to come OUT of retirement to afford living. But its something thats not new unfortunately, you probably missed it in your previous visits.
Some of it might be because the cost of groceries has gone up so much, so people's retirement doesnt cover it.
Recently walked out of Shop-Rite with 2 bags, not full, for $65. As I walked to my maxi-scooter, $136/year insurance, I was happy I wasn't walking to a car, at $136/month insurance.
A few years ago, there was a security cam video of a guy trying to deliver a big flatscreen tv. There was a huge wide mail slot in the garage door, so the guy looks around to see if anybody was watching him. He DROPS the tv through the slot, and it SHATTERS. The guy panics, looks around afain, then RUNS OFF.
Laundry service where we live, east coast, has been pretty common since the 1960's. I do know that is not common in other parts of the USA.
It's something that I usually see in bigger cities. A friend told me she has it done here, and we're in a city of 25,000 people, and I was shocked. I didn't know you could have your laundry picked up and delivered to you. She doesn't have a car. I thought that the best we could get was you could drop your clothes at the laundromat and they would wash and dry them, fold them for you, and return them to you, but you had to pick them up
@@LindaC616 It was a very nice feature to have in our city when the kids were young.
@@Flowers4Everyone I'll bet!
I don't mind your comments on American things. It doesn't sound negative, just a true observation.
Yes, workers here work laborious types of jobs late into their life.
A coworker of mine is 76 and still working hard. There are two reasons that my coworker and others keep working.
They've grown up with a strong work ethic.
And, secondly, my coworker works for financial reasons. In America, people over a certain age receive Social Security financial payments.
Her payments are not enough to pay for her living expenses, so she works.
Toilets are going "low flow" in America so a lot of them work off a high pressure system that uses a high power blast to flush. But we all know why you went into the restroom so the volume doesn't mean anything.
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When visiting Ireland.... the water pressure!!! I prefer the higher... cause my whole trip... wellll I guess Ill scrub that now. Also 3rd flr attic remodel in Killarney, 3 switches to turn on the "shower" to stand 45degrees and essentially peed on. lol Grand times.
Famous Film Fridays Reaction Video is Here YAY! Party On!
Hope you enjoyed it!
@@DianeJennings I did you make a lot of good points about how the world has changed with deliveries and everything is getting computerized with A.I., too.
I understand the pain of walking on our concrete sidewalks because I walk a lot here in southern California. I often suffer from a lot of lower back pain and how I deal with it is to use Dr. Scholl's Insoles. The company makes a variety of insoles but I prefer their relatively inexpensive Tri-Comfort insoles. I find they are an excellent cushion against the concrete and put spring in my step.
2:35 that is wild that the sidewalks feel different😮
They are not bouncy at all… like we are not trampolining here. But they’re really hard there. What are they like in Oz?
@@DianeJennings I’ve never noticed😂 most infrastructure here is done UK style so I bet it’s like Europe
I'm not sure if this is what you intended by a weird delivery, or really if it's entirely all that bizarre of a thing at all, but it was surprising to me when I found out about it. In America, we have a thing called AAA, The Automobile Association of America. They actually offer various useful services, but primarily they're known for when your car breaks down on the road, they'll send a tow truck to provide assistance or tow your vehicle. I think there's something similar in the UK, but I don't know about Ireland. It's almost like insurance, in that you pay an annual subscription fee, but it's something most people generally never use, but it's very helpful when you do actually need it.
Anyways, years ago, I realized that I needed a new car battery. Even with having to carry a heavy car battery, at the time, I actually did live within walking distance of an auto parts store, but it was late enough at night that any place that would sell one was already closed, and I had to have my car operational to go to work very early in the morning before any place would possibly be open. Then I found out that you can just buy one from AAA, presumably at any hour, they'll not only bring it to you, but also swap it out with the old one for you, and take away the old one to properly dispose of it. At the time, I had no other option, was grateful, but expected it to come at a higher price, but besides my annual membership fee that I'd already paid, it just cost me the price of the battery, which surprisingly was roughly the same price I would've paid to get one anywhere, if not even a bit cheaper. I also had a later incident where I needed a new windshield, or windscreen, and there's also companies that'll just come to you and replace it.
Hi Diane. I'm fairly new to your channel. You're charming and funny! Have you ever did standup comedy? You're a natural. I see that your videos go back 8 years, so you have a lot of knowledge and observations to draw from. The next time you're in America, you should try doing some standup comedy. Some comedy clubs have an open mike night so that people can try out their material (or routine). In America, you would be considered a "fish out of the water," which can lend well to comedy. People love people from other countries comparing their culture and customs with American customs and culture. You said several things in this video that were very funny!!
Love, watching your videos, you have a great personality and very good insights. 👍🍀
Most jobs in America don't pay enough for people to save up for retirement and our Social Security program is also dependent on how much someone earned when they were younger, so often older people have to work in order to eat and not be homeless.
We don't have a standardized system for hotel ratings. A property could have different ratings from a hotel industry organization, travel guide company, third party booking service, etc.
You have to realize that as in all countries, the places that tourists and visitors tend to spend time at aren't necessarily representative of what locals do and how they live and behave.
For example midtown Manhattan and especially Times Square aren't in the slightest like what most of America and even New York city are like. You really have to go out into the outer boroughs and such to get a sense of the "real" America and "real" Americans. And, of course, eat at local eateries and not just chain restaurants, even the better ones, and avoid tourist traps.
I mean, most Irish people aren't kissing the Blarney Stone and saying "Top 'O the Mornin' To Ya" all the time and drinking a pint of Guinness several times a day, right?
Stratford of Hudson and Sleepy Hollow are great examples of real America, that goes back centuries. Totally different from New York City, but only half an hour by train.
@@donovanfoto3263 Oh the list is endless. I've lived in and near NYC for much of my life but I went to college in central NY, and the contrast between NYC and the areas immediately surrounding it and upstate is massive. It's really two very different states, each with their own pluses and minus. And yes, you don't have to go that far outside of NYC to see this, in some cases just a few dozen miles. I live in a part of NYC that has a literal forest just steps from my door. A tiny forest, but still a forest.
@@HabaneroTi : Originally from Jersey, so I know the New York area. Have lived in California, Tennessee and currently in New Mexico. I have seen this all across the nation.
Yea, the old people working, that's the lack of a decent pension system. People don't retire, retire super old, or have to come out of retirement because they can't afford. Americans don't really get the whole social contract thing. Pretty sad.
Is there no kind of government funding? What about if you’ve paid tax your whole life?
@DianeJennings There is Social Security, which is our national pension fund, but it's super under funded and doesn't keep pace with inflation. Plus you have to pay taxes on them. Cost of living adjustments are super slow.
Private pensions don't really exist anymore. 401k and IRA are where most people have retirement funding and those are tied to stock market, which sometimes crashes. So working people unfortunately have to keep working. They work until they are dead, disabled, or laid off. It's a national disgrace. I know there's aging populations in lots of countries but seems like Americans have no respect or care for the elderly outside they're immediate family.
@DianeJennings There's also qualifications to receiving government benefits and people very often get denied.
@@fenrir7878a 401k will guarantee you your funds and some interest. It's the 403b that a lot of companies are relying on these days that require that that money be invested. I have indeed known people who bless their hearts, in their sixties lost everything due to the market crash
Delivery to home cost can be cheaper when you calculate the cost of a uber or taxi. 🚕
Happy Friday Diane! Bad News: A truck with Vicks Vapor Rub overturned on the highway.
Good News: There was no Congestion for 8 hours.
Have a Great Weekend!
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They have too work at a older age because they can't afford to retire at a younger age
Is there any state pension? Like after years of paying tax? Where are you get money back?
@@DianeJenningsou can apply for Social Security at age 62 but the longer you work the more money you get every month. It’s based on the number of years you worked and other criteria.
@@DianeJennings62 retirement age is for widows and widowers. Traditionally, it's 65, but I am being told 67. It depends on the year you were born, Etc. If you retire earlier than that, you will get less money
@@DianeJenningsand I believe your pension is based on your for highest quarters in your working years
My company has global conferences where many of my peers are speakers. They say that Europeans give the lowest scores in the post-session surveys. Same talk that is a 5.0 in the US will garner less than a 4.0 in Europe. I suspect hotel ratings suffer similarly. In the US, reviewers will start at a 5 and then “take points off” as bad things happened. In Europe I’m told people start at 3.0 and then go up or down as they see fit or based on expectations.
Older, retired construction workers are an asset in hardware stores👍 The toilets generate then store air pressure from the incoming water pressure to power the flush instead relying only on gravity on the water in a tank. Sort of. Potentially useful depending the users of public toilets.
Thanks Diane! I would expect a 3 star hotel to be at least clean and safe. I hope things cool down for you a bit in Spain!
You and me both!
That being said, or 3-star hotel where she lives in Spain looks like a four or five to us. There's one in particular in Toledo that I'm thinking about that is only three stars and it's amazing
@@DianeJennings Thank you!
When your country is bigger You can give others more space In a small country It would be like the Startrek episode," The Mark of Gideon"
as far as having something strange delivered, I saw a mouse in my house a couple of times in one day. It was winter, didn't want to go out, so I went online, found a store to deliver mouse traps and had them in an hour or 2.... actually caught a mouse within like 20 minutes, so it was well worth it
Thanks for your insightful observations, Diane. What's normal for them is baffling to outsiders!
Exactly! 😊
As far as the stars . The reviews are the key. You get the feel of a Hotel by what people write about it.
You probably wouldn't want to stay in the 2 star hotels in the US. It probably wouldn't be safe, for one reason or another.
I'm an older worker, a generalist Jack-of-all-trades without a particular career. I personally expect to work my whole life, doing whatever comes my way, as long as it's something I believe in. Retirement comes only as disability, for me. I'm one of those weird people who enjoys working.
Hand towels and blowdryers (and the highly unsanitary Dyson Blade dryers) have always been everywhere, but I suspect they were especially clean and new and well stocked around the time of lockdown release.
DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, and PostMates (and a few others) all took off during the pandemic. And because people were so thankful for the delivery, and being mindful of the risk delivery drivers took, the tips were great during lockdown. Now people are less generous and the services are suffering to find good drivers, as is every other industry since Covid. But these deliver driving positions especially have had trouble, as the pay dropped so steeply in such a short time.
I walk the hills quite often, but....yeah when I'm in the city it does hurt come to think about it. I think it really might be the QuikCrete we use for sidewalks. Imma research this
I don't know, because some of the cities in Spain have brick or cobbled streets and sidewalks, and those uneven streets seem to pound my knees and feet more than concrete. Then again, some of the days where I have been most exhausted from walking are my trips to New York, but that's probably because we took the subway and walked everywhere. That being said, I do remember that on my last trip to Spain, I couldn't wear my Crocs out on the street on the rare day that it rained, because my Crocs would be slipping and sliding all over their sidewalks. So there is some sort of difference in the material
I think maybe it's in part because when you're traveling or on vacation, you tend to do more and walk more to see more places then when you're at home, when you tend to do the minimum, or you schedule the places you visit more strategically
Life long "Yank" here. I hope you won't pull your punches when it comes to observations of the USA. Believe me, we need to hear it. Especially coming from a lovely and charming observer. Keep up the great work.
Just a casual observer 😜
@@DianeJennings Your modesty is conflicting with your objectify. 😎
When you talk about older workers, it sounds kind of like you're talking about going to a Walmart or something and seeing them stocking the shelves or greeters or things like that.
Usually, specifically Walmart, does that because they are open to hiring older people, and they are more freely available to work whenever hours that are needed. So it's usually the case that Walmart has a quite elderly staff, but that staff is all part time workers, less than maybe 20 hours a week. This usually happens in smaller town Walmarts especially, and is quite common for retirees. People want to supplement their income or just have something to do. Generally, there's not a lot to do in them small towns anyway.
Very good
The Grand Canyon would be a thrill.