Good morning. February is almost done, the days are getting longer, and somewhere a crocus is thinking about it.
In this issue:
- AI tools that passed the “would my parents use this?” test
- Worth Knowing: making friends after 60, retirement loneliness, and the tax deadline clock
- From the Archives: 10 New York destinations beyond Manhattan
- Slice of Life: a sign that spring is coming
AI is everywhere in the news right now. Most of it is hype. But I’ve been testing tools with my own parents for months, and a few of them actually stuck.
I wrote about this last week — the full list of AI tools that passed what I call the “would my parents actually use this?” test. Not the flashy stuff. The stuff that solves real problems without requiring a computer science degree.
The winner, hands down: a $35 Amazon Echo Dot. My mom says “Alexa, remind me to take my blood pressure pill at 9 AM” — and it does. Every morning. She hasn’t missed a dose in six months. My dad uses it for weather and news. Ten seconds, hands-free, done.
Second: ChatGPT. My mom spent three hours on hold with Medicare trying to understand her Part D options. I typed her question into ChatGPT, and in 30 seconds she had a clearer explanation than three hours on the phone gave her. It’s free, and it works for explaining insurance documents, drafting letters, or summarizing long articles in plain language.
Third: Google Photos face recognition. My mom has 4,000 photos on her phone — mostly grandkids and food, which is the right ratio. She taps a grandchild’s face and sees every photo of them, sorted by date. She cried the first time it worked.
One rule I drill into my parents: never share your Social Security number, bank info, or passwords with any AI tool. Treat it like a helpful stranger — smart, useful, but not someone you hand your wallet to.
👥 Making friends after 60 is harder — but not impossible. After retirement, your social circle shrinks. It’s not your fault — it’s math. You lose the breakroom, the colleagues, the built-in reason to leave the house. Eleanor Hayes wrote about what she learned after her husband died and she realized she hadn’t spoken to another person in three days.
💙 Retirement loneliness isn’t about being anti-social. It’s about losing the built-in community that work provided. The Friendship Line (1-800-971-0016) is the only national warmline for people over 60, and you don’t need to be in crisis to call.
📋 Tax deadline: 49 days away. April 15, 2026. Gather your forms — SSA-1099, 1099-R, 1095-B. Book AARP Tax-Aide now at aarpfoundation.org/taxaide.
A New York State of Mind: Top 10 Vacation Destinations — by Nino C.
Spring is almost here. If New York is on your list — or if you’ve only ever thought of it as Manhattan — this guide covers 10 destinations across the state that most people overlook.
The Finger Lakes wine region with 200+ wineries. The Catskills with scenic drives. Cooperstown’s Baseball Hall of Fame. The Thousand Islands, where you can tour castles by boat.
There’s a moment in late February when the light changes. Not warmer yet, just longer. You notice it around 5:30 PM when it’s still not quite dark. The birds notice it too. They start singing earlier, practicing for spring like a chorus that hasn’t rehearsed in months. We’re almost there.
Until next Tuesday,
Nino
P.S. Next week we’re talking about something everyone puts off: estate planning. Forward this to someone who could use it. And if you’ve got a question, hit reply — I read every one.
