I traveled frequently on business for 50 years, and since retirement my spouse and I still wander away from home and hearth at least once a month for pleasure. After considerable experience and doing all the possible over-packing mistakes travelers can make, we have some very simple rules. We hope they'll help others travel lighter and happier:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some form of diarrhea hits nearly half of all seniors who venture far away from home. Jokesters call it Montezuma's revenge, but when it happens to you, there’s nothing funny about it. There are three basic kinds of diarrhea: viral, bacterial and, especially for traveling seniors, sudden changes in eating habits. The kind that hits most often is bacterial, and named for the ancient Mexican emperor because it comes from unclean foods, traditionally from the land south of our border.

Now that Washington is all aflutter with the new administration, this year will bring about a million tourists to visit the Capital city, including the usual grey-haired crowd. Many will ride around in taxis and tourist buses, but this ancient mariner prefers to do the beautiful town on foot. I've been a jogging fanatic for decades. Now long retired, I still trot the paths of a nearby golf course daily. Because I live in Arizona, I no longer have to deal with winter snow, slush and ice, but to escape the 100+ degree desert heat, my jogging is from 5 to 7 am.

As usual, there are many frustrations and delays during this winter travel season because of heavy weather conditions. If you’re traveling and find yourself snowbound in your hotel or aboard your cruise ship, you don’t have to just sit on your bed and gripe about it. Go outside and join in on the fun. It should be easy finding some going on nearby. Let that inner child you once were many years ago come out and enjoy the day with all the rest of the kids. Just be sure to dress warm and stay dry on the outside, and maybe a shot of some inside warmth could be helpful, too. Some ideas: