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I'm at Elk Lake in Bend, Oregon staying at Mount Bachelor while watching my girlfriend paddle away in a kayak. This is not a common site for this Manhattanite, in fact I became the brunt of all that days jokes because when we pulled into this beautiful scenic area complete with comfy chairs under an awning that seemed to be just waiting for us I asked, "how much does this cost?" I was being serious as in New York you don't go anywhere without paying for something. And even better contrast would be the Jersey shore. There are a handful of free beaches that align the Atlantic coastline but most require a beach badge. Parking meters accept credit cards and the cost of renting an umbrella starts at $20. All food options are highly caloric and costly and don't even get me started on the Parkway fees thanks to all the toll booths. You can stroll the Boardwalk for free, but it usually removes $50 from your wallet after you've had a funnel cake and taken the kids on a few rides.

It's important to remember regionally what "she's doing", and what it might cost her in time, money and energy. She's not just "going to the beach", in fact now that I've "been to the lake" I might never go to the beach again.

She buzz words

• Rustic
• Sailing
• Olive
• Lilly

Right now she could be

• Making candy
• Painting her daughter's toenails
• Making a home hospice visit
• Kissing a boo boo mean?

She's not so sure...

• Pills that guarantee she will wake up on time-plus all the ingredients are natural and made in the USA-are available and guaranteed at the website www.wakeupontime.com.
• Organic wine? Well, the packaging is environmentally friendly-from Yellow + Blue organically grown wine from Argentina. Log on to the website www.ybwines.com

She questions

• How many jobs does she have in one day?
• What's her theme song (ala- Ally McBeal)
• Does she look like anyone famous?
• If she could have starred in any movie to date which one would it be?
• Is she living paycheck to paycheck?

She's gotta work

If she's planning phase two of her life and looking for a career that could be stable, here are the top nine progressive job fields, as per Reader's Digest:

• Education (teaching assistants, counselors, Vo-Tech)
• Energy (power plant operators, repairers, and electrical power line installers
• Environmental (scientists, engineers)
• Financial (advisors, auditors, sales agents)
• Government (immigration and custom inspectors)
• Health Care (nurses, dental assistants)
• International Business (interpreters)
• Law Enforcement (probation officers, paralegals)
• Technology (computer network systems)

She's Shopping

Here are some grocery store insights, thanks to Reader's Digest:

• The best time to grocery shop is during dinner.
• Life expectancy for a woman is approximately 80 years for a woman born after 1950 and 75 years for a man.

Parade magazine reports these 7 habits will lead to a longer life:

• Rest, getting the right amount of sleep.
• Eat right, preferably five servings of fruits and vegetables.
• Friends; social networks and support are key.
• Use your mind and body, keeping it all engaged.
• Watch your middle; extra inches around the waist could be an indicator of health issues.
• Fresh air.
• Making plenty of time for family.

• Get more She Prep at www.ShePrep.com