Snowbird Chronicles: Retire in Space, Living to 100, Sleeping On a Cliff?

Welcome, Snowbirds! 🎉

We’ve heard from so many of you, and we want to say thank you for being part of this growing community. Snowbird Chronicles isn’t just another email—it’s your weekly reminder that life is still one big, wild adventure.

📖 Before we get rolling, grab a Notebook! (Yes, I’m serious. Get a notebook. Call it “Snowbird Chronicles Journal” if you want.) Every week, we drop insights to help you live longer, enjoy more, and build stronger connections. Writing things down turns ideas into habits. And habits? They turn into the stuff great stories are made of.

This week, we’ve got stories that will make you rethink your plate, reconsider where you sleep, and maybe even start prepping for your first trip to space. Buckle up, here’s what’s coming your way:

🏃 Live Longer: The Okinawan Trick That Adds Years to Your Life (And Keeps You Out of Buffet Regret Mode)
🌟 Enjoy More: Would You Sleep in a Glass Box Hanging Off a Cliff? Some Call It Adventure, Others Call It Insanity
💰 Stay Informed: The Space Race is Back—And Billionaires Are Fighting Over the Front Seat
📸 Stay Connected: Want Friendships That Last? It’s Time to Ditch the “Let’s Catch Up” Texts
📝 Power Challenge: Eat Like an Okinawan for a Week—Can You Stop at 80% Full?
💬 Gen Z Slang: Try “Bet” With Your Grandkids—It’s Basically Their Version of “You Got It”

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🏃 Live Longer: The Okinawan Trick That Adds Years to Your Life (And Keeps You Out of Buffet Regret Mode) 🍚

Picture this: You’re at an all-you-can-eat buffet. You’re full. You KNOW you’re full. But then you spot that last slice of cheesecake and think, “Well, it’d be a shame to let it go to waste.”

That’s where the Okinawans would gently shake their heads at us.

In Okinawa, where people regularly hit 100 without turning into couch-bound relics, they follow Hara Hachi Bu—which means “Eat until you’re 80% full.” Not 100%, not Thanksgiving-Day-stuffed. Just enough. And wouldn’t you know it? Science backs it up. Eating less reduces IGF-1, a hormone linked to aging, cancer, and inflammation.

🥢 Try this: Write this down in your Snowbird Chronicles Notebook: “Stop eating at 80% full.” Use smaller plates, eat slower, and see if you actually need that last bite or if it’s just habit talking. Cleveland Clinic

Think you can pull it off? Hit reply—I want to hear how it goes.

🌟 Enjoy More: Would You Sleep in a Glass Box Hanging Off a Cliff? Some Call It Adventure, Others Call It Insanity

If your idea of “room with a view” is a glass box hanging off the side of a cliff, then have I got a vacation rental for you.

It’s called Cliff Dweller in Red River Gorge, Kentucky, and yes, it is literally suspended off the side of a mountain. Perfect for people who love breathtaking views and testing their heart rate. Check out the listing for yourself → Cliff Dweller Listing

What’s waiting for you?

✔ Unmatched views—just don’t sleepwalk.
✔ Hiking trails galore—waterfalls, rock formations, and Instagram-worthy lookouts.
✔ The ultimate conversation starter—because “I slept on a cliff” beats “I stayed at a Holiday Inn.”

Would you sleep here, or does this cross your comfort line? Write it down in your Snowbird Chronicles Notebook—what’s the wildest place you’d actually sleep?

💰 Stay Informed: The Space Race is Back—And Billionaires Are Fighting Over the Front Seat 🚀🌍

Remember when NASA was the only player in space? Now it’s Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson playing a very expensive game of “Who Can Get to Mars First?”

💡 Why it matters: The space economy is projected to hit $1 trillion by 2040. That means space tourism, asteroid mining, and—if Musk gets his way—retirement homes on Mars.

🔎 What to say at brunch: “I give it ten years before we’re debating which space hotel has the best continental breakfast.”

Would you take a trip to space if you had the chance? Write it down: Yes or No?

Bonus: In your journal, create a story of what life could look like an how you’d play a role in the world. This is just for fun, so have fun with it.

📸 Stay Connected: Want Friendships That Last? It’s Time to Ditch the “Let’s Catch Up” Texts 👥🎨

If your friendship maintenance plan consists of “We should catch up soon!”, you might as well schedule that meetup for never.

Research from UCLA found that friendships built around shared activities are 60% more likely to last than ones based on casual check-ins.

📌 Try this: Write down three things you love doing in your Snowbird Chronicles Notebook. Then, challenge yourself to start a small group around one of them.

✔ A weekly group text about movies.
✔ A virtual game night with friends across the country.
✔ A “who can walk the most miles” challenge in your circle.

Have a group like this? Reply and tell me about it—I love hearing how people stay connected.

📝 Power Challenge: Eat Like an Okinawan for a Week—Can You Stop at 80% Full?

This week, try stopping when you’re 80% full. No stuffing yourself just because it tastes good. Test your discipline. Bonus points if you get a friend or spouse to do it with you. Write your results in your notebook!

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain

💬 Gen Z Slang of the Day: “Bet” – A Fun Phrase to Try with the Grandkids

Means “for sure” or “I agree.” Example: “Grandpa, you want to play pickleball later?” “Bet.” Try it and see if you get a laugh.

Until Next Time…

Retirement isn’t about slowing down—it’s about staying active and laughing harder. If you enjoyed this, forward it to a friend! And if you’ve got a great story or insight—hit reply. I love hearing from you.

Stay curious,

Woody & The Snowbird Chronicles Team

🎁 Daily Bonus:

I tried stopping at 80% full… then I remembered there was pie. Baby steps.

Inspiration with a sprinkle of humor: