On The Fly

Old shoes, friendships, and books improve with wear. New books have crisp corners and unbent spines, while old ones have traveled through time, touched by people who may no longer be around to share their discoveries. Discover the lessons from The Velventeen Rabbit.

While visiting L.L.Bean's flagship store in Freeport, Maine, I had a conversation with a couple in the Hunting Department that made me roll my eyes and laugh.

Vista’s mornings start with a thick, gray marine layer from the coast, giving everything a damp, muffled feel. Around 4:30 a.m., driveways are packed with commuters either sleeping or stumbling to showers, clinging to their last moments of peace before work. I’m more laid-back.

Last Saturday, as I entered the modern County of San Diego branch on Eucalyptus Avenue in Vista, I instinctively scanned the floor for the familiar sight of varnished oak cabinets and brass pull-handles. Instead, I found no card catalog, wooden drawers, or rows of index cards. What happened?

As we age, many imagine a machine that handles the tough stuff. Some celebrate retirement with a flashy red Corvette, while others choose a Harley-Davidson, thinking retirement is just a fancy word until you have enough chrome to be seen from outer space.

Just checking in from the trail, folks, where I have apparently missed the dress code, the social norms, and possibly the entire point of this neighborhood park. I arrived this morning, armed with my trusty hiking poles, ready to commune with nature and improve my fitness. Within thirty seconds, I realized I was the only person who hadn't seen the instructions posted at our community mailbox.

Sometimes the greatest discoveries aren't on the water but in an old fishing vest's pockets. While sorting gear, I found a 1996 Michigan trout stamp and an Al Caucci fly-fishing course booklet for the Delaware River. Join me!

Catching Up with Sierra. What happens when you combine a little imagination, modern digital tools, and the willingness to make a glorious, muddy mess? You get our guest’s latest project. Please welcome Sierra.

It all started innocently enough. Lately, my mind has drifted back to the simplicity of my younger days, standing in the backyard with a classic recurve bow sending arrows toward whatever target we had rigged up. Join me . . .

It always makes me smile. The moment people learn I've officially entered what I like to call the Great Un-Working (retirement), they almost immediately ask the same question: “So . . . What do you do now?"

In this episode, setting a golf challenge, stepping out of your comfort zone, and surviving with dignity and equipment intact is a unique satisfaction.

In this reflective analysis, we recount a transformative summer in 1983 spent cycling through France's Charente-Maritime region. While training on a borrowed Motobécane, Patrick navigated vast sunflower fields and shared lighthearted meals with family members who teased him about his Tour de France ambitions.

On Feb. 6, 2026, I set a Golf goal of 70 before 70. Today (July 16, 2026), I've achieved that goal. Instead of a boring account of today's game, I'm sharing my victory as a poem.

Welcome to the first official morning of the rest of my life. With no alarms and no meetings, chasing a little white ball around The Lakehouse—a par-58 canvas—felt like the perfect way to christen retirement. Golf!

250! That’s a lot of birthdays. To celebrate this historic milestone, I need your help. For one day only, all kids—and adults—at our neighborhood parade can become an Official  On-the-Fly  Parade reporter. Listen to learn how you can participate.

I've been thinking about the "R-word" lately, not because I'm worried about boredom. I'm curious why retirement makes us nervous while a job—no matter how stressful—feels comforting.

This week, I want to explore a deeply relatable, universally feared workplace character: the "know-it-all" and how they unwillingly throw out ridiculous acronyms.

When I meet someone, instead of the usual greetings, I'll ask:  "What's the good word? "   How would you respond?

On Memorial Day, I took my first bike ride since the accident, seeking proof that my legs, lungs, and nerves still remembered the road. Here's what I found.

Future civilizations will remember May 22, 2026, as the day humanity reached its peak in suburban engineering. Today, my neighbor Steve and I finished the most overbuilt property divider in North County. The Fence!

You never say the E-word out loud. That word is a cosmic tripwire. It is the verbal equivalent of tempting fate while standing barefoot on a rake. Do you know the word?

Sometimes the best way to experience the world isn’t to search for it, but to sit still and let it come to you.

Honestly, I’ve been struggling with noise lately. Much is my own fault—overwhelmed by nonstop headlines. But some hits closer to home. How do you find it affects your outlook?

This past Saturday, April 25th, 2026, I was effortlessly and completely transported back in time at the 20th Annual Sinkankas Symposium on the GIA campus in Carlsbad. Join me!

The 24-hour news cycle is like a bad gym membership: you pay with stress, don’t get stronger, and canceling is harder than signing up. Many run  Outrage 2026,  which causes insomnia, lost perspective, and online arguing.