I saw a bumper sticker last week at a flea market that made me chuckle: I Brake for all Garage Sales. This is a complete turnaround from the old days, when anyone with any 'couth' would never admit that they went to a flea market, a garage sale or secondhand shop.

Now we've all been reprogrammed by the successful television show "Antiques Road Show," where we discover that things we thought worthless can sometimes be priceless.

Suddenly, the old rocking chair you have always hated, but kept because it was a fixture in your grandmother's house, seems more valuable. And that's not the only reason to value the flea markets. For example, I had two large paintings matted and framed for half the price I would have had to pay at a gallery.

It is so much fun walking through the market, looking at interesting things you didn't even know you wanted. You can buy everything from socks to produce at good prices. And when someone asks you where you ever got that neat bracelet, you can boldly say, "At the Gulf Breeze Flea Market." And, who knows, you may have a chance to pick up a real winner while having a lot of fun. It's a different way to spend a day.

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Fred Brown, C.F.A., Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser has announced to Santa Rosa County senior citizens an additional $25,000 homestead exemption for those who meet the following criteria:

Property owner must be 65 or older

Total adjusted household income limitations apply.

Applications must be in no later than March 1st, 2007

Must qualify for and/or currently be receiving the homestead exemption.

You must qualify, and may have to reapply, on an annual basis.

For additional information, call 934-8175.

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Checking among a number of my fellow seniors, I was surprised to find out how many of us are still active and still playing sports. Along the Gulf Coast, with our mild climate, golf seems to be the most popular sport for men and women alike. Tennis players sometimes find that switching to golf in the later years is a good way to avoid the overexertion that can cause shoulder and knee injuries. It's also a lot easier than mustering the speed required for tennis.

Clubs are now designed to compensate for the distance you've lost in your drive as muscle strength and flexibility lessens. Golf club manufacturers are designing clubs specifically for seniors. Don't give up one of your greatest pleasures. Ask the golf pro at your club or course to advise you about getting a 'senior' club.

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Did you know that our casinos in Biloxi, Mississippi, just a short drive away, are back up and running again? And if you are like me and have little interest in the slot machines or table games, it's still a great idea to take a day trip either by car or bus. Some casinos offer special senior discount days, with half off the lunch or dinner buffet. You can also enjoy entertainment by big-name stars you once had to travel to Las Vegas to see.

This weekend, Julio Iglesias is the headliner at the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort. In March, they will welcome Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton and Gladys Knight. Beau Rivage spent $550 million in renovations after Hurricane Katrina, and recently received AAA's Four Diamond Award. For information about the shows, call 888-566-7469.

And speaking of Vegas, here is a poem sent to me by a friend who lives out there:

My Latest Physical - Oh Me!

Thought I'd let my doctor check me

Cause I didn't feel quite right…

All those aches and pains annoyed me

And I couldn't sleep at night. He could find no real disorder

But he wouldn't let it rest

What with Medicare and Blue Cross,

He would do a couple of tests. To the hospital he sent me Though I didn't feel that bad. He arranged for them to give me

Every test that could be had.

I was fluoroscoped and cystoscoped,

My aging frame displayed Stripped, on an ice cold table,

While my gizzard was x-rayed.

I was checked for worms and parasites,

For fungus and the crud,

While they pierced me with long needles

Taking samples of my blood.

Doctors came to check me over,

Probed and pushed and poked around,

And to make sure I was living They then wired me for sound. They have finally concluded, (Their results have filled a page), What I have will someday kill me; My affliction is OLD AGE. See you next week!