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32 | OHCC LIVING | DECEMBER 2024 | Club W Grief is a reason people may dread the holidays, especially if they're struggling with the recent passing of a family member or friend or if the anniversary is close to Christmas. The holiday season is often dubbed the happiest time of the year, but it can be challenging for people with grief or loneliness to stay cheerful. It's the time deemed the happiest, but getting into the holiday spirit can be challenging if you feel alone or grieving. In addition, social media tends to make some people feel the worst this season because it is filled with family dinners, gifts, and pictures of people in a happy mood. Sometimes, even if loved ones surround you, you can feel lonely after losing someone close. Take small steps and show compassion toward yourself. For example, ask a friend for coffee rather than feeling pressured to throw a large holiday dinner, buy the perfect gift, and entertain large groups of family members. We put so much pressure on ourselves to do something big and essential… it's just a time of the year: Taking a break from everything is OK. It's also important to remember to eat regularly, exercise, and monitor your social media use. Access to a supportive peer community will provide the understanding, comfort, and hope needed to begin rebuilding your life. Club W programs and events are designed specifically for you. We serve individuals with love and a sense of hope for the future. The club's availability is on the third Saturday of the month at 10 am for a social gathering in Abravanel Hall with coffee and exciting speakers. Our Dec. 21 meeting is a Holiday Luncheon. Join us as a member for $25. Guests are $30. Membership is $10/year. Leave your check at the front desk in the Club W folder. Go to our website, OceanHillsCountryClub. com. Click on Social Clubs to find the Club W website for more information. Ask at the front desk for a Club W membership form or request one by email. Website: www. ohccclubw.wixsite.com/club-w, email: OHCCclubW@gmail.com. ~ Written by Joanne Viner, President & Founder What kind of camera do you choose for travel photography? I have been using a Nikon DSLR, the D7200, for years. It has served me quite well, but the darn thing weighs three pounds with a normal zoom lens, and way more than that if I attach my 300mm long lens. It takes up a lot of room in my carry-on bag and wears me out on a long day of shooting. But the best thing about it is the viewfinder, which works under any lighting condition, including bright sun. It also has Raw capability, which provides the best option for post- processing on a computer. Obviously, most of us are using smartphones for photography, and some of us don't even have what Carlsbad Senior Center volunteer Mike McMahon calls "a proper camera." I have used a smart phone on a trip or two, leaving the big camera behind. The good news is you always have your camera and there's no extra weight involved. The bad news is you can't really see the screen when shooting in bright sunlight, and you just have to guess and hope you've pointed it right. Sometimes the smart phone photo is distorted at extreme wide angles. I recently made a compromise choice, recommended by the aforementioned Mr. McMahon. It's a Canon PowerShot SX740 HS. It weighs in at less than one pound, and takes up very little room in my carry-on bag. It's not quite small enough to fit in my pocket, but it's close. It has decent wide-angle capability and a shocking 40x optical zoom, and image stabilization, which you would need with 40x zoom. So far, I am happy with it, although I have to avoid using my sunglasses if there is bright sunlight because I can't see the LED screen. It's very tempting to include this camera when traveling and have room for a book or something in my bag. The only downsides are the lack of a Raw capability and some of the buttons are too close together. The Photography Club welcomes users of smart phones and digital cameras of any type. Annual dues are only $10. ~ Jim McDonough, jamespmcdonough@gmail.com, (760) 593-9994 Photography

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