If you are just learning about our weekly Age of Opportunity chat, be sure to check out these blogs for some helpful tips, tricks and even a how-to video. The Age of Opportunity is an informal think tank for people to discuss issues that affect the 50+ market -- from media, entertainment, sports, health and more.

The Age of Opportunity Chat happens live on Thursday nights from 9-10pm, on Twitter.com. It is organized by members of the Growing Bolder staff, but it is an independent project. Industry experts will attend as guest hosts to facilitate the discussion and answer your questions!

Here are some of the hundreds of tweets posted during the March 26, 2009, Age of Opportunity Chat. If you'd like to see all of the responses, go to search.twitter.com and type in #ageop. Feel free to leave comments and questions below in this forum!

Participants:

@BillShafer @marcmiddleton @kwidrick @gmarkham @debworks @Amykr @StarStrukLynna @cindyoyo @MarshaHudnall @TheLynn @kmacwill @TriBoomer @katriord @OriginalLinDA @thebikediva @toddbrink @drkisane @dannybrown @erincriss @coachdonna @RexandCarolyn @happynutrition @debra47 @CoachLifeDesign @jcarlin @kimshahan

@JoeTheProducer @NatalieTM @MisterQwerty @ifischer @ZETAZEN @mkpelland @sherisaid @DonnaLHull @Seniors4Living @marycatherined @GetResults @gerohelper @donnaastern @aceconcierge @realortweet @WendyGYoung @AdrianaKraft @Jespy @Choonks @jerzegurl @AgapeLady @shaerose @uberbabyboomer @xhaloe @raczilla @pplist

AgeOp proved once again to be one of the best hours on Twitter. With more than 50 participants from dozens of states and several countries, the conversation was fun, fast and furious.

In addition to ongoing sidebars about working out and international travel, topics for March 26th included:

1. Valerie Bertinelli gets her bikini bod back at 48 and lands on People magazine. Inspirational or not?
2. Cancer. How has it affected your life?
3. What 3 words do you hope people use when describing you?
4. Due to the recession, many are moving to foreign countries. Would you consider it?
5. What law would you like to see passed?
   

With interest growing weekly, regular chatters arrive early.

• BillShafer: OMG, it's time for the coolest chat on Twitter! Go to tweetchat.com, ageop room and lets get it on!!! #ageop

Somehow (@BillShafer) the Valerie Bertinelli conversation took a quick left turn.

• TriBoomer: I think Val getting her beach body back is inspiring. #ageop

• BillShafer: @cindyoyo: If botox and boobs make YOU feel sexier, or more outgoing, go for it. Just have the spark and the bees will buzz the honey #ageop

• sherisaid: @cindyoyo my daughter wants a boob job. I'm hoping by the time she saves that much cash, she'll decide on a new car instead. #ageop

• MisterQwerty: @sherisaid tell her not too. The best thing about plastic surgery is the show Nip/tuck - and that's about it! #ageop

• BillShafer: You absolutely do not have to have a bikini bod to be happy, energetic and SEXY. But you SHOULD try to be as healthy as you can! #ageop

• mkpelland: @ZETAZEN I feel like I'm not in Kansas anymore...where am I #ageop

The cancer question quickly proved that we're all affected somehow.

• TheLynn: Just simply put....Cancer surrounds me and I don't like it #ageop

• JoeTheProducer: @ageopportunity My sister... 3 weeks ago. My mother 20 years ago. My oldest brother 3 years ago. My 2nd oldest bro 2yrs 9mos ago #ageop

• Amykr: I have lost several family members and friends to cancer. I have worked with more people then I care to count. #ageop

• DonnaLHull: Just lost a writer friend but the treatment killed her rather than the cancer. Radiation damaged intestines. #ageop

• jcarlin: My mother-in-law died of ovarian cancer; my grandmother is breast cancer survivor; father-in-law prostate cancer survivor. Too much! #ageop

• katriord: Cancer? I lost a father to it at the age of 48, after only 90 days. Malignant melanoma. Big impact. #ageop

The cancer conversation morphed into a discussion of healthcare.

• dannybrown: @marycatherined Problem you have with levels of paid healthcare is the few benefit while the majority suffer. Use proportional tax #ageop

• jcarlin: Wouldn't it be amazing if health insurance covered things like gym membership, diet prgms. etc? That's what will save lives. #ageop

• debworks: @MisterQwerty there's a thought - let's bring in a little more eastern way of thinking in health care. tai chi for everyone! #ageop

• BillShafer: Look at this room. Seems like EVERYBODY'S doing something in some way to try to be healthier. THAT'S prevention. #ageop


• CoachLifeDesign: how can we make it affordable, available to everyone, choice of doctors, fair prices for prescription drugs and insurance coverage? #ageop
  

It's important to have a back-up plan. For instance, where - other than America - would you consider living?

• debworks: I'd move to Greece/Italy/Scotland in a heartbeat. Still have parents here to take care of first. #ageop

• marcmiddleton: Mexico now has 1 million American expats. It's the place to go these days. #ageop

• DonnaLHull: If I didn't have a precious granddaughter, I'd move to New Zealand, South Island. Much slower pace of life. #ageop

• StarStrukLynna: @jcarlin My reporter/producer husband has been just about everywhere and he LOVES Costa Rica! #ageop

• marycatherined: @AgeOpportunity To make change, I think you need to do it from within. I still think USA is best place for me to live. #ageop

• MisterQwerty: did you know most American's - almost 90% do not have a passport? You can't experience the world from one POV. it's good to travel #ageop

Parting Thoughts:

• debra47: @AgeOpportunity To truly stay young has alot to do with state of mind not just outside beauty. Passions and interests. #ageop

Missed the chat? Have something new to contribute? Feel free to leave replies and comments in this discussion, or join us every Thursday night for The Age of Opportunity chat on Twitter. Just enter this phrase "#ageop" and then follow the chat. We like Tweetchat.com -- you can log in with your Twitter name and password, then enter the ageop room and you'll be able to control the speed of the discussion and more. You can also follow by going to search.twitter.com and typing in #ageop.