This is a long, long post today, but most of the length is taken up with easy-to-read lists.

Where in the World are Time Goes By Readers
Wow – nice response to the question of where we live. Not everyone I know of checked in, but there are also a lot of people whose names I've never seen before. (Welcome and it's nice to see you.)

The majority who responded are scattered in all but eight U.S. states (I know they are represented too, but those readers didn't happen to stop by during this poll, and 15 countries are represented. They are:

Australia – 4
Canada – 4
England – 4
France – 1
Germany – 1
India – 1
Israel – 1
Japan – 1
Mexico – 1
The Netherlands – 1
Scotland – 1
South Africa - 1
Spain - 1
Sweden – 1
Turkey - 1

Within the U.S., California topped the list of those responding. I was surprised, although I don't know why, to see that Massachusetts followed closely behind and then Arizona. So many different towns are represented that I haven't listed them.

If you're interested to know if anyone is in your city, you'll need to comb through the original responses in the Comments on Wednesday – keep clicking “Next” at the bottom of the comments to see more.

Remember that for people who have blogs and included their URL in the comment form, just click their name to be taken to their blog.

Here is the state list in alphabetical order. Please be sure to check below this list for a special Time Goes By announcement.

Arizona – 7
Arkansas – 1
California – 14
Colorado – 4
Connecticut – 1
Delaware – 1
Florida – 2
Georgia – 3
Hawaii – 1
Illinois – 1
Indiana – 4
Iowa – 1
Kansas – 2
Kentucky – 2
Maine – 2
Maryland – 4
Massachusetts – 10
Michigan – 2
Minnesota – 4
Mississippi – 1
Missouri – 4
Nebraska – 1
Nevada – 2
New Hampshire - 3
New Jersey – 2
New Mexico – 2
New York – 3
North Carolina – 4
Ohio – 4
Oklahoma – 3
Oregon – 5
Pennsylvania – 4
Rhode Island – 2
South Carolina – 1
Tennessee – 2
Texas – 3
Vermont – 1
Virginia – 1
Washington – 5
Wisconsin – 2

Going Home to New York City
A month ago, I told you how honored I am to have been accepted for the week-long Age Boom Academy at the International Longevity Center in New York City – the first blogger among the dozen journalists who attend annually. It is five days of presentations and discussion with experts from a wide variety of areas related to aging.

This year's theme is “A New Deal for Longevity,” with special emphasis on entitlement programs, health care reform, retirement savings, science and technology, and caregiving issues. Saul Friedman, who writes the Reflections column for Time Goes By, attended the Academy ten years ago and says it is intense, packed with information and filled with fodder for future posts.

Well, the day has finally arrived. I leave early tomorrow morning and the sessions begin on Sunday.

Following the Academy, I'm moving from the hotel to a friend's apartment in Greenwich Village (just five blocks from where I lived) to spend a few more days seeing friends and soaking up the city I consider my real home.

While I'm away, some elderbloggers and elder blog readers have prepared excellent posts for you, so there won't be an empty space on these pages while I'm gone. I know you will welcome them with open arms and leave them lots and lots of comments. As I mentioned about The Elder Storytelling Place last week, everyone likes applause - and even a good argument. You will recognize most of the names from their own blogs or their comments here.

I won't be out of touch. I'm taking the little Eee PC I bought last December – its first big-time workout. I'll have access to email and I will check in with you here when I have time and maybe give you an update or two. Or not. Perhaps you'll enjoy a rest from my daily declamations.

See you in about two weeks.

Oh, wait. One more thing: It's Darlene Costner's birthday today - she's 84. Go wish her happy birthday.

EDITORIAL NOTE: While I am away, The Elder Storytelling Place is on hiatus. You can read past stories here. And if you are inclined, you could send in stories for publication when I return. All elders, 50 and older, are welcome to submit stories for this blog. They can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, etc. Instructions for submitting are here.