Commentary: Senior Center offers fantastic travel benefits

Our first cruise was down the Danube River through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.

While we were in Budapest, Hungary, an 85-year-old woman with another group on the boat had a serious heart issue. The tour leader went with her to the hospital, stayed with her until her son in the States was contacted, and then felt that he had to leave.

Can I just tell you that Scott Paulsen, who is in charge of the OASIS Senior Citizens Center Travel Bureau, would never have done that.

For every trip out of OASIS there is a designated person who will stay until whatever medical issue is resolved or the relatives arrive. I cannot stop thinking about how scared that woman must have been, alone in a strange hospital in Budapest (where, contrary to popular belief, everyone does not speak English) until her son arrives.

That kind of attention to people is one of the things that make OASIS so unique and, frankly, awesome. Not only do they serve 80-plus people with three meals a day delivered to their homes, they have counseling for those recently widowed, solve tax problems, help with medical issues, have literally hundreds of classes, a beautiful gym, which costs a whopping $150 a year on top of the equally whopping $15 a year to join OASIS.

Paulsen said that they take trips to different casinos for $15, multiple-day trips, four-day trips and, of course, the pretty exciting adventures to Cuba, the Danube and others.

Things I didn’t know:

• OASIS is for those over 50 years old.

• Some people take their grandkids with them on short trips

• The whole community is invited to their great once-a-year casino night. Drinks are only $3, and you do not have to be 50 or over, so everyone is invited.

• People who join OASIS are not just from Newport Beach, but come from all over, some as far as Fullerton.

• OASIS has two 35-foot sailboats, which go out all during the week.

• Students are there to help with all kinds of technical issues once a week.

Paulsen made it clear that the mission of OASIS is to involve everyone, regardless of how much money they have.

So I write this as I travel down the beautiful Danube, after having an obscene amount of food, and walked my brains out (I know that doesn’t make sense) all over Prague, Czech Republic, Passau, Germany, Bratislavia, Slovakia, Vienna, Austria, and Budapest with hilariously funny people (another story) and, of course, Paulsen.

This may not be my last trip. If Paulsen is going I’m in.

SANDY ASPER lives in Newport Beach.