Faster than a speeding tour bus, more powerful than a luggage-handler, able to leap tall turnstiles in a single bound. It's Super Senior, helping America's travel industry soar to new heights of prosperity.

Use of the airways, roadways, and seaways by seniors is increasing as discounts, privileges, and other amenities for mature travelers become industry standards. Retirement, a life stage that in 1900 represented a meager 3 percent of one's existence, now accounts for 20 percent of the average adult's life span. This explosive extension of the retirement years is a result of a 50 percent increase in life expectancy, from 49 to 74 years since 1900. Today, instead of spending an average of only 1.3 years in retirement, adults can look forward to at least 14 years of retirement living.

How are these Super Seniors capitalizing on this windfall of free time? Scores are packing their bags and heading for adventure, traveling the open road, soaring the friendly skies, and cruising the high seas. Don't bother trying to reach granny at home, she's away on a jet tour of the Orient with her new beau. In fact, seniors account for nearly 40 percent of all package tours and one-third of all air travel and hotel stays.

Here are some travel rules for all you retirement ramblers.

• Make sure you allow yourself enough time and money to see it all.
• Don't just shop. Explore the landscape, lifestyles, and culture of your travels.
• Take comfortable clothing like shorts, jeans, a sweater, and one suit.
• Keep an open, patient, and inquisitive mind.
• Use traveler's checks rather than credit cards for overseas buying.
• Ship, don't carry, all of your shopping purchases back home to the United States.
• Exercise before you leave. You'll be better equipped for the walking on vacation.
• Carry "extras": a pair of glasses, a contact lens, or medications.
• Arrange with a friend or relative to keep an eye on things back home.
• Count the amount of luggage you plan to take. Divide by two and leave the balance behind.
• Count the amount of spending money you plan to take. Multiply by two.
• Know your camera. Practice shooting a roll of film before you go away.
• Carry two phone numbers where someone can be reached in case of an emergency.
• Stick to your dietary routine as much as possible.
• When using the services of a travel agency, stick to the reputable agencies. Anything that sounds "too good to be true" is "too good to be true".
• Travel with friends if you like. But remember, the reason for "getting away" is just that. Sometimes friends need a vacation form each other.

Group tours are also a favorite with many senior travelers because they often meet new people. Fifty percent of seniors take at least one trip for year because the benefits are endless. Here's just a few.

• Meeting new people who become new friends.
• Getting away from home.
• Experiencing a different lifestyle.
• Learning new things, and seeing unique sights.
• Indulging in side trips that give you the real flavor of the vacation location.