After much time on the puter, researching and re-researching, I found what I wanted. The local camera shop only carried Nikon and Canon, so I went with a high zoom Canon as the local shop is very helpful and friendly. Got $50 off a SX260HS with the instant rebate, 20X optical zoom, I almost got one with only 5X. A couple buyers not happy in the reviews, but most of the rest were pretty good. The shop said a model or two that I wanted were discontinued, so I had to go home a couple times and do some research. Tough deciding on something smaller than my river dunked camera, the SX10 I used in Alaska two years ago. Other cameras came better rated, depending on which experts were asked. Really love the well lit indoor capabilites, although most pics will be on bp trips and of my stoves. Battery life is better than one of the smaller zooms I was looking at, 230 pics versus the smaller/cheaper 170. Time will tell.
Duane