It's not my business but?????

[JudyJB]

I'm a late bloomer--still working two jobs at age 68 and working to catch up with the rest of you! I'll be 69 when I retire from one job in June.

Frankly, I consider most people my age a lot older than me, except that my body keeps protesting that it is getting "old"!

I think at 75 you are still pretty young and adventurous. Wish I could have done all the things you have in terms of travel!

[snowball]

I will be 65 this month..DH was 73 last Nov. I don't feel 65 and who knows how long we will be doing the RV lifestyle
really enjoy our life really can't imagine doing anything else but at the same time reality sets in and one wonders...
my BIL was old is 15 years older than you are so that means in order to be old to me you would need to be 80 and on some people even
that's not old!
sheila

[kdmac]

59 here and figure when I get alot older I will just install as many "electric push-button" devices as I can. This summer I met a couple in their 70's...they had a push button awning, like many of you probably do. I was tickled by her complaint of having to get up in the middle of a windy night and bring the awning in, the poor dear had to walk down her little step from the bedroom and turn the light on so she could see the "button" on the panel near the door, then she had to " push it".......while I was out crankin and yankin on mine..I used to snow ski and mountain climb...and there were folks up there with me in their 70's...It's a matter of the heart and soul.

[Paulette]

Well, I'm not the baby! Ha, for once in my life! I'll be 54 this month. Well, I'm still in a sticks and brick and trying to get the last of the brood out of the nest, but I have plans and hopefully, the good lord willing, many years to follow my dreams! Of course, as Tina says, we have today...(and yes, my mind still thinks my body is about 30! That is, until the body loudly protests!)

[Colliemom]

Well, I"m 6 months shy of turning 63. I"m a late bloomer into this RV thing. Been hauling a TT around for a couple of years and find that I can do the necessary things to keep going with it. There are days when the body says "hey", but my mind is saying "shut up". I'm finding as I get older though, that I can't quite lift some heavier things that I used to and there are things I don't do anymore, like climb up extension ladders etc., but otherwise, I feel younger than I am.

Like Lori said, it's a state of mind and I truly believe that. Course I know there are those who have health issues that force them to stop or slow down, and those can't be helped. But I also know that there are folks on this forum who have refused to let it stop them too.

I haven't been able to get out and enjoy traveling the country yet, as I am still working. But I have done as many "weekend warrior" trips as I can these past two years. I have a bucket list waiting for me in a couple of years or so. Whether or not I still will be pulling a TT at that time remains to be seen. Could be something else. But it will be an RV none the less.

[Travelinana]

This age subject came up at a time I have been doing some very serious thinking regarding mine. I am 67 and still just wishing to be on the road. I am tossing so many scenarios around in my head and I think I have finally arrived at an answer. I own a home and I'm in business again. I only chose to go back into business for financial reasons tho to do this is always rolling the dice. My partner does the legwork. It's a pet store and about to be a 'buy, sell and trade' addition in the back. He is perfect for this and I'm not so honestly it's best I not even be around except for errands. I also have an aquarium rental business which his sister handles. I do all the bookwork which at this time of year is very stressful for me. All is doing okay, not getting rich but in this economy to make even a little profit is good. I have considered trying to sell everything so I can get out there without a care. This would take some time maybe years and I don't have years. I have one health threat that could ground me sooner than I like to think about. My kidney's are showing stress, most likely because of high blood pressure the past 30 years.
I can keep all this and still manage to travel a few months out of the year. Reading Sue's posts reminds me so much of myself. I have teased older people in years past telling them they can't take it with them...well I'm here and I know now what they meant..they only want it to come out even in the end. I don't want to burden my kids, or the government. I have never accepted help and I don't want to.
As for where I am happiest at this point in my life..it's behind the wheel hands down. I don't enjoy housework and I'm looking at a house badly in need of attention at the moment. I will get out the VC, the bathroom cleaners, the dust rags and get to it today but I'd rather be driving down the road anticipating what the next RV park will look like or will I choose to stay at WM, go inside walk up and down the aisles, doing a little shopping and stretching my legs. As soon as the tax work is done, that's where I will be for a month or so, back home to catch up, then back out in another direction.
I am in the process of ridding myself of 'stuff'. At least I will have this house in a manageable state for my kids when it's time for the estate sale. I find it liberating to only shop for consumables, having no desire at all to purchase nick nacks or even clothes. The consignment store downtown could run for a month on my clothes
Each of us must find what works best. For now, I see parttime travel as my answer and I'd better get to it

[Pooker]

So glad to see I'm not the only old timer. I'm 73. Somewhere along the line I went from being the youngest in a group to being the oldest. How did that happen? My mother used to say that inside you are still young, but no one believes you.

For all those who worry about how long we can do this lifestyle: When my Dad needed to go from a camper to a camper/van, I helped him shop. The van we found was owned by a little old 82 year old lady who decided she was hanging up the keys before she became feeble. She had travelled full-time all over the country alone except for her border collie. She had never had an accident and said whenever she got into mechanical trouble there was always another camper or two right there to help. I didn't even know her name, but she is my heroine and inspiration. I'm aiming for 80 before putting Flitter up for adoption.

Pooker

[sharon]

I turned 51 in Dec. & Ronnie will be 44 at the end of Jan.

Good grief, as long as I've known you and I didn't know you were a cougar!!!

[mitch5252]

I turned 51 in Dec. & Ronnie will be 44 at the end of Jan.

..
But mentally, you're an old woman...

..

[mitch5252]

..

59 and goin' downhill fast...

..

[Echo]

57 here tho Kelly had me thinking I was already 58!!! Then I did the math and counting for myself! Dang kids..... I think I've been downhill twice and now I'm doing my darnedest to get back up again.

Had actually planned on waiting until I retired to do this full time thing. But a comment from Kelly got me in gear to get rid of everything and move out of the apartment and into the big truck, planning to work and save money. Of course the the accident took care of that. So moved back to TN and worked full time. The actual shove out the final door? The rest of it I totally blame on Sparkle!!!

I do love being free with the option of traveling but I have to admit that there are days that I think about saying the heck with it for now. Plunk my butt somewhere and work full time with ins. provided. Then start over again on the road. But my thoughts go back to thinking, "what if I'm no longer around at retirement age?" I don't want the responsibility of a house or apartment again and I SURE don't want to saddle my kids with the mess of the measly 'estate' that I would leave. That is such a hard heartbreaking thing to do. I well remember going thru my Mom's things. Took a long time to do between crying jags!!!! And then again with my Fathers stuff.

So yeah, as hard and frustrating as it can be? I will stay full timing for as long as I can....

[sharon]

And in the spirit of this post.....


MY NAME IS KATE , AND I WAS SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DENTIST.

I NOTICED HIS DDS DIPLOMA ON THE WALL, WHICH BORE HIS FULL NAME. SUDDENLY, I REMEMBERED A TALL, HANDSOME, DARK-HAIRED BOY WITH THE SAME NAME HAD BEEN IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS SOME 40-ODD YEARS AGO.

COULD HE BE THE SAME GUY THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON, WAY BACK THEN?

UPON SEEING HIM, HOWEVER, I QUICKLY DISCARDED ANY SUCH THOUGHT.

THIS BALDING, GRAY-HAIRED MAN WITH THE DEEPLY LINED FACE WAS WAY TOO OLD TO HAVE BEEN MY CLASSMATE.

AFTER HE EXAMINED MY TEETH, I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ATTENDED MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL.

"YES. YES, I DID.. I'M A MUSTANG," HE GLEAMED WITH PRIDE.

"WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE?" I ASKED.

HE ANSWERED, "IN 1975. WHY DO YOU ASK?"

"YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!", I EXCLAIMED.

HE LOOKED AT ME CLOSELY.

THEN, THAT UGLY,



OLD,



BALD,



WRINKLED FACED,



FAT-ASS,



GRAY-HAIRED,



DECREPIT



SOB



ASKED,
"WHAT DID YOU TEACH"???

[JoanE]

[mtngal]

I'm counting down the days to 62 in March to get my Park pass. It's almost as exciting as my first driver's license! (Go Sultan! That's another thing I did too!).

[BarbaraRose]

I will be 51 in 11 days but still feel like I am in my 20's. God willing, I still have another 30+ years to go! Hopefully, I won't still be tent-camping by then!

Sharon, I had a similar thing happen to me several years ago. I guy came into the salon (back in MN)who had a familiar last name. I asked him if he had a brother named Mike. He said yes, so I told him Mike was in my high school class. He asked what subject I taught. Good think I wasn't the one cutting his hair!!!