Older Ages vs RVing July 28, 2017, 07:39:18 pm Sadly, Margee and I are beginning to glimpse the issues involved with getting older (energy) and RVing. Just the beginning of it and it's just started these last few months. It's not just with RVing but with a good many activities that require energy. We're not saying it's too much right now nor will it be for a good many more years. We're just noticing that we run out of energy so much faster than just a little while ago. And when I read about life-long travelers announcing that they are hanging up their keys, we're starting to understand. If there is a morale to this post, it's to start early and not wait as long as we waited.And so it goes. 10 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #1 – July 28, 2017, 08:53:08 pm Ed,As I rest my aching left knee, I feel your pain. While in Yellowstone, I wore my Camelback sans its bladder to carry several lenses and camera supplies. Add the weight of the Nikon D800e and a 600mm lens and we're talking some serious poundage. As photographers, we know that swapping out lenses can take time. Do this several times at a point of interest and I had to do some serious catch-up with my DW. "Don't wait for me, hun...I'll catch up"...and I always did. After six days of catch-up my 63+ year old knee was calling my name. " Hey, you idiot! You're not 18 anymore"! "Shut up"!, I'd say and off I'd dash to meet up with my sweetheart. "You OK?", she'd ask. "I'm much better now, thanks", I'd reply.Got some amazing shots (I hope) and am now on my second bag of Epsom Salts. Did I learn my lesson? Probably not. I sure love my camera gear. My knee probably doesn't, but hey...who's the boss anyway?Just swayin'Kent 3 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #2 – July 28, 2017, 09:44:53 pm That's why I sold my Canon 5D2 and lenses and bought an Olympus EM1. Both camera and lens are much smaller and lighter. But I feel your pain, a few weeks ago while installing a water filter under the sink of my MB I sprained my elbow and the darn thing still hurts and I don't have the strength back yet.Getting old ain't for sissies! 3 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #3 – July 29, 2017, 07:54:05 am We got our LD in 2003 while in our mid 50's; the first couple years we put a lot of miles on it and started wondering about how long we would RV and iF and WHEN we would get another one. 2005 found us making the trip we had on our "bucket list", Alaska. It was a long drive from Ohio, we knew that but still, before we even got to Alaska, I think we had bounced off a lot of frost heaves that day, I asked my wife, "Do you think we will ever do THIS again?". She said she had been wondering the same thing. Too many long days on some rough roads can do that to you.Later that evening, after getting set up in a remote campground, I helped an older couple ( in their mid 70's) back into a site.. They were tired too. They mentioned that they too had this trip on this trip was their dream trip and had thought it was going to be their grand finale rving. They and their Rv were getting old and... well... two days earlier they had met someone older than themselves; probably in their 80's, and that couple had decided to buy a new rig. Now the folks from Massachusetts were planning to get a new one too!Ah.... hope for the future! And despite wondering if a trip that far was worth it, after getting home and reviewing our photos (still shooting mostly film back then) we KNEW it was worth the effort. And wanted to go back.So take good care of yourselves and your rig. Age is a number until the injuries mount.As Ed says, "And so it goes".Steve K. 5 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #4 – July 29, 2017, 02:42:44 pm We got bit with the RV bug when my Father in Law bought a Class A rig shortly after he retired. We and eventually our kids made several trips to Disneyworld, and a couple of FMCA ralleys with the inlaws. We enjoyed every outing, and he and I learned about the operation of the various systems together. I had wanted to purchase a rig of our own for some time, but life always got in the way. Eventually, we became full-time care givers to my Mother in Law, which made longer trips a non-starter. It wasn't until she passed, that DW and I had the time available to do what we always wanted, i.e., buy our own RV. By that time, we were in our mid-sixties. So now, we take as many trips as we can with the RV. Kinda making up for "lost time". We wished we could have started sooner, but "life" presented us with other challenges that we would not leave to others to manage. Glad to be on the road now. 3 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #5 – July 30, 2017, 11:05:13 am We just started our 3-month trek to see family and friends; from Florida to the Twin Cities (here now) to the Detroit area, Cape Cod, Chapel Hill and back to Florida beaches by the end of October. It's our first RV and even though I am pushing late 60s, it was as early as I could make it happen. My family camped every summer in the early 50s (from Memorial Day to Labor Day) at Nickerson State Park on Cape Cod in an old Army tent with cots for the boys and it was awesome. I have wondered whether I'll be able to do this in my late 70s, but for now, the adventure has just begun. Last year we radically downsized and bought a "tiny" place to lay our heads in Sebring, FL, keeping only what would fit and selling or donating the rest; years of joy and memories went with every item along with the excitement of knowing there was more joy and memories to be had in our less-cluttered future. Now we can pick-up and go at a moments' notice without worrying if some disaster is going to befall our "stuff"; we're seeing places we've never seen and meeting new people along the way. I have no idea what will happen five years or five days from now; what I do know is we love our LD (Bossa Nova) and we love being together in this adventure we call life.David and Marie 6 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #6 – July 30, 2017, 01:57:28 pm Quote from: DPhilbrick - July 30, 2017, 11:05:13 am Last year we radically downsized and bought a "tiny" place to lay our heads in Sebring, FL, keeping only what would fit and selling or donating the rest; years of joy and memories went with every item along with the excitement of knowing there was more joy and memories to be had in our less-cluttered future. I'm always impressed when folks do what Dave and Marie have done with "years of joy and memories." In my book, that takes a lot more courage than Margee and I have. I certainly appreciate that reducing life's collection of stuff makes life and traveling simpler and easier. We're just not there. Nevertheless, well done. 1 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #7 – July 30, 2017, 03:54:02 pm An interesting and entertaining read for those looking for a cure to "stuffitis."Clutter's Last Stand: It's Time To De-junk Your Life!: Don Aslett, Tad Herr:... As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #8 – July 30, 2017, 05:18:30 pm Quote from: HiLola - July 30, 2017, 03:54:02 pmAn interesting and entertaining read for those looking for a cure to "stuffitis."Clutter's Last Stand: It's Time To De-junk Your Life!: Don Aslett, Tad Herr:...How funny is it that a book about eliminating clutter from your life isn't available in a Kindle format? 2 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #9 – July 30, 2017, 05:24:37 pm " takes a lot more courage "Philosophers put it a lot of waysBut I think it's very true.The biggest regrets we will ever have,Will be over things we did not do. 2 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #10 – July 30, 2017, 05:53:33 pm First, it was a loss of energy in the afternoon. Now we can not tolerate altitudes above 7,500 - which shuts out a lot of places to park to escape the heat. So glad we retired early. We have had wonderful trips since 2007. 1 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #11 – July 30, 2017, 06:14:44 pm Take heart, "kids." Until recently, the So Cal LD Caravan Club had a member couple in their 90's, still driving their midbath to various of the club outings. Another long time member, quite ill, insisted she wanted to be at an outing with her LD friends. She made it there and on the second day, died "with her boots on." There is serious life after career in the LD and RVing communities, and I think it helps keep us all going well beyond what we had thought possible. -- Jon, pre-boomer 5 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #12 – August 03, 2017, 09:02:33 am Quote from: Traxless - July 30, 2017, 01:57:28 pmI'm always impressed when folks do what Dave and Marie have done with "years of joy and memories." In my book, that takes a lot more courage than Margee and I have. I certainly appreciate that reducing life's collection of stuff makes life and traveling simpler and easier. We're just not there. Nevertheless, well done.Came across this interesting article regarding baby boomers and their stuff. It seems our children don't treasure our stuff as much as we do. Who knew?Boomer parents: 'One day, this will all be yours.' Grown children: 'Noooo!'...Some of you may remember this bit from George Carlin:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #13 – August 03, 2017, 11:24:17 am Over the past decade or so my accumulation of "stuff" has slowed considerably. Why I haven't purchased a Laser Disc in years. While this may be true for myself, I have yet to implement complete control over the household. Oh, there are those few "relics from the past" that have migrated to the LD...but just a few...and of course the new Coffee Cup from Yellowstone. But that's all I need...Ahhh, the simple pleasures of downsizing. Who needs all that stuff anyway? For some of us, there comes a time to move on and leave all the stuff behind...almost...Steve Martin (once again) had it all figured out...https://youtu.be/2ZTdqh-a0tUAnd when it comes to those yard sales down the street, I just keep on going as they deal with their stuff. Well maybe just a quick peek.Kent 1 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #14 – August 03, 2017, 01:45:01 pm My approach to garage sales has changed over the years:"Wow, that's neat. I need one of those!""Meh, already got one of those.""Huh, I've got a few of those.""Man, I need to just sell mine...""Hey, I just sold a couple of those.""Yeah, I remember throwing away a bunch of those."and finally..."Who would ever want one of those?"Chip 5 Likes
Re: Older Ages vs RVing Reply #15 – August 04, 2017, 10:35:54 am "There is serious life after career in the LD and RVing communities, and I think it helps keep us all going well beyond what we had thought possible."----Jon, I think you're a "war baby"; I didn't even quite make that cut! The LD life does indeed keep many of us "goseedoing", enjoying friendships and activities and appreciating everything that we're still able to do! Yes, ageing can be hard work; "stuff" gets harder to do, takes more time, more effort, and more energy. We may need to prioritize our plans and travel MO to a greater extent than in past years and give more consideration to alternatives to doing everything that we used to be able to do without a thought. We adapt, look forward, and bash on until the wheels fall off, the rig's or ours! There are a lot of roads that I haven't traveled yet, and adventures still to be enjoyed, and I hope to be able to go for a while yet! And, I know that many of us who may be on the "sunset trail" feel the same way! 4 Likes
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