Go Go Years vs. Slow Go and No Go Years

[Cruisinthru]

When we retired I thought we would have maybe ten years of those Go Go Years before we had to slow down. Now five years into retirement I think we are just picking up steam and started going faster. We are over the intial money worries of the first year or so of retirement. We have seen our net worth continue to grow even in a recession, so it's time to spend and keep enjoying the world while we have some Go Go Years left. My husband is now 67 and I am 60. Neither of us have any health problems, knock on wood! We are still planning the places and things we want to see and do and that is what is driving us on. We took five wonderful trips last year that kept us away from home about three months.

To sit at home would bore me to tears. Sorry W2R, but life is too short.... I love to read and have many friends, but I want to experience as much as I can in life before my time is gone.

My parents died at early ages, 69 and 73. They smoked, did not exercise, and ate a southern diet of fried meat and potatoes their entire lives. I alway thought I would follow in their footsteps and time as a retiree was short. Now I am beginning to see that maybe I was wrong and that my lifestyle may play a bigger role in just how many Go Go Years are in my future. Who knows for sure! I exercise, and eat right. I don't smoke and drink in moderation.

I hope that I can have at least twenty years of Go Go, maybe 5 of Slow Go, and another 5 or so as a No Go. I think the Slow Go stage would be when I can no longer lead a active and vibrant retirement. When I can't walk as far, handle my own luggage, and maybe need some assistance when I travel. The No Go would be when I am content to stay at home and have most everyday tasks done for me.

I know all the best planning can change in a heartbeat, but I plan on doing all I can to continue in the Go Go Years.

My MIL is 92 and living in a senior apartment and firmly into her No Go Years. She has lived a very active and full life that included probably 20+ years of Go Go retirement. She has a vibrant and lively life even as a No Go. Maybe it's an attitude.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruisinthru To sit at home would bore me to tears. Sorry W2R, but life is too short.... I love to read and have many friends, but I want to experience as much as I can in life before my time is gone.

Perhaps in a sense I really DO like to travel but to just one place (a hometown), in greater depth, rather than to many places. Pursuing my lifelong quest for a hometown and roots, long time friends, someplace that I can be "from", and exploring and enjoying that hometown to my own satisfaction are interests and experiences that I would like to add to, in my lifetime. This appeals to me far more than spending yet more of my precious time on this earth sitting in airports, tired and bored to tears, and tromping through foreign countries that I don't intend to stay in for long enough to truly know them in depth. To make a long story short, BTDT.

Frank is at work, but I am sure that if he were here he would also want me to point out that some people have a near infinite number of projects and interests that they want to explore at home (he and I have that in common).

[donheff]

My family came in two groups, my two brothers within a year or so of me; and a brother and two sisters 15-18 years older - same parents. The older group serves as a health bell weather for what the younger group can expect. They are all still traveling fine at ages 76-79 even though two of them are almost blind (all of us in the young group dodged that genetic bullet). Heck, my 76 YO, sight impaired brother is still w*rking and travels a lot for that - he loves what he does so all the more power to him as far as I am concerned.

[Kronk]

DW and I have a vague thought of travelling the country (continent?) for a year or more. The idea would be to try living different places and seeing if anything struck a chord. If not, we'd just settle into retirement near where we currently live.

In our vague plan, we'd live in each place for a month at a time -- not sure if we'd rent furnished apartments, try to be housesitters, or cruise around in an RV.

Since we're not very adventurous types by nature, that'd constitute our Go Go time.