Old Timer RVing

Scottiemom wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
I am now approaching my 80s and the differences in capabilities of people my age is huge. Some people are fit, active and able to do lots of things at my age and even well into their 90s. Others barely make it in independent or assisted living facilities. A great many others are already dead.

Genetics and luck are certainly important. Unfortunately most of us have not and do not live a lifestyle that is healthy. I am a reformed smoker, reformed drinker, and after some serious health issues and a couple of stents, I am moving towards being a "health nut". You probably do not want to hear my advice, but here are a few comments anyway.

First, the average American is killing themselves with excess calories and poor food choices. Obesity is very common. You cannot expect to live an active life in older age if you spend most of your life time eating poorly and carrying 20, 50 or a 100 pounds or more of fat. You cannot expect to live a long active life if you do not exercise. Health professionals recommend roughly 150 hours/week of exercise. For me that means a heart rate in the range of 101-122 or slightly higher. Less than that falls into the category of activity, not exercise.

I spent my Covid years doing very little. I also had some serious health issues including a heart CTO, afib, emphysema, systemic sclerosis, and anemia. I just finished 36 sessions of cardiac rehab and am now going to the gym 3x/week. I surely cannot totally reverse years of overeating and lack of exercise, but I have learned I can make a huge difference in my health and ability to do things. This Sunday I will be taking off for a 4 month trip in my truck camper.

Anyway back to the OP. You probably do not want to do any research and learn about the capabilites of the average person in their 80s. I can tell you for sure it will be discouraging. Next, I recommend you totally reconsider your lifestyle. If you have "settled in" to living and "sitting around doing nothing", consider some alternatives. Even RV travel might not do much for you. especially if that means sitting around a campground. Maybe you should consider photography, or bird watching, or rock hounding, any reason to get you out on the trails putting in some miles of hiking and exploring.

Please tell me how you can pack in 150 hours/week of exercise. . .????:?

Easy, he spends 20 hours a day exercising then sleeps 4 hours.

60 used to be old. 80 was ancient. 90 was a walking corpse... if they could walk at all. People are living longer and are heathier than previous generations for the most part. I think it's more a mindset than anything else. I know people younger than me that look and act like they are in their late 80's. My daughter is in her mid 30's and complains that her 20-something co-workers act older than me and are "sick" all the time.

My 92yo mother is in better shape than most people my age (62). She's shooting for by passing 100yo. Our theory is because she doesn't go to the doctor except once a year as she has mild high blood pressure (probably due to going and sitting in a doctor's office - she had a really bad experience with an idiot doctor). No drink, no drugs, no smoking. We all grew up on a typical Southern diet too.

The only ones in my maternal side of the family (the side I'm close to) that are in poor health and die early are the ones who believe that doctors know what's best for them and the ones who abuse drugs and alcohol. I'm pretty sure my mother will pass 100yo. And she still drives long distances in her car. I plan on surpassing my mom in years. As long as I'm healthy and mobile, I plan on keeping going.

Eighty years my next birthday . Wife and I are on a 12 week odyssey traveling from Florida to Seattle and back ! We are in Oregon in our 20 foot Winnebago TT . We stop at most small city and county museums , we walk thru several small towns each day , just looking . Ain't nuttin finer ! I think of us not as campers but as Travelers !

I'm 80, wife will be 80 on 9/11/23 (I won't forget that birthday!). We still do summer chapter weekends and snow bird. It's not as easy as it used to be, but we still do it.

Richard

Thank all for your responses.