Truly retiring?s

[gonleylonley]

I am 73 years of age and health is failing. i have high bp-cholesterol-triglicerides-Type 2 diabetes and not to motivated. I AM CONSIDERING SELLING THE winnebago and tow dolly and sitting on my porch.Anybody with the same thoughts? Thanx GL

[flemerdad]

I'm 71, wife is 69 and we live in Sun City in Georgetown, Texas. We had either a pop-up or pull behind TT off and on for several years, the 2002 we bought a 5th wheel and pickup, eventually selling our house and traveling full time for 3 years. Had a blast, volunteered for church camps, USFS and NPS. In 2007, we sold the 5th wheel and truck and settled in Sun City thinking we were through with RVing.

Last week, we bought a used 17 foot Roadrunner TT to pull behind our SUV. RVing just doesn't get out of our blood. We'll take short middle of the week trips and go the the mountains for a while in the heat of the summer. Wouldn't be surprised if we get something bigger next year.

It's been fun getting ready to do this again, but I really wish I hadn't given away all of my RV stuff. It's gotten really expensive!

By the way, I've had type I insulin dependent diabetes for over 50 years, same time we've been married. Keeping active and doing things together keeps us young. Don't sit on the porch! You'll get old.

BEST WISHES

[wintersun]

Sounds like sitting on your front porch and doing nothing is a great way to shorten your life expectancy dramatically. I subscribe to the use it or lose it and keep mind and body fit by staying busy. If I was not engaged I would be bored and boring.

[VintageRacer]

Everyone is different. When my Dad was 73 he was in the early stages of Lewy Body dementia, which has a large physical component to it. He needed to stop driving, had a hard time walking, started to be forgetful, and all the rest. The number on the age has nothing to do with it, neither does the boastful words of the 80 year old who is still running marathons, it's what matters to you that counts.

Brian

[deleted-2]

Just turned 60 and I feel like dying when we stay home.
I feel like others around us are encroaching\invading.

Changing scenery for me is great therapy:
Knees don't lock up
Back doesn't******out
I can breathe
No chest pains
Rise in the morning with a smile
Fall in love with the wife all over again

When we go away in our trailer it's like heaven on wheels.

[Thunder_Mountai]

My best advice is to keep moving however slowly it might be. Because when you stop moving you are an easy target for the first shovel full of dirt. And when they hit you with the first shovel full it is all over.

Good luck in whatever decision you make. You can sell your RV, but in your heart, you'll always be an RVer!

[woodworker414]

I will be 69 shorthly. Good health, some minor issues. Falling vision. Macular degeneration. So I can't drive the MH "C". The DW health issues are a whole lot worse than mine. She can't drive either. So the C has been a very expensive yard ornament for almost 5 years. The DW has suggested a number of times that I sell the C, I tell her that will never happen. I get to much enjoyment just looking at it. I still mainitain it well. A new driver has entered the picture. my youngest sister has learned how to drive the C, she loves to go places. Now we take day trips, to local places. We have a lot of fun doing that. The DW usually decides to stay at home, but I go. My sister plans to retire in a little less that four years and we plan to be on the road a LOT.
I exercise most days, I ride a bike one day 5-10 miles the next day I walk 3-5 miles. I try to eat decent most of the time, I stay very active.
Get rid of the C, I know that day may come but I don't see it happening for a very long time.
I have friends that are in their mid 80's that still hit the road.
Brother in law and sister in law were at a mfg. sponsored rally last summer in Gillette WY. One of the contest that they had was who was the oldest couple that made the rally, the winners, he was 94, she was 92, They said that they are not fast, stay off the interstates, and yes they have health issue.
We here who have responded to you, have not walk in your shoes. So we can't give a true answer to you, what is the best for you.
I know the motivation factor is the battle we have between our ears. I will admit that there a times when I make myself do something, when I would just rather sit. But I give myself a good kick in the sourh end and get off the duff and go.
Good luck with making your decision. I would think that you should think long and hard about it. You certainly don't want to sell the rv and the regret it.
Good Luck.
Bill

[arnko37]

I am 75 and still have places I want to go with the RV. But I believe if you lost the desire to RV it would turn into more trouble than its worth. I feel I have some years left. You know best what you want to do and what you can do. Good luck.

[carp65]

We have been full-timing since 2005, after I had a very serious attack of
congestive heart failure. I am diabetic, insulin dependent, and have gone
through colorectal cancer including chemo, radiation and surgery. I told
my wife I want to go on a hiking trail, pack on my back. At 75 I figure
I still have some good years left and intend to live them to the fullest.

[noe-place]

I'm turning 66 in June, had a heart attack the day I was scheduled to retire in 2002. As a result I take over half a dozen meds every day, have to watch my diet and get exercise. I also lost most of my hair. Last summer my orthpedic surgeon told me I need a new left knee and I'm an avid WALKING golfer. My 12 yr old grandson expects me to keep up with him whatever we do and take him all over the country in our MH which we do every summer. I love being active but it really hurts the last couple of years to do certain things and my bad knee has slowed me down but I won't let it stop me. I think it comes down to one's disposition; either you give up or you still have something to do with life and you charge ahead till the BOSS upstairs brings you to that sudden stop. I think I'll let Him make the call.

[Dufus]

I'm 69(DW is 65)and we're selling out to full time. I no longer want the hassles of owning a home. I've discovered that sitting on the porch is only possible if I have a complete staff of folks to take care of the property. I would rather be in a MH in a well maintained campground. After discussions with kids we have decided that when we get older we will find a campground close to them so they can check on us now and then. Granted, sooner or later we'll need assisted living, but until then we're living the good life. The aches and pains of aging will be much more bearable sitting under the canopy of my camper watching grounds keepers do their thing. BTW, I have RA and have had a couple of surgeries for other issues. I have no fear of the future nor does my darling wife. We intend to spend the rest of our lives clinging to each other and our nomadic freedom.

[Henry]

I would plan one more trip to somewhere you have always thought of going, but haven't, then re-think retiring.

[pnichols]

Leroy (the OP),

What kind of RV do you have?

Perhaps you could trade straight across for another type of RV? You mentioned a tow dolly, so I assume you have a motorhome(?). I know I don't want to RV in anything large or tow anything ... too much get-ready, park, setup, tear-down, unhook at home, etc., hassles for us.

We RV in a small Class C and don't tow. The rig is just about ready to go anytime. We keep it in the backyard plugged in to keep the batteries up. This kind of setup makes it almost trivial to take on short or long trips on short notice. I'm really glad this type RV is what we have at our ages - 67 and 70.

[hedgehopper]

Both my father and my father-in-law became less active because their health was not as good as it once was. It was all downhill from there.

In my opinion, you need to become more active, not less. I am 76 and dealing with various health challenges. So I run and walk for 10 to 20 minutes every morning before breakfast. I won't give that up unless I can't do it anymore.

Nor will I give up on RVing unless I can't do it anymore. On a recent RV trip, my wife and I took a shuttle bus in the town where we were visiting. A fellow with a walker and an oxygen tank stumbled his way onto the bus. And I said to my wife, "If he can still get out and about, I certainly can too."

If you're not active and want to be, start with the easiest thing you can do and increase it from there. Try walking. It doesn't have to hurt. If it does, start with less. Don't believe the old fallacy, "No pain, no gain."

Good luck.

[Highway_4x4]

I am only 61 and feel the same at times. As we get a little older we men get low-T. That makes us just want to sit, no drive, not a good thing. The less you do, the less you can do. Sell the RV, OK, but replace it with something else to do. Do some volunteer work somewhere. Have a strong cup of coffee and get going. The day will come when you can't do anything soon enough. Unless you're broke or sick, sitting on the porch all day is just wrong. Heck, even if you're broke you can do something, so do it.