Too old maybe?

Old Feb 8th, 2016, 07:18 AM
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Too old maybe?

First off, I'm in my late 80's so believe I can fairly safely call myself a "senior" as opposed to so many of you young pups out there in your adolescent 60's and 70's. Sadly, since my wife died three years ago, I've stuck close to home.

But now I feel the need to get on the road again - preferably to somewhere exotic - not for a week but for a month or more.

What you think ... am I just dreaming ... a touch of senility, maybe?

Anyone out there around my age who has been there ... done that? I'd be delighted to know.

Physically, according to my Dr. I'm in "good shape ... for a man of your years!?"

Eric Hamblin
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 07:47 AM
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I'm not your age -- but I see no reason not to.

Staying somewhere for several weeks is a great option. You can explore but also take it easy some days if necessary. Apparently you are ambulatory and don't need an attendant/help. if you don't do it now -- when will you

What sorts of place(s) are you considering?
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 08:23 AM
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I vacation regularly in Puerto Vallarta Mexico. There are lots of oldsters who go down for the winter.

I say, why not?
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 10:36 AM
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I'm only in my late 60s, but my sister, in her late 70s, is still traveling - mostly on Saga trips out of the UK, but she went to Norway with me last year, and came to the US the year before. I remember that on a five week Beijing to Rawalpindi trip run by Intrepid Travel we had a woman in her 80s.

If you don't travel now, then when?
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 05:45 PM
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Why not? I have an aunt who traveled widely into her early 90's.

Think through your actual limitations (e.g., do you need elevator from street level to the lobby? Do you have special dietary needs that might not be met by your lodging's breakfast room?), and then have a wonderful time planning any of the wonderful trips that you can take within those limits!

Go for it, Eric!

And call upon us again if we can do anything to help you narrow down your wide range of options.
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Old Feb 9th, 2016, 05:03 PM
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I have a friend in her 80s who still travels back and forth from the states to NZ. She has to pace herself. Where she used to keep going straight through, now she does the trip in legs with overnights on the way. Recently, DH and I also started doing that as much as possible. So, go for it.

There is an "interesting" blogger in her 70s (I think, but hard to tell) that goes places for a month, some fairly remote. She does home exchanges with people literally all over the world, sometimes hitch hikes, and meets a lot of people. She writes in 3rd person and calls herself the Alte Cocker. Get past that and her travel blogs about her adventures are interesting, funny, sometimes caustic and informative. She is very self-sufficient. She climbs bridges. She seems a bit off the wall, but is an inspiration for any older person who wants to travel independently. Her website is altecockertravels.
Get travel insurance so you have medical care should you need it or if you have to cancel, you wouldn't lose the cost.

Hope you have some wonderful adventures.
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Old Feb 10th, 2016, 09:39 AM
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My personal belief is there is no age which is "too old" for traveling.

There can be physical limitations (at any age) that need special thought when planning. But if you are healthy & mobile, no one is "too old" to take a trip somewhere.
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Old Feb 11th, 2016, 12:08 PM
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Eric,
Go! If not now, when?
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Old Feb 11th, 2016, 01:47 PM
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I say start planning and packing. Do it as soon as you can. Tomorrow is unknown. Enjoy yourself now.
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Old Feb 11th, 2016, 02:45 PM
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What haven't you seen that you really wanted to see?
If you have the budget to allow it, go now.
Find a traveling companion that can pay their own way that wants to go where you are going.
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Old Feb 13th, 2016, 07:09 PM
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Hi Eric

I'm firmly in the " choose somewhere you would like to go - and go" camp, too.

If you're fit physically & flexible mentally, you're likely to have a great experience. I'm noting flexible, because things can & do go awry or need a tweak along most routes & in my experience, those of us who can cope with that with equanimity tend to enjoy our travels.

I'm not necessarily in favor of having to have a travelling companion. Caveat: I'm a solo traveller who has been at it for 30+ years nationally ( in Australia ) & overseas for business & leisure. I've travelled with friends, enjoyed some trips - others not at all.

I find that doing my own thing allows me the freedom to do just that - whatever I want, whenever I want, within the constraints of budget & ability. I find that I'm more likely to strike up a conversation with other travelers or locals when I'm in my own - and that has led to a few great friendships, good tips on where to go.

This is something you'll need to work out for yourself, of course. It's a long time since I was married & you were probably married for quite a few years,
so our solo traveling experience will likely be at opposite ends of the spectrum.

I know someone in a somewhat similar situation to you, though. My very close friend died 3 years ago.

Her husband is a fit & capable 84 year old, who hadn't travelled without her in their 20 year marriage. Like you, he stayed close to home, just visiting a few close friends here and taking a trip back to the UK to see his family, since my friend died.

He decided few months ago that he wanted to start traveling again & did a 2 week cruise to "break the ice" with something they had not done together.

He is now planning a 6 -8 week trip to Italy & France, linking up with a couple of small group, special interest tours for 3-4 days here & there. He has booked some accommodation, where he will stay for a week or so, and some opera & restaurants that he particularly wants to visit, but has left a lot of his itinerary fluid to allow for his whims of the moment. I think one or two of his family and possibly a couple of friends who will also be in Italy at the same time, may join him for a day or two here & there.

You might find the Untours website useful.

If you do consider going with someone, I'd give the same ( unsolicited, of course) advice most of us here give: do a couple of 2-5 day trips with them, preferably with at least one of those being out of both your comfort zones, to see how you mesh.

In my 20's & 30's I didn't mind sharing a room. Unless I'm half way up a hill in a snowstorm in Nepal, I want my own room these days. I don't need an electrical plug for my toothbrush, but I do prefer my own space for at least 8 hours a day.

I wish you well in this new chapter of your life & hope that you enjoy your travels, wherever they may lead.

One last thing: I'm a couple of decades younger than you & still have to fend off well meaning acquaintances' horrified "oh, you're not going on your own, are you? I've heard such terrible stories / surely you're not going to drive -on the other side of the world & road / why would you want to go there/do that ?.. ( fill in the blanks)"

My strategy is not to get into any discussion beyond "I wouldn't worry about me if I were you - I'm a big girl now - but thanks for your concern."
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Old Feb 13th, 2016, 07:28 PM
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Road Scholar may be of interest to you: http://www.roadscholar.org/

I haven't done any of their tours, but have heard & read plenty of good reports about them.
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Old Feb 14th, 2016, 04:01 AM
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I would most definitely recommend Road Scholar, which provides educational trips for 55 and older. They have huge numbers of tours to choose from, all over the world, with activity levels from easy to very challenging and varying group sizes, each focussed on one or more interests. Birding? Photography? Skiing? Painting? Architecture? Food? You name it, they do it.

We went to New Zealand with them a couple of years back, and if I could I would be travelling with them twice a year until I’m 95. Sadly, the Canadian currency is very weak right now against the $US so the cost is beyond our budget. If you are from the US, however, I would say they provide excellent value.
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Old Feb 14th, 2016, 08:35 AM
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I have a 70-something single girlfriend who regularly travels with Road Scholar (used to be Elderhostel). I think she's been to something like 36 countries since she retired. Obviously she loves it, and is very comfortable with the trips they put together.
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Old Feb 24th, 2016, 03:03 PM
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RoadScholar is no longer for 55 and older. I have been on many trips with them and although most of the participants on their "easy" ones are elderly, that isn't necessarily so on others.
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Old Feb 24th, 2016, 06:11 PM
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If you would like to do some volunteer work for the United States Forest Service, look up the Passport in Time projects.
I checked the website this morning and there are several weeks still available at my first PIT project at the Elk Lake Guard Station about 35 miles out of Bend Oregon.
You get to wear the uniform and greet people and share the history of the great old guard station.
There are still some positions open at projects at the La Wis Wis Guard station in Washington not far from Mt. Rainier.
My first PIT boss was Les Joslin who wrote Uncle Sam's Cabins and several other books. He still lives in Bend.
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Old Mar 13th, 2016, 02:12 PM
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Consider river cruising. There are river cruises to exotic places. I'm in late 70's and love the floating hotel travel. I don't care for ocean cruises, however-- too many people and too much "at sea" time.
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Old Mar 22nd, 2016, 06:35 PM
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You know, I was always told that you are only as old as what you feel. If you feel like you are spry enough to go on vacation go for it! I have a friend who is 86 and just got his motorcycle license in Florida. He said the person who tested him told him that he was the oldest one to get a motorcycle license that he had tested and was possibly the oldest person in Florida to get a motorcycle license.

So if he can do it, you should be able to do the same! Go for it!
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Old Mar 31st, 2016, 01:34 PM
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I was recently on a Rick Steves tour where the oldest person was 79 and she could run circles around most of the rest of us. She only slowed down once when she wasn't feeling well and stayed at the hotel for an afternoon. And I've been on some Global Volunteer teams that included a man approaching 80 and he, too, could keep up with everyone else and then some. So I say, go for it! Figure out what you think will suit you and have a great time!
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Old Apr 13th, 2016, 10:07 AM
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Well, I's sorry you're not portuguese, otherwise I would tell you "came on, you're so young! Just look at Manoel de Oliveira!". But of course you don't know Manoel de Oliveira, a portuguese movie maker (maybe you can google it? He won a lot of awards). Unfortunately he died, of heart attack, not ending his last movie (yes, he was still working, and travelling, and doing all the things we can do while we are alive).

My opinion is that you are in that age when you can do anything you want. So, you want to travel? Do it!
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