Happy Thanksgiving everyone, hope yours was just grand. While we anxiously wait for news on when our Wyatt can come home (he’s still at Texas A&M vet hospital), we couldn’t ask to be in a better place.
The folks here at Rainbow’s End in Livingston are the best. It doesn’t matter how long you’re away or even if you’ve never been here, they always go out of their way to make you feel like one of the regulars. We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with over 100 people yesterday, and a casual potluck with Thanksgiving leftovers tonight.
Jim and I are definitely among the youngest members here. One of the best parts about being the kids in the park, is that we get the benefit of learning from these adventurous souls who choose the full-time RV lifestyle while we were still in grade school.
For example, tonight we sat with a fascinating couple who defied all expectations about what “getting old” means. She was 81 and he was 88 years old but they didn’t appear to be older than 70-ish. They’ve been full-timing for 25 years, and have no plans to stop. As former hobby pilots, this couple has led a life of non-stop adventure that included worldwide travel as well as RVing. I asked the wife what her secret was to keeping young, and she simply said:
“Stay active! Always!”
I love talking to elders who refuse to utter the words “I’m getting Old” and continue to live life to the fullest. They really do prove that age is just a state of mind. I never want to forget that.
I sometimes whisper to myself the old adage, “you can never have too many old adages” or something like that but a great posting young Ms. Rene. My point being, if you’re alive you’re probably doing OK. Ask Merle Haggard cause he looks like his last name but at 75 he’s doing fine, I’d say the same for Tony Bennett.
Personally I like the aging process and it’s many benefits, for example you pick up sayings like: after 40 you shouldn’t have to learn things the hard way. Now there’s an aphorism for the ages but I suspect everyone has their own date for making the learning process easier?
Many of my neighbors here in southern California are over the age of 70. I rode last Summer down the coast of Oregon with my bike club and the oldest rider was 85, I was the youngest at 51, what a hoot. Based on my observations, I suspect the latter years can and should be your best, I’d say after 50 things get real good. I’ve found that most music sounds sweeter, save for the angry and loud rumblings of big entertainment type music, most of it’s pretty good out there. Jeeze, I sing in a country band, I never would have I thought…, maybe the fight has been replaced with more groove or sensitivity or openness or whatever, but my perspective sure has broadened and I’m at peace with more things as a result.
I have a few neighbors well into to their late 80s, they seem cheery and fun loving, as if intoxicated with each second. I also had a friend who recently passed away at 92, she sang in her grandson’s punk band in San Francisco (remember the Hotel Utah?) and was a big hit when she sang “Making Whoopee” with lipstick smeared all over her face, microphone, and signature wine glass. Dorothy really lived. A great epitaph for her, what will mine read? He loved his wife, sang and played guitar, farted too much after eating soy laden foods, read books, and so on, or, “May his resting body smell better than his pants”?
Maybe the last joke should come from our resting place so even folks who never knew us kind of sort of do know us?
Enrico strikes but without the aid of a union to back him!
Hey union-buster Enrico, I really don’t want to think about the smell emanating from your pants, thank you. However, I do agree that aging has benefits, as long as you’re still sharp enough to hear people, and not appear like the stereotypical befuddled old fart (there we go again talking about bodily functions!). I think one of the biggest keys to getting outside is like what our friend said, stay active! Bike down the coast (good for you…now I never would’ve dreamed I’d see you on a pedal-powered bike)!) and never be afraid to do something new (you in a country band…for sure, Mr. Baritone!). I think that as long as you keep reaching and branching out, aging can elude you. You’ve done a good job so far. Now get out and DO, Enrico, DO! Thanks for reading.
So nice to find your blog and hope you will check ours out. We are full-time RVers for 17 years and Escapees. We love this organization that supports our lifestyle in so many ways. Glad you are having such a good time in Livingston. Great place, great folks!
L&H, it’s great to see you here, I’ve seen your website and am really impressed with the following that you’ve built! I’ll head over there to go subscribe to the feed. 17 years full-timing is pretty awesome. It would be nice to meet up sometime, Jim and I are always learning something new from more seasoned road trippers!
Hi Rene’
I am going to tell you what my dad told me when I was in my 20’s. He said to never, ever, say that you are old, because when you do, it only takes about 6 weeks and you are. I have lived by that advise and really don’t know how he figured it out, but it works!
That’s great advice Michael, I’m going to remember that one!