Hi Baz,

Seize the day!

I'm still procrastinating about the ideal vehicle to travel with. Your decision to retire sounds to me like a good one. I enjoy reading about your travels.

MOTTO; If you think that you can do it today, then you should have done it yesterday.

Having worked with elderly people for 30 years, I've learned a lot from them... primarily "Get out there and follow your dream while you can!" That means different things to different people, you could become a Grey Nomad, or you could enrol in University.

Also there's the lesson not to leave yourself flat broke in your last years, I've seen that life can be very hard for 90+ year-old people who didn't think they'd live so long, and they need care and help that must be paid for somehow.

MOTTO ALL WRONG: If you think that you can do it today, then you could quiet possibly do it tomorrow, or may be even the day after. Life's a beach.

A number of years ago, I took 12 months off work to build my house. It happened to coincide with the last 12 months of the life of one of my friends dying with an inoperable brain tumor.

One day, listening to ABC Radio, I heard an interview with a researcher studying people living under a death sentence similar to the situation of my friend.

The researcher has asked these people what their biggest regret had been in their lives and he was astounded that, overwhelmingly, the said that they wished they had taken more risks during their life. Not physical risks but the risk of turning your back on your comfortable situation. The risk of walking out on the job you hate and trying something different, the risk of walking away from a poor relationship.

My friend died some months later and I have endeavored to live my life as if there is no tomorrow. I have walked out of employment that I hated and pursued something different.

You know what. I have no regrets whatsoever.

I am currently on the road with my wife (done 6 months so far) and will not return home till at least October next year (in time for a 50 year school reunion). I will then sell my house and all my material possessions and go and live in France where we own a small cottage. Who knows what comes after that but I'm not going to sweat about it.

As the say in the ads, "Just Do It"

The Phantom

You would be suprised how many patients I have had that were on their first big trip & got here & had to go to hospital. The majority have been heart scares but accidents & various illness's have quite a sway also.
Everyone I have spoken to had the same story "Should have started earlier".
That convinced me to order the van & start seeing more of Australia.
I must say most of my visitors have made a good recovery & managed to continue the trip to some degree.
The moral of the story is don't go through Rockhampton as there seems to be a curse on travelers.

Allan

Unfortunately not everyone has the option of retiring early. You have to be financially independent with investments capable of covering your expenses & not hoping for government hand outs.
I'm lucky to be in that position but just. I have been retired now for 6 years & not yet 60. I figure if i need to go back to work in my early 60s at least I have experienced retirement.
I too saw friends come to the end of their life before or shortly after retiring & didn't want that to be me.

I think so, But it is only an Attitude, which can be changed at any time,

I was told I was going to die at 18. Motor cycles, Most of them are dead now,

I snow Skied, I water skied, I rode big fast motorbikes, I danced Rock and Roll, Rockabilly, I camped in out back, remote spots,

Travelled Oz Extensively,

Continously being told I was going to die, From all the dangerous things I did,

I still do all of the above except water Skiing, Its too Boring stuck on the end of a string for me,

My Attitude was, If I am going to be dead, I will get as much fun in first as I possibly can, Hahahahahaha

I retired at 63, after 50 long hard years with my nose on the Grindstone,

It was the same day. I stepped onto my new, Second hand, 34 foot Sailing Catamaran in Fiji, Bought, Sight Unseen, in Fiji,

I had a day and a half to learn all systems aboard this vessel, Then the PO left for Hawaii, I was on my own, Hahahahaha

Well six weeks later, and sailing all around Fiji learning my new boat and its Myriad of electronics , I set sail for OZ,

Again, I got the, Your Gonna Die. Crap from every one, Hahahahaha,

Am I an Experienced Sailor, Bluntly, NO, Have I crossed an Ocean in a boat before, NO,

So I solo'd it back to OZ, I didnt die, But I did get it thrown up on the rocks while anchored,

Latest on the repairs is January 2014, Then I am going to sail it to the Kimberlys,

Very strange, No one says I am going to die going to the Kimberlys by sail Boat, ????????????

I got the same negative attitudes when I said I was going to import a Coach from the USA to retire in and travel OZ,

I dont care, I still went ahead and got it here, Love it, Its a fantastic Coach to drive, It just floats along,

No, I didnt know any thing about importing a Boat or Motor home, either, But I did it, Hahahaha. Another, its too hard, From the experts,

Its so easy now to do any thing, Internet and Google,

I only ski on Grouse days up there, Google Snow Cams, Crap weather, I stay home,

Three day forecast on the weather, Every night on TV, gives you good sailing for three days in your direction, Then wait till the TV gives you more clear days, Hahahaha

Google on the Coach, where can I go first, Tried the Otways for size on the roads and learning to drive it, 2000 Kays,

I dont like Caravan Parks, So where do all the Motor Homers go that dont use C/P's,

Google again, Grey Nomads, Greens lake , Like minded people like me, So I tried going there, Yep, full of live, real and active people, Like me, and very very Friendly,

I even got to see another M/H the same as my Motor Home, At Greens, Thats a WOW, for me,

The Attitude comes from, Jealosy, Laziness, Embarasement, and a couldnt be Buggered to even try, Not neccesarily in that order,


Jealosy, that they know that they could do it and wont,

Embarrasement, that you are showing them that they can do it and wont,

The Rest, Stick to your TV And Die, Simple,

I just wish the Stick in the Muds would get off the backs of the Doers,

Yes, I do have a Use by Date, and I am using it all up as best I can,

I did set my self up to be a self funded Retiree, But thanks to our Greedy Govt, and their Capital Gains Tax,

I am now on the old age pension and broke, Instead, Double Taxation,

Thats Life, Enjoy it now,

You may fall over and break your hip, That will slow you down, some what, Hahahaha

...and by the time we've reached our age we've learnt just about everything....all we have to do is try and remember it!.....how many are like me who studiously read every 'how to use instructions' that come with our new fangled gadgets...know it all at the time...kid ourselves we will remember everything we have read.....go to use the 'gadget' again and its like starting over...how the hell do I use it again?....or is it that we are so careful and don't want to buggger it up that we read it all again....I will never forget it THIS time.....go to use it again...dang!..how does it work again....its why I rarely give help in the Tech section...I know all about the gizmo they are discussing..I just cant remember it.....my biggest item I carry in my Caravan is the huge 'Instructions on how to use for every bloody thing I've got.....but feel really secure that I have them.....Dang...just where did I hide them again?...as I didn't want wifey touching them..far too important..or anyone stealing them and leaving me helpless....c'mon fess up!..who else constantly repeats to themselves I'm O.K. so long as I can find those S'tructions on how to use'......?..Lol...

If I had known how old I would get, I would have taken better care of myself and my memory functions....and to think I used to be the decision making Company Director for years...now I have to go back and check if I flushed the loo...how did we ever do it all remain totally in control, vice-like control, remembering everything for all those years....Lol.Hoo Roo

-- Edited by Golddetectornomad on Sunday 8th of December 2013 05:30:36 PM

-- Edited by Golddetectornomad on Sunday 8th of December 2013 05:34:16 PM

I had a small gold claim at Corinna in Tassie for a few years when I lived at Luina. I used to work it on weekends with my family.

A retired bank manager from Hobart turned up one weekend, to try out his beautiful home made bank dredge/sluice box. He retired and built this masterpiece over few years in his spare time. When it was perfect he came out Corinna to try it out.

One of the saddest things I have ever seen, was him sobbing as he realised he had left it to late to be able to do the physical work required to operate the box.

He packed up and went home and I believe he died not long after. That had a profound impact on me and my family. It still shapes my decisions today.


Moral of the story ..................just do it, because you never what life has to offer next.

Simple......you can all live much longer if you give up everything that makes you want to live longer....
I might have a dicky heart, but I well remember when it was the other way round....Lol...Hoo Roo