Senior Moments 

Well, maybe not senior moments. We try to avoid senior moments. Seems many seniors are just waiting to die, we’re out living.

We just returned from a couple of weeks of camping in the desert. It was a totally relaxing. I didn’t take any pics, so you’ll just have to use your imagination and picture the amazing scenery and wildlife we saw, like a whole herd of majestic big horn sheep.

But here’s something that caught my eye: I saw this really interesting spare wheel cover on a travel trailer that said ‘Adventure Before Dementia.’ The phrase sounds pretty catchy, and it also made me think about our own lives. It’s all about perspective, you know? What it means to you can totally change depending on how you look at things.

Living each day to the fullest and not waiting for some vague retirement date in the future is what gives life meaning. Who knows what the future holds? Our plans might not work out, and we could miss out on enjoying a good life by putting off things we might call ‘the pursuit of happiness.’

Full Time RVing

For some, it might be a decision to leave their job, sell their belongings, and embark on a full-time travel adventure. We have friends who’ve made this choice, retiring earlier than expected, selling their homes, and exploring the world while camping. I’ve considered this option, but it’s not quite the right fit for us, as I mentioned in a post I wrote back in 2016.

I have other hobbies besides camping. Living out of a camper full-time would make backpacking a bit tricky. I’d have to leave Joyce alone in the camper, and that’s not ideal. Then there’s astrophotography — that would be tough to do on the go. And let’s not forget about my library — I’m a bookworm and read most of my books multiple times, making notes in them for future reference. The library is way too big to travel with.

‘Before Dementia’

This implies that cognitive decline will happen. This just isn’t true. Perhaps a better strategy would be to live a healthy life style, stay mentally active, and with a little genetic good luck simply avoid dementia.

Here’s the thing: it’s not about waiting until retirement to do these things. Just do them today! I call this ‘Managing Your Recreation Inventory.’ Most of us get around 120 days off each year, but most waste so many of those days. Not us!

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that while Joyce and I were working, we still managed to go camping about 100 nights a year. That’s on top of my backpacking trips. Now that we’re retired, we still do around 120 nights a year, but our trips are not as frequent and are longer in duration. For us, two weeks is the minimum trip, and one month is the norm. 

There are many ways to balance life with work. My friend Paul Magnanti, known as “PMags,” often writes about this.

PMags

Paul and his wife, who are young enough to be our kids, live a similar lifestyle. But they’ve got it even better! They live closer to amazing camping and hiking spots than we do. Both are passionate backpackers. Paul has conquered the triple crown of long-distance trails: the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Appalachian Trail. Joan has also completed the Pacific Crest Trail.

While they’re busy building their future, they still have plenty of time to enjoy the great outdoors. They’ve been getting more into car camping lately, usually with some epic hikes to remote places. This way, they can make the most of their backcountry time, but they still have time to do more backpacking trips than most backpackers. It’s a perfect balance!

I highly recommend checking out Paul’s website and signing up for his email newsletter. He often writes about gear, and he has a practical approach to buying gear that lasts for a reasonable price. Paul presents a common sense approach to backpacking, camping, and a balanced lifestyle.