A Time to Face Reality

seadoug

seadoug

Senior Member
Location
Texas
I just spent a few days with my extended family. I've been spending getaways with my SIL and her 4 kids, my BIL and his partner and Hubs for over 20 years. We usually rent a cabin in the GA mountains and go hiking, rafting and horseback riding. This weekend was in South Florida for my SIL's birthday and was quiet.

My SIL went through breast cancer treatment last year, and although she is cancer-free she is now going through severe rheumatoid arthritis (most likely from the cancer treatments) and will once again undergo chemo. She just turned 58. Hubs will turn 60 in November. BIL is 61. I'm 67, so I'm the old one in the bunch. The kids are now 29, 28, 24 and 21. The 28 and 21 y/o nieces joined us and feigned interest for as long as they could. :ROFLMAO:

Anyway, this is the first time we sat around and talked seriously about how soon we will no longer be able to enjoy what we used to. I told my BIL that we were debating on doing some remodeling of our house or traveling. He said we should absolutely travel because we never know when we will no longer be able. That was exactly what I was thinking.

This is also the first time we've discussed our mortality. It was a somber occasion.

Here is one of our first cabin shots and one of the most recent. See if you can spot who is who. Time goes by too quickly!

Cabin.jpg

Cabin 2.jpg
 

I agree about the traveling part. I am so glad I went on a trip to England alone about 10 years ago. The main destination was Cornwall, which is very hilly and rocky, lots of walking, and we even had to climb a couple of fences. But incredibly beautiful and very interesting. No way could I go on a trip like that now. Also went to Stonehenge which I had always wanted to see.

Time passes very quickly, and before you know it you're too old to do any of that stuff.

P.S. You have a beautiful family.
 
Sunny said:
I agree about the traveling part. I am so glad I went on a trip to England alone about 10 years ago. The main destination was Cornwall, which is very hilly and rocky, lots of walking, and we even had to climb a couple of fences. But incredibly beautiful and very interesting. No way could I go on a trip like that now. Also went to Stonehenge which I had always wanted to see.

Time passes very quickly, and before you know it you're too old to do any of that stuff.

P.S. You have a beautiful family.
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From what I have seen of reports from France, England and some other countries, you're better off staying in the USA.

I wouldn't mind a trip the the Netherlands.
 
Disgustedman said:
From what I have seen of reports from France, England and some other countries, you're better off staying in the USA.

I wouldn't mind a trip the the Netherlands.
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I would avoid the big tourist spots in Europe such as Venice, Barcelona etc. Especially in the summer peak season.
Amsterdam is full of very nasty and unfriendly Dutch people. (n)
 
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Great pics, and thank you for sharing them, Doug. Venice in October... lucky you! Don't suppose there's an extra ticket? :giggle: And an early happy 60th to hubby!

Since I'm like George, the Curious Little Monkey, I'm going to ask if Albania has any particular draw for you... sounds fascinating, but not a usual tourist destination (unless I'm totally behind the times, and that could very well be the case.)
 
CallMeKate said:
Great pics, and thank you for sharing them, Doug. Venice in October... lucky you! Don't suppose there's an extra ticket? :giggle: And an early happy 60th to hubby!

Since I'm like George, the Curious Little Monkey, I'm going to ask if Albania has any particular draw for you... sounds fascinating, but not a usual tourist destination (unless I'm totally behind the times, and that could very well be the case.)
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We're going on a cruise and Albania just happens to be included. We've never visited Albania and the port of Saranda looks beautiful. I've been curious about Albania ever since a nice young Albanian college student who was studying in Rome helped us find our way to the the train station. If he was any indication, the people of Albania must be hospitable.

Saranda, Albania...

Saranda.jpeg
 
I'm sure you've heard it before; our financial guy talks about the three stages of retirement: the go-go years, the slow-go years and the
no-go years. He says it's important to be able to recognize the transition from one to another and to get done, in each one, the things that you won't be able to do in the next.
 
I did all the traveling I care to do, except for two trips, which I can’t get my wife to budge on, which is one trip to Africa to go on a photo safari and one trip to where my grandpa was born and raised in Greece and I would like to add the island of Crete.

I really don’t want to go it alone.
 
oldman said:
I did all the traveling I care to do, except for two trips, which I can’t get my wife to budge on, which is one trip to Africa to go on a photo safari and one trip to where my grandpa was born and raised in Greece and I would like to add the island of Crete.

I really don’t want to go it alone.
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We go to a local Greek restaurant. We've been to Greece many times but not to Crete. The owner of the restaurant is Athenian and he always sits down to talk with us. He always recommends Crete over any other places to visit in Greece. I really do hope you can make it some day.
 
oldman said:
I did all the traveling I care to do, except for two trips, which I can’t get my wife to budge on, which is one trip to Africa to go on a photo safari and one trip to where my grandpa was born and raised in Greece and I would like to add the island of Crete.

I really don’t want to go it alone.
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I would go alone if your wife would not go. I would not go to Africa, but I would definitely go to Greece if I was her.
 
seadoug said:
We go to a local Greek restaurant. We've been to Greece many times but not to Crete. The owner of the restaurant is Athenian and he always sits down to talk with us. He always recommends Crete over any other places to visit in Greece. I really do hope you can make it some day.
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I have read and spoken to pilots and other people in our church that have been to Crete and they have told me there are some beautiful beaches and scenery there. I like Greek cooking, so I would be good with ordering food. My grandpa did teach me some of the more important words and I also carry a translator.
 
Teacher Terry said:
I would go alone if your wife would not go. I would not go to Africa, but I would definitely go to Greece if I was her.
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She is afraid to travel overseas because of what she reads regarding treatment of Americans in some of the other countries. I will never get her to Africa. I asked her if I could take an old girlfriend along and she said go ahead, but I won’t be here when you get back. I had to laugh. I told her I had to think about that and then she gave me “the look.” You know what I mean?

If I had to choose jus one, it would be Greece, only because it would give me a chance to search the town where my grandpa came from and ask around if there were any of his relatives still in the village.
 

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