So, you know, you might be hiking the Grand Canyon at 75.

More likely touring Tokyo, but yes, I'm not quitting yet. I'm just conscious that I need to do more regular maintenance if I want to do those things. Thinking about doing Pilates because my friends that do it love it and I think that's a good way to build up core strength and flexibility, but having the support of the machine.

I say all that while giving the calendar the side-eye since I'll be 50 next month. Ramping up my exercise after Covid has reminded me of the same thing -- I feel better and function better when I prioritize exercise most days of the week. And being forced to slow way way down for a while made me realize that if I can get back to where I was before Covid (and I'm close at this point, which: yay!), the only way to be active for a long time is (another tautology here) to be active.

Plus I fucking got trekking poles for hiking as a Christmas gift and I want to use them more than once, god damn it. Though I'll hold off on any hiking until the cicadas are gone, because fuck that.

Plus I fucking got trekking poles for hiking as a Christmas gift and I want to use them more than once, god damn it. Though I'll hold off on any hiking until the cicadas are gone, because fuck that.

You can probably spear an entire skewer's worth of cicadas on your trekking sticks.

You can probably spear an entire skewer's worth of cicadas on your trekking sticks.

Bug-kabobs.

Sending love, Laura, and am really glad you have lots of medical experts on speed dial.

My mother, at 78, would still be a pretty active traveler but my Dad has advanced Parkinson's and she's his primary caretaker. I'd love to take her any number of places but I don't think she'd feel ok traveling when my dad's not able to. They did do a fair amount of travel around the US, and to Ireland, the UK, and Italy, though, when he was able to.

Mom was still well enough to enjoy travel into her 90s.

I told DH this morning that the last 30+ years were business and kids and the next 30 has to be us. He replied that he probably only had 5-10 good ones in him. Of course I responded that I had to get in shape for DH#4 then.

In waiting room for MRI.

Laura, that sounds scary and I am glad you are having matters looked at. May whatever work you undertake to make you feel better in your body be rewarded.

Did someone mention Reformer Pilates? {does the excited meerkat dance} It is my favorite thing. It is not everyone's thing - my yoga teacher who danced professionally for years haaaaaaaates it - and you absolutely do want at least one private session before you start dropping money on classes. But one of the requirements for our next place is enough space for me to have a Stott machine at home, that is how much fun I have on them.

Did someone mention Reformer Pilates? {does the excited meerkat dance} It is my favorite thing.

Good advice on the private lesson first. I have several options within walking distance. Just been waiting to feel safe to go into an indoor exercise space.

I have several options within walking distance.

Yay!

Just been waiting to feel safe to go into an indoor exercise space.

That is a good decision.

In my observance of various elder family members, I feel like if you’re reasonably active and moderately lucky, most people are good until about 80. After that it’s a crapshoot. My mother is 71 and capable of anything I am, and she dragged her husband (now 89) along until a couple of years ago, although I doubt he enjoyed it much, and he napped a lot. My father is 75 and hates exercise but is big into gardening and home renovation and he’d manage to walk across Scotland except he hates exercise.