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Am I too old by taking a year out aged 75 to travel and visit family and sightseeing all within financial constraints

(126 Posts)
nanafunny Sun 07-May-23 19:16:11

Being in excellent health, I want to sell my house [I'm putting money into getting granny flat at my daughter's house]
I would love to travel and visit friends and family.
I also want to do a fundraising walk for Cancer Research

V3ra Mon 08-May-23 00:48:58

Last year was the first time my mother-in-law reluctantly decided she wouldn't come abroad with us. She was 94.
We also reluctantly decided my Dad was really better not to come. He was 91.

If you feel well enough and can get good insurance cover, keep on travelling if you want to 🙂

nanna8 Mon 08-May-23 06:54:31

Our Probus Club is full of people aged in their 70 s, 80s and in a couple of cases , 90s , who still travel the world. Some of us were very annoyed that it would now be difficult to visit Russia because the Russian rivers tour was well and truly on the agenda before this ridiculous war they are waging. You go, 75 is young and go whilst you have the energy and strength!

Hetty58 Mon 08-May-23 07:24:46

No, never 'too old' if your health is good. Yes, do it - before it's too late. More people should make the most of life. There's not much logic in being ultra cautious in your old age, after all.

I did wonder, though, about the 'taking a year out' - from what exactly?

ronib Mon 08-May-23 08:24:30

Just make sure that your footwear is very comfortable and supportive. I can’t believe how important happy feet are for the slightly older person.

Hetty58 Mon 08-May-23 08:56:46

ronib, yes, footwear and creature comforts are a priority as we age. Do people still 'toughen' their feet with surgical spirit before long walks?

Wyllow3 Mon 08-May-23 09:04:54

Go for it, you'll regret forever after if you didn't. I'm younger but not well enough for travel, so you MUST.

Smileless2012 Mon 08-May-23 09:05:53

What a wonderful opportunity nanafunny so go for it and have fun.

silverlining48 Mon 08-May-23 09:27:19

Go girl , you will never be as young as you are now. What an adventure.

BigBertha1 Mon 08-May-23 09:30:14

nanfunny go for it and I hope its all fabulous. Good to hear you are in great health. I am very envious. smile

Baggs Mon 08-May-23 09:33:54

Only you know how strong and fit you are, nanafunny. Your project sounds like a fun thing so if you feel up to it, just do it. Go You! 💃🏻

Hetty58 Mon 08-May-23 09:40:55

Here in the UK, interestingly, we're alright for life expectancy - but, really, not so great for healthy life expectancy - considering the wealth of the country. Lifestyle, exercise, diet, stress, pollution - all must be factors:

www.lifespan.io/topic/life-expectancy-by-country/

Fleurpepper Mon 08-May-23 09:44:19

Hetty 'taking a year out' - I read as a year out of duties, routine, same old, same old, worries about the house, the garden, and on, and on ...Perfect.

Grammaretto Mon 08-May-23 09:50:15

When my DM sold her house - a long story as we bought her out of her share of a joint property - she stopped house hunting and moved into a rental because we 3 siblings said we didn't need to inherit so why lock her money away.
She then had the freedom to travel and enjoy her life .
Definitely go for it while you can
Nanafunny
And we expect a progress report!

dogsmother Mon 08-May-23 09:56:02

Oh do it! Age is just a number.
There is no point in ten years from now wishing you had done it and still wondering if you could yet……..

Lomo123 Mon 08-May-23 10:07:16

Go for it, nothing to lose.

henetha Mon 08-May-23 10:08:00

Not too old at all! You should do whatever you want to do.
I hope it's all wonderful.

varian Mon 08-May-23 10:10:42

I remember Shiela Hancock saying you should do long haul travel in your 70s, go round Europe in your eighties and tour the British Isles in your nineties.

Philippa111 Mon 08-May-23 10:14:14

That is a wonderful idea and I hope you do it.

At this time of life we have to Carpe Diem! I always say to myself and friends 'We'll be in our box soon enough!

I know you are in good health but do take out good travel and health insurance just to be covered, if you are going abroad.

luluaugust Mon 08-May-23 10:35:03

Yes go for it and enjoy yourself. We can’t travel like we did but enjoy what we do manage

Callistemon21 Mon 08-May-23 11:35:54

Iam64

We never know what tomorrow brings. Get insurances and go for it

Yes, I agree

Go for it!

NanaDana Mon 08-May-23 11:49:27

No. Go for it while you still can. Life is not a rehearsal...

timetogo2016 Mon 08-May-23 11:52:40

Go for it nanafunny.
Have a great time,just stay safe and let us know what you did and where your ventures took you.

NotSpaghetti Mon 08-May-23 12:07:56

As you are in excellent health (👍) my worry would not be the trip it would be putting "all my eggs" in my daughter's basket.

I think I'd want something separate so that if she needs to move for job/family/health/other reasons I don't have to be dragged along too.

I'd want to be able to stay put and not be forced to move if I didn't want to.

Maybe you didn't ask thus but I think the long holiday/extended travel is the easy bit!
You are 75 now. Will you and your daughter still want to be in the same house in (say) 20 years?

Have fun anyway!

Grammaretto Mon 08-May-23 12:25:29

In France last year, for the first time since DH died, staying with some friends of my son who own a house there, we met some of the locals including an amazing all female, Australian couple in their mid 80s who have been traveling most of their lives but bought a flat in that medieval village.

One told how she'd split with her DH, took her 3 kids out of school, bought them to Europe, bought a campervan and travelled around Europe with them for a year.
Salty tales? Maybe but inspirational too.
Talk about ageing hippies. Europe is full of them.

pascal30 Mon 08-May-23 15:16:52

Grammaretto

In France last year, for the first time since DH died, staying with some friends of my son who own a house there, we met some of the locals including an amazing all female, Australian couple in their mid 80s who have been traveling most of their lives but bought a flat in that medieval village.

One told how she'd split with her DH, took her 3 kids out of school, bought them to Europe, bought a campervan and travelled around Europe with them for a year.
Salty tales? Maybe but inspirational too.
Talk about ageing hippies. Europe is full of them.

which mediaeval village...