Why Does The Number Matter? Age That is!

No one should believe travel stops at a certain age! Yes we all age number wise but what's our mental age, our physical age?  I've had the privileged or traveling with and escorting seniors with both disabilities as well as advanced years.  Yes, two were over 100 years old in numbers only!  Can it be challenging, yes of course.  The rewards far out way the challenges! I was told the other day I should retire or start my retirement plans, well that's not happening. I inserted a photo taken today Feb. 11, 2018 do I even look at all like I'm about to retire.  I have more energy then most younger folks who spend 80% of their time on a personal device.  The absolute amazing thing about traveling when you've grown up is the fact you enjoy and are enriched by your travels.  Not by Facebook - Instagram or any other social media.  Sure some of my adult friends have Facebook mostly to watch how their children are doing.  They're not driven by social media, nor the number of years on this earth, they're driven by life and all the world has to offer.  Exploring different cultures, lifestyles, mother natures marvelous wonders around the world enhancing ones life not impeding.  Why can't you step out with your friends at 60 - 70 - 80 - 90 or 100 + go on a cruise, go on a bus trip, who said you can't?  It's about you, not your children, not your neighbors. It's about you mental and physical abilities never about the number of years on this earth.  Now that's my opinion of course and folks will say I'm not realistic when it comes to folks wanting to travel but unable to travel.  True in some respects, but have you considered instead of the negatives ways you can assist. Maybe family travel, group travel with like minded & similar generations?  Solo travel isn't advisable when the years tick off the numbers, however with that being said I had a client (she's left us now) who took a river cruise in Europe from the U.S. at the age of 103. Viking called me when I booked to be sure the age was correct. She loved the cruise so much she returned the same year. She had a plan for her 105th to go with her nieces and nephews, she's now resting in peace.  Her enthusiasm for life didn't stop, till the day she passed I believe she felt she'd be on this earth till end of time. I had the privileged of having a gentleman join my senior group cruise at the age of 99, his family came to meet me, wasn't happy at all!  They said I should have contacted them for permission to ask him if he'd like to join us.  I would have if I felt he wasn't mentally alert, he asked me because his friends from the community were going on a 16 day cruise crossing the Panama Canal.  A perfect trip for him with only flying in one direction ending up after the cruise at his home port city.  Why didn't they want him to go?  Two factors, extreme difficulty in hearing and the number of years?  I explained how aware he was of all the factors, his traveling companions (48 average age 82) where his inspiration.  They had no choice really in the matter he was at the meeting and set them straight.  Was the hearing issue a problem on the ship, no.  He did fine we even called his family on my cell while at sea a couple of times.  He went on every excursion we did and you know what was fun for him, talking about his life and how wonderful things have changed in his almost 100 years on this earth.  He asked many questions, seemingly really enjoyed meals with his friends and me.  

Maybe it's time for me to retire, the younger generations aren't really active, lacking in some interpersonal skills due to social media.  Believing everyone is beautiful, young, rich and their friends from afar.  They live for the "likes" on their posts.  Well I'm here to tell you I've been on this earth many years and I'm not going anywhere.  I'll keep on selling travel, escorting my favorite groups and traveling myself.  Hey to all you young men and women who believe we mature folks are down and forgotten, here's news for you I got married last year.  I have many more decades of personal travel , exploration and making dreams come true for my clients!

Happy Trails,
Michael