How has your age changed your rving?

[jhauck]

I doubt I have ever posted to this forum, although I have monitored it for many years.

I still did all my maintenance on my 29RL until about 4 or 5 years ago. I was 84 last April. I double tow a utility trailer and Polaris RZR. Still do a little maintenance on truck, 5th wheel, and utility trailer, and of course the RZR, but nothing heavy. I spent the last two years combatting cancer, but am in remission and now a long ways from Alabama in the high desert of SE Oregon, a location I usually spend time with friends every year. I love pulling my rig with a 2012 RAM 3500 SRW. A big improvement over the old first generation RAM 250 Cummins.

Keep up the good work on the Montana Forum. A world of info.

John Hauck
US Army Retired, 1980
Lake Jordan, Titus, Alabama

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by jhauck

I doubt I have ever posted to this forum....

Actually you have posted before. In 2020 and 2018 for sure. Time flies though.

[Doug Brown]

I retired in 2004 at the age of 56. I will be 75 October 1. My wife is 67 going to be 68 October 2. Our health has been good till the last year and my wife develop breast cancer. all is clear now. We try to keep our travel days 300 miles or under. Sometimes on leaving California we might drive a little longer. I have always done my own maintenance because it’s too damn hard to get in the shop. The Montana dealer in Simi California will not even take your rig if you didn’t buy it from them . I had a 2007 Montana 285RLD I converted it to dic breaks myself six years ago. I just bought an an arctic fox 29 5T and I paid to have the dic brakes converted. We still snow ski three weeks every year. My wife walks 5 miles every day I ride my bike every day(electric now) I take extended fishing trips we have traveled the world and all 50 states I’m not going to slow down till I drop dead and I know my wife won’t either.

[ScottnSue]

I'm 58 and my lovely wife is 54. I'm still working full time but my wife retired early to go visit grandbabies and babysit sometimes.
We just got back from a trip to the Smokies. It's a 350 mile distance. Pulling the camper is not to stressfull but watching out for the crazies is sometimes. So I think around 400 miles a day would be my limit.
I do most all of my own maintenance on the truck and camper myself. Hopefully I can as long as some of you all. My parents, who are both in their early 80's, had to give up camping a few years ago. After dad's third round of cancer he just didn't have the strength anymore.

[Cat320]

Originally Posted by jhauck

I doubt I have ever posted to this forum, although I have monitored it for many years.

I still did all my maintenance on my 29RL until about 4 or 5 years ago. I was 84 last April. I double tow a utility trailer and Polaris RZR. Still do a little maintenance on truck, 5th wheel, and utility trailer, and of course the RZR, but nothing heavy. I spent the last two years combatting cancer, but am in remission and now a long ways from Alabama in the high desert of SE Oregon, a location I usually spend time with friends every year. I love pulling my rig with a 2012 RAM 3500 SRW. A big improvement over the old first generation RAM 250 Cummins.

Keep up the good work on the Montana Forum. A world of info.

John Hauck
US Army Retired, 1980
Lake Jordan, Titus, Alabama

Just sent you a PM.

[mhs4771]

We started in the mid 70's when it was go, go, go 10 to 12 hours driveing to get where we were going. Now at 75, 250 miles max for a day, stay two days before next travel.
Still have all my original parts, so can still do most repairs, just takes alot longer with plenty of breaks.

[RichardMor]

Interesting to read everyone’s responses. I am 73 and trying to do as much as possible. Up until 3 months ago, I worked out with weights every other day, biked 3 miles on 3/4 resistance (stationary bike) as fast I can could then spent 20 minutes in our steam room. We sold that place in Washington State and moved to Texas. Bought the Mountaineer and a 14x32 shed. Prepping to build a house/garage. Hoping to do as much as I can. Frustrating to feel the weakness in my legs, suffer from arthritis and soooo stiff. Always trying to limber up - works for about 5 minutes.

Mike, 5 years ago I had Prostate Cancer stymied with Proton Beam Radiation Therapy. There were other cancer patients there during my out-patient treatments. Is that a possible scenario for Debbie? It was absolutely the best treatment for my cancer. Wishing both of you the best. (BTW, are you anywhere near the new Apple Campus on Parmer? We visit our son there often.)

Rich

[Mikendebbie]

Originally Posted by RichardMor

Mike, 5 years ago I had Prostate Cancer stymied with Proton Beam Radiation Therapy. There were other cancer patients there during my out-patient treatments. Is that a possible scenario for Debbie? It was absolutely the best treatment for my cancer. Wishing both of you the best. (BTW, are you anywhere near the new Apple Campus on Parmer? We visit our son there often.)

This is what we know so far. Surgery is October 3. Her NETumor is called a vipoma. It is big, spreading and it needs to come out. He also plans to take the spleen, gall bladder and possibly left kidney. He will get as many of the 15 liver lesions as possible. Follow-up treatment has not yet been defined but may include chemo and or some radiation treatment. He says it will come back, but they have successful treatments to keep growth in check. A future surgery is not out of the question. His goal is get her 20 more years which sounds great to me! The doc is an abdominal cancer specialist and he has dealt with lots of these. I think we are in good hands + lots of prayer.

We live in eastern Williamson County - ~15 miles to the Taylor Walmart or the Georgetown Walmart. I still work full time from home. The boss has been very good to me for time off to take care of Debbie. I started working from home August 2019 when the young guys that run the office thought it would be COOL to move the office to downtown Austin. Then covid hit. We simply quit going into the city for anything - except for doctors. We moved to Austin in 1984 so we have been there and done it all! Raised the kids in Georgetown. It has been a great place to make a living in construction!

[mlh]

Originally Posted by RichardMor

Mike, 5 years ago I had Prostate Cancer stymied with Proton Beam Radiation Therapy. There were other cancer patients there during my out-patient treatments. Is that a possible scenario for Debbie? It was absolutely the best treatment for my cancer. Wishing both of you the best. (BTW, are you anywhere near the new Apple Campus on Parmer? We visit our son there often.)

Rich

A customer of ours sold all of these machines, $260 million each. He explained them to me. They are like a “benchrest rifle” instead of a a shotgun. You can put the beam exactly where you need it instead of a wider area. He said they didn’t make you sick like regular radiation. You get up and go back to work if you choose to.
Some of us here will get prostrate cancer probably including me. At the time there were only 10 in the country. If you need one your doctor probably doesn’t have access to it so go look it up. It could save a lot of grief and maybe your life.
I still have his phone number in my wallet, just in case.
Lynwood

[RichardMor]

Mike, I'm sorry Debbie is in this situation, but it does sound like she is in good hands - yours and this particular Doctor. Wishing you both patience, understanding and good health.


We were surprised how much Georgetown has grown. Austin keeps expanding and affecting the nearby communities. I doubt that it is going to slow down anytime soon. Are you in the residential or commercial construction field? For the third time in my life, we'll be building a new home. Just wish I had done this a few years ago. Father time catches up with us all.


Rich

[RichardMor]

Originally Posted by mlh

A customer of ours sold all of these machines, $260 million each. He explained them to me. They are like a “benchrest rifle” instead of a a shotgun. You can put the beam exactly where you need it instead of a wider area. He said they didn’t make you sick like regular radiation. You get up and go back to work if you choose to.
Some of us here will get prostrate cancer probably including me. At the time there were only 10 in the country. If you need one your doctor probably doesn’t have access to it so go look it up. It could save a lot of grief and maybe your life.

I realize how fortunate I was to have one of these 3-story pencil beam Proton Generators near me. Also, lucky to have one of the Premier software programmers for these machines be my daughter's best friend. She has her PhD and worked in this field since inception. She was instrumental in me getting such good results. Anyone can achieve the same now since the software controlling the machines has had time to mature and evolve. Previously inoperable tumors can be eradicated with this technology. I hope the cost will come down so more people can access it.


Ironically, the Proton Beam is focused using a machined lens filled with special sound attenuating liquid. Very similar to what we used developing high-definition sonar out of the Applied Physics Lab at the University of Washington. I am not one of the technical nerds who developed it - just the desk jockey that helped them take it from the Lab to a well-developed for-profit company.


Rich

[Jim Homer]

Member

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Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 31
M.O.C. #22634
Aging and rving
We have slowed down a bit. Travel about 250 to 300 per day and make some days in between non-travel days. We also have two cats so appreciate the time they’re not driving. I’ve had both hips replaced, my wife has had open-heart surgery and we’re still feeling just fine. I do my own maintenance on the trailer are used to travel 10 to 12 hours a day but that’s not happening anymore.

[DebNJim B]

First, our prayers go out to Debbie. Sounds like you two and the Dr's have a good plan in place. My Debbie has been dealing with Blatter cancer this year so we can relate.
At 76, I have definitely seen changes happen. First change was lowering the daily range down to 250-300 miles. Two years ago, we decided to leave the RV in GA when we went home to NY. We will still take it to SC to see our two grandbabies there, but other than that it stays put. I stay off the roof now as my balance is just not reliable. I do have a great mobile tech that helps out a lot. I still do most of the maintenance that I am technically capable of.
We will continue the RV life as long as possible, but we know it will come to an end at some point. We have though been very blessed with a wonderful life and family and very good health. We just put our trust and future in God's hands.