Active Aging
‘Senior moments’ take on new meaning when traveling
For those who are inclined to travel, sometimes retirement can be the best years. Here, a few of our local nomads share with readers some of their standout traveling experiences.
Traveling with friends
by Judy Williams
One of retirement’s great joys is having the time to travel, and there’s nothing better than planning that big “bucket list” trip with good friends.
Traveling with friends, especially internationally, has many benefits. You have others that understand your language and extra eyes when trying to navigate a strange airport for that connecting flight. Plus, traveling with friends provides you an element of security if there’s a health issue.
Recently, I was in Paris with my husband, Bob, and friends Tammy and Don Porter. On our way to a tour of the Louvre Museum, two guys (I won’t name names!) got us on the subway going the wrong way, and yes, we tried to tell them! We came to the end of the subway line, and two helpful French women signaled us that we needed to get off the train. Being obedient, Tammy and I followed these women off the train. Imagine our surprise when our husbands just sat there, smiled, and waved as the doors closed. It was nice having someone along to share this experience with as we got on the subway going in the correct direction. And we did eventually all meet up again for the Louvre.
When traveling with a group, remember, you’re not all tied together at the hip. Travel with the understanding that you do not have to do the same things all the time. It’s ok to skip excursions that don’t interest you. Instead, plan to meet up for dinner to compare each other’s experiences.
Left to right: Bob and Judy Williams and Tammy and Don Porter at a train stop in the Swiss Alps. Photo provided by Judy Williams
Turning obligations into opportunity
by Joan Tucker
My husband and I like to turn family obligations into vacations when we can. In 2023, we attended an important Celebration of Life in California and decided to also explore along the Oregon and Washington coast. That trip revealed the astounding beauty of azure Pacific beaches and huge black rocks jutting from the ocean. The sunshine reflecting off the water was like shimmering diamond crystals. Eating local fish at crab shacks added to the cultural experience, and visiting national parks completed one of our favorite vacations.
This summer, we traveled to Philadelphia for our granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah. We enjoyed being part of this special Jewish Celebration and visiting family, but what next? We decided to explore the Eastern seaboard. The diversity of Cape Cod was impressive, with its National Shoreline of sand dunes, cliffs, beaches, and salt-water marshes. The ecosystem of marsh life and birds made for an interesting hike. And of course, the seafood was delicious. My husband especially enjoyed sampling different clam chowders on this trip to decide which was best.
In Eastport Maine we ate lots of scallops. Across from Eastport, is Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada. Roosevelt Campobello International Park is where Franklin and Eleanor had a summer home. I thought what an amazing playground their children had growing up with opportunities to swim, sail, and hike.
Our final stop: North Ferrisburg, Vermont, to visit another daughter and her family. We made the most of our time picking up our grandkids from school on gorgeous fall days. Admittedly, we’re sad our children live in other states, but we’ve started viewing these circumstances through the lens of opportunity while satisfying our travel bug.
Joan Tucker admires an overlook along the Oregon coastline in 2023. Photo credit: Tom Tucker
Don’t put off ‘til tomorrow…
by Mary Jo David
Life is hectic. Between work and family obligations it can be tough to eke out quality vacation time. I like to think we managed to take fun vacations when our kids were young, and I think they’d agree. But this summer, my husband and I had the opportunity to spend almost a month visiting national parks and monuments out West that we’d never seen before.
Although I enjoyed every moment of the trip, I couldn’t help feeling qualms of guilt now and then that we never managed to take big trips like this when our family was young. Why didn’t we? For one thing, our jobs didn’t allow us to take extended vacations in the summer. In addition, our kids excelled at their sports activities, and we let their sports schedules take over much of our summer calendar each year. (Read and learn, young parents!)
One thing I’m certain of: Our adult children are thrilled Gary and I are able to take these trips now, and I enjoy keeping them in the loop with texts and photos as we travel. And although it’s tempting to get carried away snapping photos of the sites we visited, I try to take time to live in the moment and memorize, in my mind’s eye, the beauty and splendor of the natural wonders we saw. Photos don’t begin to account for the magnitude and glory of the canyons and arches out West, not to mention, the years it took for these wonders to form.
Finding a Michigan Mitten in the middle of Arches National Park in Utah. Photo credit: Gary Hicks
