An article I wrote for Intrepid Travel has recently been published in The Journal, by Intrepid Travel.
I think there is an urban myth that old people should stay quietly at home, take care of the grandchildren, and wait to die. Conventional wisdom is that we’re too old and worn out to try new things, to be active, or to, shock, horror, travel! Society tells us this in more or less subtle ways, and we also tell it to ourselves and each other, complaining about our aches and pains, our stiff joints.
My article is about how travel might be a little different where you’re older, and why you should do it anyway.
Hop on over to Intrepid and have a read.
TRAVELLING WHEN OLDER IS DIFFERENT; HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD DO IT ANYWAY
Next post: Emei Shan – China’s sacred Buddhist mountain with an enormous golden statue at the summit.
All words and images by Alison Louise Armstrong unless otherwise noted
© Alison Louise Armstrong and Adventures in Wonderland – a pilgrimage of the heart, 2010-2019.
Adventures in Wonderland 
You are definitely are not mouldering!
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Chuckle, thanks Cindy. No, we are definitely not mouldering.
Alison
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Being active is the secret of a long and happy life! Maybe not everyone likes travelling, but there is no excuse being active🙂 Btw, great article!!
All the best,
Christie
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Thanks Christie. I agree!
(Though acknowledge that some have health issues and so are not so fortunate as to be able to be active. I know Don and I are very lucky with our health. Fingers crossed! At our age you never know when things will change!)
Alison
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You are right Alison about the health issues, I started myself to have some of them LOL What I meant to say is to never give up!
All the best to you and Don!
Christie
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Yes, that’s exactly right – never give up. I learned that working through the pain is the right thing to do as long as it subsides within a few hours. It’s only if it goes on overnight that you know you’ve done too much or need further treatment. I’ve really learned how to be with pain in a calm way, and it has gradually subsided to the point that I have very little now. I’m so grateful.
Alison
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I was doing some supporting at the airport, during my airline career; one day an elderly lady waltzed in to check in. She wanted to try the self check-in machine and bag drop-off: she fished out her iPad, found her reservation, did the whole thing – including seat selection and bag tag printing – and off she went on her way to Seoul, Korea. She was 92. You’re very right, age doesn’t matter.
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She is my role model!
Met a woman travelling alone in Myanmar in her 80’s, and then there’s the woman from South Africa who wanted to have tea with the queen so drove an old car, alone, from South Africa to London – in her 80’s! All these people are examples that it is possible. So inspiring.
Alison
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Brilliant, Alison – the article, your fabulous header photo – and the ‘keep on travelling’ attitude of you and Don. We’ll follow, A bit behind…:)
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Thanks so much Tish. I get so inspired from travelling so I guess I just have to keep doing it. I think your allotment is travelling for you – a passion and being active. Plus years living in Africa which I am totally in awe of.
Alison
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You know what my feelings are on this subject, Alison. 🙂
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Yes I do! Keep on trucking’ Curt.
Alison
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🙂
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Age is irrelevant when it comes to adventure and broadening one’s outlook on life.
What IS relevant is good health (something I haven’t got these days), so I’m an ‘armchair’ traveller now. So glad I did a lot of travelling in my 20s though. Nepal, Japan and Alaska are still on my bucket list, but with a severe inherited heart condition, they are just a fantasy 🙂
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Yes, health is so important! And Don and I know how very lucky we are to be basically healthy. Don has a heart condition that we have to monitor, but for now we’re lucky enough to be able to keep going.
I’m so sorry you won’t get to fulfill your bucket list! I hope the armchair travelling at least in part makes up for it.
Alison
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Great article. You definitely inspire me. I’m happy that I did my riskier voyages (like Papua New Guinea) when I was younger. Life does become more precious the older we get.
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Thanks J.D. I still imagine myself doing riskier travels, but wonder if I would actually have the courage. I’d love to see Papua New Guinea, and many other more out-of-the-way exotic places. It’s funny the way life becomes more precious – I suppose because we finally start to face that there really will be an end to it.
Alison
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I so agree. Just do it. Sitting around wishing you had done these things is not good for your soul or your health. You both rock!!
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Thanks so much Darlene. I think the biggest regrets for people is not what they didn’t have but for what they didn’t do. It doesn’t have to be travelling, though naturally that’s my focus, but doing what inspires you.
Alison
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Being active adventurous is a way of happy and long lives
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Yes, Garci, I completely agree. Thank you for commenting.
Alison
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Honestly, I think everything gets better with age. For me, every year gets better. I love traveling now with confidence (and cash) that I lacked in my youth. Off to go read your post.
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I completely agree. I’m much more aware now than when I travelled in my twenties and thirties. And confident. And yeah I have more money which helps. I actually wrote an article for Intrepid about how the best travels in my life came after 50. I drink it all in now in a way I didn’t when I was younger.
Alison
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Alison, you are my poster girl. Louise
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Aww thanks Louise. You’re a pretty good poster girl for stepping out there yourself!
Alison
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Nice post Alison. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am “older”… I don’t actually think about it that much. Although I don’t do any jumping out of planes, hang gliding and that kind of adventure sport, it’s not as much related to age as it is to my fear of heights and sheer drops 🙂
I have noticed in the last few years a few changes, now that you mention it… haha, such as my desire for more comfortable lodging for one thing.. am no longer interested in roughing it in a hard bed, with no hot water in the shower. I want windows and fresh air and clean.
Secondly, we both move and travel slower. Not sure if this is related to age or not, but perhaps… it feels more like a general need to not get worn down when we travel. We skip most of the big tourist places, the crowds, the hassle and try to explore more in depth in our particular neighborhood that we find ourselves in.
Bravo to you both, especially for the zip lining. Yikes.
Peta
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Thanks so much Peta. I don’t jump out of planes either, and not likely to though I have read about a woman in her 90’s who does a jump every year to raise money for charity. Now that’s hard core. I also am no longer interested in roughing it, well not for more than a few nights at a time anyway. Back in my 20’s I did 4 months at a time roughing it overloading through South America and then Africa and loved it. Now I still love the idea of it, but don’t think I’d actually want to do it – not for four months at a time anyway. Four nights maybe. I love slow travel (even tho I don’t always do it) for the same reasons you do – that chance to merge into local life, and to have a routine.
I’d still go zip lining though!
I suppose it’s about not limiting yourself because you’re older – “oh I can’t do that anymore because I’m too old”. I can’t imagine you or Ben ever doing that, but I do think people get stuck in that kind of story.
Alison
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Age is just a number. It’s outlook and attitude that keeps you young. So glad that you’re still having a ball and enjoying it all.
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I couldn’t agree more. Age is just a number that has no meaning unless we assign meaning to it. And yes, outlook and attitude is the most important thing of all. That more than anything will keep us young, and active, and engaged with life.
Alison
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So true.
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Alison – Well said, of course 😉 And now you have me thinking I really, really should zipline somewhere sometime. Trust the cables and clips, you say??? – Susan
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Thanks Susan. Yes, trust the cables. It’s so much fun. We did a 3 line flight in the jungle in Peru, and a 2 line flight in Quebec. Amazing!
Alison
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Go Alison! You’re an inspiration. 🙂
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Thanks so much Lynn. I’m not ready to stop yet that’s for sure. I’ve slowed down somewhat but that adventurous spirit still beckons me and I imagine myself in all sorts of exotic locales in the fairly near future. So much world, so little time. Sigh.
Alison
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You’re an inspiration, and what my husband and I strive to be! We both work full-time, but already planning retirement in the next decade, which will include an insane amount of traveling for as long as we’re able.
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Thank you so much Whitney. Wishing you all the best for a fabulous travelling retirement! I can feel you are already excited about it.
Alison
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Thank you! I feel lucky to be planning for retirement in under a decade at the age of 35. Live life to the fullest! Perhaps one day we’ll cross paths while traveling.
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Love this Alison. I was so inspired when I was in Europe and saw so many people in their 60s and 70s doing the Tour de Mont Blanc. Even my own dad at 76 is in amazing shape and my parents travel all the time. I love what my dad says. Age is just a number. It is how you take care of yourself that matters. That is so true!
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Thanks Nicole. Oh that’s wonderful to hear about all the older people on the TMB. And your dad too is an amazing inspiration! And he’s so right about the importance of taking care of yourself. I must admit Don and I are pretty clean living and take the need for regular exercise pretty seriously.
Alison
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I agree with you more and more each year! 🙂 I really don’t think about my age most of the time, especially when I’m traveling. I just seem to assume that I can do whatever I want, and usually that turns out to be true. Although I still relish a trek with tent sleeping, I agree with Peta and you that comfort is more of a draw these days! Finally, I have great role models in my parents, who are still traveling at 86 and 87, and still defying stereotypes for older people. Here’s hoping I last as long as they have!
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Thanks Lexie. Wow, your parents sound amazing! And yes, great role models. When I hear of people in their 80’s and 90’s still travelling and defying the stereotypes of older people I realize that I’m young yet, not old at all, even though society would label me as that. Even Don at 76 I’m sure has plenty of good years ahead of him. I don’t think about my age much either. Certainly not in terms of what I should and shouldn’t be doing. Like you I just go out and do it. But yeah – some comfort is pretty nice these days.
Alison
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You are rocking it!
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Thank you so much!
Alison
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You are welcome 🙏
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Loved your Intrepid article. I hardly ever consider my age, although I probably will have to be a little less flippant about my health in future and look for suitable challenges… But there’s still a lot of partying to be done!!! And yes, my biggest concession to age is preferring a private room when staying in a hostel..
Lieve
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Thanks so much Lieve. I don’t really think about my age either. I know I’d be nuts to try running again, and yeah, well, my skiing needs help these days, but I pretty much assume I can just go out and do what I want to do while acknowledging I don’t always have the stamina I had in my 20’s. Some days I do though! So yes, there’s still a lot of partying to be done!!!
Alison
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Haha…love the title and totally agree. It keeps getting better for me (except the recovery from jet lag).
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Thanks Caroline. It keeps getting better for me too. I’m even ok with the jet lag though I’m less tolerant of those red-eye flights than I used to be.
Alison
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Love the article Alison. As you may know our theme is never too old to explore. Travel looks a bit different as we age but we are grateful for the good health to keep going for it!
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Thanks Sue. We too are grateful for the good health the allows us to continue. I like your theme!
Alison
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You and Don are an inspiration. You have done more in the last few years than most do in a lifetime.
What is your workout routine? I get a lot of walking in when I travel, but don’t do anything else.
As I get older, I need to watch what I eat more when I travel. I gained about 10 pounds in Japan and the USA this summer. Back in Thailand, I am starting the process of getting in shape again. But, it was really fun eating anything and everything for two months.
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Thanks so much Jeff. Our workout routine has evolved over the years as we’ve gotten older. Although neither of us could be called an athlete we’ve both always been very physically active (cycling, aerobics, hiking, and for me downhill and x-country skiing). Since we started the whole nomadic thing and the injuries came (first a fractured ankle for me then a herniated disc for Don) we got really clear that maintaining strength and fitness was no longer about just being active but that we needed to be really conscientious about it. So Pilates was the first step focusing on core strength. From that we’ve added in various strengthening and stretching exercises we’ve been given by physiotherapists over the years. I also worked with a physical trainer for a few weeks. Also after my hip replacement I saw an exercise specialist for a few months – again focused on strengthening. So we each have our own set of exercises though there’s quite a bit of overlap. It takes about 45 minutes. For months I did it every day but now usually about 3 days a week. Honestly I should do more. I could still do with more strengthening. We also hike about 5.5 km (3.5 miles) about 5 days a week – and it is a hike – we live near a forest trail that goes around a golf course and it is hilly with some very steep sections so it’s a really good workout.
I agree that it’s fun eating whatever you want and I too have gained about 15 pounds over the past year – eating whatever I wanted in Japan and China last year and then again in India and Japan earlier this year. I need to get on that. But, you know, it’s summer, and I have my sisters visiting and it’s like being on vacation and ice cream calls . . . . .
Hope this helps.
Alison
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A lovely motivating post. Age is just a number for people who are energetic and mentally young.
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Thanks so much nightlake. I agree age is just a number – as long as we don’t give it any meaning beyond that. We like to stay active – I think being active gives you energy, and being curious about life keeps you young. At the same time we know that we are very lucky.
Alison
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There’s so much to see and adventure is not only reserved for the young. I agree, it’s different but do it anyway. Great to see you’re still skiing.
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Thanks Suellen. Yes I am still skiing but only just. I need more time at it and will probably spend a few days this winter on the bunny hill to get the right muscles activated again.
I didn’t really get it when I was young but being older doesn’t mean you’re different on the inside (tho hopefully one is a little more mature). On the inside I feel as adventurous as I always have, maybe even more so. So I’ll keep adventuring for as long as I can even if it’s a little more sedate these days.
Alison
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