Go Go, Slow Go, No Go

Go Go, Slow Go, No Go.  Have you heard of this expression? It refers to your retirement years.  Theoretically, the first third of your retirement years, your ‘young’ years are the Go Go period.  This is when you have the most vitality, energy, all your joints are in good working condition, and your overall health is good. 

In the second trimester of your retirement, things start to slow down a bit.  The joints might be a little more creaky and arthritic, and your energy and vitality is a bit more depleted.  You can still do things and go places but at a bit more of a slower pace. 

The trifecta of your retirement years is categorized as your No Go period.  Simply put, there is a cornucopia of too many possible ailments to count that combine to keep you confined to resting in place.  That trip to the Kenyan Safari? If it didn’t happen in Slow Go or Go Go, it ain’t happening.  You will be lucky if you can go to the Giant supermarket around the corner.

Obviously, as with all generalities, there are exceptions to the rule.  In my case, it’s me.  I am the exception to this rule.

I am in deep trouble it would appear.  Because my Go Go seems to be Gone Gone and I don’t know where it Went Went or how to get it Back Back.

If it were up to me, I would change this description to Slow Go, Slower Go, No Go.  But yaknow.  It’s not as catchy.

I am only 60 years old.  According to this little maxim, I should be in my prime retirement years.  Should being the operative word.  Reality is another word.  The correct one.

For example, we just got back from a twelve day trip to Italy.  While we did have a small, private group tour for part of the trip, for most of it we were schlepping from planes, trains , ferries, and automobiles by ourselves, hauling an overstuffed carry-on roller bag, and a super overstuffed backpack around.  Some days we walked 12 miles.  Up hills, over cobblestones, in the heat. 

One day we were in an ancient olive tree farm.  I was in awe of the thousand year old olive tree before me.  However, as our guide began walking us across the grove, I was suddenly hot, weary, and lightheaded.  I think the temp was triple digits that day, so that was certainly a contributing factor.  I was prepared though with my cooling towel, fan, and fan spritzer. 

Despite all that, I had to head back to the cool shade of the courtyard and sit down, and in so doing missed seeing a 3,000 year old olive tree.  I was the only one in our group to do so.  I was the youngest in the group of 8, except for the 40 year old woman who was there with her 69 year old mother.  The others were in their 70’s, except for Ernie of course.  Ernie fared pretty well until the day his arthritic knee and hip started acting up and he had to pop into a pharmacy for some pain reliever.

So.  So much for Go Go.  I’ll take Slow Go for $200 please, Ken. 

Answer: What is next trip we travel by tour where we don’t have to touch our luggage after we land and we are chauffeured everywhere we need to be.