Time for Paddling Slips Away

[ppine]

I got serious about paddling around the age of 30 after learning as a kid. It was easy to dream up the next trip and look at the want ads for the next canoe to add to the collection. We did lots of 4-7 day trips for years. Living in Nevada we usually had to travel for good overnight paddling. We made it to a lot of destinations on the life list like the BWCA, the Grand Canyon, winter trips, and a lot of trips in other western states.

A really big trip to Bowron Lakes or the Barren Lands never happened. It was always too far and took too much time. Ini my 60s there were still lots of possibilities and some memorable trips to places like Oregon and northern California. . Then heart trouble made remote trips seem out of reach. My balance is not so good. My friends are old and don't want to go any more. My canoes are all sold, although I still have a drift boat.

The point is that you need to seriously consider that next big trip. If you are on the fence, I encourage you to just do it. One of these days it will be too late.

 

[BWCA66]

I totally agree, finally worked in a BWCA trip last summer with my oldest (18) grandson and decided those trips need to be my priority. Already have 2 BWCA trips booked with grandsons this summer and a CA to MN road trip planned with 3 or 4 of them.

 

[jdeerfoot]

ppine, I totally agree. My paddling history was much like yours - a few BW trips of a week or so and many years of spring/fall long weekend trips to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I was fortunate to be able to retire early and shortly afterward I connected with the Wabakimi Project and started paddling in the Wabakimi area of NW Ontario. For 20 years I have made annual trips there with the exception of the COVID years when the border was closed. I continue to go there now doing base camping trips and was fortunate to connect with a new friend who puts together base camping trips to Manitoba. As I close in on 80, I feel very fortunate to still be able to participate in these trips while adjusting what I am medically capable of doing.

 

[VA paddler]

100%.
And...
Everyone has different responsibilities and different baggage and different perspective. As a young guy, I paddled all the time. No wife, no kids, just a cheap mortgage, a junky car, and a nice canoe. Then came wife & kids & bigger job, and I gave up paddling frequently for paddling quality - one big trip a year. And the definition of "big" continues to evolve. Initially, a week away was a hard sell. 15 years later, she's gotten used to me being gone for two week trips - but the kids are older and our nest is nicer. Been pushing to do something longer; she's been reluctant to agree. This past year we lost two of our paddling buddies on either end of the summer, one at 42 and the other at 59, and each of us had a parent start the spiral into Alzheimer's. I think all of that has shifted her perspective somewhat. I'm seeing much more of an embrace of the "No time like the present" mentality in her.
I'm just about to turn 50 and have watched a dozen older buddies drop off the tripping list in the last decade. And I seem to have met no one with the desire or the skill set to replace them. So I am very thankful for the two tripping partners I have left. One is eager to take that longer trip; the other is willing but recently underemployed. So, as always, we will have to find a balance between the aspirational trip and the attainable trip, and we won't let perfect get in the way of good enough.
For myself, I know that I am a better, happier, and more focused person when there is a paddling trip on the books to plan and look forward to, and until we have picked a river and confirmed dates, I experience a somewhat-depressing, nagging anxiety that is difficult to ignore.

 

[MJones]

For myself, I know that I am a better, happier, and more focused person when there is a paddling trip on the books to plan and look forward to...

Ain't that the truth!

 

[ppine]

I like looking forward to trips. When I go on one, I plan the next trip while I am out there to always have one to think about.

 

[DougK]

it's a problem.. finally got to retirement, the problem with retirement is now I'm old and everything takes longer, including recovering from each time I leave the house ;-)
One of my son's friends graduated then spent five years in Durango working minimum wage at the gear shop, getting in a whole lot of climbing and fishing. I think he got it right, screw career, go take early retirement. He's working for North Face now so the bum years didn't seem to hurt that any. Or as Travis McGee used to advise, take your retirement in installments..

had some bold plans for travelling around this year, fitting in trips between family and doctor appointments turns out to be a trick. Also have that balance thing, the heart thing, plus regular dermatologists due to all the time I spent in the sun as a pale white boy. Eish.

I do have a BWCA permit for September, and waitlisted for the boat building class at the North Folk School in Grand Marais MN. still upright, still moving forward, that's the win for today.

 

[Alan Gage]

Or as Travis McGee used to advise, take your retirement in installments..

I like that idea and it's a good one. I try to live that way but it's tough. You don't wan to miss out on opportunities when you're young and fit but you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot and end up broke at 70 and unable to travel or do what you love.

I skipped college and started my adult life at 18. By my late 20's I was burned out. I quit my job, sold my house and just about everything else, and spent 6 months living out of my car. It was great. I still had money left when I came home so I only dabbled around with work and spent a lot of time traveling and exploring locally. Eventually I had to return to work. Really great experience and no real overall harm to my financial/professional future.

A few years later I got seriously into canoe tripping and took yearly trips culminating with 30 and 43 day solo trips. Work and finances allowed it but my priorities changed, finances got a little tighter as I bought a new (to me) home, sawmill, equipment, and built a nice wood shop at home. I didn't do any traveling for about 10 years and was happy where I was.

During that time I bought the family business and it's treating me well. I decided I wanted to start traveling again so I took off to the SW over Christmas. For 20+ years I've dreamed of owning some land down there and while I was in the area did some looking around. Fell in love with a property in the Gila National Forest and closed on it yesterday.

Now I find myself in another quandary. Things are going well here. I have a good thing. But I can't help but think of throwing it all over and moving to New Mexico full time. I could make it work. Things could certainly go wrong but I don't see it turning into a disaster. But could it be something I regret down the line?

I'm nearing 50 and am still very healthy. I could have a lot of fun having the desert SW outside my front door at this age. But, if I keep going as-is for another 5-10 years before moving to New Mexico I could probably retire early without the need to find a job (or at least finding a good paying full time job) once I move down there. That would leave more time to enjoy and explore but what will my health and activity level be at that point? Hopefully good but who knows? If I left now would I later regret the time lost with my father?

Sorry for the ramble. Not really looking for answers. It's just been rattling around in my brain for the last month and I had to get it out. Things seem so much easier in hindsight.

Alan