Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. When we're about 53, the plan is that DH and I are retiring and cruising the islands.

Good luck to all of you older parents on here! It takes a special kind. I couldn't imagine.

We did that in our 20s as singles and our 30s together. I see my parents limping along on retirement cruises and I didn't want to do that. But as others have said, people have different time lines.

Go to China and Egpyt, two of my favorites. Enjoy!

Us too.

We were childless by choice (and high earning DINks) from 26-35.

We traveled extensively (and first class due to miles!). We took a year long sabbatical to party and live in Europe. Life was fantastic--ran with the ups, live parade, tomato fest, Oktoberfest, etc. nightclubs with no closing times in Barcelona. None of these things compatible with 50+ year olds. It's a different kind of travel.

Glad I got to experience young and pretty. Doing it some with kids. I still plan to travel in 50s/60s, btw.

Good for you. I'm trying to think of how many 26-35 year old people I know (or have known) that were able to go on year long, European, partying sabbaticals like that and....not a one. I can't even think of one in that age group that went on a month long partying sabbatical.

Clearly, if you don't know such people, they must not exist.

You quit your high paying jobs to party for an entire year? O.k.

No. We were 31 and I took a sabbatical and went right back to same job when I returned. My husband works independently and made enough to take a year off of work. We had been married 4 years and wanted to do this before we had kids/bought a house---which we did 2 years later. We met at 24 and both had high paying jobs. 7 years of high paying jobs and no kids, loans paid off, etc. a lot of $ saved.

Traveling younger is different than traveling older. Energy, the places you can see---nightclubs, dance parties, etc. We travel now and it's great, but not the same experience as visiting in youth.

Anonymous wrote:Wow. When we're about 53, the plan is that DH and I are retiring and cruising the islands.

Good luck to all of you older parents on here! It takes a special kind. I couldn't imagine.

You appear to be a very complicated and deep person.

Thanks for the information.

Glad this thread is revived. I'll have a 10 year old when I'm 50.

I'll have a 16-year old and 18-year old when I'm 50. My pregnancies were easy at 32 and 34, but now I worry about teenage hood. anyone with positive experiences? seems like a lot of responses were people criticizing those who did not have kids at a younger age.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. When we're about 53, the plan is that DH and I are retiring and cruising the islands.

Good luck to all of you older parents on here! It takes a special kind. I couldn't imagine.

You may be surprised to know that we're close to your age, have two teens still at home and wouldn't want it any other way. We have an off season beach trip planned but we'll be bringing the kids along and enjoying every minute we spend together as a family.

Plus, new poster here) if all you really want to do is cruise the islands, what on earth was your hurry? you can do that at 80.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. When we're about 53, the plan is that DH and I are retiring and cruising the islands.

Good luck to all of you older parents on here! It takes a special kind. I couldn't imagine.

We did that in our 20s as singles and our 30s together. I see my parents limping along on retirement cruises and I didn't want to do that. But as others have said, people have different time lines.

Go to China and Egpyt, two of my favorites. Enjoy!

Us too.

We were childless by choice (and high earning DINks) from 26-35.

We traveled extensively (and first class due to miles!). We took a year long sabbatical to party and live in Europe. Life was fantastic--ran with the ups, live parade, tomato fest, Oktoberfest, etc. nightclubs with no closing times in Barcelona. None of these things compatible with 50+ year olds. It's a different kind of travel.

Glad I got to experience young and pretty. Doing it some with kids. I still plan to travel in 50s/60s, btw.

Good for you. I'm trying to think of how many 26-35 year old people I know (or have known) that were able to go on year long, European, partying sabbaticals like that and....not a one. I can't even think of one in that age group that went on a month long partying sabbatical.

Clearly, if you don't know such people, they must not exist.

You quit your high paying jobs to party for an entire year? O.k.

Dh and I planned/saved to travel for 8 mos (not quite one yr but it was how it worked out).

O.k. You planned/saved to travel for 8 mos and wound up traveling for 4 months longer than you had planned/saved for. In the meantime, I assume you were unemployed?

The other pp and her dh took a one year sabbatical. My dh and I managed to take 8 months off. Both dh and I quit before we left. When we came back, dh was rehired by his old employer and I found another job.

They were not unemployed. They were not in the workforce.

Another pp here. I managed to save enough for 6 months and traveled before going to grad school. Saved for a few years on a teacher salary. It is easy to save when you don't have kids. The trip was AMAZING and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Yes, young people really can save and to that -- of course this wasn't as hard in the years before student loans, but with IDR, I think it is still manageable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. When we're about 53, the plan is that DH and I are retiring and cruising the islands.

Good luck to all of you older parents on here! It takes a special kind. I couldn't imagine.

We did that in our 20s as singles and our 30s together. I see my parents limping along on retirement cruises and I didn't want to do that. But as others have said, people have different time lines.

Go to China and Egpyt, two of my favorites. Enjoy!

Us too.

We were childless by choice (and high earning DINks) from 26-35.

We traveled extensively (and first class due to miles!). We took a year long sabbatical to party and live in Europe. Life was fantastic--ran with the ups, live parade, tomato fest, Oktoberfest, etc. nightclubs with no closing times in Barcelona. None of these things compatible with 50+ year olds. It's a different kind of travel.

Glad I got to experience young and pretty. Doing it some with kids. I still plan to travel in 50s/60s, btw.

Good for you. I'm trying to think of how many 26-35 year old people I know (or have known) that were able to go on year long, European, partying sabbaticals like that and....not a one. I can't even think of one in that age group that went on a month long partying sabbatical.

Clearly, if you don't know such people, they must not exist.

You quit your high paying jobs to party for an entire year? O.k.

Dh and I planned/saved to travel for 8 mos (not quite one yr but it was how it worked out).

O.k. You planned/saved to travel for 8 mos and wound up traveling for 4 months longer than you had planned/saved for. In the meantime, I assume you were unemployed?

The other pp and her dh took a one year sabbatical. My dh and I managed to take 8 months off. Both dh and I quit before we left. When we came back, dh was rehired by his old employer and I found another job.

That is wonderful that you were able to save up that much money and quit your jobs like that to travel for 8 months. I hope you had a blast.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. When we're about 53, the plan is that DH and I are retiring and cruising the islands.

Good luck to all of you older parents on here! It takes a special kind. I couldn't imagine.

We did that in our 20s as singles and our 30s together. I see my parents limping along on retirement cruises and I didn't want to do that. But as others have said, people have different time lines.

Go to China and Egpyt, two of my favorites. Enjoy!

Us too.

We were childless by choice (and high earning DINks) from 26-35.

We traveled extensively (and first class due to miles!). We took a year long sabbatical to party and live in Europe. Life was fantastic--ran with the ups, live parade, tomato fest, Oktoberfest, etc. nightclubs with no closing times in Barcelona. None of these things compatible with 50+ year olds. It's a different kind of travel.

Glad I got to experience young and pretty. Doing it some with kids. I still plan to travel in 50s/60s, btw.

Good for you. I'm trying to think of how many 26-35 year old people I know (or have known) that were able to go on year long, European, partying sabbaticals like that and....not a one. I can't even think of one in that age group that went on a month long partying sabbatical.

Clearly, if you don't know such people, they must not exist.

You quit your high paying jobs to party for an entire year? O.k.

Dh and I planned/saved to travel for 8 mos (not quite one yr but it was how it worked out).

O.k. You planned/saved to travel for 8 mos and wound up traveling for 4 months longer than you had planned/saved for. In the meantime, I assume you were unemployed?

The other pp and her dh took a one year sabbatical. My dh and I managed to take 8 months off. Both dh and I quit before we left. When we came back, dh was rehired by his old employer and I found another job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. When we're about 53, the plan is that DH and I are retiring and cruising the islands.

Good luck to all of you older parents on here! It takes a special kind. I couldn't imagine.

We did that in our 20s as singles and our 30s together. I see my parents limping along on retirement cruises and I didn't want to do that. But as others have said, people have different time lines.

Go to China and Egpyt, two of my favorites. Enjoy!

Us too.

We were childless by choice (and high earning DINks) from 26-35.

We traveled extensively (and first class due to miles!). We took a year long sabbatical to party and live in Europe. Life was fantastic--ran with the ups, live parade, tomato fest, Oktoberfest, etc. nightclubs with no closing times in Barcelona. None of these things compatible with 50+ year olds. It's a different kind of travel.

Glad I got to experience young and pretty. Doing it some with kids. I still plan to travel in 50s/60s, btw.

Good for you. I'm trying to think of how many 26-35 year old people I know (or have known) that were able to go on year long, European, partying sabbaticals like that and....not a one. I can't even think of one in that age group that went on a month long partying sabbatical.

Clearly, if you don't know such people, they must not exist.

You quit your high paying jobs to party for an entire year? O.k.

Dh and I planned/saved to travel for 8 mos (not quite one yr but it was how it worked out).

O.k. You planned/saved to travel for 8 mos and wound up traveling for 4 months longer than you had planned/saved for. In the meantime, I assume you were unemployed?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. When we're about 53, the plan is that DH and I are retiring and cruising the islands.

Good luck to all of you older parents on here! It takes a special kind. I couldn't imagine.

We did that in our 20s as singles and our 30s together. I see my parents limping along on retirement cruises and I didn't want to do that. But as others have said, people have different time lines.

Go to China and Egpyt, two of my favorites. Enjoy!

Us too.

We were childless by choice (and high earning DINks) from 26-35.

We traveled extensively (and first class due to miles!). We took a year long sabbatical to party and live in Europe. Life was fantastic--ran with the ups, live parade, tomato fest, Oktoberfest, etc. nightclubs with no closing times in Barcelona. None of these things compatible with 50+ year olds. It's a different kind of travel.

Glad I got to experience young and pretty. Doing it some with kids. I still plan to travel in 50s/60s, btw.

Good for you. I'm trying to think of how many 26-35 year old people I know (or have known) that were able to go on year long, European, partying sabbaticals like that and....not a one. I can't even think of one in that age group that went on a month long partying sabbatical.

Clearly, if you don't know such people, they must not exist.

You quit your high paying jobs to party for an entire year? O.k.

Dh and I planned/saved to travel for 8 mos (not quite one yr but it was how it worked out).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. When we're about 53, the plan is that DH and I are retiring and cruising the islands.

Good luck to all of you older parents on here! It takes a special kind. I couldn't imagine.

LOL!!!! Seriously.

Read that aloud to yourself and tell me you realize that's a complete asshole response. At least if you can do that, there might be hope for you as a human.

Total and complete asshole response. Watch out - life doesn't always line up with our plans.

Anonymous wrote:I'm 41, my kids are 17 and 15.

I have friends just starting to have kids. That would suck.
We are young and healthy, I'm a few years we can travel WHILE STILL HEALTHY.
No medications or canes needed.
Hopefully we can do this for 20 years or more. Yeah, we are lucky and smart.

That's the smart way to do it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. When we're about 53, the plan is that DH and I are retiring and cruising the islands.

Good luck to all of you older parents on here! It takes a special kind. I couldn't imagine.

LOL!!!! Seriously.

Read that aloud to yourself and tell me you realize that's a complete asshole response. At least if you can do that, there might be hope for you as a human.

They kinda have no clue. Don't harsh her buzz

I had my children at 36 and 39. One of my sisters loved gloating about how she was so much further along on her parenting journey than I was. She couldn't wait for her children to finish college and she would be "done". Of course life never quite works out the way we plan does it? Now her 30 year old son is still living in the basement and has a job at Target. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I can't help but remember all the nasty comments she used to throw at me.

That still would have happened even if she was older when she had kids.
Plus, you don't know if yours will end up worse.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why have kids if you are counting down the days when they leave? Sounds awful to be an empty-nester at 45, especially if you don't have a rewarding career.

I wasn't ready to have kids in my 20s, and I'm in my 40s and not ready for them to be gone!!! We had them in the middle - early to mid 30s, but were able to build careers as well.

I agree. I'm 45 and my only child left for college a few months ago and it's so lonely without her.

You would still be lonely even if you were 55. Duh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. When we're about 53, the plan is that DH and I are retiring and cruising the islands.

Good luck to all of you older parents on here! It takes a special kind. I couldn't imagine.

We did that in our 20s as singles and our 30s together. I see my parents limping along on retirement cruises and I didn't want to do that. But as others have said, people have different time lines.

Go to China and Egpyt, two of my favorites. Enjoy!

Us too.

We were childless by choice (and high earning DINks) from 26-35.

We traveled extensively (and first class due to miles!). We took a year long sabbatical to party and live in Europe. Life was fantastic--ran with the ups, live parade, tomato fest, Oktoberfest, etc. nightclubs with no closing times in Barcelona. None of these things compatible with 50+ year olds. It's a different kind of travel.

Glad I got to experience young and pretty. Doing it some with kids. I still plan to travel in 50s/60s, btw.

Good for you. I'm trying to think of how many 26-35 year old people I know (or have known) that were able to go on year long, European, partying sabbaticals like that and....not a one. I can't even think of one in that age group that went on a month long partying sabbatical.

Clearly, if you don't know such people, they must not exist.

You quit your high paying jobs to party for an entire year? O.k.