My dad is 70 and spends most of his time in his recliner. His own father was flying his own plane around the country into his 80s. Even in photos the difference is striking -- his father was always trim and well-dressed while my dad is fat and wears lounge wear every day.
My mom travels alone and she is only one year younger than he is.

There really are no guarantees. Try to do the things you really want to do now. Could you go part time?

Anonymous wrote:How do you know that YOU will be healthy enough for all of that??

Seriously. So many people die of cancer by their 60’s even.

Since you freelance, could you start taking some of the trips now? You could do your work in the mornings and then go out and about to explore (or the opposite). It sounds like this is a situation where you do not have to choose one or the other!

Anonymous wrote:What kind of shape are you both in? what is your family health history? What is your diet like? It all depends and you mention none of those factors.

My mother in law looks and acts twenty years older than she is. My brother competes in triathlons at age 74.

How old is your MIL if your brother is 74?

I also encourage you to travel now. It sounds like you have a flexible job so could reasonably take breaks through the year. I am 50 but trying to travel and do as much as I can now instead of waiting for retirement. Who knows how I will be feeling in my late 60s. I may even still enjoy my job and want to keep working.

My father in law is 74 and he goes on a weeklong cycling trip every summer - although its all old rich dudes and they ride all day but have a crew that brings their luggage, tubes bikes, arranges dinners and accommodations. He also still skis black diamonds and kayaks. Being retired leaves him plenty of time to workout. He thinks the key is lifting weights which he started in his 60s. He is not big or ripped in any sense, but his description to my husband is that since his mid-60s he feels like he has to eat and train like an athlete just to maintain his strength and fitness - there are no more gains, just slowing down the inevitable decline.

I know two very fit people who passed away in their early 60s within 6 months of diagnosis. One had endometrial cancer and the other stomach cancer. You have less time than you think.

Just enjoy it now. No one knows the future.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an age gap slightly bigger than yours. I plan to retire at the same time as DH. I also plan to cultivate friendships with other women and family members so I can continue the hobbies I enjoy with them if DH becomes to old to enjoy them with me while I am still relatively young.

What is the plan if DH isn’t ambulatory? What is he like when he is sick now (flu, sprained ankle type stuff)?

Then I'll take care of him. Hoping we enjoy some good year's first. He has plenty in retirement savings to spend down on hired help as well.

Anonymous wrote:Statistically there's a reasonable chance he won't make it another 9 years or at least not long after that. Average life expectancy in the US for men in 73.5 years. This next 5-10 years will likely be his "healthy" retirement years where he's active and enjoying retirement. After that things will go downhill.

That’s not how that works. There is a difference between life expectancy at birth and life expectancy once you’ve crossed certain thresholds. The life expectancy for a man who is already in his 60s is higher than 73.5.

Look at Jill and Joe. They still travel together.

At 69, I climbed Pinnacle Peak time in 2 days, hiked hours in AZ desert. I walked all over Hong Kong and Guangzhou. I walked all over Sydney and snorkeled hours every day in Indonesia. I walked 5 miles at home most days.
Then COVID came, I stopped traveling, became more sedentary.
I am 73 and can make 3 miles on a good day. If it's over 90 degrees I nearly pass out.
Take a break from work and travel soon. When your spouse gets less able find new work

I'm 46, he's 57. We are both still working full time, but I don't think it'll be an issue when we retire-- him in 7 years, and me in about 10 years. We are both active, in good shape, and healthy. Hopefully that'll stay the same!

At 63 my husband could still hike for three hours in the Tetons. At 72 maybe an hour. He’s in very good health but does have more aches and pains. Time isn’t your friend.