25 years to go ....

I've thought about this a lil in the past.  Even wrote about it here.   Back when I hit 25, was at my peak in my mind at that time. Thirty, shit felt 'real' as an adult. At 40, was a notch disappointed; thought I'd be in a diff place financially and physically.  At 50, realized I'd passed the '1/2 point' in life but was smiling.  Come 60 realized... shit was getting real.  Felt like superman right up until that point .. then my heart issue popped up (ICD in there now).  Suddenly realized I was mortal like everyone else.  This year I'll turn 65, Living The Dream (LTD), pushing forward in several areas of my life for what I've called 'The Final Push' ..   and assume I'll calm it down and relax and enjoy the roses or whatever that saying is.  But this past year .. I've been pushing hard...  Traveling a LOT ... and have a LOT planned and on my plate.  Well, few days ago ... got to doing some deep thinking and doing some soul searching, to understand what's been driving my behavior and realized the obvious.  That realization?  I've got maybe ... 25 years left.   My twenty in the USAF flew by.  I retired from the USAF 26 years ago; that's flown by.   The next 25; it's going to fly by too quickly. I find myself pushing hard to travel outside the norm that I previously have. Going 100mph again.

The average life expectancy for men in the U.S. is approximately 74.8 years. This figure reflects a significant gap compared to women's life expectancy, which is about 80.2 years.

Seventy Five says the actuarial tables.  BUT, my dad is 87 and going strong.  In great shape, still working out.  He retired at about 55 to a new home they built on 80 acres with my mom back in the 90s.  Dad has a lot of years ahead of him.  So, one would assume, I should too.  Doc says my heart is solid and strong, just had some misfires .. electrical wiring issues of sorts .. that a few ablations have fixed up.   So, all should be solid, just need to keep from killing myself on two wheels?

Still.... 25 years.  That's a sobering thought.   Hell, I remember when I was 25, scooting around on two wheels daily at 130 mph on my LTD/KZ1000 thinking .. " if I die today, I'll have lived a better life than most."   Now, I'm not sure if that's true or not..... but I was actually thinking it. I was aware of a lot of miserable people in the world.  Lots of people plodding along doing ....  nothing.  I was going at it 100 mph all day .. all night .. playing hard, two divorces behind me ... and ...  hadn't met my future and last Bride yet.  But, was living life to the fullest.  When we married and moved to Panama, I got everything in check and calmed down.  When I retired from the USAF, my new life in the civilian world led to a lot of traveling, long hours and ... I was playing hard again.  Here I am 26 years later, still playing hard.  Working normal hours .. sometimes less (sometimes more) .. but ... traveling a lot.   And now realizing, I'm traveling a LOT...  which .. got me to thinking... and writing this.

It's the final stretch.  If I'm lucky ... 25 more years above ground.  But, in todays world.... maybe that's 35  .. 40 ... with medical advancements.  Back in the day I thought 60 was 'old' and I probably wouldn't make it to 70.  Then .. realized 75 wasn't really old if you had your shit together.  Now, every year I see my dad raise the bar.  Still works his acreage.  Still goes to the gym.  Still enjoying life.  Every year, I realize ... my life span is potentially longer that I'd originally considered.  So now, I'm assuming 90.  Now here's  the funny part .. well, sort of.  Most people seem to work their whole life, waiting to retire and travel and enjoy the good years.  I've been doing that my whole life.  When I actually 'retire' I'll probably slow down not speed up (travel, etc.).  My investment guy used to ask me all the retirement questions, to figure out "how much" is needed to pursue our dreams when fully retired. I'm laughing telling him my costs should go way down.  No new motorcycles.  No big trips out of the country.   Hell, maybe even sell the second home and enjoy the primary home to it's fullest.  That's actually driving our latest decision; building a new home.  Thought I would NEVER do that until last year when we made the decision.  We've been in our current home for 30 years, added on to it twice, put up a garage and two additional buildings. We truly enjoy our pool we put in 23 years ago.  Thought this was my last home. But, changing up that plan a notch with our new forever home concept. That should time with my mindset of slowing down just a notch and enjoy the final 25.  The final stretch.

All sounds a lil' morbid doesn't it?  That's what mama' said anyways.  Me, I'm just being real.   Now the trick is ... to make sure that next 25 is enjoyable.  Ensure my health cooperates.  Basically, keep it all in check and enjoy the ride.

God willing, 25 from now, I'll be writing a similar post talking about the 'next' 25?