At almost 55, I too, am just getting started, I hope. My father spent his life on the water and called it quits at 76. I think he just didn't want to deal with the travel to and from the boat. We live 3 hours away from the coast and almost 5 hours away from the marina. He sailed around the world, had friends, from several countries, doing the same thing. My mother joined him less and less frequently.
At 81, he joined a gym and works out most mornings at 4am. I won't be surprised if, after he gets his knees replaced, he will decide he's up for a little more sailing.
Personally, I hope to be one of those sailors you guys all talk about after the news article is published about my tragic fall overboard at 90. "He shouldn't have been out there at that age." "When it's time to quit, I would know it." "He couldn't have had REAL experience. He was just a recreational cruiser. "
If you will know when it is time to quit, what are you sailing for in the first place? My father-in-law, an old retired trucker who always said that about driving, could not give up his car keys when he couldn't drive anymore.
I am certainly going to know when to quit but, by then, it will be too late.
- Will (Dragonfly)