Health and Aging
- Thread starter Ed Schenck
- Start date
- Status
I too have been lurking around this thread and enjoying everyone's personal stories. I am not surprised at all at the common thread of working through the discomforts and keep on going, it keeps us young.
We crew on a fairly physically intense boat, and love every second of it. When we started racing in 2007, we knew nothing so when the skipper told my husband and me to go faster as we winched in the jib, we tried.....and tried and kept working at it because we believed we should. Our attitude from the beginning was "of course we are racing" no matter the weather, the conditions, or even our condition. We did not know any better. When we were making an important tack, my husband "handed' me the winch handle right in the mouth, and though I stopped long enough to punch the growing blood clot down so it did not keep enlarging, we kept going, and never stopped until we got in. It hurt, alot!! but I never considered wimping out or complaining. I love sailing for that reason, it has taught me that even when we are dog tired, it does not matter, because we are headed for the rocks and need to get around that tack and no matter what, we have to make that happen. and we do.
I have had a very bad neck for many years, and so I thought when I took the position of main trimmer it would really give me trouble. ... Not so, at least after the first couple races... in fact, I never feel more limber and fit than I do when we are racing regularly. So, sailing is my best workout, from working the main to the isometrics required to hold my body in place, to moving around the boat without upsetting anyone.... it all contributes to the best workout I can come up with. I only wish I could develop a fitness set up that would duplicate winching under load and working the main. What fun that would be. (I have looked into it, and the cost of even old winches is very expensive!)
I admire all of you and enjoy being a part of a sport that is so independent minded and though we are all shapes and sizes and abilities, we all seem to have a common thread of perseverance and a deep love of the quiet power of sailing, and I think in the end, that is why I can't see myself ever giving it up.
We crew on a fairly physically intense boat, and love every second of it. When we started racing in 2007, we knew nothing so when the skipper told my husband and me to go faster as we winched in the jib, we tried.....and tried and kept working at it because we believed we should. Our attitude from the beginning was "of course we are racing" no matter the weather, the conditions, or even our condition. We did not know any better. When we were making an important tack, my husband "handed' me the winch handle right in the mouth, and though I stopped long enough to punch the growing blood clot down so it did not keep enlarging, we kept going, and never stopped until we got in. It hurt, alot!! but I never considered wimping out or complaining. I love sailing for that reason, it has taught me that even when we are dog tired, it does not matter, because we are headed for the rocks and need to get around that tack and no matter what, we have to make that happen. and we do.
I have had a very bad neck for many years, and so I thought when I took the position of main trimmer it would really give me trouble. ... Not so, at least after the first couple races... in fact, I never feel more limber and fit than I do when we are racing regularly. So, sailing is my best workout, from working the main to the isometrics required to hold my body in place, to moving around the boat without upsetting anyone.... it all contributes to the best workout I can come up with. I only wish I could develop a fitness set up that would duplicate winching under load and working the main. What fun that would be. (I have looked into it, and the cost of even old winches is very expensive!)
I admire all of you and enjoy being a part of a sport that is so independent minded and though we are all shapes and sizes and abilities, we all seem to have a common thread of perseverance and a deep love of the quiet power of sailing, and I think in the end, that is why I can't see myself ever giving it up.
Luz, what a marvelous post! I can identify so much with the comments on this thread! I wondered how long I would last in sailing, but so far so good. There is a lot I can't do as fast or crisply as I used to, but I do things smarter. I will go until it's a no-go.
thanks Rick, the good news about not being a child sailor is that I don't remember doing it better than I do now..for me it is still getting better because I started so old......er... late! and I agree, we are sailing smarter these days (hopefully) and that is the growth we realize. yep, totally agree........ will climb aboard until it is only for a nap! 
LuzSD, You are sorta in the wrong part of the country or I would suggest a crosscut saw and a pile of fire wood. Just about the same motion and work as cranking a winch. One of our late presidents advocated pumping fire wood as a means of staying in shape.
Thank you folks for sharing your inspiring stories and messages. Ed wrote that he wished that he didn't have to spend some much time caring for his ailing spouse so he could sail more. Some might think it, few would have the where-with-all to say it. (I'm not sure how you compliment some one for that? He is just being honest.)
You can write off some diseases as being genetically linked or passed on. But, don't under value the importance of being a healthy weight and physically active.
I recall hearing a Dr. (on TV) say that atheroscerosis begins the day we are born. You can either slow it or excellerate it. You can 'live it up' (ie be unhealthy), and modern medicine may save you. But, there are quality of life issues. (Ask some one whose survived a heart attack.)
Losing weight and exercising usually requires some discomfort ('pain'). Those of us who don't mind this are usually healthier. I enjoy biking and kayaking, I don't do them to be healthy. I've ridden a few centuries w/ my Dad (where, eventually you focus on the areas that hurt the most) and paddled through my share of snow storms (I have a nagging shoulder injury). I can eat and burn off what ever I want, but usually I miss a meal or two. You want to lose weight? Suffer (it's really not that bad).
And, smoking, causes arterial plague build-up. The jogger, you may have a strong heart, vascular disease is difficult to gage until it's too late.
You can write off some diseases as being genetically linked or passed on. But, don't under value the importance of being a healthy weight and physically active.
I recall hearing a Dr. (on TV) say that atheroscerosis begins the day we are born. You can either slow it or excellerate it. You can 'live it up' (ie be unhealthy), and modern medicine may save you. But, there are quality of life issues. (Ask some one whose survived a heart attack.)
Losing weight and exercising usually requires some discomfort ('pain'). Those of us who don't mind this are usually healthier. I enjoy biking and kayaking, I don't do them to be healthy. I've ridden a few centuries w/ my Dad (where, eventually you focus on the areas that hurt the most) and paddled through my share of snow storms (I have a nagging shoulder injury). I can eat and burn off what ever I want, but usually I miss a meal or two. You want to lose weight? Suffer (it's really not that bad).
And, smoking, causes arterial plague build-up. The jogger, you may have a strong heart, vascular disease is difficult to gage until it's too late.
If you maintain good health, quickly take care of medical issues as they occur and keep a positive outlook one should be able to sail into their 90's. I turned 87 last month and plan to continue sailing my Cape Dory 28 for several years more. I singlehand the boat most of the time but I seldom go up on deck while underway. I sail in Chesapeake Bay but have taken several blur water trips with a friend. Also I try to keep my boat well maintained at all times.
I am inspired by the previous posts from Bob and rope. But shocked that "Solace" read that I thought taking care of my wife was taking up my time! I had to go back and reread. If I gave that impression then I am very embarrassed. What I meant was that to maintain a level of fitness that I am used to is time-consuming. I used to ride the bike two hundred or more miles a week. I still train with a fellow who just finished a 10,000 mile year. I still want to keep up but have had to adjust my goals. If I suddenly could not afford some nursing help and had to stay at home I would gladly do that. I just know that my staying fit and healthy is important for my wife. In the four years since her diagnosis I have not missed a single day due to a health issue.
My thoughts on this are as follows: everything in moderation, forgive and forget the past because it's done, leave the future to itself because it is unwritten so worrying achieves nothing but wasting valuable time and energy. If you wake up be grateful and if you're able to get up and do something especially sail be ecstatic. Life is too short to miss the beauty that it is. From someone who would pick her parents again any day but is quite genetically a mess.
Ed my heart goes out to you. I lost a dear friend several years ago to ALS and to be honest qualifies as my worst nightmare of health problems. Take care of yourself.
And please remember sunscreen while you're enjoying life in moderation! Sun damage is cumulative and the resulting skin cancer can be awful. Someone close to me is struggling with melanoma and of course hindsight is always 20:20.
SC
Ed my heart goes out to you. I lost a dear friend several years ago to ALS and to be honest qualifies as my worst nightmare of health problems. Take care of yourself.
And please remember sunscreen while you're enjoying life in moderation! Sun damage is cumulative and the resulting skin cancer can be awful. Someone close to me is struggling with melanoma and of course hindsight is always 20:20.
SC
Every day I am reminded that time is precious. Our 4 year old (Squeaky) was diagnosed with cancer a year and a half ago. She is doing great today and has a good prognosis! We are blessed. We have health care coverage ( O Canada), live in a city that has one of 8 hospitals in the world that specialize in her type of cancer ( type B ALL), and the support. I can't name all the organizations.
People always ask how we hold it together... We pray and we live life to the fullest.
It dosn't matter "why". That's the past. We have to work with what we are dealt.
This is as good as it gets. All one can do is try to be the best person you can and try and be a good example to others.
I could never have imagined that this would bring our family closer together.
People always ask how we hold it together... We pray and we live life to the fullest.
It dosn't matter "why". That's the past. We have to work with what we are dealt.
This is as good as it gets. All one can do is try to be the best person you can and try and be a good example to others.
I could never have imagined that this would bring our family closer together.
A second reply from me as my first was terse.
I come to this life with great genes for a long life - mid to late 90's are common. My life has not been easy, I have had the time of death card next to me once, and I fought Hepatitis B and C, beating the odds; which also means I was expected to die sometime in 1995 because of those. I did not.
My military life, four years active, left me with a damaged spine, knees and PTSD. I am receiving excellent care for all those at the VA.
I returned to the work force at the chronological age of 61ish. That I did not tell my co-workers. The truth is I did not want to raise age questions. It took about 3 or 4 weeks before I had to tell our time keeper my age for some reason. She did keep it quiet for a week. Then she took me out to lunch; the reason was not as much to eat as to tell me what my other co-workers were guessing as to my age. Most had me in the upper thirties, a couple in my low thirties, and one brave soul had me at 42.
Why is this important? Damned if I really know except I live like I am 40.
The one time I almost felt my age was at one of the birthday parties we hold; this is before anyone knew my age. Someone asked the celebrant what she saw the future as she is now 30. Then we were all supposed to tell others what we remember of the year when we turned 30, and those in their 20's to tell what they would see when they finally reached old age (30). While they were telling their stories I snuck off to search what happened the year I turned 30 - it was so long ago i could not remember. USA hockey team beat the Soviets and Mt. St. Helens blew, among other things. I did not mention those at this party.
I come to this life with great genes for a long life - mid to late 90's are common. My life has not been easy, I have had the time of death card next to me once, and I fought Hepatitis B and C, beating the odds; which also means I was expected to die sometime in 1995 because of those. I did not.
My military life, four years active, left me with a damaged spine, knees and PTSD. I am receiving excellent care for all those at the VA.
I returned to the work force at the chronological age of 61ish. That I did not tell my co-workers. The truth is I did not want to raise age questions. It took about 3 or 4 weeks before I had to tell our time keeper my age for some reason. She did keep it quiet for a week. Then she took me out to lunch; the reason was not as much to eat as to tell me what my other co-workers were guessing as to my age. Most had me in the upper thirties, a couple in my low thirties, and one brave soul had me at 42.
Why is this important? Damned if I really know except I live like I am 40.
The one time I almost felt my age was at one of the birthday parties we hold; this is before anyone knew my age. Someone asked the celebrant what she saw the future as she is now 30. Then we were all supposed to tell others what we remember of the year when we turned 30, and those in their 20's to tell what they would see when they finally reached old age (30). While they were telling their stories I snuck off to search what happened the year I turned 30 - it was so long ago i could not remember. USA hockey team beat the Soviets and Mt. St. Helens blew, among other things. I did not mention those at this party.
Interesting read to this 63 year old. The only perspective I didn't read was what about the fact that that the aging and inevitable end of bodily life is not really an end at all? I have it on the best and highest authority that this is the case; and that from a man who had an unsurpassed mastery of all things nautical. I think the enjoyment of sailing and such will never end and I for one intend to continue to prepare for the unending passage. Please do not think I am attempting to add some religious twist to the forum. I know that can cause some inevitable rancor. I am not looking for any terse argument about belief. I'm just saying what I know to be so and adding that, as all prudent persons do who go to sea, I am making practical preparations for the continuing passage.
- Status