Retirement: The Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go Years

Edd:  Wow, as I’m sitting here starting to plan our trips for the rest of the year, it dawned on me that around this time five years ago we had just started our full-time travel adventure that lasted over two years.

Cynthia:  We sure got off to a roaring start. In the second half of 2021 we went to five different places in Mexico, came back to the States to see a dear friend and your sister in Las Vegas. Then we stayed with our kids and grandkids in North Carolina and New Jersey.

E:  We also rented an Airbnb in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for a month with side trips to Longwood Gardens, Gettysburg, and Philadelphia. Next we visited friends and relatives in Atlanta before spending the holidays with our family.

C:  Good gravy, how did we do all that? I’m exhausted just thinking about it!

E:  A lot of people would probably be shocked to know we had absolutely no grand plan when we set off. This was right when COVID restrictions were starting to lift. We were like, “OK, Mexico’s open so let’s go there first, then we’ll figure out what’s next.”

C:  We’ve been comfortable with not knowing all the details for a long time. We moved here 16 years ago, unable to speak Spanish and having no place to live.

E:  That’s the way we roll — take the first step and learn as we go. After spending about 10 weeks visiting four European countries the following year, we were worn out and realized we needed to ease up. For the next stops, Medellín and finally Buenos Aires, we stayed two months in each city instead of a couple of weeks.

C:  That began our transition from the “go-go” to the “slow-go” years. Those terms, along with “no-go,” were coined by Michael Stein in his book The Prosperous Retirement: Guide to the New Reality. He divides the three groups into age brackets: 65–75, 75–85, and 85-plus.

E:  It’s really interesting how our own travels are generally following that same timeline. You asked how we survived that early whirlwind of activity. For us, full-time traveling ended only three years ago, yet we wouldn’t dream of pushing ourselves that hard now.

C:  Plus, we just don’t want to go-go anymore. Taking our time and savoring the experience is more important than running around trying to see and do everything. We even won an award for an article we wrote for Next Avenue, “Taking the Road Slow Traveled.”

E:  Indeed. In the autumn of 2023 we explored Quebec City and Montreal and even got to hang out with long-time Canadian friends. It was a glorious trip filled with memories.

C:  When plotting our three-week journey to Peru last fall, we knew there was going to be a lot of walking. So we made sure to schedule rest days with no activities and even set aside time for a massage.

E:  Now our attention is on Italy for later this year to celebrate our 55th anniversary. Despite all the planning, every trip seems to have a few hiccups. We’ll do our best to minimize those and make this one the best ever!

C:  We have friends our age who don’t phrase it that way, but admit they have already entered the “no-go” years. Some for health reasons. Others who feel like they’ve simply gotten traveling out of their systems.

E:  It’s inevitable the day will come when we join their ranks, but there’s still so much we want to see and do in this world. Let’s pace ourselves and keep those “slow-go” years going as long as we possibly can.