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[Crankin]

I already do lots of other stuff; hiking, x country skiing, snow shoeing, tabata, power classes at the gym. Occasional yoga. I was really into for awhile while I was in school, but I find I don't really like the people in those classes. I can't describe it, but it gets me agitated, which is not what yoga should do. I do sometimes practice at home. I've done yoga at a few places, and my reaction is always the same. I am good about stretching at home, and have a whole bunch of PT correctives I do, also. I just turned 63, so after almost 40 years of doing active stuff, my body is feeling it!
I give you guys who are (were) caregivers credit. It would be very hard for me to do this. I've lived far away from my family for many years, so my brother got that job, just virtue of location. I gave moral support, advice, and money, and visited. My mom died very young, from a horrible liver disease/failed transplant, and one thing I learned from that, is that both of my parents were extremely independent and did not want anyone interfering with their choices. My dad has been gone for 2 years and despite the fact he was 89 when he died, he made it clear I was still "the kid." My kids actually were there when he needed to go into hospice and they helped my brother get him to the VA in San Diego, where he had excellent and compassionate end of life care. I am glad I got to see him about 3 weeks before he died.

[emily_in_nc]

I give you guys who are (were) caregivers credit. It would be very hard for me to do this. I've lived far away from my family for many years, so my brother got that job, just virtue of location. I gave moral support, advice, and money, and visited.

Ditto. After helping to move DH's parents into assisted living and being around them quite a lot during that time, plus several visits since, I know I could never be a full-time caretaker. They are very needy and difficult at times. Caregiving, especially for elderly folks with dementia and physical limitations, is extremely exhausting and takes an awful lot of patience and unselfish sharing of time. I admit I'm not too good on either of those attributes, nor is my DH. We did a great job with the physical work of cleaning out their house efficiently and quickly, but the emotional "work" is much harder for both of us.

I know my mother, if she is widowed one day (likely, as she's in much better health than my stepfather, despite being 12 years older!) wants to move into some sort of elder apartment. She knows with our crazy lifestyle that we don't have a house with a mother-in-law suite to move her into, and my younger brother, while a sweet and super smart guy, is just not equipped to care for her in any meaningful way. So, hopefully I will just be able to be close enough to visit with some frequency. She is the primary reason that I am not too keen on heading back to Mexico anytime soon.