South to Santa Barbara

 We drove south to Santa Barbara today. It's been a long time since the first week in November since my wife had her last joint replacement, her left knee which takes a long time to heal properly. Today we drove two cars south, one for one of my daughters and it was painful for my wife to drive our Ascent but we are leaving one car here for my daughter and husband so it's good we came with the extra car. The drive was okay except my wife was dealing with her knee replacement swelling which was fairly painful for her. This is the first week the doctor recommended that she could drive long distance. So, we haven't driven over about 20 miles at a time since October now. So, it's quite and adjustment after so long to drive 4 or 5 hours in a car anywhere. 

The biggest change for me is driving at night. When you are younger you sort of visualize in your mind all the things you cannot see with only headlights. But, recently I drove and night and I found it a strange thing to do at age 76 because I hadn't done it in so long.

However, today it was easier because when you are driving during the day and it slowly becomes night it makes more sense to your brain then to be driving at night.

So, if you are older I recommend if you are going to be driving at night that you also are driving during the day while it turns into night as well because I found this very helpful.

When you are younger you have really fast reflexes like I did too. And when you are older you are much better at making good decisions that someone who is a teenager. So, as you get older you become in your movements more like a teenager because it all balances out.

However, I was talking to a friend who just returned from India and who got sick there like other friends did this year in India and Nepal who are in their 60s and 70s that I knew he likely would get sick over there and I was right. So, after a month there he is still recovering from the trip and trying to get his health back.

It's one reason why I chose not to go to India and Nepal anymore simply because I'm 76 now and I would like to live as long as possible still.

Life is good to older and older ages for people I notice. I had a great grandmother live to 105 in 1952 who was born well before the Civil War and her husband who was born in the 1840s lived well into World War II as well. So, I think genetically it is possible that I have these long lived genes too. One day at a time.