This applies to fulltimers, part-timers and even those who never travel - everyone needs an exit plan. As we get older an exit plan becomes more important. There is an old saying "Treat your children nice because they will chose your nursing home." But at this point I'm not necessarily talking about making plans for a nursing home.

The older we get the less we are able to do such as yard work, climbing steps and driving. Our ears don't hear as well as they once did and our eyes don't see like they did when we were in our twenties. It is evident older people can not do what they once did and there comes a point an exit plan should be executed.

I suggest a person, no matter the age, should look about five or ten years down the road to determine what needs to be done now. In other words, in 5 - 10 years will you be able to drive a large motorhome, mow your grass, shovel snow or climb the steps in your house. If the answer is NO it is time to execute an exit plan now. For RVers it may be to buy a smaller motorhome or buy a small one level house. For non-RVers it may be to sell the large multi story house and buy a smaller one level house or even move in a retirement community. Two exit plans may be best. Down size to a small house now and ten years later move to a retirement communtiy.

No matter what your plan - do it before it is too late. My parents had no exit plan other than live in their home until they could not do daily routine chores such as cooking, laundry and bathing. That forced "us" to make their exit plan and put them in a nursing home and then we had to deal with everything they collected in 66 years of marriage, sell their stuff, their house and car.

Linda's parents have health problems and are unable to make daily trips up and down their steps and her father can no longer drive. We have talked to them about an exit plan and they want to down size, but they are looking at a house with a basement, swimming pool, hot tub on a deck and a large lawn to mow. So it looks like Linda and I will be making their exit plan for them in a couple of years.

Now to our exit plan. Since we're only 58 and 54 years old we hope we have many years before a final exit plan is needed. I have told Linda if I kick the bucket to drop me off at the nearest funeral home and then head down the road in our motorhome. I want her to call our family and friends and tell them to raise a cold one in my memory. If I survive another ten years I'll draw another exit plan.