Age is starting to affect our travel plans
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (352955)
Rockingham, Australia
March 17, 2023 7:06pm CST
I think many know we’re heading to Ireland soon to visit our son and his wife. We haven’t been since 2019 when covid disrupted so many plans and lives.
We are now 76 and 75 and already travel insurance companies are checking on any ongoing health issues. While Vince has some, they are well controlled and so far we haven’t had any trouble getting travel insurance. We were to swap houses and cars with an Irish family. In Australia, once the car is insured any licensed driver can drive it but in Ireland, drivers must be nominated. The family’s insurance company is saying Vince is too old and cannot be nominated as a driver. I’ve even older so that rules me out too!
However, the family has been in touch with our son (they’ve met before) and they are going to swap cars. Our son will take over their car for the month and we will have our son’s. The family, when they arrive here, will have the choice of our cars.
It’s really kind of both parties to work this out between them rather than have us worrying about it.
The photo is from the Whiteman Park Motor Museum and shows a quilt that a lady made for her husband, who was besotted with Holdens, an Australian-made car.
26 people like this
29 responses
@Treborika (17895)
• Mombasa, Kenya
18 Mar 23
That's a commendable job for the son otherwise congratulations to him
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (147754)
• United States
18 Mar 23
I'm glad the car insurance thing has been worked out to your satisfaction...
It's an interesting quilt.
5 people like this
@DaddyEvil (147754)
• United States
18 Mar 23
@JudyEv Here, too, even though a lot of them shouldn't be driving.
We finally took mom's car keys away from her because she couldn't turn the steering wheel even though it was power steering.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (352955)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 23
@DaddyEvil I'm sure there are some here who shouldn't be driving. At some point, we will have a compulsory driving text. I think it is when we turn 80.
2 people like this
@allknowing (145360)
• India
18 Mar 23
No problem for you then It is all sorted out - thanks to both your son and your friend
3 people like this
@allknowing (145360)
• India
18 Mar 23
@JudyEv You may have to change your lifestyle which is what is expected as one ages And you will have so many things lined up I am sure Happy retirement Judy (lol)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (352955)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 23
@allknowing Yes, gradually things will change for us. Thanks for the good wishes.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (43524)
• United States
18 Mar 23
Sure hope this all works out and doesn't affect your vacation.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29411)
• Eugene, Oregon
18 Mar 23
Well, that's a surprise! I'm glad it worked out for you.
Love that word, besotted, must work it into a poem.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29411)
• Eugene, Oregon
18 Mar 23
@JudyEv It really is. I'm glad you reminded me of it.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (49578)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Mar 23
That's ridiculous that the insurance company is just looking at the numbers and not the health of the driver. As we all here know, both you and Vince are still vigorous in your "old age". And mid-70s isn't that old, these days.
Glad you found a work-around for driving in Ireland.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (47853)
• India
21 Mar 23
Insurance companies do keep a lot of tab on age and health conditions.
Thankfully, everything is sorted out.
The image looks quite nice.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47853)
• India
22 Mar 23
@JudyEv
The Underwriting teams of the Insurance companies could use such terms to hike the policy premiums as well !!
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47853)
• India
23 Mar 23
@JudyEv
The rates start peaking up from 45 years plus.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (113918)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Mar 23
And I will believe we are capable until I start making all kinds of driving mistakes, my mom didn't start do that until she reached her mid 80s. Oh good grief, I'm going to pray that we will have better sense than my mom did and be a lot more careful when we reach our 80s.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (94526)
• Arvada, Colorado
18 Mar 23
Oh dear Judy..I do recall that now there are different rules there for the car insurance alright.
Well good and amazing it has worked out!
I love that quilt!!
3 people like this
@FourWalls (74515)
• United States
18 Mar 23
Lovely quilt. So you’re the victim of ageism, huh? 
I’m glad you’re going to be able to work things out, though.
I’m glad you’re going to be able to work things out, though.3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (115835)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Mar 23
Glad you could work out the car problem. Hope everything else goes well
3 people like this
@florelway (23358)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
18 Mar 23
Age restricts mobility and traveling requires a lot of walking and moving. Queuing at the airport is not easy. Transferring from one place to another, changing cars, looking for washrooms, health issues. These are all factors affecting travel.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (352955)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 23
@florelway That is starting to affect us too. Such things are all getting harder.
1 person likes this
@florelway (23358)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
18 Mar 23
@JudyEv that's also my concern. Now I can hardly lift a luggage to.be placed in the luggage compartment.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (84796)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Mar 23
I really like that quilt. I wish you all the best of luck and hope you have a safe journey and can enjoy your time in Ireland,
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124240)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Mar 23
It’s unfortunate that eventually we’ll all get to that point where we’re too old to drive safely on the roads, but I’m glad in this instance you were able to find a way to work around the issue.
And I was worried for a second, I thought you were going to tell us that you had to cancel your trip to Ireland. So happy to see that wasn’t the case.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124240)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Mar 23
@JudyEv I’m sure I will get to that point someday as well. Hopefully later rather than sooner.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (188287)
• United States
14 Apr 23
I'm glad you worked out the car problem. That's a lovely quilt.
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17895)
• Mombasa, Kenya
18 Mar 23
I hope all has already been resolved and you are good to go as soon as your travel date reaches
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (352955)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Mar 23
@Treborika That's true. Only nine days to go now!
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17895)
• Mombasa, Kenya
20 Mar 23
@JudyEvI think now you are counting on the days. Soon you'll be traveling to Ireland which is your great pleasure
1 person likes this
