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From: Frank Fichtmüller <evkirche.hoeri_at_t-online.de>
subject: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 11:47:13 +0100
Weeeell - if it is only fifty to become qualified for AARP (whatever it is),
then I am qualified.
Hey, another young senior here,
regards from Germany
Frank

Je umsichtiger die Planung, desto treffsicherer der Zufall.

Frank Fichtmueller, Guetebohlweg 4, D 78343 Gaienhofen
(d) evkirche.hoeri_at_t-online.de (p) fichtmueller_at_gmx.de (T) (0049) + 7735 -
2074 (d) 2776 (p) (F) 1431

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From: <Gypsykayak_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 11:04:29 EST
YOU GO, GIRL!!!!

Pat, it might be a chicken-and-egg thing.  Since they don't advertise a 
seniors category, senior paddlers don't even bother to THINK about entering 
any races.

Perhaps, we need to do a local paddlers email blitz asking the outfitter to 
establish the new category.  Of course, since (if you're using 60 as the 
bench mark!), I'm way too young... I wouldn't qualify!

OK OK..... not "way" - but I don't do races anyway:)

sandy kramer
miami

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From: <Gypsykayak_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 11:05:58 EST
In a message dated 01-01-25 04:44:36 EST, rjmatter_at_PRODIGY.NET writes:

<< I'd say anyone who qualifies for membership in AARP (55 years) deserves to 
 all the rights, privileges, (and discounts) of being a senior. >>

Aw shucks!  There goes my excuse, but I've got news for you....50 is the 
eligibility age for AARP. 

Now, let's see.....I've been a member for nearly 5 years.....

sandy kramer
miami

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From: Robert J. Matter <rjmatter_at_PRODIGY.NET>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 10:19:14 -0600
Gypsykayak_at_aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 01-01-25 04:44:36 EST, rjmatter_at_PRODIGY.NET writes:
> 
> << I'd say anyone who qualifies for membership in AARP (55 years) deserves to
>  all the rights, privileges, (and discounts) of being a senior. >>
> 
> Aw shucks!  There goes my excuse, but I've got news for you....50 is the
> eligibility age for AARP.
> 
> Now, let's see.....I've been a member for nearly 5 years.....
> 
> sandy kramer
> miami

Mea culpa!  Jack Martin told me it was 50, too.  *Gulp*  I can't beleive I'm so close to reaching AARP age!  We need to come with a slogan, "Old kayakers don't die.  They just ______________." to stick on our walkers.

-Bob Matter
Hammond, IN
-----------
"The earth does not belong to us, 
 we belong to the earth."
    -Chief Seattle

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From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 12:15:14
At 11:05 AM 1/25/01 EST, Gypsykayak_at_aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 01-01-25 04:44:36 EST, rjmatter_at_PRODIGY.NET writes:
>
><< I'd say anyone who qualifies for membership in AARP (55 years) deserves
to 
> all the rights, privileges, (and discounts) of being a senior. >>
>
>Aw shucks!  There goes my excuse, but I've got news for you....50 is the 
>eligibility age for AARP. 
>
>Now, let's see.....I've been a member for nearly 5 years.....

I gotta admit to some serious mixed emotions when that AARP card showed up
in the mail. On one hand, the discounts are nice. On the other hand . . .
I don't particularly care for what it signifys.

-- Wes
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From: Rick Sylvia <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferginc.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 11:52:01 -0500
Quick side note on this thread.....

Age brackets certainly have their place, but as you are all well aware, they
aren't always an indicator of skill and ability.  In my early 30's, I was
doing a little running, and decided to enter a 5K race.   It was a small
local event, but nontheless, I was pretty proud of myself when I finished
about 7th of almost 30 in my Age and Gender bracket, which I think was Male
ages 30-35.   Ahhh, make that I'm sure about the male part, but not sure
about the age range.

Anyway....It didn't last long though..... as I read down the results list, I
discovered that the top 3 finishers in the Womens 65 and older category
cleaned my clock!!!!  :-)  And I mean cleaned it but GOOD!!   "Senior"
paddlers?   Hah!  I'd still be embarrased to race a lot them  - some put us
"youngsters" to shame  :-)

Rick


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From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 17:04:01 -0500
Rick Sylvia wrote:
> 
> Quick side note on this thread.....
> 
> Age brackets certainly have their place, but as you are all well aware, they
> aren't always an indicator of skill and ability. 

Let me add my own revelation of this back in the late 1950s.  I was on a
Junior Year Abroad program in Santiago Chile.  A fellow student from
Dobbs Ferry were huffing and puffing on a walk up San Cristobal, a hill
overlooking the city.  As we agonized up the path, a Chilean man well
into his 60s wearing a suit, hat and carrying a walking stick breezed by
us as if we were turtles.  My friend was a jock and I was a good walker.

A little later that week, I was jumping off of trolley when I almost
bumped into the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen.  She was leggy and
wearing a dress suit and was well into her 50s.  

So at 20 or so I learned something about age and what I might look
forward to.  I have not been disappointed now that I am 62.

Kayaking is especially generous to older people.  I get calls and email
all the time with some phrase like "I just turned 50 and was wondering
whether I could start kayaking..."  Yes, you can and much older.  The
two oldest kayakers I know are past 85 and still going strong.

ralph diaz

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From: <SeaKayakNH_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 13:26:04 EST
In a message dated 1/25/01 5:23:59 PM, Rick.Sylvia_at_ferginc.com writes:

<< as I read down the results list, I

discovered that the top 3 finishers in the Womens 65 and older category

cleaned my clock!!!!  :-)  And I mean cleaned it but GOOD!!   "Senior"

paddlers?   Hah!  I'd still be embarrased to race a lot them  - some put us

"youngsters" to shame  :-) >>

    The fastest paddler that I know in real life is over 60. At 15 years his 
junior I'm continually embarrassed to admit that I can't keep up with him. I 
worked hard to convince myself that it's the boat, but somehow I'm just not 
buying that excuse.

Jed - "SpeedLump"
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From: Chuck Holst <cholst_at_bitstream.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 12:58:41 -0600 (CST)
[demime could not interpret encoding binary - treating as plain text]
>
>Mea culpa!  Jack Martin told me it was 50, too.  *Gulp*  I can't beleive I'm so
>close to reaching AARP age!  We need to come with a slogan, "Old kayakers don't
>die.  They just ______________." to stick on our walkers.
>
>-Bob Matter
>Hammond, IN

Old kayakers never die, they just fail to roll up.

Chuck Holst
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From: Reeves, Debbie (Debbie) <"Reeves,>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 15:20:10 -0500
Bravo!  Bravo!

> ----------
> From: 	Chuck Holst[SMTP:cholst_at_bitstream.net]
> 
> Old kayakers never die, they just fail to roll up.
> 
> Chuck Holst
> 
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From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 09:45:21
At 11:47 AM 1/28/01 +0100, Frank Fichtmüller wrote:
>Weeeell - if it is only fifty to become qualified for AARP (whatever it is),
>then I am qualified.

AARP -- American Association of Retired Persons -- is basically a big
lobbying group with a lot of clout. You gualify at 50, get a free
membership card and a lot of junk mail. However, their membership card
offers pretty good discounts at places like motels -- save a buck/mark
where you can, right?

-- Wes

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From: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_telus.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001 20:25:53 -0800
Wes Boyd said:

<<<<
gotta admit to some serious mixed emotions when that AARP card showed up

in the mail. On one hand, the discounts are nice. On the other hand . .
.
I don't particularly care for what it signifys.
>>>>

Up here in kayak land, we call senior paddlers "easykayakers". Well,
actually, I know a group of mature paddlers who have formed a commercial
sort of enterprise (not sure how commercial it is), but I like their
philosophy of promoting safer and easier routes for less athletic
paddlers, families, and such -- of any age group. Their web site is:

<http://www.island.net/~pgrey/>

No financial ties here. I just think it is good to be inclusive of
everyone.

DL



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From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001 21:49:08 -0800
Doug Lloyd wrote:

> Up here in kayak land, we call senior paddlers "easykayakers". 

I've been amused by the trend of this thread and inspired by the described
prowess/exploits of some of the "oldsters" and "disadvantaged" folks detailed
on Paddlewise.

Two thoughts:

1.  I've been young, dumb, and strong.  I am now old, canny, and weak(er). 
I'll take the latter, any day.

2.  There is an old saying we used to use when we played three-on-three power
volleyball:  "Old age and treachery will conquer youth and skill any day."  We
did, too.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
old and treacherous
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From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 00:00:39 -0500
Remember that the alternative to growing old isn't exactly pleasant, i.e.
dying off!!!

Age is what you make of it.  There is absolutely no reason to be slowing
down.  In fact, age brings an interesting stage of life...you don't feel a
need to put up with anyone's bullshit!  There is nothing to prove.  No
fascade to keep up.  It is a glorious time of life with no pretenses.  You
have either done what you were going to do with your life...or you haven't,
and are pretty much resigned to it.

The sea knows no age.  We are all alien on its waters no matter how sleek a
kayak we paddle or level of skill.  The best way to blend in to its majesty
and forces is to let go of ourselves and that seems to be something older
folk can do best, i.e. the nothing-to-prove point mentioned above.

ralph diaz




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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug Lloyd" <dlloyd_at_telus.net>
To: <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net>; "Wes Boyd" <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2001 11:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there


> Wes Boyd said:
>
> <<<<
> gotta admit to some serious mixed emotions when that AARP card showed up
>
> in the mail. On one hand, the discounts are nice. On the other hand . .
> .
> I don't particularly care for what it signifys.
> >>>>
>
> Up here in kayak land, we call senior paddlers "easykayakers". Well,
> actually, I know a group of mature paddlers who have formed a commercial
> sort of enterprise (not sure how commercial it is), but I like their
> philosophy of promoting safer and easier routes for less athletic
> paddlers, families, and such -- of any age group. Their web site is:
>
> <http://www.island.net/~pgrey/>
>
> No financial ties here. I just think it is good to be inclusive of
> everyone.
>
> DL
>


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From: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_telus.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 21:11:14 -0800
Dave Kruger said:

<<<<
I've been amused by the trend of this thread and inspired by the
described
prowess/exploits of some of the "oldsters" and "disadvantaged" folks
detailed
on Paddlewise.

Two thoughts:

1.  I've been young, dumb, and strong.  I am now old, canny, and
weak(er).
I'll take the latter, any day.

2.  There is an old saying we used to use when we played three-on-three
power
volleyball:  "Old age and treachery will conquer youth and skill any
day."  We
did, too.
>>>>

When you are old and treacherous, what else are you going to say?  :-)

DL


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From: John Fereira <jaf30_at_cornell.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 12:53:44 -0500
At 09:11 PM 1/30/01 -0800, Doug Lloyd wrote:
>Dave Kruger said:

>
>When you are old and treacherous, what else are you going to say?  :-)
>
>
I forget.

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From: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_telus.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2001 00:23:05 -0800
John Fereira wrote:

> At 09:11 PM 1/30/01 -0800, Doug Lloyd wrote:
> >Dave Kruger said:
>
> >
> >When you are old and treacherous, what else are you going to say?  :-)
> >
> >
> I forget.

Oh sorry, my reply to Dave should have been in big print:

WHEN YOU ARE OLD AND TREACHEROUS, WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO SAY? :-)

...couldn't resist. Thanks for the chuckle too, John. I think Dave has it
all together though -- he just can't remember where he put it!

DL





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From: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_telus.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 21:11:44 -0800
Dave Kruger said:

<<<<
I've been amused by the trend of this thread and inspired by the
described
prowess/exploits of some of the "oldsters" and "disadvantaged" folks
detailed
on Paddlewise.

Two thoughts:

1.  I've been young, dumb, and strong.  I am now old, canny, and
weak(er).
I'll take the latter, any day.

2.  There is an old saying we used to use when we played three-on-three
power
volleyball:  "Old age and treachery will conquer youth and skill any
day."  We
did, too.
>>>>

When you are old and treacherous, what else are you going to say?  :-)

DL


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