I finished my Camino Frances in July

[SirRon]

and at that time, I felt this was my one and done. I'm 49, I loved it and was proud of myself! I met some great people and loved Spain but I thought I checked the box and would move on to other things. Now I'm back in the real world. My daughter got married a couple of weeks after I returned. I'm back to teaching and the real world makes me realize...the camino lifestyle really was a way to soothe my soul.

I might not can do it again soon, but I will do it again. Right now I'm 8 years from retiring and I think I'll give myself the Camino as my retirement gift.

 

[J Willhaus]

and at that time, I felt this was my one and done. I'm 49, I loved it and was proud of myself! I met some great people and loved Spain but I thought I checked the box and would move on to other things. Now I'm back in the real world. My daughter got married a couple of weeks after I returned. I'm back to teaching and the real world makes me realize...the camino lifestyle really was a way to soothe my soul.

I might not can do it again soon, but I will do it again. Right now I'm 8 years from retiring and I think I'll give myself the Camino as my retirement gift.

Don't wait too long! Do things you can do while you can still do them is my motto!

 

[SirRon]

Don't wait too long! Do things you can do while you can still do them is my motto!

Understood but I know I could do it then. I'd like to try going in Late Sept/October. But... if I can do it before then, I will.

 

[CWBuff]

Lol
Welcome to the club
It does have a Way to get under your skin

 

[David Tallan]

and at that time, I felt this was my one and done. I'm 49, I loved it and was proud of myself! I met some great people and loved Spain but I thought I checked the box and would move on to other things. Now I'm back in the real world. My daughter got married a couple of weeks after I returned. I'm back to teaching and the real world makes me realize...the camino lifestyle really was a way to soothe my soul.

I might not can do it again soon, but I will do it again. Right now I'm 8 years from retiring and I think I'll give myself the Camino as my retirement gift.

I think that there are a lot of people who will relate to what you wrote.

 

[AllisonMarie]

Don't wait too long! Do things you can do while you can still do them is my motto!

Yes! Had a completely out of the blue heart attack this past November. When my niece told me she’d like to walk the Camino with me this year, a 20 year dream of mine, you bet I said yes! we will arrive in SJPdP two weeks from now!

 

[Marian Patricia]

and at that time, I felt this was my one and done. I'm 49, I loved it and was proud of myself! I met some great people and loved Spain but I thought I checked the box and would move on to other things. Now I'm back in the real world. My daughter got married a couple of weeks after I returned. I'm back to teaching and the real world makes me realize...the camino lifestyle really was a way to soothe my soul.

I might not can do it again soon, but I will do it again. Right now I'm 8 years from retiring and I think I'll give myself the Camino as my retirement gift.

I’m betting you’ll do it more than just once. We went at age 66 and it was wonderful. All I could think about when I got home was “where will we do the next one!” But between Covid and a severe ankle injury it now may never happen. So start planning, do it while you can, maybe be discover another route. You’re still young!!

 

[Bradypus]

I might not can do it again soon, but I will do it again. Right now I'm 8 years from retiring and I think I'll give myself the Camino as my retirement gift.

There was a 12 year gap between my first and second Caminos. Then an 12 year gap before the third. In recent years they have been coming thick and fast. It can become quite addictive and obsessive... Ultreia!

 

[basquelady]

Understood but I know I could do it then. I'd like to try going in Late Sept/October. But... if I can do it before then, I will.

The problem is that you do not know what may lie ahead of you; thinking health, other's health, pandemics. Sorry to put a dampener on your plans, but I'm so glad my husband and I (then aged 74 and 66) walked in 2013 from Roncesvalles while we were both healthy. Over the next 6 years, we walked "bits and pieces", including Baztán; all changed after Alzheimer's caught up with him and then Covid, then broken hip. Just MY memories and gratitude left now.

 

[Liam55]

Oh no one knows how many days or years are left!! Why put off for 8 years something as magical as the Camino. If it calls, then just go!!!

 

[SirRon]

The problem is that you do not know what may lie ahead of you; thinking health, other's health, pandemics. Sorry to put a dampener on your plans, but I'm so glad my husband and I (then aged 74 and 66) walked in 2013 from Roncesvalles while we were both healthy. Over the next 6 years, we walked "bits and pieces", including Baztán; all changed after Alzheimer's caught up with him and then Covid, then broken hip. Just MY memories and gratitude left now.

Don't take this personal but WHO knows what's ahead? I think we all know this. Lord some of ya'll. I just walked it in July. If I can do it again I will. I didn't think I needed to put a precursor that as long as I don't get hit by a meteor or trampled by a herd of wildebeests, I'll do it.

LOL I can't summer of 24 due to my father's 75th birthday
2025 my 2nd oldest daughter graduates from Georgetown and we're doing something with her before she starts med school.
2026 my 3rd oldest daughter graduates high school and will need to have another loop recorder implanted to replace the one she got after her heart condition was discovered.
2027. I might can go that summer to Spain. Leaning toward the Portuguese route
2028 Son graduates from high school. Wife and I are doing an anniversary trip.

Just saying if obviously all goes well, I'll do it again when I retire and I can go at a time of year that I can't go now since I'm a teacher.

 

[sarahchicago]

Don't take this personal but WHO knows what's ahead? I think we all know this. Lord some of ya'll. I just walked it in July. If I can do it again I will. I didn't think I needed to put a precursor that as long as I don't get hit by a meteor or trampled by a herd of wildebeests, I'll do it.

LOL I can't summer of 24 due to my father's 75th birthday
2025 my 2nd oldest daughter graduates from Georgetown and we're doing something with her before she starts med school.
2026 my 3rd oldest daughter graduates high school and will need to have another loop recorder implanted to replace the one she got after her heart condition was discovered.
2027. I might can go that summer to Spain. Leaning toward the Portuguese route
2028 Son graduates from high school. Wife and I are doing an anniversary trip.

Just saying if obviously all goes well, I'll do it again when I retire and I can go at a time of year that I can't go now since I'm a teacher.

Hoya saxa
how about you all do one of the shorter caminos as a family vacation? Or do the portugues from porto with your spouse? My husband walked sjpp to SdC solo in 2018 and then we walked in 22 together. It was wonderful and a real gift at the start of our empty nest years. I walked from porto solo this year (serene). Or do the ingles with one of the kids for a graduation present. If you can afford it, why wait? You’re in a special club now; wouldn’t your loved ones like to join?
On the other hand regarding/ in contrast to caminoing soon ( there is always another hand), anticipating the next Camino can be a joy in itself.

 

[David Tallan]

I think SirRon is the best judge of his priorities at any given time. If there are things in the immediate future more important than another Camino, that's fine, too. When he is ready to, he'll know, and the Camino will be there waiting for him.

(not entirely unbiased, speaking as someone who had a little wait after his first Camino and before his second)