I crossed the country in '99 with a group of 13. The strongest rider was 60. He rode a full suspension MTB (Some back issue from riding a motorcycle for 30 years as a member of the CHiP) towing a B.O.B. with A LOT of weight. His original tent had been made by his wife a long time before. It was so big we called it "The Condo." The zipper crapped out in mosquito country so he downsized to a 8.5 lb. tent.

The oldest participant was 77. He turned 78 during the trip.

I was 34. My downsizing was pretty much inevitable as the result of a merger since there was no way I was going to move the either headquaters of the companies that were taking us over and splitting us up. I asked to be let go relatively early so I could take the trip. Fortunately, we got all sorts of financial goodies during the years leading up to the final aquisition and upon being terminated. I saved money and lived frugally while the merger wound its way throught he approval process. In the end, I was able to not have to ook for work between May of '99 and October of '01. (No. I didn't take one cent of unemployment money.) During that time, I took three long tours. When not touring, I pursued other hobbies and saw a lot of cheap afternoon movies. I never got bored.

I wasn't too worried about the future, I had purposefully structured my life to give me flexibility. As soon as I got done with school, I paid off my student loans early instead of spending money on luxuries. I bought a modest car to share with my mom and paid that off early. I didn't live in a dump, but niether did I live in a luxury apartment. No wife. No kids. No mortgage. I stupidly thought that what I really wanted to do in life would come to me while cycling along some beautiful mountain road. That never happened. Reality eventually set in and I started looking for work after some 18 months off.

In a crazy twist of fate, I basically got my old job back exactly two years after I had been laid off. I have been there since. I would love to take off again today, but I now have a mortgage. Because of my age and tenure, and loosing a paycheck aside, the retirement benefits I am accruing counsels in favor of staying at least another seven years, until age 55. If all goes well, the house will be paid off in antoher 3.5 years or less, allowing me to augment my savings. Hopefully, I will be able to at least semi-retire at 55. At age 60, there won't be much more to gain benefit-wise so I doubt I will stay past then. Then again, I could get hit by a bus riding home today.