Got his email from an Aunt. The basic premise is fine, but I would rather " have water under my bed."

f


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Retirement living at its finest!

Nursing Home? No way.
When the time is right, I am Checking into a Holiday Inn.

With the average cost for a nursing home reaching $188.00 a day, there is a better way when you get old & feeble.

I have already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn. For a combined long term stay and senior discounts, it's $49.23 per night. That leaves $138.77 a day for:

1. Breakfast, lunch and dinner in any restaurant I want, or room service.

2. Laundry, gratuities and cable on demand!

3. Swimming Pool, Sauna, Workout Room, Bar/Lounge, Sauna, Hot Tub

Plus, they provide a washer, dryer, laundry service, free cute little soaps and toothpaste, shampoos, shower caps, bibles, ice, and a host of other services. Nice daily laundered towels, and other lovely amenities.

With the economy in rotten shape, they're always happy to rent you a room.

They'll treat me like a customer, not a patient. $5 worth of tips a day will have the entire staff scrambling to help you.

There is usually a city bus-stop nearby, and seniors ride free! The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp). And meals-on-wheels is still available if you're not up to cooking.

To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays. For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants and coffee shops.

While you're at the airport, fly somewhere or the cash will keep building up with frequent flyer miles.

It takes months to get into a decent nursing home. Holiday Inn will take your reservation today. And you are not stuck in one place forever, you can move from Inn to Inn, or even from city to city. Want to see Hawaii? They have a Holiday Inn there too.

TV broken? Light bulbs need changing? Need a mattress replaced? No problem, they fix everything, and apologize for the inconvenience.

For a nominal fee, you can get a massage on demand and room service for when you don't want to leave the room just yet! Many rooms have private terraces for each room.

The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid checks to see if you are ok. If not, they will call the undertaker or an ambulance.

If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.

And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini-vacation. The Grandchildren will love splashing around in the pool. And their parents can have pina coladas in the lounge. They'll be hanging around for weeks so you can spend some real quality time. Your old friends will also come and see you... with a nice big double bed, and cots available, there's always room for friends.

You can get a room at the seashore, the mountains, or any major city you want. The possibilities are endless.

What more can you ask for?

***********

How about it, Radisson? Long term rental at discounted prices?

We volunteer to make the sacrifice and try it out.

Very Funny! Sign me up!

R

Okay, you get the cabin across from us. You and Bob can compare caviar!

Bobbi, how are we going to get our basset hounds on board? Declare them as service animals??

I'm pretty serious. I know there was a woman living on the QE2 for quite a while. She paid monthly, the crew really doted on her.

I added up what we pay for rent now, potential car payments, car insurance, a few bottles of Scotch a month, and food. Throw in restaurant dining once a week, give up birthday/anniversary gifts to each other, which right now seem to be contributions to the cruise fund.

Give me the lowest balcony suite, 5% back-to-back, 5% SSS discounts, air credits, discounts for the two-for-one specials, and it looks better and better.

Better yet, if I can get 30 more of you to join us, I can get everyone a group rate!

How does that sound? Beats the daylights out of a nursing home!!

Let's go for the group rate!

That sounds like my kind of retirement. Can I prebook for 2006 and have the cabin waiting? I met a couple on SOF on time who figured if they sold their home, they could cruise on SOF for 18 months.

Oh, the life.....

Beth

There was someone on the Mariner who was in her 80s and she had cruised on her for pretty close to an entire straight year in Catagory H

When the Allegro Royal Hideaway all inclusive 5 star resort opened in '99, my wife found a $34 per night pp deal. She called and asked for the maximum time we could spend there on this deal. They told her it was unlimited. I told her to ask for 40 years! Well, they weren't quite ready for that! But we had a nice time in Playa del Carman anyway. And I'd like to spend my final years on Radisson, as well!

But we did have to put my mother in a nursing home this week, and she is in no condition to go on Radisson or to the Royal Hideaway. She has dementia, cannot follow instructions, and is constantly injuring herself in minor ways. People like her are the real reason nursing homes exist. Those like me who don't want to cook, wash clothes, or clean might really be better off in a resort or ship.

Several years ago, when my mother's health was better, I asked her and Dad to go on a cruise with us on Radisson. I got the usual excuses. "We don't have the money." (They are millionaires.) "It would be boring." (What?!!) "There are things to see in the US" (They did not see them.) Now, for her, she never will.

We are booked on the VTC 4/13/04 and thought of canceling due to her condition. All medical people said "don't." So, barring something further, we won't. What could I do here for a mother who does not know me half the time?

Despite my sadness, there is a lesson to be learned here. That cruise you put off till next year? You might not have a "next year." That car you've always wanted and say "maybe in five years." You may not have that long to still drive it. Heck, nobody's guaranteed me I'll be here to go on the VTC in 12 days.

I don't advocate that anybody go into debt to go on a cruise, or even to buy that special car. But if you have it ----- DO IT, and now, because this has taught me that now is all we really have

Thanks,
Richard

Richard,
I'm glad you're going through with your plans. I can RELATE OH SO WELL to everything you're going through. My Mom also has dementia and lives in a home very near-by. It is so tough to see someone we love so much in such a debilitated condition. Somedays my Mom is much better than others....she can tell you all about us kids when we were babies (even remembers who had the measles and who didn't) but can't tell you what she had for breakfast. Luckily, my parents traveled the world (literally) when they were in good health including an around the world cruise on the QE2. I'm trying to learn from all my parents did and do it while we're physically and mentally able. Good for you for not canceling, I pray everything will work out well for your VTC cruise! God bless you and your dear Mom! You're a good son!! :)

Richard - so glad to hear that you're progressing with your plans. Best of luck to your mother. And agree wholeheartedly with your suggestion to seize the moment!

Masaki