I truly did not mean to boast. I think we’re all just trying to figure out how to deal with the challenges of aging. We each come out of our own personal experience, so it makes sense that different posters would emphasize different aspects of the problem. For example, DH and I are in our 50s, still working, with kids living at home in the summer and bringing lots of friends home for visits, so moving is hypothetical for us.
When I said “use it or lose it” I did not mean to sound flippant. I’m actually a risk-averse worrier, and I know first hand that health is mostly luck. I have a lot of anxiety about losing mobility (especially from taking care of my mother-in-law). Working on maintaining balance and fitness is the thing that helps me manage that anxiety. Steps are good for me (for now) because they are not a choice. I only have so much willpower.
This thread holds a lot of food for thought. I hope it’s useful to @Hoggirl in making her decision. It has made me consider whether we could turn our first floor study into a bedroom and put a shower in the bathroom, and whether my parents could do a similar renovation in their house. Y’all have inspired me to talk to them about it. Thank you!