Texarkana Gazette

Many have advice for retiree’s wife

- Andrews McMeel Syndicatio­n Jeanne Phillips

Dear Abby: The wife of “Headed for the Open Road” (June 25) will never forgive herself if she doesn’t accompany her newly retired husband on his open- road adventures. After working for 40 years and retiring from my third job, my life partner and I went everywhere and did everything together. Three and a half months after my retirement, he passed away suddenly.

I would never have forgiven myself if I hadn’t experience­d our frozen Jeep in Yellowston­e or the eerie silence on the edge of the Hoh Rain Forest in western Washington state. That wife needs to get off her duff and have the adventures of a lifetime—Rick T. in California

Dear Rick: Many other passionate travelers responded, offering guidance to “Headed” in making his dreams of adventure a reality. Read on:

Dear Abby: Maybe the problem is the idea of a road trip, not the notion of travel. Perhaps he should suggest they go on a cruise or vacation in a nice resort somewhere. She might warm up more to travel if it sounded like a vacation rather than a long drive. And cruises are great—no daily packing/ unpacking, opportunit­ies to “dress up” (if you want), nightly entertainm­ent, not to mention days in exotic ports around the world.—Traveler, with a Capital “T”

Dear Abby: The husband could rent an RV to travel. His wife doesn’t want to be cooped up, and an RV would have a living room, couch, TV/DVD, an onboard toilet, bedroom and a small kitchen. It would be like she’s still at home, only moving.—Tom Z. in Las Vegas

Dear Abby: My husband and I were married 10 years when we discussed the destinatio­ns on our travel bucket lists. Mine included a road trip to Utah to see the canyons; he wanted a cruise to the war memorials in Hawaii. Neither of us was interested in the other’s trip, so he took his adult daughter on the cruise, and three girlfriend­s and I took the road trip. We both had wonderful times, took tons of photos to share, and came back with lots to talk about.—Claire G. Out West

Dear Abby: Maybe they could take shorter trips if her objection is the car travel. Or they could fly to a destinatio­n, rent a car and see the sights. They could even take a train trip across the country.—Wish I Could in Texas

Dear Abby: As a minister, I have advised women like “Headed’s” wife. I said, “Eventually one of you will get sick. If it’s him, you may spend years caring for him, regretting that you never took the trip. And if you’re the one whose health fails, he will put you in a nursing home and take the trip!” Most of them relented, took the trip and enjoyed it. One couple lived another 15 years and told me repeatedly they appreciate­d my advice.— Rev. Jim in Phoenix

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