The Midlife Adventure 
Plenty of things have changed during our lifetimes. But the most relevant change may be the tremendous redefinition of being "middle-aged" just as we got there. Psychologist Daniel Levinson defines middle age as when "one is no longer young and yet not quite old." And what used to be a stage of life between the ages of 40 and 65 has now been pushed back to between 50 and 75. More importantly, the old three-stage dynamic of "learn, earn, and retire (until death)" is out the window. Some call midlife a "second adulthood," but I think of it as a time to seek out adventures that weren't practical while we were raising kids. There are two popular categories for midlife adventure: World Travel: People 50+ are fueling a travel boom, ranging from wellness excursions to pilgrimages and midlife gap years. And make sure to check out Trudi's piece on adventure travel down below. Career Reinvention: Replace the word "retirement" with "reinvention" to better understand why a new career or your own business at midlife is the new status symbol for those seeking greater purpose and fulfillment. Interestingly, the only thing stopping you from enjoying both of the above is the traditional idea of retirement in your mid 60s. The reality is that retirement is a dead end concept for most people, and that's why you can't help hearing about its disruption. Face it, the forward trajectory of our lives will be an adventure whether we view it that way or not. I say let's embrace it. Keep going- Brian Clark P.S. New to Further? Join us here. Sowing Your Wild Oatzempic A viral TikTok trend touts oats blended with water and lime juice as a weight-loss hack. But if people are really losing significant amounts of weight on "Oatzempic," it's probably because they're using it to replace a higher-calorie meal. Can Oats Really Help You Lose Weight? (New York Times gift article) Turmerica the Beautiful Inflammation, while a natural response in the body, can become chronic and lead to various health issues, particularly as we age. Can spices help? The Anti-Inflammatory Spices Doctors Say You Should Be Adding To Literally Everything For A Healthier Body Over 40 (She Finds) Rejecting Retirement A growing number of Baby Boomers, many of whom are college-educated, continue to work well past 65 not because they can't afford to retire, but simply because they love their work and don't want to give it up. Gen X will make this the new normal. The New Retirement is No Retirement: Baby Boomers are Keeping Jobs ... Because They 'Like Going to Work' (Fortune) Travel Around, Bright Eyes Seeing Americans lament that they won't see another total eclipse until 2044 makes me sad. There are three more chances in the next four years in destinations like Iceland, Spain, Egypt and Australia, and each would be a lot cooler than Arkansas. Fjords, Pharaohs or Koalas? Time to Plan for Your Next Eclipse (New York Times gift article) Time to Choose Your Own Adventure 
By Trudi Roth Here's a trippy stat: adventure travel is trending for older people. Research reveals that Further readers are even a bit young for things like transcontinental bike trips or days-long hikes (i.e., the Appalachian Trail). Post-pandemic, several adventure travel companies report that the average customer age has crept up to 62+, with women 65+ representing the highest increase in solo adventure travel. Like the unretirement trend, Boomers are paving the way to redefine the so-called "leisure years." Better stock up now on moleskin for calluses and carbon offsets for your flights. Trust Your Wanderlust Here at Further, we often discuss the transformative power of travel. From modern pilgrimages to a midlife gap year, it's clear that novel experiences can be game-changers. But adventure travel, a $2 trillion global industry by 2032, offers its own unique benefits. As Allison Fleece, co-founder of WHOA Travel, which takes women on challenging and empowering trips (i.e., summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro), notes: It's not a beach vacation our travelers are after when they choose to travel with us. There's usually a greater purpose involved. That higher aim can be anything from pushing physical and psychological limits to inviting immersive cultural experiences. You don't have to "rough it" to consider travel an adventure; you just have to be willing to wander from well-worn tourist paths to discover new vistas. Plus, it's not just about where you go; it's also about who you go with. Organized trips where you meet like-minded, equally adventurous people can be a terrific way to cultivate new friendships — an essential component of thriving as you age. Set a Course for Adventure At first glance, you might think that adventure travel is just for those with copious time and money. While trips can range from $3,000-$10,000(+), dedicated travelers like 51-year-old Teri McCoy can help reframe how you think about cost vs. investment: "Travel is very high on my list of priorities when I budget," she says. "It fuels me and it helps me grow, so I make it a part of my financial plans. It's not discretionary." That said, there are budget-friendly ways to go, too. For example, you can exchange labor for lodging and access to explore far-flung places through organizations like World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farm (WWOOF). You can also connect with others who share your interests and budget inside private communities like Sisters Traveling Solo (which started as a Facebook group in 2015 and is now a full-on adventure travel company). Considering we were the first generation to grow up with the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, you'd think that as adults, we'd take that directive seriously. You only get so many trips around the sun, so now's the time to take full advantage of adventure. Adventure travel is a growth industry thanks to women over 40 (The Washington Post gift article) further: flashback  Joe Walsh - Rocky Mountain Way The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get, 1973 As I wind up my time in Boulder and the NBA regular season ends, it's time for the Denver Nuggets to march through the playoffs on their way to a repeat Championship - the Rocky Mountain Way. (YouTube) further: sharing Enjoy this issue? Please forward this email with friends or share on social media. Thank you for sharing Further! | 
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