Hi all I'm a new Old Timer

[cars]

I'm "cars" starting back from 2004. Since then when FG refurbished itself several years ago it seemed to change PW's and I could not login. I tried over the years to regain login privileges
unsuccessfully. Thanks to spot he finally found a way to allow me to log in. So again, thanks spot.
I used to live in N.E. in the summer months, and in FL during the winter months. Since then a lot has happened, and I am now retired and only live in FL.
I am happy that FG still is flourishing, and is still a vibrant forum .
I hope to get to visit here often.

[spot]

That's ideal, I'm glad we finally got the system open to you again. Welcome back.

Does Florida feel much different this year than ten years back? It's generated a lot of news, what with Senators and Governors and people standing their ground and such.

[Bryn Mawr]

Welcome back, it's great to see you here again.

I well remember your treks from North to South and back each year - to us in the UK it seemed enormous distances but then, we're a small country.

How's life been treating you, well I hope.

[cars]

Well spot 10 years has made an enormous impact on life here in FL. I wish I could say it has changed for the better, however, unfortunately that is not the case. There used to be miles of open land between the local communities, and now it seems many of the open land has been taken up by hundreds of condo and house communities. All I see is constant construction of new communities on the open land that is dwindling.
As for the political arena, the politicians here old and new leave a lot to be desired.
Years ago, FL used to be mainly more of a "retirement state", with not that much industry, and now it has become a bustling state full of industry and young people always rushing to get to work, or wherever they need to be.

Bryn, I'm happy to be able to be here at FG, and look forward to chatting with the members.
As far as how life is treating me, unfortunately, it is not treating me as good as I'd hoped it would.
I have had several hospital stays for some problems, and now use a cane for walking long distances.
Otherwise, for the most part I'm ok and still driving (most drivers here are over aggressive) so I drive defensibly, and it works for me. We do a lot of sightseeing trips, like the hot weather and go out to new restaurants as well as our favorite ones regularly each week. Life is good in that occurrence.

[Bryn Mawr]

Totally agree about the driving, ever since our police moved from traffic patrols to relying on speed cameras to monitor the driving there has been a massive increase in tailgating, undertaking, hogging the outside lane, cutting in front of cars to take the slip road at the very last moment, etc.

Is there any chance of a joint replacement to help your walking? Several of my friends have had new hips or knees to good effect.

[cars]

Well Bryn, I wish it were my hip or knees that is the problem. I know many people here that had those type problems fixed and all have recuperated
just fine, and are back to normal.
Unfortunately my problem is my back, spinal stenosis. I've had way over 50 epidural injections, 12 ablations, and a new procedure called MILD.
Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression. They drilled a hole in my back and worked thru a funnel chipping away at the hole in my
spine to enlarge it to take the pressure off the ligaments being squeezed by the hole that shrunk due to rough daily treatment by me.

End result: NOTHING WORKED, not even the slightest improvement. I've heard many horror stories from people that had major surgeries on their back, where many times the surgery caused more damage then before started. So I won't have major surgery.

[Bryn Mawr]

Oww, that sounds horrible, I feel feel you.

If that's minimally invasive I'd hate to hear what major surgery entails.

Is it likely to get worse or can they hold it as it is?