SAVE PALESTINE CHARITY RIDE, PARIT YAANI

It has been more than two months since my last post on 1st January although there hasn't been any lull in my biking activities during that period. Just like last year and the years before that since I started mountain biking, the activity has continued to remain until now, a major part of my daily physical activities. Other workouts that I do include some basic weight bearing, core strength and a bit of balance exercises. These I believe, are sufficient workouts for me to keep my cardiovascular health and overall physical fitness and strength in reasonably good order. I touched 65 by early December last year.

How do I feel about going mountain biking at this age? Well, I feel okay I must say; really okay. There's the heart monitor to help me gauge how I fare while biking. Besides, I always listen to my body; whether I should stop or whether I could continue. That's more important than relying totally on my monitor. Since the start of 2013, I have, on the average, been cycling almost daily. Like I said before, the times that I did not, continue to remain few and far between. Other than feeling good about it all and enjoying what I do , I also strongly believe that the workouts that I do are an important part of my daily life. They are necessary if I wish to keep fit, physically and mentally strong and healthy all through the golden years of my life; insya Allah.

So naturally, when 2013 came, I was looking forward to my first jamboree of the year. But I didn't get the chance to ride one in the first month though. Although there were some jamborees organized in January, I was however, unable to fit in my time into the events' schedule.The only organized ride about akin to a mountain bike jamboree that I could participate in was in the form of a fun ride held on 3rd February 2013 in Batu Caves, Selangor. The ride was twenty-five kilometres long and ridden wholly on tarmac. Still, it proved to be quite an enjoyable ride and a physically challenging one too. Although the ride was done wholly on sealed surface, there were hills long and steep enough sufficient to push our hearts up to and beyond their maximal limits if we tried.

                                  Fun Ride, Batu Caves, Selangor

Mountain biking is an activity that I simply love and like doing and one I feel, that fits in my life quite naturally. I do not view it as some kind of a physical investment that I feel forced to make to reap its benefits although it's an activity that not only takes away your time but also your energy. And now, after almost five years of carrying on with the activity, it seems to have become almost a habit and a part of me which I hope will stay with me for a lifetime though it may later take a different form than what it is today.

                                   Save Plestine Charity Ride

                                    Saad and Azman: two of the three Etees at Parit Yaani...
                                                 
The chance for my first jamboree came on 17 February 2013. It was in the form of a charity ride dubbed the 'Save Palestine Charity Ride' held in Parit Yaani, Johor. Besides organizing it as a mountain bike jamboree, it was also aimed at raising funds in support of  the Palestinian cause. Part of the fees paid by the bikers participating in the jamboree plus donations and contributions received by the organizers would be used to assist Palestinians in their struggle.

The charity ride turned out to be a well organized mountain bike jamboree which saw participation of 700 bikers from all over the country. Three bikers from E.T.Riders were there at the gathering. Nevertheless, the fun and enjoyment they had were never any less. We were still excited about the ride and were looking forward to the 35-kilometre trail the organizers promised. And as we hated but yet loved it, the ride turned out to be more than 35 kilometres long. There was a bonus of five extra kilometres (as I noted it on my cyclometer) when we finally hit the finish line.Swearing and cursing as we did while cranking the extra five, we said nothing nor griped about it on conclusion of the ride.

                                                       

                                    It was wet and slippery in Parit Yaani....

As we expected, we had all that we wanted from a good jamboree at Parit Yaani: a well organized ride over a trail which was a mix of tarmac, offroad single and double tracks, flats and hills -- not too arduous though even by my standards but challenging enough for me and for many, I believe -- oil palm, rubber, some orchards and secondary vegetation for its greenery including runs through some thinly populated areas and kampongs.The trail was far from dry as we had earlier expected. We thought that since we were already well into the dry and warm period of the year, we would be riding over some dry hardpack soil. We were wrong. Except for some relatively dry and tacky stretches good for rides, large sections of the offroad trail were wet and slippery such that yours truly had the unfortunate experience of tumbling over while negotiating over one of the many puddles peppering the track that had me ending myself up in a nearby clinic with three stitches on the elbow (right one, that is). The injury however, did not stop me from riding. With some quick bandaging procedure carried out on the wound at one of the check points, I managed to complete the ride till the end. Apparently, it had been raining in the townlet of Parit Yaani and the area surrounding it for the last one week just before the jamboree -- the unpredictable weather nowadays resulting from global warming or some other climatic changes the world is now experiencing..

Riding through rubber...

                                     A puddly section of the trail at Parit Yaani...

                                ....and some durian orchards along the way...

So, I am still at it and enjoying it and looking forward to it; either for any possible jamboree that I could participate in or some organized rides with friends over the week including those of my own. My passion for biking hasn't seemed to ebb but instead, has now overgrown itself into another kind of biking that seems to be equally tempting and exciting i.e. that of touring.

Since about a month ago, I have been thinking hard about bicycle touring. Although I had never given it more than just a passing thought previously -- because of what appeared to me to be too easygoing or too laid- back a style of riding for me not realizing the true challenge it could actually pose -- this time, however, the urge to find out more about it and to try it has been growing stronger with each passing day. With a touring bike that I managed to get hold of recently, I am now ready for another kind of cycling adventure. After some trial rides  that I did with the tourer, I now realize  there's a whole new world of another different kind of biking out there waiting to be tried and enjoyed by me.

I cannot really pinpoint the exact reason as to why there's this sudden urge in me to try bicycle touring. All this while, I was more into mountain biking over hills and rough terrain and still am. But then the more I got myself into the subject of bicycle touring, the more I realized that this is one type of biking that allows me not only the chance to go the distances, but to spend time seeing places longer and more closely. It also allows me the opportunity to spend time outdoors more and get close to nature. The thought about wild camping while on bicycle touring (less the couch surfing though) and the opportunity to see places longer and more closely are just too attractive a possibility for me to ignore.

As I said earlier, I am now ready and looking forward to bicycle touring.

Maybe I can write something about it in my future entries.

MOUNTAIN BIKING: SLOWING DOWN THE BIOLOGICAL AGE CLOCK

UPSI X-treme Rainforest MTB Jamboree 2012

Last Sunday I took part in the last mountain bike jamboree for 2012. It's my closing jamboree for the year. In December alone, I had participated in three mountain bike jamborees missing only one on one of the weekends owing to some important matter that I had to attend to. Last Sunday's jamboree tagged as the 'UPSI X-treme Rainforest MTB Jamboree 2012' was held in Tanjung Malim, Perak. It was organized by a mountain biking group from the same locality. So by midnight last Sunday night, December 2012 ended as another active and prolific month, mountain biking-wise, for me.

Chamang Jamboree

Putrajaya Jamboree

There were two other jamborees that I went to before the one last Sunday. One was the Chamang MTB Challenge in Bentung, Pahang and the other the Putrajaya Jamboree which were held on the 9th and 16th of December respectively. I particularly love and enjoyed the Chamang Jamboree for the natural surrounding the ride offered. I enjoyed the jamboree in Putrajaya too although the organizers had failed to meet some of what I believe to be my fair expectations of the event. Still, the jamboree turned out to be one enjoyable and physically satisfying and rewarding experience for me.

So how many times by day did I manage to cycle in 2012? Well, I can't remember how many but I would say almost every day. The times I did not were few and far between. There were some days when I even went out cycling twice a day -- once in the morning and the second time  in the afternoon. There were some night rides too. How many jamborees then did I manage to attend? I can't right away remember but there would be at least one if not two every month except during Ramadan. There was even a month I remember where I had participated in jamborees every week. I will need to review my participation more closely though to know exactly how many jamborees I had actually gone to last year.

As I have noticed it ever since I started mountain biking, the sport still remains very much a pursuit for the young. Situation on the ground indicates to me that so is the case for if it isn't, I should be seeing more 50 somethings or 60 somethings doing it just like the many younger ones are doing. But I don't. 50 somethings mountain biking are few while 60 somethings doing so are rare ; anything above that is almost non-existent, at least here, in this country. While I could still see quite a number of 50 somethings involved with mountain biking, their number too seems to get smaller as the age gets higher. For those in their 60's and beyond, their number is even much smaller or almost non-existent. Whatever number that exists, we could probably count them on the fingers of one hand.

But this is not surprising. Like many other physically demanding sports such as football or hockey or some other sporting activities, the involvement of those past middle age or more becomes less. Perhaps, these people feel that mountain biking is too rough a sport for them to get involved with more so when mountain biking is seen to be more dangerous than either football or hockey and where chances of them sustaining falls or collision leading to serious injuries are greater and more likely. Furthermore, mountain biking is still a relatively new sport in this country compared to its older cousin road biking or ordinary cycling such as the kind that health advocates recommend for health and physical vitality. Being a relatively new sport, it probably requires some time before it becomes more established and capable of attracting increased interest across all generations in the country. However, it will be a pity though if one of the other reasons for the more elderly not to get involved with it is because they think that at such an age it's time for them to relax and take things easy and  getting involved with such a sport as mountain biking should be avoided completely.  

Now that I am quite involved with the activity and loving it, I personally see no reason why those in their 50's or 60's or more and who are in reasonably good health can't get involved with mountain biking. Many who are informed in the field of gerontology and geriatrics see no reason why those in their 50's, 60's or more can't continue to remain athletic. There are seniors in this world pushing 80 today who are still actively involved with mountain biking and I am aware of at least one who does so and doing it with the wife to boot!  I am sure there are many more such people in this world if not in this country. I believe the wife can't be too much younger than the husband though I could be wrong. But if my guess about her age is true, she certainly appears stronger than her real age. I am quite sure that it is her mountain biking activity that has been responsible for contributing to her present good health and excellent physical ability.

So are you the type who can be convinced that you can be biologically 40 when you are chronologically 60? Do you believe that a best preserved 65-year old may outperform a sedentary 25-year old? I am convinced of the wisdom that there are ways to realise our quest for making not only 60 the new 40 but for 60 and above to be the absolute best times in our lives the way we choose. Health-wise, I could achieve this by choosing the right lifestyle and the right balance in my physical life. We can take steps to remain healthy and strong until the last days of our lives. I remember reading about the famous fitness guru the late Jack La Lanne who at the age of 60, swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco hand cuffed, shackled and towing a 1,000 lb boat. At the age of 70, in the same way, he towed 70 boats carrying 70 people a mile and a half through Long Beach Harbour. Nowadays, we also get to hear about some nonagenarians or centenarians somewhere who still live the healthy life and competing in some sporting events or performing some physical feats many would think unlikely or impossible.

So, if you happen to be in your 50's or 60's or more and in good state of health and love the nature of the sport and the kind of lifestyle it offers but uncertain you could or should, give it a try. I started mountain biking when I was almost sixty. Of course there has to be a beginning to everything we do before we become adept at it. You do need to learn about the sport and develop some basic skills before starting. But, as they say, slowly does it. Soon, you'll become familiar with the activity and feel so fit that one of those things that you will start to think about will be which hill will it be next for you to subdue. And if I could motivate you further, let me do so by saying that even at my age, I could now pedal up Fraser's Hill from foot to peak non-stop and do the same with Cameron Highland too. And I  have done both. If only they allowed me to climb Genting Highland -- for which I have been made to understand we aren't -- I would try that one too just to find out how far I could go. I am certain that twenty or even thirty years ago and with the level of fitness I then possessed, I would not be able to do what I now can and this I am certain even though I was a relatively fit young person then. This is based on my own obervation of relatively fit young or middle age bikers that I bike with during jamborees. I must say that I have never felt fitter than I do now compared to what I was 20 or even 30 years ago. That's what mountain biking has done to me. My ambient heart rate has dropped substantially and so has my resting heart rate. The less the heart has to contract to do its work for you, the better it is for you; so I hope. I am certain that if I were to enter into some kind of contest during a mountain bike jamboree, I would not  be the person to receive the booby prize at the end of it if one were arranged.

But all this has to begin with those who believe that living an active life and keeping fit is important to them and who also share the love for the same  kind of pursuit. Of course mountain biking is not the only way for one to do it but, it is without doubt, one highly effective means for achieving physical fitness, good health, strong heart, high endurance and hopefully, the ability to remain physically independent long into the golden years of their lives if not up until the day they leave this world..

I never thought that I could be bitten by the mountain biking bug the way I have and become dizzy with it until I decided to give it a try. So, if you happen to be one of those who have been thinking about wanting to do it, give it a go. Nevertheless, in essence, it's all about the importance of exercising whatever its form may be, one that suits you most. In my case, it's mountain biking. Exercise is so important that it is said that for all the lifestyle changes with  multiple benefits that one could adopt, none could be more so than exercise. It is also said that if governments wanted to to do just one thing that would have a major impact on obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stress, high blood pressure and dementia including even cancer seen to be common health disorders presently afflicting today's societies, getting everyone on an effective exercise programme would probably be the fastest and most cost-effective way to do it. Mountain biking is certainly one of those ways.

So, if you are one of those who love the sport and have been toying with the idea about giving it a try as a way of keeping yourself fit and healthy and your free and adventurous spirit alive, give it a go then.  There's all the chance that you might just get hooked.

LAKE PRINCESS (TASIK PUTERI) MTB FUN RIDE 041112

Minor as it might have been based on the number of participants who were there at the gathering, still, it was another mountain bike jamboree for me, no less. The trail could have been just about 27 kms plus and short of the '30 kms plus plus' promised by the organizers or the usual 40 plus plus like in most other jamborees, but, it was a ride that I personally wouldn't like to forget. For me, it's another mountain biking event that I wish to keep record of. After all, it's one activity where not many of my type are involved with. And as for the trail, short as it might have been, the quality of the ride certainly was not. It was a ride well worth the fee that I had paid for and time that I had spent on.

Minor as I have said, still the number of participants that Saturday was large. More than 400 mountain bikers were there at the gathering. Such a response isn't uncommon during mountain bike jamborees. There have been many other mountain bike jamborees before this where each had attracted more than a thousand bikers. It's a healthy development and certainly a healthy thing to be happening. The more we love for the active lifestyle as opposed to one sedentary, the better it is for all of us and for the whole country.

But how many of us are really aware that there is an active level of mountain biking activities going on in our midst? I suspect not many really do. This is based on the usual response I get from most people around me whenever such a topic is raised. Unless you are into mountain biking yourself or have friends who do, chances are you wouldn't know save perhaps, some of those events officially organised by sporting bodies or organizations  and reported by the media. Mountain biking is so active that you get mountain bike rides being organized via jamborees almost weekly and sometimes, with more than one jamboree running over the same day or successively on Saturday and Sunday. That's how active it is. And as for the response from bikers over these jamborees, their participation in each jamboree, as I said earlier, usually runs into the hundreds. It is observed that interest in the activity among Malaysians too is also increasing.

However, unlike some other more popular sports, things seem to appear quieter on the mountain biking front. Mountain biking unlike road cycling is a relatively new sport in this country. Moreover, these mountain biking jamborees that I have been referring to are mainly organized by informal or voluntary mountain biking clubs or organisations --  if I may call them that --that largely target 'weekend warriors' or bikers seeking fun or adventure over the weekends although a few of the participants may be made up of bikers with some competitive or professional standing. Because these events are run by casual organizations, their activities are not so well publicised by the local media although there now exists a number of publications providing news or information on the activity. Realising that interest in the activity is now growing and the potential economic gains that could be obtained from circulating such news and information, the number of these publications is also seen to be increasing.

So what had made the Lake Princess ride such an experience for me when the trail was only about 27 kms long? After all, anything forty or even slightly more is not likely to make me cringe or burn me to a frazzle.

It's quite understandable if a ride is hard because the trail is long and rough but, it's different when it is short and not so rough but yet hard. I suppose such a ride may not be easy to forget.  That was the kind of ride I thought I had at the Tasik Puteri MTB Fun Ride that Saturday. Short as the trail might have been, it made it up with the challenge it posed to me. Although fun ride was not completely a misnomer, it was also a ride that turned out to be frustratingly challenging, at least for me,  all because of the the rain which has been nettling us daily the past couple of weeks.

Except for some stiff gradients and obstacles such as ditches and a running stream  which had forced bikers to dismount and push or carry their bikes across, the trail was on the whole, a rideable one if not for the rain that had turned it into one slithery stretch that forced many a biker to dismount and push their bike. The current wet season which started about two months ago had turned the trail into one slippery and laborious ordeal for anyone attempting to pedal over it. It reminds me of the ride I had during the night jamboree in Malacca.. Although a strong and fit biker could still probably remain in the saddle for much of the ride even while ascending the hills, it could only be possible if no one was ahead of him who could slow him down and interfere with his pedaling ; otherwise, he would likely lose his momentum which would make it difficult for him to maintain his speed and balance and continue pedaling. The loss of traction on an already slippery trail caused by the mud sticking to the wheels had made it difficult for many to pedal up the slopes and maintain momentum even while on some flats forcing them to dismount at certain stretches and push their bikes. I suppose any mountain bike jamboree organised during this monsoon season is more likely to turn into one slippery experience for everybody. That was what it turned out to be during the fun ride at Tasik Puteri.

But it was a beautiful trail at the jamboree ride at Tasik Puteri with long flowing hills with gentle slopes that any good biker would be able to manage if not for its slithery surface. With a few hundred bikers riding over it, the trail turned into one slippery experience for many. Pushing your bike up these hills too became one arduous and  exhausting exercise. One's mental strength and endurance was
certainly needed under such circumstance to help see them up or through.

But then being someone hooked on mountain biking, riding during the wet season on a slippery trail can turn out to be a case of love-hate relationship with the activity. As I have once said, there are still those who can still find meaning, fun as well as pleasure in whatever they love to do despite the difficulty and the challenge they face. For me, it was a frusratingly enjoyable ride and an unpleasant pleasant experience, if I could use the oxymora.

There will be at least another two if not three jamborees for me come December next month; one jamboree in Bentong, Pahang on the 9th and another in Putrajaya on the 16th. I intend to participate in both. And, if there is one closing jamboree at the end of this year (I believe there is), I plan to participate in that one too, insya Allah.

But then, there's also my plan for a fishing trip the same month. The spanish macks are reported to be usually biting in December and I am not about to miss the chance of landing some for the pots despite the monsoon season. Aren't they delicious fish! They make for good bar-b-ques too. So, it's gonna be fishing versus cycling for me this December if these two loves of mine happen to clash.

Wonder which one should it be...

BURUNG HANTU (NIGHT OWL) MTB JAMBOREE 201112

It appears that night mountain bike jamboree is becoming more enticing than daytime jamboree. I could justify this by the number of bikers who took part in last Saturday's night jamboree in Air Keroh, Malacca. 2500 bikers were there at Dataran Sejarah Air Keroh to participate in the jamboree. Last year, the same jamboree attracted close to 2000 bikers. The number of bikers in Air Keroh last Saturday night was exceptionally large; in fact, larger than the number of bikers that had participated in any one of the daytime jamborees that I had attended so far.

The jamboree (ride) was flagged off at about 8.30 pm and lasted until the early hours of Sunday morning. It was a 45-km ride, so I was told later. Somehow, I didn't care to find out how long the trail was that night. Judging by the time it took me to complete the ride and by the pace I was going, I reckon it was a 45-km ride or thereabouts. Trying to keep track of my ride via my cyclometer at night would not be a wise thing to do. Such an effort, I thought, was also unnecessary since I had already made up my mind as to how I would like to go about riding the trail that night well before I started. What was important to me, I thought, was for me to take on the challenge and enjoy the ride and complete it the way I wanted  so long as I did not end up becoming the last rider to cross the finish line. That, I believe, is important since it would tell me where I stood in terms of my fitness and my endurance. For health's sake, I do not wish to be biologically 64. I don't mind being chronologically 64 since it's something that I can't change. But, I could be biologically 46 or less if I made an effort to be one. Being biologically younger means I would still remain strong and physically independent. This would mean that I could go on biking for a few, if not many more years; something that I would love to do if I could. Moreover, there were 2500 bikers riding the trail that night and I just had to be careful about the way I rode lest any loss of focus or concentration on my part could result in some adverse or unpleasant outcomes  for which it would only be wise for me to avoid.

Just after that last jamboree in Sg Buaya, it looked like I was set to go for another one the next weekend. But somehow, the response from E.T.Riders for the jamboree was rather low and I decided to drop the idea. Only four bikers from E.T.Riders finally turned up for the event (UPM MTB Fete 2012). Perhaps, any jamboree organized too close to KL might not be viewed upon as an attractive option by some since much of the area surrounding  the federal territory has been subjected to human exploitation and development. The trail may not be as attractive as perhaps,one organized in a jamboree further away from it. So, after quite a lapse following the Sungai Buaya jamboree, I was naturally looking forward to this night jamboree in Malacca which the organizers dubbed 'Burung Hantu' or the 'Night Owl'.

But Burung Hantu 2012 was not my first night jamboree. I participated  in the same jamboree organized at about the same time last year although held at a different venue. We had a good night ride last year and this time I expected the same thing from the organizers. It did not surprise me that the jamboree this time had attracted 2500 bikers from all over the country including some from overseas. I believe those who had participated in this same jamboree previously must have been happy with the trail and the way the jamboree was organized that they decided to come back again for another one this year. Good words too must have spread around and so more bikers had decided to turn up to join in the fun.

And as I had expected, I wasn't disappointed this second time although some participants were not too happy with some of the arrangements made by the organizers following completion of the ride. But as for the trail and the manner the ride was organized, I am happy with what that had been put in place despite the huge number of bikers participating in the jamboree. The whole ride was well controlled despite doing it in the dark and on a trail 45 kms long which included some long stretches of offroad tracks and single paths apart from the usual share of tarmac one would normally expect in a jamboree.

The organizers had decided to draw up a trail rideable to everyone which catered to the needs of the seasoned and the less seasoned bikers alike. A trail too tough or too rough could prove hazardous to beginners and the less skilful riders more so at night. We were served with a trail that was not too tough nor too easy which most of us could handle even at night yet one that could still push our heart and our endurance to their maximal limits. But still I would say, it was far from being an easy trail more so the single track that made up one third or more of the overall trail length. Though we were lucky it didn't rain that night, some sections of the trail still remained wet and slippery made so by the rain that fell almost daily several days before the ride. Riding on this narrow and slippery single track was a real test of our skill as well as our concentration and proved to be no easy task, at least for me. It's like treading a fine line which calls for a rider's full concentration and control lest they would get their bikes out of line and land into some hazardous situations. This happened to me several times during the ride. The already slithery nature of the single track was made more slippery by the several hundred riders ahead of me. Several times during the course of negotiating some sections of the single track, I almost lost control of the bike and was on the verge of falling off it. Only my quick reflex plus perhaps a bit of my skill and experience had prevented me from falling off my machine. Still, I did fall off the bike once although I managed to clip out the pedals in time to avoid a more serious fall.

As for the obstacles one could expect to encounter while riding, these too were not many nor were they too stern. Except for some pits on the track which had been well marked and their presence forewarned, there were no really serious obstacles that could cause considerable congestion or delay to the riders. There were some ditches  found running across the trail but these too were easily managed. While some hills the riders encountered during the early part of the ride did slow them down a bit, but this was not for long since the hills were not too long nor too steep.

I hope to be able to participate in another Burung Hantu next year. Maybe the organizers may want to consider scheduling the event a little earlier next year so we could avoid the rainy season. Sure it's still possible to ride in the rain or on a wet trail at night, but rain or too much of it could make it impossible for the event to achieve its real purpose: that of allowing riders to enjoy their ride at night and to do so in the safest manner possible. After all, Burubg Hantu is a jamboree and not a race. Furthermore, not all of us who participated in the 2012 Burung Hantu are seasoned and highly skilful bikers.The trail could still be made challenging even without the rain.

Am I now champing at the bit for another mountain biking adventure? You bet! Even this morning I could not resist the temptation to get in the saddle for a quick ride. I had thought of going out for a ride sometime after noon but the urge to cycle just could not be held back and so I went out pedaling in the morning instead. And now I am wondering if I should go out again for another quickie this afternoon (ride, I mean...haha!). But I will let it pass for now. If the urge does come back nudging me for another one, I will see how it goes. After all, didn't I say time is now on my side although I do get the feeling that as I age, it seems to pick up speed and goes faster than when I was younger. And what if I do really become the odd man out one of these days? Well, it doesn't matter. I will still continue to ride even if I have to do it alone.

Another mountain biking adventure is coming this 10th November in Sungai Buaya -- again. But the organizers have promised us a different trail this time. I hope to be able to be there with other members of E.T.Riders. Maybe, I should attempt to push myself harder this time to find out how far I could really go. It would be great if I could do better than what I managed to do the last couple of jamborees. This chronological and biological age thing really arouses my interest. In the name of healthy living and for health's sake, I am keen to find out how far I could go to keep myself biologically strong and healthy while chronological age can continue to catch up on me. At this stage of my life, I am all for healthy living and a healthy lifestyle.

Wouldn't it be great if we could  all continue to remain physically strong and independent for as long as we live?