The vicissitudes of aging creep upon us. I have always played racquetball and kayaked since my twenties. It is always surprising when all of a sudden, my age reference point must be now, not the younger image I carry around inside.
The outdoors is one of the best ways to spend a day in retirement if you loved it but were limited in time outside by working. Since 2011 I have traveled non-stop and spent most of my time enjoying many activities.
A year ago I suddenly began to feel a sharp tearing pain in my right shoulder. Long story short, after 9 months, many shots in the shoulder, xrays, physical therapy, MRIs of the shoulder and neck, my right bicep snapped while I was on vacation in the Caribbean in the December. It was a bone spur that had apparently finally sawed its way through the bicep.
I had shoulder surgery to take care of the bone spur and shoulder arthritis. The bicep couldn’t really be repaired by the time I got into surgery. I have had trouble with the torn bicep but at least my shoulder felt better, finally. I wear a compression wrap on the bicep.
Yesterday, I tried for the first time to return to kayak again. I felt giddy with anticipation but afraid my shoulder would be unusable and I would not be able to paddle across the bay…..
Meet my odd little group of friends I made on the trip. It was great!
The young eagle still wanted to be fed. 
I am not at all sure what the Flamingo wanted!
Life Gets Better 
There is certainly a lot to know about this issue.
I love all of the points you’ve made.