Regrets framed as advice to others...

[etsonaut]

Africa has been on my mind for years, on my bucket list before 50, and Lord willing will be realized next year at 48. Also taking my dad who will celebrate 72 there on his first trip, along with 2 of my sons who will both be under 30. If we don’t get a single animal, the trip will make memories for us that will last forever. I told my boys even if you can only afford some cull animals, don’t miss the experience with grandpa.

Those experiences available in life may only give the opportunity once, the regret I have is not taking more of them with my grandparents.

That sounds amazing! Congratulations. I am making my first trip in June at 60 and taking my 31 and 32 year old sons. Memories are the ultimate trophy goal.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

As a very young apprentice, I was told by a very wise Journeyman to: “Never Explain and Never Complain”…

As a practice I try not to dwell in the abyss of negative thoughts. This is something I’ve had to work hard at over the years.

 

[RANCHERO Outfitters]

I don't dwell on or generally acknowledge things that could be called regrets. But, here are a couple things related to outdoor pursuits that I wish I had done earlier in life..

1. Acted on my thoughts about going to Africa. I am now 60 and making my first trip in June. I had opportunities through the years but I never made them a priority or a goal. Often when you're young, you have neither time nor money but as you get older, that equation seems to change. Better late than never I suppose but putting action to dreams like this earlier now seems like it would have been the better decision.

2. Shoot/hunt with open sights. I love it now but the eyes are not what they once were, especially in lower light. Good optics were a luxury as a young man. Now they are bordering on necessity.

I'm sure upon deeper reflection I could share a few more but these two have been on my mind lately as I prepare to begin what I'm sure will be a late life love affair with African adventure.

How about you? What would you share?

As someone hunting with international clients almost daily, this is a topic that comes up quite often, and the way you put it is spot on.

I’ve seen a lot of guys arrive here with that same thought in the back of their minds, knowing they could’ve done it earlier, but life just had other plans at the time. The thing is, once they’re here, that thought tends to fade pretty quickly. Africa has a way of pulling you fully into the moment, and doing it now, when you can really appreciate it, often makes it mean a whole lot more.
The most important thing is you’re acting on it now, which is what really matters. You’re about to step into something that stays with people for life. I wish you all the best for your hunt and enjoy every moment of it.

 

[etsonaut]

As someone hunting with international clients almost daily, this is a topic that comes up quite often, and the way you put it is spot on.

I’ve seen a lot of guys arrive here with that same thought in the back of their minds, knowing they could’ve done it earlier, but life just had other plans at the time. The thing is, once they’re here, that thought tends to fade pretty quickly. Africa has a way of pulling you fully into the moment, and doing it now, when you can really appreciate it, often makes it mean a whole lot more.
The most important thing is you’re acting on it now, which is what really matters. You’re about to step into something that stays with people for life. I wish you all the best for your hunt and enjoy every moment of it.

Well said! Thank you!

 

[R eight]

Regrets serve no purpose.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Regrets and advise; Frying bacon naked.

 

[PARA45]

I saw this on here and had to make a copy. Take advantage of the time we have. It’s never too late to do the things we like.

My first trip to Africa was when I turned 50 years old, took me something like 4 years to save the money. Went again 10 years after and two years after that.

Plan it and get it done.

My apologies for not giving credit for who posted it.

 

[etsonaut]

I saw this on here and had to make a copy. Take advantage of the time we have. It’s never too late to do the things we like.

My first trip to Africa was when I turned 50 years old, took me something like 4 years to save the money. Went again 10 years after and two years after that.

Plan it and get it done.


View attachment 762289
My apologies for not giving credit for who posted it.

Love that!

 

[coreydb]

Regret nothing in your life. Reality is what it is. Just be thankful to God you lived through the bad and lived long enough to still do what you now can do.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I really wish that I had bagged a rhinoceros in Kenya during my life’s first African Safari in 1974. Prices were more affordable back then.

 

[Muskox]

My second wife is just as good-looking .

My second wife is a 10, my first wife was a -10 by comparison.

First wife looked like that phycho bitch in Terminator Linda Hamilton, but she aged vey quickly and got fat. Looks like she was shaken out of a trailer park by a tornado.

She married some navy chief and they became swingers. Dodged a lot of bullets on that one.

Second wife is practically perfect in every way.

 

[fourfive8]

My only regrets have been not telling family and love ones how much they are appreciated when visiting them or talking to them when separated- doesn’t matter if it’s for a day, a month or a year. The future is not reserved for anyone. The moment is the only assured reality.

 

[dhoover]

I really wish that I had bagged a rhinoceros in Kenya during my life’s first African Safari in 1974. Prices were more affordable back then.

That's a regret I can support.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I tend to take the opposite view. Whether with respect to careers, hunting, or whatever, we can not change any of our previous life choices at the time they were made - not a single one. Hence, it is not merely futile, but it is actually debilitating to dwell on them. Far better is to embrace the moment when dreams are realized with all the energy we can and be thankful for the circumstances that enabled them to occur at all.

Can't use open sites any longer? Embrace to the last third of our lives and use the finest optics we can afford. Did dumb things as a young artilleryman ignoring hearing protection? Own and use the finest hearing aids one can find.

We have just returned from Coatia. It was destination we had considered since the late nineties when whispers were first being heard about the its extraordinary Adriatic coastline. As I knelt on the ground at dusk next to a beautiful roe buck, I didn't rue opportunities missed, but was simply thankful for one realized.

@Red Leg
I have no regrets on what I have done in life. My choices made me who I am today.
I didn't get to Namibia until I was 60 and always thought I would never get there but I did. I got to hunt in England at 67 something I thought was an impossibility. It wast even on my wish list because of various reasons but it happened..
Never thought I would design my Own cartridge but I did.
I have NO regrets in my life, I have done things I have thought would never happen and things I hoped I would do.
Yes they were done latter in life but they were done.
All I can say have dreams and aspirations in life and aim to achieve them. Yes they may take a while but with perseverance they can happen. Having an understanding and caring partner to encourage you helps a lot.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I will be surprised if you are not planning your second African hunt before you finish the first.

I am not as fast or as strong as in my younger days but the older I get I tend to appreciate certain things in a way that I didn't as a younger man.

@Dirtdart
I appreciate things now that I never did when I was younger.
When I was younger I would never have thought of waking up with a 60 year old woman.
Now I love the fact that I wake up every morning ( except when hunting) with my very beautiful 63 year old wife and appreciate the fact that I have such a beautiful wife to share life with.
With age comes maturity and wisdom, well to some of us anyway. At times I'm a bit like a mature bottle of wine that hasn't been looked after. A bit sour and off a bit, more like vinegar.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My biggest regret is being with someone that didn't like guns, didn't like shooting, didn't like hunting, didn't like fishing and didn't tell me any of the above until AFTER they had the wedding cake in their mouth.

My greatest joy is having someone that does like guns, shooting, hunting and fishing.

Looking back, I should have conducted interviews for the job, insisted on thorough background investigations and finally a urinalysis test for Psychotropic medications.

@skydiver386
Had one of those once like yourself. I told mine bad luck it's part of me. A few years later she got the goldmine I got the shaft.
They say love is blind unfortunately when we are young the worse the blindness and the more expensive the cure.

I've told my current wife love is blind and marriage is an institution. Therefore I must be in an institute for the blind.
She had a chuckle told me I was mad but she loved me so all if fine.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Get them young and train them right.

@Tanks
Some are just untrainable both men and women
Bob

 

[V.Veritas]

@Tanks
Some are just untrainable both men and women
Bob

Bob, admit it!
You regret you don’t own a 9.3x62.

 

[M70375!]

I don't dwell on or generally acknowledge things that could be called regrets. But, here are a couple things related to outdoor pursuits that I wish I had done earlier in life..

1. Acted on my thoughts about going to Africa. I am now 60 and making my first trip in June. I had opportunities through the years but I never made them a priority or a goal. Often when you're young, you have neither time nor money but as you get older, that equation seems to change. Better late than never I suppose but putting action to dreams like this earlier now seems like it would have been the better decision.

2. Shoot/hunt with open sights. I love it now but the eyes are not what they once were, especially in lower light. Good optics were a luxury as a young man. Now they are bordering on necessity.

I'm sure upon deeper reflection I could share a few more but these two have been on my mind lately as I prepare to begin what I'm sure will be a late life love affair with African adventure.

How about you? What would you share?

Don't feel bad, I waited till I was 70 before my first safari. Wish I would have went 10 years sooner, now my health seems to be getting worse every time I start a new day

 

[M70375!]

My biggest regret is being with someone that didn't like guns, didn't like shooting, didn't like hunting, didn't like fishing and didn't tell me any of the above until AFTER they had the wedding cake in their mouth.

My greatest joy is having someone that does like guns, shooting, hunting and fishing.

Looking back, I should have conducted interviews for the job, insisted on thorough background investigations and finally a urinalysis test for Psychotropic medications.

Man, you are spot on, I wish I would have known more about my last wife before we married, it would have saved me a world of misery not to mention a small fortune. Beware of the woman who pushes you to tie the knot. The risks are high.