ac12 wrote: "... to replace my Nikons when the Nikons get too heavy for me to haul around".
This hit home. In the past year (I'll turn 70 in December) I've found my energy levels have gone down, so far noticeable mostly when I get up in the mornings, and potter about half-conscious for an hour, also how much coffee it takes to get me functioning. (Partner is not at all sympatico, says "you've always been like that!" to which I mentally beg to differ, but in the interests of domestic peace and harmony I opt to not dignify this blatant truth with a reply.)
As well, lugging a heavy camera kit or even two medium suitcases when I travel now takes more out of me than it did even in 2016. So I compromise. My Nikon D700 has also gained weight and my Nikkormat ELs seem to have Portland cement in their bases. To compromise on all that, I too pare my camera travel kit down to at most two lenses, and I can see the day not far down life's track when it will be one small camera, one lens only.
Sirius Glass, you have a wonderful partner and I'm sure you know this and remind her of this often. If not, please do... Mine is the same, and is told this joyful truth regularly, notably so when I come home from one of my journeys to find a Tassie dinner - fresh salmon, Ceasar salad, vegetables, a cold Hendrick's gin martini ready and waiting and a local Pinot airing on the sideboard - ready and waiting. Of such pleasures small and great, is a truly good life.
drmoss_ca, I believe you made the right decision, and I hope your life changes will add many happy years to your life. Like ac12, you also are going minimalist with an M2 kit. I am still working at this, and selling off cameras and other gear from my stash as I go. My plan is sell two or even three to buy one, which doesn't stress household finances but lets you get new toys to play with. You have an M2, ac12 an M4P, and I (well, my partner) an M3 kit. True happiness lies in old Leicas! I make do with one (actually, four) Contax G1s and a 21, 28, 35, 45 and 90 kit (I mostly use the 28, the 45 and 90 occasionally, now and then the 21, and the excellent but neglected Planar 35 f/2, almost never. I'll take that 35 out this week to shoot in the streets around Salamanca (the old port) in Hobart.
I've traveled the Cabot Trail five times, first in 1961 (with a Kodak 616 Brownie), last in 2006 (with enough gear to stock a small photo store). You will find scenery there (if you will excuse my writing it this way) to die for.
Like crmoss_ca, I had two Fuji GA645s, one 'i' with the 60mm lens, and one 'wi' (the wide-angle with the 45mm). I sold them both. Concerns with the electronics given their age, a change in my shooting plans and styles, and the desire to cut down the camera stash were my reasons. I particularly miss the wi and if one in good condition and at a reasonable price (they are now way out of my budget) were to come my way, well... Until then, if ever, I'll make do with Rollei TLRs and Voigtlander Perkeo or a Zeiss Nettar 6x9 if I want some bigger film real estate to print from.
Living on savings can be a challenge, but there are positives. With some lateral thinking, you can get by very well, and it can make you realise that after you eliminate the "un-necessities" from your budget, how little we really need for a quality life. My seat-of-the-pants travels in Asia are done on a low budget. We can all do it. If we want to. It's all about creative decision making and lateral mindsets, the latter meaning you don't have to go without if you look for alternatives, which there always are.
May I end my (as usual much too-long) post with another quote from you? "Beyond developing those films, I have no plans. It's best to make short term plans and suffer no disappointments. ... The moral of the tale is do it whilst you can!"
That is the most apt comment I've read so far in this thread.
The modern Buddhists I know have a fine way of putting what you said into a two-word sentence. "Sh*t happens."
ac12 and crmoss_ca, also all the others, I hope you will post again, you have so much to share with us.