One of the problems we face as Homosapiens is we began walking upright about 10,000 years before we should have in the scheme of evolution. Consequently, our spinal columns were not really meant to support significant amounts of weight. Therefore, those of us that are somewhat overweight torture our spines by posturing ourselves in such as manner that it causes early compression and herniation of the soft, pulpy substance between the vertebral areas known as discs. Smokers, exacerbate the disk herniation problem because smoking decreases the blood supply to the discs, thereby causing them to compress much earlier in life than normal. Spinal compression is also part of the aging process as well, but under normal circumstances, it's a very slow process.

So, as an old fart that has beat the $hit out of his rapidly aging body, all I can say is it has been one Hell of a ride. Would I change anything - probably not too many things that would make a significant difference. Well, maybe I would have began sailing at a younger age, but that's about the extent of the changes.

Cheers,

Gary