Retirement Before the Age of 59: 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀! 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲

So Jon Devised a Safety Climbing Method in Case He Falls

Parkinson's Disease Causes Poor Balance, Making Ladders a Danger

Jonathan has devised a method to climb a ladder safely, even though he has Parkinson’s disease. His balance is affected by PD, so I was worried that he might fall off the ladder. But he is determined to repair the motorhome roof himself—he’s the best repairman! April is Parkinson's Awareness Month, so this story is fitting.

Jon ordered mountain-climbing gear from Amazon. No, he’s not a mountain climber. But with special gear—a harness, two different ropes, carabiners, and a ladder, Jon was determined that he could motorhome-climb to replace the leaky skylight. He spent hours watching YouTube videos and practicing the technique to tie the necessary unique knots. He won’t hit the ground if he falls off the roof or the ladder.

Jon Attaches the Main Rope to the RV Axle

So He Can Sling the Rope Over the RV Roof

On the Opposite Side Where He will be Working

Using A Heavy-Duty Mountain-Climbing Carabiner

Jon Pulls On The Harness and Adjusts for Fit

While Sophie Keeps An Eye on That Scary Ladder

Jon Tested His Mountain-Climbing Knot

To Make Sure it Won't Slip If He Falls

With The Rope Attached to His Harness, Jon Starts

Climbing the Ladder, Sliding the Special Knot Up

The Main (Red) Rope Every Two Steps

The Hardest Lesson to Learn was that He had to Remove

His Hand From the Special Knot as He Descended or Climbed--

It's a Slip-Knot That Won't Stop a Fall if His Hand is On It!

Jon Scrapes off the Old Caulking Around the Cracked Skylight

The Cracked Shower Skylight Has Been Removed--

No Wonder There Was a Water Leak into the Shower Ceiling!

Jon is Ready to Install the New Skylight

He Sets the New Skylight into Place--Perfect Fit!

The Skylight has been Caulked with Self-Leveling Sealant

Now Jon is Scraping and Cleaning the Roof Gutters, A Big Job

My job is now to bleach the water stain on the shower ceiling. That's another story. It's a good thing Jon caught and replaced the cracked skylight early.

Jon's rope system and harness work so well that I don't feel like I have to be there while he works. If he loses his balance and slips off the ladder, he won't hit the ground. He's a Parkinson's Warrior!

Read more about life with Parkinson's disease in my book Pickle Jar Test: A Novel, available in all Amazon markets. FREE with KindleUnlimited.