First of all thanks for the kind words.
To pick up on this, though, especially the bolded word....
From time to time I hanker after 6 months away on my bike. Sadly age and circumstance will never allow that.
I mean absolutely no disrespect and the last thing I want to do is to stick my oar into your personal circumstances but "never" is such a definite, strong word. I happen to think that the words we use can be very important.
Sadly age and circumstance will never allow that suggests it's not worth even thinking about, perhaps even cruel to entertain the notion.
Sadly age and circumstances make it very difficult suggests that it's at least worthwhile looking to problem solve
Sadly age and circumstances are the challenge suggests, to me at least, a more optimistic outlook.
Never also has the effect of shutting down the consideration of alternatives.
6 months may be too long. But what about 6 weeks?
You've already commented
but what I do, perhaps 3-8 nights B&B, hostels etc. is utterly different from the real long haul riders.
So, if 6 weeks is too long, what about 6 days in "real long term haul rider" mode as opposed to your usual style?
Sure, it's not what you wanted, but it's better than nothing? It also exposes you to more experience, gives time away to think, dwell, problem solve and is also a taste of reality - be careful what you wish for comes to mind.
I have always found inspiration to be the most important thing to get me off my ass. Looking for people who spoke to me. An "if they can do it, then so can I" attitude. Such is the power of the internet these days that we can find people who speak to us easily enough and sometimes actually talk to them.
I don't know how old you are but I know that there are accounts of people doing what you want to do at very advanced ages. And sometimes with extreme disabilities.
Circumstances are personal to us all and are for each of us to manage. Sometimes, options are available if we actually keep our eyes open and brains engaged rather than think "never".
I really hope that I haven't caused offence but I used to be a "never" person and can't help replying when I see it.