I enjoyed your article. I particularly like it when personal experience is woven into the advice--I can see those little unexercised dogs and their pee bags!

I'm 77 and live on the third floor of an old house in southern France. Much of my exercise, mostly walking, is augmented by frequent climbs up and down flights of twisting stone stairs, sometimes three or four times a day. While I sometimes worry about safety and always exercise caution, I think this enforced activity is of great benefit.