My First Wife said she was "retiring" in 4 years when she turns 70. We were later talking to a fiend and he said they were having dinner with his 83 year old mother who was doing the cooking...
It was really a wake-up-call to cook at mom's. How in the world can she get by with no kosher salt? Or pepper mill? And what in the world is up with the Christmas music? Yeek.
Fortunately, I, like my mentor Alton, carry my own. I also happened to take silicone spatulas, a stick blender, multiple spices and herbs, kitchen tongs, latex gloves and the only things I forgot, and really missed, were my oven mitts.
I guess even us foodies have to rough it sometimes. Hey, I've cooked a roast with a stick over a fire (I think that was after the Yuba hurricane / propane grill disaster). I guess I know what mom's going to get for Christmas. That's right, a smoked turkey :o)