Originally Posted by Maire

Please, please, don't take your life span into the equation. If you lived 1 week or 10 years after getting a machine that you would enjoy do it! I'll be 80 in a few short months, I bought the Brother Luminaire, I love every minute on it.
Go to sewing machine dealers, there are several Janome, Brother & Babylock machines that have 11 inch harps & are wonder for FMQ, no struggling with the bulk with can be very painful if you have arthritis, that I know.
Some with larger harps are the simpler models, you don't have to go to the top of the line ones. And since Brother & Babylock came out with new top of the line machines last fall there are bargains on traded in machines, a friend bought a used Brother Dream machine for under $2000, 11 inch harp, wonderful FMQ plus embroidery if you are interested in that.
But take your age out of it! No matter how old you are worth having something you would enjoy.