[cape_royds]

Thanks for the quick replies! It looks like I've come to the right place to talk about this series.

I did think that Jeor's taking the Black predated Jorah's exile--that's why I was a little mystified about his motives.

I see the passage now in Clash. It appears that Jeor joined the Watch after his son's first marriage (to the Glover), but before Jorah's second marriage, to Lynesse Hightower.

Might such a timing have coincided with Robert's usurpation of the throne?

I'm wondering whether one factor in Jeor's retirement was a desire to avoid being disloyal to either the throne or to the Starks, at the time when the latter rose against Aerys.

Chronologically: Jorah married Lynesse shortly after Balon's Rebellion, i.e. about nine years before. Call that D-9.

An unknown amount of time, possibly years, passed between the decease of Jorah's first wife and his remarriage.

About D-15 or D-16 was Robert's uprising. (Roughly coincides with the ages of Jon Snow and Robb Stark, who were born around the end of that war.)

Jorah's first marriage lasted ten years. At some point during that period, his father went to the Wall. We know this because Jorah tells Danaerys that he was Lord of Bear Island by the time he became a widower.

So depending on how long was the hiatus between Jorah's marriages, it would seem at least chronologically possible that the Old Bear abdicated in favour of his son around the time of the Usurpation.

Last question: are there any passages in the series where the Old Bear himself mentions his motive for joining the Night's Watch? I can't remember seeing any.

Thanks in advance for your patience, in case I've asked any stupid questions!