When did you have the oh snap reality check? (70+, beach, physically)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I get your point too, but even if we posit a "limiting and unfulfilling" job, one would hope people would have meaningful things to do outside of the workplace.
Yes, I agree. But for some people, doing what they really want outside of work just doesn't work. I think I'm starting to become one of those people. I generally like my job. But somehow, it's not enough.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Escort Rider
Most people do not work seven days a week. In fact, the more limiting and unfulfilling the job is, the more important it would be to find hobbies or activities or something to look forward to eagerly so that one doesn't feel as if life begins at retirement.
I get it. But some people want more than working 40 (or more) hours a week at an ok job. They want the ho-hum aspects of life to be on the side and their passions and hobbies at the forefront. Not the other way around.
I was still working and quite far (I thought) from retirement. I was taking uncomfortable looks around and realizing that most of the social - and personal - activities and goals I had taken for granted had been a waste of time, and would continue to be more of the same until I dropped dead. I felt much of what I had been taught or adopted in the way of how-it-all-should-be was a bill of goods, and where it had had gaps in it I had created equally worthless patches for it.
In a very short time circumstances occurred which tossed my life around in a major way, and my own personal doubts fortunately were coming together in a strongly motivating way in the same period...and between the two my life got an enormous kick in the pants which booted me off in new directions in every part of my life.
I can't say that I hadn't been living, but something in me was very clearly no longer satisfied - and in a very pervasive way, and so my life took on many changes and received a fresh impetus.
For as long as I can remember, I've been trying to have as much fun as possible. Unfortunately, I had work for a number of years, so that put a damper on things every week, usually. At 55 retired. Now I get to do whatever I want. Still trying to have fun.
Thankfully, I've had some interesting and challenging jobs over the past 34 years. However, about 10 ago, I "sold" my soul and took a position that promised considerably more $$$, but very little personal satisfaction. I've been grinding away at it, but had let boredom and complacency spread over into my personal life. I was suffocating. I'm 55 and just recently realized that I've been so fixated on retirement and when I could "start" living (we plan to move) that I'd actually forgotten to live in the here and now. That thought shook me up enough to motivate me to find some interesting things to do to enhance my life, since the content of my job was likely not changing. I'm so much happier with myself and much less stressed, because I can step off the treadmill in the evenings and enjoy some fun and varied activities, making the best of what I've got right here. Not saying I can't wait for the freedom retirement will offer, 'cause I'm really looking forward to it, but just can't hold my breath waiting...
At what age or point in your life did it hit that it's time to start living? Everyday as we go out in the world we see young vibrant people and old people. Once we were young and now on the fast track to old. Hey with all things being as they should many will reach old age which brings along old age issues. Which is why I just don't get it when people look to retire in upper ages. Instead of a retirement date why not a freedom date? Work if you want to.
To me it's age 55. I'm sure many of us remember when 55 was the looked upon retirement age. Well now for many the retirement age is when health issues take people out of the work force or death. Here is something an old dude once told me that I never forgot. Once you have more years behind you than you have in front of you it's time to start living. He said middle age when looking at averages is about age 35. Looking at 55 is my oh snap moment. Next is 60, then 70, and past 70 only God knows.
Reality check. Maybe on average 15 years left on the planet? Wow. Time to start dating 25 year-olds.
You must have hit the big one in Vegas. Most of us are not that lucky and have to work our rears off to avoid elder poverty.
Age 21. I had just been discharged from the Army after two tours of combat duty in Viet Nam. After getting shot at nearly everyday and survived, it was time to start living.
Part 1, somewhere around 35. I was single, all my friends were married and starting families. It all seemed so cookie cutter and things were boring. I decided to go with different interests, bought myself an old BMW (I'd always wanted one) and I've had one ever since. Built a car for the track. Best thing I ever did. Spent a bit of money on it, worth every penny. Starting going around the country meeting like minded BMW owners.
Part 2, 49 years, 6 months. That's when I received my AARP application (I did not apply).
Part 3, age 55. Got married. First time. To someone I met 28 years earlier.
Part 4, age 56 1/2. Ripped knee ligaments and patella tendon playing basketball in a league game. First major surgery ever. Told not to play basketball again. Retired from league play (35 years) but recovered enough to play pick up with my friends after 11 months. Feels good to sweat again.
This November I will visit relatives in Hong Kong. First time I've seen my cousin in 38 years. First international trip. Hope to do some more trips...
Last edited by Vic Romano; 09-09-2015 at 12:08 PM..
my oh snap came one winter morning when we woke to 36 - 38 inches of snow and I had to work. My snow thrower crapped out and I was left looking at a daunting task of 300 foot long driveway clearing. I had a back up snow thrower so it helped but the realization that do I want to be shoveling snow at 70 hit me like a blizard.
my oh snap came one winter morning when we woke to 36 - 38 inches of snow and I had to work. My snow thrower crapped out and I was left looking at a daunting task of 300 foot long driveway clearing. I had a back up snow thrower so it helped but the realization that do I want to be shoveling snow at 70 hit me like a blizard.
Well they do say that a combination of aerobic and weight bearing exercise can mitigate some of the less pleasant aspects of aging.
my oh snap came one winter morning when we woke to 36 - 38 inches of snow and I had to work. My snow thrower crapped out and I was left looking at a daunting task of 300 foot long driveway clearing. I had a back up snow thrower so it helped but the realization that do I want to be shoveling snow at 70 hit me like a blizard.
That wouldn't have bothered me at all, because the whole town would have shut down before the 4th inch fell.
My "oh snap" was a combination of things.
I have had long stable employment working my current job which is nice, but as a software developer you don't usually see so many complete product life cycles. What that means is that I have seen things go from an idea to a product I helped design and develop implemented across the globe for the company, various enhancements made and then changes in the industry and technology lead management in another direction and it falls out of favor and a new system is created. The old system winds down as new work is done in the new one until it becomes a legacy system and then is finally mothballed. Depending on the timing of when I leave (and because of a different direction in the works, it will likely be toward the end of a product life cycle), it will probably be somewhere between two and five years before there will be nothing I worked on still in use. Kind of hard to feel like what I am doing is important.
I replied in the "hypocrite" thread that I was more of a hypocrite in early middle age. I professed to believe things that I really didn't. Coming to grips with that was huge.
Doing volunteer work directly with people who need help; I work with a volunteer caregiver organization and when you work with people you spend one on one time helping them. It's hard to explain, but it gave me a different perspective. Poor people in subsidized housing have names and stories; most are just trying to get by the best they can.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
