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Escort Rider, Interesting perspectives. I have been trying so hard to get past the whole accident injury & working hard to try reclaim part of my old abilities. It is so frustrating to not be able to do the things that were normally done without even thinking about it.
I must say that being involved in CD's conversations has been very, very helpful. I haven't turned into the person who starts their day drinking & feeling sorry for myself & it could have been possible. I used to get jealous & resentful of people who could walk & bend. Now I feel an accomplishment when I walk to the gas station/store. Then, because of the support I'm sure, I was able to attend the Autumn festival this year, something I thought I could never do.
I used to do so much! And I find stories of others interesting now that I'm over my bitterness. So many interesting lives, for those of us that want to listen.
Your own story is inspiring, Meo! How great that you've had successes such as being able to walk to the store which can lift your spirits. And how great that City-Data has been so meaningful to you. And whether you realize it or not, you are giving back to the City-Data community spirit with posts such as the one above which help counteract the mean-spiritedness which all too often prevails.
I do know a retiree that actually describes the wake, drink, watch TV, drink, pass out, repeat the next day. He retired from civil service after 30 years with a very healthy pension at 50. 6 years of doing just that, except for fishing and hunting a few times a year, (never drinks while hunting or piloting his boat) and some very occasional contract substitute work (maybe 2 days a month), that is all he does. And claims that is all he wants to do, and it is no ones business but his own. Try to have a conversation with him about this, and all he does is change the subject and says "I'm retired. I'll do what I want. I earned it". He would say he has a very successful retirement. I think he's in a living he//.
That's what we save / invest our money for? To use in the future.
Medical care and a comfortable, enjoyable living and recreational environment in our later 70's on. There is a whole retirement residential industry and a broadening 62 plus housing/recreational facilities. Not cheap but if you could have afforded many might regret not having planned for. They are designed to enable you to live independently longer as they have services available to facilitate it. Also when you transition into assisted living you are staying in your same residential community with the same recreational activities available along with the same people. Need Rehab? Same community same place along with memory care and skilled nursing card. Great for couple where they aging differently and they can still be together. Transportation etc etc so losing your driving ability is not as hard and there is 24 hour emergency medical care, security, house cleaning etc. Again not cheap but if you could have afforded and spent the money oh well. Also not sure about you but I don't want to ever be dependent on Medicaid if I can avoid it.
I agree with The Shadow at #62. The key ingredient is being able to keep yourself entertained and/or enriched.
And that often includes having a number of interests in life. Cultivating interests is one of the best things a person a can do throughout a lifetime.
Keeping yourself entertained can often be a function of where you live, your house, your neighborhood and your lot. Being in nature is something you can travel to or walk out your door to.
I do know a retiree that actually describes the wake, drink, watch TV, drink, pass out, repeat the next day. He retired from civil service after 30 years with a very healthy pension at 50. 6 years of doing just that, except for fishing and hunting a few times a year, (never drinks while hunting or piloting his boat) and some very occasional contract substitute work (maybe 2 days a month), that is all he does. And claims that is all he wants to do, and it is no ones business but his own. Try to have a conversation with him about this, and all he does is change the subject and says "I'm retired. I'll do what I want. I earned it". He would say he has a very successful retirement. I think he's in a living he//.
I know a couple of people like that and a few more at high risk for it. The ones I know were responsible about it during their careers; maybe every few weekends, often during a season for a particular sport, just kick back and unwind for a day. Get all the chores done on Saturday and watch the NFL on Sunday for basically 12 straight hours knocking back their favorite beverage all day long. I have attended get togethers where I participated in that sometimes; I don't think there is anything wrong with it every now and then if you don't drive or have responsibilities that might require you to. They are responsible about it; their work is done and they don't have anywhere they need to be. Then retirement comes along and they have lots of days where there is nothing they need to do and nowhere they need to be. Most of my replies on choices are "to each his own" but it does bother me to see someone I know make choices that are this unhealthy.
It's obvious YOU don't care because you've told us so repeatedly in this thread. But there seems to be a bit of confusion on your part; just because you don't care doesn't mean that "no one" cares. Yes, some people care because they have said so in this thread.
I can only give my own opinion here, not the opinions of others. I speak for myself while you speak for 'some people'.
I can only give my own opinion here, not the opinions of others. I speak for myself while you speak for 'some people'.
There are a couple of different conversations going on. I fully understand your point about your neighbor and his working career which you had nothing to do with. Others are discussing their working years in the context of interacting with folks who shared or benefited from their work experience. Also some professions come with great, funny and interesting stories. All very different but part of the experience. What I have found is that people who retired and our still involved part time with our working profession want to talk about the profession and fully understand why we don't. Shared experiences yes but not the big picture
I do know a retiree that actually describes the wake, drink, watch TV, drink, pass out, repeat the next day. He retired from civil service after 30 years with a very healthy pension at 50. 6 years of doing just that, except for fishing and hunting a few times a year, (never drinks while hunting or piloting his boat) and some very occasional contract substitute work (maybe 2 days a month), that is all he does. And claims that is all he wants to do, and it is no ones business but his own. Try to have a conversation with him about this, and all he does is change the subject and says "I'm retired. I'll do what I want. I earned it". He would say he has a very successful retirement. I think he's in a living he//.
Drop the drinking to unconciousness I see no problem with his retirement. In fact I hope to do much the same.
I was reading an article that asked these questions.
you cant travel all the time so say you travel 4 weeks out of the year (quite doable). What do you do for the other 48 weeks?
You can then add 4 more weeks of visiting family and friends. What do you do for the remaining 44 weeks.
You get a hobby and some activity. You cant do that for 44 weeks. You get the point.
So honestly if I can do a lot of golfing and fishing and hiking and boating and . . . . . . . It should fill in enough time so that I will need to relax and watch football or baseball. Maybe take in a concert or two. As much as I love DW I dont think I could spend 24/7 with her either nor would she want that of me. We will need alone time too.
For myself I am so hoping to get back into writing uplifting poetry &, fingers crossed, start drawing/painting, which I haven't done since my 20's.
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