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Biggest life change for me was at 27 when I met my wife, and we got married. I hadn't even thought about marriage until I met her. Then, all of a sudden, everything happened in rapid succession within about 5 years: new job, small house, 2 children, new way of life.
In my 50's (I'm now 67), the grandchildren started coming - 6 of them! They are the love of my life, and I worry more about them than I did my own 2 kids. I enjoy them more than I did my own 2 kids. They are a barrel of fun, and keep me active and young. I want to stay alive and active for them.
The most important and valuable change for me was when I stopped comparing myself to other people and learned how to be comfortable with who I am. This occurred in my late 60s.
I retired at age 49 and we moved overseas immediately so we wouldn't have to work ever again even with my small partial pension, but at age 60 and 62 my other pensions kicked in increasing my net worth by 60% annually making life even more enjoyable with the extra pensions I started to collect! I'm now 66 yrs old and my wife 50 and we're still enjoying our retirement lifestyle! Also our home is paid for and we are debt free!
Since the cost of living overseas is low, we only spend 40% on our monthly living expenses from my current monthly pension and the rest of the 60% is extra cash! No complains here!
Early forties when I joined AA, and suddenly everyone saw that I really was Mr. Wonderful; and my late fifties/early sixties when I decided to emigrate to Europe. I slid into retirement through a sudden disability, so when the actual event legally occurred it was a non-event....and I had had a lot of recent changes in my life, so that while the decision to relocate to Europe was a big one, the actual event was not upsetting and went smoothly.
In college. I had grown up leading a rather sheltered life in an elitist town. When I got to college--even though it was only a state college, to save money--I met people from all walks of life. I saw poor people for the first time in my life and I saw different ethic groups. I met people whom I envied because they came from small, friendly towns and knew everybody. College was a real eye opener for me. I was meeting new people every single day and learning so much about people.
Then, after I got divorced, in the early 1970s, learning to be completely on my own for the first time and having to get my car repaired, pay all the bills, struggle with living alone in an apartment or trying to adjust to having room mates at my age, having trouble meeting people. That was a hard time but I learned and grew from it.
Retirement has not been an adjustment. I had already developed a lot of interests, I knew how to be on my own, no big deal. Then I even met someone and remarried.
Father died at 18....mother threw me out of the house the day he died for reasons I won't go into here....my daughter was born at age 19.
I was her sole support working several dead-end food service jobs for several years while her father couldn't keep any employment....during these years we struggled terribly...but it was this struggle which helped me to find the motivation to go to college after entering a VoTech program. Her father also kidnapped her when she was only 3 years of age....I didn't see her until she was 5....and then he kidnapped her two more times after I had started college. My 20s were hell because of him.
Graduated with a BS cell/molecular biology at the age of 30 and later that year I entered medical school.
1985-1997, basically.
I would also count ages 35-40 because I met and married my husband and later had my son at age 40.
Last edited by rhiannon67; 11-10-2014 at 07:23 AM..
My mid 20's , It was what I called shock and awe from hell. I gave the thirties a kick in the butt, but I would have to say that my life has been a huge circle of oh my dam's or oh hell no kind of thing. I have to say that what ever we have to do to survive , we will do and I hope everyone gives life there dam best.
Age 34. More specifically, the day my son was born.
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