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Some of us are just lucky.
I retired in 2010 (age 65) and don't even have grey hair. Balding, but not grey. I walk 2 miles a day, most days; don't take any medications. No hearing aid; glasses for reading. Got all my teeth. I race a sailboat during the season.
But I've learned to be patient with those who are not so fortunate, because that's all it is - luck.
My brother in law was like me. And then he died quickly of Leukemia at 70. It can happen.
Been looking forward to the magic years of retirement. And when Medicare kicks in.
We have both mostly retired a couple years ago, but not fully.
Don't you know my longevity prediction is 106, but, Things happen and it's one dr visit after another.
Did you have a huge change of plans because of health?
This wasn't going to happen to me, I've always been as healthy as a 'hoss'.
That's the truth---one doctor visit after another I'm just 60, dh is 62, seems all we do is run to doctors. Fortunately, his job is flexible, and I work from home, free-lance stuff. I don't know what we would do without the flexibility we now have!
I admit, when I was a kid I often wondered why my mother ran to doctors so much, and used to mentally scoff at her as some sort of game she was playing. I now understand what she was going through. What's that old saying about walking in the other guy's shoes?
It is important to consider the availability of medical facilities when choosing where to retire. This idea about retiring to "the country" is plain nuts! Miles from medical facilities, stores,etc, etc.....that's really thinking
I took on the hobby of genealogy a few years ago. Made the marvelous discovery that my lifespan runs to the high 90's, but rife with health problems. So I get to look forward to the next 30 years running from one doctor to another---what a thrill! Cant' wait for Medicare to kick in!
The worst thing I ever done was retire 10 years ago at 62. Had business been better and everything was not in the crapper.......I may not have done it, ether way , lost a lot , personal relationship , 40 year old business , retirement savings, mostly in the markets. Now 10 years later I am dependent on Wife's successful business and income . I feel now, if I had pulled the business out of the ashes , divorced the non romantic wife, I would be happier today. I feel trapped , and am getting old too. I am sure had I started over I would be much happier today and would be in a loving relationship. I know all this is just talk, no one knows how things would actually turn out, but at lest i would not feel trapped, or so it seems that way now. Ten years could have giving me time to regroup and contribute more to a retirement now, and it would have been my way too.
As I've mentioned on a couple of other threads on this subject, I have retired twice, once for a year and a half and then for 3 years. Both times I have gone back to work......started out as part time now full time again.
The primary reason was that being retired didn't work for me. I could only play with my toys so much and I found myself getting out of bed at 11 am, goofing off for a while, then napping on the couch, curled up with a cat or two. One day ran into the next, and I was losing my social skills and my physical and mental health were suffering due to lack of exercise and interfacing with other people.
Now, life has purpose again and I am expected to be somewhere 5 days a week. The extra money ain't all bad either ! I will probably work until I am not physically able to do it any more, and I hope that doesn't happen for a lot more years.
We'll all get hit with something, eventually, provided natural causes take their course.
I don't dispute that taking care of oneself is generally beneficial, but I've seen so many situations where people both lived correctly and died young, and partied to the nines for decades and came out scot free that I think you basically get what your genetics give you.
Does that mean go out and eat McD's every day and drink a fifth of vodka? No, but as long as a person lives within reasonable tolerances on their vices, I'm not sure a lot can be done.
Interesting article. Thanks for posting it. The article says that people who worked full time benefitted equally as those who worked part time. Also, those who continued to work in their previous field fared better than those who changed fields.
Many years ago my Mom said "Whoever called these the Golden Years needs to be shot". I didn't understand it then but I sure do now!
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I'm just 60, dh is 62, seems all we do is run to doctors. Fortunately, his job is flexible, and I work from home, free-lance stuff. I don't know what we would do without the flexibility we now have!
I will probably work until I am not physically able to do it any more, and I hope that doesn't happen for a lot more years.
