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Advice from a senior senior
03-14-2017, 01:08 PM
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#1
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 16,543
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Advice from a senior senior
I stopped for new tires today. While waiting for the tires, an older gentleman came in, bought some tires, and sat down next to me and started a conversation. Somewhat surreal - it was like someone was trying to send me a message.
He was 95, an avid bicyclist, and talked about his life and travels. From our talk, I got the following advice:
Get a good education
Travel when you're younger
Move to an area with nice weather and services close by when you retire.
Downsize when you retire
Get plenty of exercise
Drink plenty of water
That was plenty much it. It was great having a talk with someone a generation older and capable of giving much needed advice.
Anyone still getting advice from the older generation?
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03-14-2017, 01:13 PM
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#2
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
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Yeah, I got advice from a 70 year old last week. She told me I was "too young to retire".
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03-14-2017, 01:13 PM
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#3
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 953
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Quite a few years ago, I had an older guy tell me-
"A young guy like you could have a lot of fun on a water bed like that!"
Maybe I should have listened more seriously.
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03-14-2017, 01:15 PM
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#4
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Meadbh
Yeah, I got advice from a 70 year old last week. She told me I was "too young to retire".
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funny - same thing just happened to me too....
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03-14-2017, 01:21 PM
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#5
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,085
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronstar
Anyone still getting advice from the older generation?
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Yep, every time I read a thread here.
I look at the contrary examples between dad and (now departed) FIL. Dad worked hard all his life, continuing into his early/mid 60s. He bought a new to him boat when I was 12, replacing the unsuitable Searay that had as its sole plus a tiny cabin. I once asked him why he kept the Searay for so long and he said that sometimes the only way he could get away for a couple hours was to anchor in a quiet cove and head into the cabin. He has to this day a legacy of severe stress-related health problems.
FIL was laid off in his 50s from a corporate job. He did not have quite enough assets/pension to make it work, so he did some consulting, taught some adjunct college classes, and in general lived a good life. If the Parkinson's hadn't taken him down I would peg him to make it into his 90s.
__________________
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
- George Orwell
Ezekiel 23:20
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03-14-2017, 01:23 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 17,773
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronstar
I stopped for new tires today. While waiting for the tires, an older gentleman came in, bought some tires, and sat down next to me and started a conversation. Somewhat surreal - it was like someone was trying to send me a message.
He was 95, an avid bicyclist, and talked about his life and travels. From our talk, I got the following advice:
Get a good education
Travel when you're younger
Move to an area with nice weather and services close by when you retire.
Downsize when you retire
Get plenty of exercise
Drink plenty of water
That was plenty much it. It was great having a talk with someone a generation older and capable of giving much needed advice.
Anyone still getting advice from the older generation?
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I had an encounter in December 2015 with a woman who was meeting her grown granddaughter for lunch as I was waiting for my toddler granddaughters. We chatted about ourselves for about twenty minutes and she told me to cherish my life and my husband as things could change in an instant--no practical advice but emotional. She was about as old as my mother would have been had she not passed away 43 years ago to the day that we had this conversation. I wish I had asked for her phone number.
__________________
“Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
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03-14-2017, 01:24 PM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,332
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I've mentioned a few times about the older guy I met one night. We were waiting for our table at the restaurant bar and struck up a conversation.
He said: "How old are you? 60?...you need to realize that even if you live to be 90, you only have 15 or 18 good summers left. Twenty at the max. Enjoy them wisely"
__________________
Living well is the best revenge!
Retired @ 52 in 2005
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03-14-2017, 01:40 PM
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#8
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nashville
Posts: 2,504
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In-laws (85, 88) for finances, how to plan, and the need to loosen the purse strings and take advantage of your relative youth at early retirement!
My mom (only 76) for how one can enjoy life with friends and family, even with little in the way of assets. (And, of course, her mother, who was thriving in her 90s with little in way of income/assets, but a host of descendants who enjoyed their time with her.)
__________________
OMY * 3 2ish Done 7.28.17
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03-14-2017, 02:01 PM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,468
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronstar
Anyone still getting advice from the older generation?
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Absolutely, and I value it greatly.
It probably sounds corny, but honestly I still get advice from my mom. Granted, she passed away 10 years ago, at age 98. But I think of her often and I know just what she would have told me, in various situations that I encounter in life.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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03-14-2017, 02:10 PM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 18,593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronstar
I got the following advice:
Get a good education
Travel when you're younger
Move to an area with nice weather and services close by when you retire.
Downsize when you retire
Get plenty of exercise
Drink plenty of water
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That's it in a nutshell.
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*********Go Astros!*********
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03-14-2017, 05:23 PM
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#11
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gone traveling
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: DFW
Posts: 7,586
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I have a friend who is 76. I guess the best advice from him was to drink more water.
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03-14-2017, 05:34 PM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,468
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DFW_M5
I have a friend who is 76. I guess the best advice from him was to drink more water.
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I keep a 64 oz container of water right by my easy chair, and refill it at least once each day. It's easy for me to get enough water in when it's right beside me like this.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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03-14-2017, 05:38 PM
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#13
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Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: San Diego
Posts: 14,140
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My step mom turns 90 next month. She regularly advises the following:
- Keep moving - if you stop, you'll stop.
- Exercise the brain every day. (She does sudoku's every morning)
- Just have fun!!!!
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Retired June 2014. No longer an enginerd - now I'm just a nerd.
micro pensions 6%, rental income 20%
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03-14-2017, 05:53 PM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Colorado Mountains
Posts: 3,163
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aja8888
That's it in a nutshell.
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And I always thought it was Faster horses, younger women, and more money!
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03-14-2017, 05:57 PM
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#15
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 4,032
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It is for my grandfather of course, younger women, gambling, alcohol, all within reason of course. He lived until 89 without any modern medicine. He was also a very laid back person, never worked in his life, no stress that he had to deal with.
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03-14-2017, 05:57 PM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,635
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Meadbh
Yeah, I got advice from a 70 year old last week. She told me I was "too young to retire".
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My officemate is almost 70, and he thinks I'm nuts to want to retire at 60.
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03-14-2017, 05:58 PM
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#17
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,232
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marko
I've mentioned a few times about the older guy I met one night. We were waiting for our table at the restaurant bar and struck up a conversation.
He said: "How old are you? 60?...you need to realize that even if you live to be 90, you only have 15 or 18 good summers left. Twenty at the max. Enjoy them wisely"
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this point has been drilling itself into my consciousness lately. I punch 30 years into the calculators, but in reality, "good years" might be, if I'm lucky, more like 15....
gotta remember that.
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03-14-2017, 06:44 PM
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#18
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 9,070
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronstar
I got the following advice:
Get a good education
Travel when you're younger
Move to an area with nice weather and services close by when you retire.
Downsize when you retire
Get plenty of exercise
Drink plenty of water
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And then realize that at 60:
Quote:
Originally Posted by marko
even if you live to be 90, you only have 15 or 18 good summers left. Twenty at the max. Enjoy them wisely.
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Together, what a great piece of advice. Thanks for sharing.
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03-14-2017, 08:08 PM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronstar
Anyone still getting advice from the older generation?
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Pretty much everyday. My Dad will be 90 in a few months and still amazes me with his wit and intellectual abilities. There are few days that go by that I don't learn something useful from him.
He told me something last week that I think would help a lot of people:
Do you know the fastest way to becoming wealthy?
One house, one spouse, and one car.
He also holds a happy hour on Sundays (for years, now) and I have always been the youngest one there. Over the years, I have gotten some great advice from some very amazing people.
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
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03-14-2017, 08:17 PM
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#20
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2008
Location: No fixed abode
Posts: 8,764
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What's this drink plenty of water stuff? If that's the best advice I have to give at the end of my life I'll be on anti-depressants. My advice will be:
Don't waste time regretting things. If it sounds fun and possibly survivable, give it a shot. Only drink good booze. And retire as soon as you financially are able to.
__________________
"Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement." - Anonymous (not Will Rogers or Sam Clemens)
DW and I - FIREd at 50 (7/06), living off assets
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