Where will you be at age 80?
Have you looked ahead? With all of the "what ifs" put aside, have you looked ahead to see what life might be like for you in the future? Not looking for a book, but simply picturing yourself at age 80...
A list of some things to think about... a long term look at what might happen and how what you are doing today, might change as you age.
Forget the doomsday scenarios. None of the "I expect to be dead" thoughts.
Just a simple look ahead to see you at 80. It's not even important that you share your thinking here. Just a heads up look beyond the good and the bad things that affect your life today, and a picture of yourself physically, mentally, actively... living a life that will naturally be quite different from today.
Here are some of the things that are different for me, compared to age 55 or 60.
Travel... while never world travelers, we did our share in the US. Now, a long trip is 50 miles.
LBYM... no change. though we could spend more, it's not in the genes.
Housing... Made the decision to retire in our Villa in our CCRC back in2004.
Play... Super active... party/dance every week... often 2... 'til we left our snowbrd home in Florida in 2012. Now... just when our kids visit, or when jeanie goes to Bingo.
Sleep... Not for me... (3 hrs/night)... but jeanie naps a lot.
Health... for me, pretty good... Afib. ployneuropathy, but otherwise quite good. normal blood. For jeanie, sometimes uses a cane or walker whenever we have to do much walking. Otherwise good. My strength has gone down over the past 2 years. Not enough exercise, but also a factor of age.
Food/Eating out... where we have really changed. In my case, AZ/Dementia onset has destroyed the sense of smell, and therefore taste. We hardly ever go out to eat, but prefer to fix what we like at home.
Money... Not wealthy by a long shot... (read about our frugal retirement), but barring catastrophe, we're safe, and can see our way clear to age 90+, including whatever type of CCRC care we may need.
Activity... both of us work at our CCRC, running different activities, as well as lots of personal friendship-comfort for older folks not as fortunate as us.
Daily activities... This is interesting... up until a few years ago, we went out in the car almost every day... shopping, exploring, good deeds, and the normal everyday things that go along with owning a house. Car service, interior decor, clothes and (well, just look at what you go out for). Now our trips are planned... to-do lists... reminders on the refrigerator...
Socializing... At one time, I would get 20+ personal emails a day... correspondence and keeping in touch with everybody. Now down to a "once in a while" contact...to see if we're still alive.
TV... too much... deep into politics and the world. Much PBS and NPR and always Amy Goodman. 1940's Black and white old time movies.
Current obsession is Artificial Intelligence. Me... jeanie's convinced I crazy.
Newest hobby... birds. Am going through 40 pounds of seed/month, and we are local stopover for hummingbirds on their way south next month.
Exercise... as a once world-class athlete, not so much. Stationary bike when the spirit moves, short walk in the AM three or four times a week. Fortunately the years of exercise in the past, and the road bike riding up until last year has left some muscle.
Doctors... We both do what we're told. Jeanie had a nuclear stress test this AM. Medications.. Yes... what we've been prescribed. BP for both of us averages about 120/70.
..........................................................................................
I think that we had a somewhat different vision of becoming old. For one thing, perhaps more worrying... possible health situations (unfounded), money... would we have enough?
More upset when things went wrong.
More concern for what was going on in our kids' lives. (unfounded)
What would happen if one of us passed away. (This forced us into making our wills and setting powers of attorney.) A big lift off our shoulders.
Did we make mistakes? Of course. Was the crystal ball clear.... ? Yikes... mid course corrections that were massive. The dream of living year round in Florida was a BIG change. Only when we realized how much we missed the four seasons (after a hot summer in Leesburg FL.) did our New England heritage remind us that we belonged back north... where we are happily awaiting the foliage change.
I did what I said you shouldn't... a wide look at old(er) age. But really... have you thought of where you'll be at age 80?
BTW... would like to hear from those of you old timers who are already there, or getting close.
Have you looked ahead? With all of the "what ifs" put aside, have you looked ahead to see what life might be like for you in the future? Not looking for a book, but simply picturing yourself at age 80...
A list of some things to think about... a long term look at what might happen and how what you are doing today, might change as you age.
Forget the doomsday scenarios. None of the "I expect to be dead" thoughts.
Just a simple look ahead to see you at 80. It's not even important that you share your thinking here. Just a heads up look beyond the good and the bad things that affect your life today, and a picture of yourself physically, mentally, actively... living a life that will naturally be quite different from today.
Here are some of the things that are different for me, compared to age 55 or 60.
Travel... while never world travelers, we did our share in the US. Now, a long trip is 50 miles.
LBYM... no change. though we could spend more, it's not in the genes.
Housing... Made the decision to retire in our Villa in our CCRC back in2004.
Play... Super active... party/dance every week... often 2... 'til we left our snowbrd home in Florida in 2012. Now... just when our kids visit, or when jeanie goes to Bingo.
Sleep... Not for me... (3 hrs/night)... but jeanie naps a lot.
Health... for me, pretty good... Afib. ployneuropathy, but otherwise quite good. normal blood. For jeanie, sometimes uses a cane or walker whenever we have to do much walking. Otherwise good. My strength has gone down over the past 2 years. Not enough exercise, but also a factor of age.
Food/Eating out... where we have really changed. In my case, AZ/Dementia onset has destroyed the sense of smell, and therefore taste. We hardly ever go out to eat, but prefer to fix what we like at home.
Money... Not wealthy by a long shot... (read about our frugal retirement), but barring catastrophe, we're safe, and can see our way clear to age 90+, including whatever type of CCRC care we may need.
Activity... both of us work at our CCRC, running different activities, as well as lots of personal friendship-comfort for older folks not as fortunate as us.
Daily activities... This is interesting... up until a few years ago, we went out in the car almost every day... shopping, exploring, good deeds, and the normal everyday things that go along with owning a house. Car service, interior decor, clothes and (well, just look at what you go out for). Now our trips are planned... to-do lists... reminders on the refrigerator...
Socializing... At one time, I would get 20+ personal emails a day... correspondence and keeping in touch with everybody. Now down to a "once in a while" contact...to see if we're still alive.
TV... too much... deep into politics and the world. Much PBS and NPR and always Amy Goodman. 1940's Black and white old time movies.
Current obsession is Artificial Intelligence. Me... jeanie's convinced I crazy.
Newest hobby... birds. Am going through 40 pounds of seed/month, and we are local stopover for hummingbirds on their way south next month.
Exercise... as a once world-class athlete, not so much. Stationary bike when the spirit moves, short walk in the AM three or four times a week. Fortunately the years of exercise in the past, and the road bike riding up until last year has left some muscle.
Doctors... We both do what we're told. Jeanie had a nuclear stress test this AM. Medications.. Yes... what we've been prescribed. BP for both of us averages about 120/70.
..........................................................................................
I think that we had a somewhat different vision of becoming old. For one thing, perhaps more worrying... possible health situations (unfounded), money... would we have enough?
More upset when things went wrong.
More concern for what was going on in our kids' lives. (unfounded)
What would happen if one of us passed away. (This forced us into making our wills and setting powers of attorney.) A big lift off our shoulders.
Did we make mistakes? Of course. Was the crystal ball clear.... ? Yikes... mid course corrections that were massive. The dream of living year round in Florida was a BIG change. Only when we realized how much we missed the four seasons (after a hot summer in Leesburg FL.) did our New England heritage remind us that we belonged back north... where we are happily awaiting the foliage change.
I did what I said you shouldn't... a wide look at old(er) age. But really... have you thought of where you'll be at age 80?
BTW... would like to hear from those of you old timers who are already there, or getting close.
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