Aging

Funny but the same issues are plaguing me as well. Also the issue of health gets to be more and more important as our subtle early minor frailities become more pronounced. I have been to Florida a couple of times now and at least for now I have decided that is not the place for me. Not only for the sense of life ending even with the fake vitality promoted there but just in the sense of lack of possibility that seems ever present. I would rather be the goofy old fart who is totally innapropriate in the land of the young than to fit in with the senior crowd of Florida, hanging out at the pool, holding onto foam noodles all day while gossiping about my nieghbors. The picture is horrifying to me.

On the other hand, I am looking forward to leaving my current job and seeing what other things life has in store for me.

No answers, but lots of posts and discussion about aging at Ronni Bennett's blog, As Time Goes By- well worth following. Ronni was on Fotolog and Flickr so you may have come across her already.

I'm 62 this year so facing similar problems/decisions

Getting old is one of my daily thoughts, although I'm very optimistic.
I'm fed up with alcohol and drugs since many years, hopefully I stop smoking in the next few years.
Although I love my country, I guess I won't spend my retirement here because of the weather-the summer is too short for me. I hope my pension will be high enough. One of my dreams is buying a mobile home and cruising through america and around the Mediterranean Sea.

For me it's like yesterday when I left school, but I'm 42, it was about 25 years ago. In July my daughter is 18, and she says I'm old. Life is running. Shit. :-) Let's have fun every day.

I retired 4 years ago due to health issues (since resolved), and I too will not live in retirement communities for "those active adults over 50". I can't imagine isolating myself from family and friends. As long as my health remains good, I plan to stay in my home and travel as much as possible.

As far as Florida - it's way too buggy for me.

My wife and I were discussing post retirement careers and one of them that came up was retirement counselor, you can get a financial planner to deal with the money issue which is primary as it expands or limits various possibilities, but no one really deals with what do we want to do with our time. And to me you got to have a plan, you say you have many so you are doing well. Plans are general outlines with us filling in the fine details with thought based on realistic perception of the near future. To me the biggest are do we have enough money and where to live, once you deal with that most of the other stuff will flow from those factors.

On the creative side, well I never planned on doing digital photography, nor the postcards, not writing or any of it, what I did have was a desire and need to create, if I don't I am frustrated and miserable, when I do I feel better and start to fill fullfilled. I think once you are in motion with any part of your plan to do your art and perhaps writing you will find that this leads to more possibilities which you can jump from one decision branch to another, each one opening more doors. The biggest negative that I find are those who try to make the decisions in advance and are somehow waiting for just the right factors to move ahead. We can have planning in what we do but not to the point of being stuck.

Anyway, I have rattled on too long, there is so much more to this but the journey is half the fun as the ending is always the same might as well make the best of the trip.

Hey, this is a "retiring group" already...
I am now 58, going to be 59 in October, have been teaching children for years and years now--and NEVER think of being "too" old.
There is some kind of "fear", but NOT the fear of aging, but the fear of being immobile. So I am doing a lot not to lose my health, keep my power of resistance and keep agile : Biking, hiking, swimming--all moderate, but rather often: Every day.
.......
We here in Germany are the first generation that was allowed to grow up without war and we are mighty and healthy --- and we are many!

I was forced into retirement at age 36 - I'm 51 now. It's been hard, I would love to work or volunteer at least part time so I can get out and network, but . . . so I try to live every day in the day and try not to plan (so disappointing because they fall thru so often now, plans do) and just enjoy the moments that flow by.

I cannot stand the thought being old and frail, I have no network (family or kids) here for support. I used to see women and men like in your photo in SF, so painful. W/O money, 'aging gracefully' is not possible. My aunt by 1st marriage did it but her husband left her well provided for and she (altho childless) had a huge support network as she had been very social when younger. Died gracefully at home, frail but happy at 86.

I would never do an "adult community", ugh! so limiting to one's world! Any planned community is - man, like a book I read in grade school where if you painted your front door green (or other unaccceptable color), you got shunned . . . It seems around here all the new "developments" here are planned - and most have what we call covenants (meaning restrictions) about everything!

artpaws faced many of these questions and amazingly in 6 months he was gracefully retired! He's doing great - he's your age. He's also in great physical shape. You really would enjoy him, he's quite spiritual like me but other than that you have many of the same interests and of course he is an artist above all else!

I like you and K's plan, and having your son nearby will help!

I work with a 95 year old lady who definitely looks old but will never age. She's my role model. Unfortunately, she is very honest and admits that she doesn't know why she's lived well for so long. She thinks it has to do with keeping active - never "retiring" really and she believes that everything really does work out as it should.

Looks like some fun stuff's coming up for you, Tom! Keep me posted.

I am in the process of ending a 40 year working relationship with an employer that has been more than accommodating over the years and accepted many of my quirky ways.

I don't like the word retiring, it has so many negative meanings (termination, the end, withdrawal, etc.) besides of being associated with old age.

Change is a good thing - It opens new doors and forces you to get out of the ruts that have become so comfortable over the years.

I agree with "Tante Käthe" - Staying fit as you grow older is very important ! To me it is more important than money in the bank.

I want to thank everyone for adding their comments and giving their feedback. I agree staying fit is one of the most important factors in having a good time as you age(and before). I also think being active in all other ways is beneficial.