For context, I am 65, retired for seven years, married and have children and grandchildren. The lists below are based on my specific life details. I know items on your lists may be different, but I’d love to hear about them to learn from your experience.
Things I Am Doing Now As Compared To When I Was Younger
- Learning to splurge a little more (as I am able)
- Flying instead of driving
- Using an Uber (versus park at the airport or ask someone for a ride)
- Making larger financial gifts to loved ones (now instead of later)
- Paying for meals at restaurants for our adult children and their families
- Saving for the educational expense of grandchildren
- Answering questions as the Identified go to person in my family for financial matters
- Participating more at the local senior center I recently became a member. Started by taking yoga classes
- Getting to better know my increasing cadre of doctors
- Considering a move to a new location and home for the first time in 40 years
- Reflecting on the life that I have lived, and how I want to spend the time I have left
Things That I Have Noticed That Remind Me I Am No Longer Young
- Attending more tribute and legacy acts of favorite musical performers
- Hearing what was once edgy, contemporary music (from the 60s and 70s) categorized as oldies and playing in elevators, stores and restaurants (it’s really funny to hear something like a Led Zeppelin tune playing in a restaurant)
- Being unable sometimes to open a new jar of pickles. An under the counter jar opener is a great investment
- Needing to work harder at getting the amount of sleep I’d like to have, despite having no shortage of time
- Appreciating the daily activities of life for both pleasure and for their health benefit
Things I Need To Do Or Am Working Towards
- Get my estate documents redone
- Investigate Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)
- Pre-purchase and coordinate cremation arrangements
- Receive more dog kisses
- Kiss my wife more (after wiping off the puppy slobber)
- Give thanks for each day and all that I have been blessed with in life
Things I Plan To Delegate When They No Longer Remain Fun Or Doable:
- Hire someone else to take care of our yard
- Hire someone else to clean out the gutters (so I don’t fall off the roof and kill myself)
- Get a “Full Self Driving” vehicle that can safely chauffeur us around
- Turn over management of our financial dealings to one of our children or hired trusted advocate
What things are you finding yourself doing or experiencing more, as your seasons of life progress?
Which are you enjoying?
What challenges are you experiencing, and have you found any solutions to help deal with them?
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“Pre-purchase and coordinate cremation arrangements”
Will people explain to me the advantages of doing so other than cost?
We did this for my disabled brother because it was required when applying for Medicaid.
The major supplier of this service in NH (shows you how small the state is) will only pick up the remains in the state for free if they are in the state. Because of this restriction I have decided not to pull the trigger on this until we have decided on join a CCRC as at that point we are committed to living out the rest of our lives in that location.
Until the I figure whomever is left will make a call with the assistance of the medical facility and pay whatever the cost as we can afford it.
I turn 65 in 2 weeks. Retired 7 months ago.
Things I am now doing now:
1) feeling grateful for every day on this earth. My family is not long-lived. I have been so lucky.
1a) taking nothing for granted. A spring breeze. My beloved dog in my lap.
2) indulging my curiosities: I am reading furiously about history.
3) gardening
4) helping my in-town kid more, doing minor errands for her so that her day will be easier. Why not? I have plenty of time.
5) thinking about flying first class. Haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
6) practicing letting go of anxieties about minor spending shocks – you know, the dentist, the vet, the plumber, the transmission.
7) seeing an array of doctors. (and I am a now retired doctor)
8) fighting the pull of nostalgia and being present for today
9) cooking more, healthier food.
Working On:
1) traveling more by myself. Spouse and I have very different interests, which is a more noticeable now that I have more time.
2) sleeping better
3) processing (code for getting rid of) a bunch of stuff we brought to our house when my mother died)
On the Horizon:
1) considering relocating to cooler climes. This would be after my in-laws have died, which is a bit of wild card. And we don’t know if we’d want that upheaval in our 70s. We might.
Delegating/Letting Go of:
1) newer vehicles
2) gasoline
3) business casual
4) many medical professional societies
5) economy cabin
6) doing my own taxes
7) guilt. It’s how I was raised. My parents and ancestors worked hard so that I could have a better life. Not helpful for me to create angst about having a better life.
8) worrying about my kids’ futures. Can only control what one can control. They will have joy and take their lumps like everyone else.
What I am enjoying:
1) not feeling rushed all of the time
2) my kids
3) my dogs
4) a few older friends
5) working out – its been a through line my entire life.
6) reading deeply about ancient history and origins of judaism and christianity (note: I am agnostic, this is a historical, not a theological interest)
Doug,
Comprehensive list and many of these things hit close to home for me (68 and retired about 3 years).
I’ll add a couple things to the “positive” side that I’m doing and the challenging side that I’m trying to deal with:
Doing:
Challenges:
Doug’s comment about giving thanks for the blessings he has is something I am constantly thinking about. Despite some of the challenges I listed, I do try my best to convey this appreciation of life to those around me.
Thanks for your list. Doug. Since shifting to part-time hours, my daily list hasn’t changed much. But I find more items checked off at the end of the day!
One of things I enjoy most about retirement is having additional time to do the things I must and want to do, and to complete them at a pace that enables a higher degree of pleasure.
Like instead of spending half days or more straight raking the grass in the spring, doing it for an hour or so alternating with reading for an hour throughout a half day. This is my trial year.