I’m here right now (Jon and I are almost exactly the same age). I would change, “happy,” to, “content,” as I simply think that’s a more accurate description of the retiree’s I know in a similar life-stage. “Happiness,” when you hit your sixties seems so much more of an episodic thing, while contentment is an acceptance, when possible, of being, “happy enough.” 6 decades I think most would agree is enough that the fruits of a lifetime of work and decisions will have set a pretty firm trend line, like it or not.
For some, and I would include myself it this group, I can look back and see the trade offs made along the path to today, both intentional as well as the ones introduced by fate and/or chance. Could it/I have done better? Obviously, but equally obviously I could have done much, much worse. Hence the idea of, “contentment.” There’s a oft-quoted phrase, perhaps a misattribution, to the author Kurt Vonnegut, where’s he at a party at some rich guy’s house where he answers a question about contentment by saying he’s rich in that understands the concept of, “enough.” I remind myself of this often.
But to Jon’s initial question. Yes, “enough,” wealth to not have to worry, that’s important. I would definitely add, “purpose,” to what makes me content, understanding that it’s different for everyone, and can intersect with the other bullets like companionship and faith. Health is underappreciated, but again, in retirement, often the years of neglect are increasingly manifest in less desirable ways.
This very week, we are visiting Spouse’s family to try to get some things done for MIL who has dementia and we also saw Spouse’s brother with end stage ALS that I have written about here. Both situations could cause unhappiness, but I am seeing the “taking one day at a time” principle in action, and trying to make the best of things. Happiness is in simplicity like taking walks, visiting the grocery and laughing about being “bad influences” on each other in buying extra ice cream. There was even happiness last evening in seeing Spouse interact with their brother and his new tablet that helps him communica
I’m here right now (Jon and I are almost exactly the same age). I would change, “happy,” to, “content,” as I simply think that’s a more accurate description of the retiree’s I know in a similar life-stage. “Happiness,” when you hit your sixties seems so much more of an episodic thing, while contentment is an acceptance, when possible, of being, “happy enough.” 6 decades I think most would agree is enough that the fruits of a lifetime of work and decisions will have set a pretty firm trend line, like it or not.
For some, and I would include myself it this group, I can look back and see the trade offs made along the path to today, both intentional as well as the ones introduced by fate and/or chance. Could it/I have done better? Obviously, but equally obviously I could have done much, much worse. Hence the idea of, “contentment.” There’s a oft-quoted phrase, perhaps a misattribution, to the author Kurt Vonnegut, where’s he at a party at some rich guy’s house where he answers a question about contentment by saying he’s rich in that understands the concept of, “enough.” I remind myself of this often.
But to Jon’s initial question. Yes, “enough,” wealth to not have to worry, that’s important. I would definitely add, “purpose,” to what makes me content, understanding that it’s different for everyone, and can intersect with the other bullets like companionship and faith. Health is underappreciated, but again, in retirement, often the years of neglect are increasingly manifest in less desirable ways.
I like the concept that “contentment is an acceptance of being happy enough”.
I agree with all of thee above and, is add that they are content
Adding to this very good list, I see many happy retirees share these attributes also:
Studies show people become happier as they get older. This is in addition to innately happy people.
This very week, we are visiting Spouse’s family to try to get some things done for MIL who has dementia and we also saw Spouse’s brother with end stage ALS that I have written about here. Both situations could cause unhappiness, but I am seeing the “taking one day at a time” principle in action, and trying to make the best of things. Happiness is in simplicity like taking walks, visiting the grocery and laughing about being “bad influences” on each other in buying extra ice cream. There was even happiness last evening in seeing Spouse interact with their brother and his new tablet that helps him communica