Navigating senior years.

NihelOlivier · September 12

On 5/1/2024 at 6:16 PM, Donstar said:

Getting old can be tough but it certainly beats the alternative. Personally, I found my 60's a little frustrating because I felt too young to be old but too old to be young. I found hitting 70 gave me official senior status with full bragging rights! I am learning the value of sharing age related struggles with others. There are many people in your reach who have tips and tricks that will eliminate some of the new obstacles you will face. We all have seen our older relatives with their walkers, Velcro shoe ties, and puffy pants. A lot of these observations are without context. Some of these items may be necessary and some avoidable. Ask others with experience before adopting the stereotypical senior helpers. You may think this stuff is obvious, but I have a 3 year old $500. unused walker in my closet. I thought I was being proactive and didn't anticipate my future needs correctly. This weekend I just about paid $1k for a raised seat for my Harley Freewheeler. It was painful to get off my trike due to the osteoarthritis in my knees and shoulders. While making inquiries about a higher seat, a more senior rider with similar issues told me his physiotherapist taught him how to get off his trike pain free. It is a ridiculously simple technique but works like a cham. (You simply slide yourself to the back of the seat and lift your leg over in front of you.) Last week my wife was researching walk-in bathtubs for me because I like having a bath. I don't like her idea. I found a clamp on grab handle at my local Rona and now find getting in and out of the tub much easier. Contrary to what seems obvious., it is not the strength of the handle, it is the way it directs me is the most value. Seniors need to work smarter as we can't always work harder! Share something here that you've discovered or question about the "joys" of getting old!

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Yesterday I stood in line at the pharmacy behind a tall old gentleman who reminded me of my father-in-law. The receptionist asked this gentleman for his birthdate and it turns out he was 6 months younger than me. It's not that he looked any worse or better, but there are inconsistencies between how we see ourselves and our actual age. I remember the first time in recent history a young, good looking woman ran ahead to hold a door open for me. I am pretty sure it wasn't to check me over for potential date material!

KARNUT · September 12

I can say that if you’re older and overweight. Losing just 10 lbs is life changing. I’m almost 20 down and feel amazing. I have to remind myself to back off so I don’t overdo it.

customboss · September 12

9 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

I can say that if you’re older and overweight. Losing just 10 lbs is life changing. I’m almost 20 down and feel amazing. I have to remind myself to back off so I don’t overdo it.

AFickingMen

txab · September 12

4 hours ago, NihelOlivier said:

Yesterday I stood in line at the pharmacy behind a tall old gentleman who reminded me of my father-in-law. The receptionist asked this gentleman for his birthdate and it turns out he was 6 months younger than me. It's not that he looked any worse or better, but there are inconsistencies between how we see ourselves and our actual age. I remember the first time in recent history a young, good looking woman ran ahead to hold a door open for me. I am pretty sure it wasn't to check me over for potential date material!

Potential spammer right here. Keeping an eye out

Edited September 12 by txab

customboss · September 12

Donstar · September 19

A 40 year old electrician came to add a receptacle by my bathroom toilet. This would be a DIY skill level project for me but running wires through the crawl space is currently beyond my physical limits. I have a fair bit of experience in residential construction and enjoyed talking with this man. The conversation led us to his plans for retirement or when \ if he is unable to do the physical stuff. I heard a lot of the 40 year old me in his words and tried my best to gently nudge him into more proactive planning for his senior years! I forgot how difficult it was at 40 to imagine yourself ever reaching 70 or that your body may retire before you expect!

KARNUT · September 19

7 minutes ago, Donstar said:

A 40 year old electrician came to add a receptacle by my bathroom toilet. This would be a DIY skill level project for me but running wires through the crawl space is currently beyond my physical limits. I have a fair bit of experience in residential construction and enjoyed talking with this man. The conversation led us to his plans for retirement or when \ if he is unable to do the physical stuff. I heard a lot of the 40 year old me in his words and tried my best to gently nudge him into more proactive planning for his senior years! I forgot how difficult it was at 40 to imagine yourself ever reaching 70 or that your body may retire before you expect!

The last time I had my house painted my wife changed the color. Blue with white trim. The wood around the porch needed to be replaced as well as some on the house. It’s a two story. The professional home painter was 67 at the time and worked alone. He carried the replacement wood by himself up the ladder. Because of the color change he primed and two coats of color. It was a few years ago. He recently called me to see if I needed anything. No way I would have made the attempt.

KARNUT · September 19

Just now, KARNUT said:

The last time I had my house painted my wife changed the color. Blue with white trim. The wood around the porch needed to be replaced as well as some on the house. It’s a two story. The professional home painter was 67 at the time and worked alone. He carried the replacement wood by himself up the ladder. Because of the color change he primed and two coats of color. It was a few years ago. He recently called me to see if I needed anything. No way I would have made the attempt.

Donstar · September 20

Nice home and property, Karnut! Your painter appears to be rich in good health! We know people who are young in their sixties and those who are old. Our sixty year old physical condition is largely unpredictable when you're in your forties. "Working" during your retirement years may not be an option. The reality of saving huge amounts of cash to provide yourself a paycheck until your 100th birthday is also unachievable for most. However there are ways to reduce your financial needs or to supplement income in your senior years. The sooner you start planning for retirement, (voluntary or not) the better your chances for a comfortable senior life.

KARNUT · September 20

3 minutes ago, Donstar said:

Nice home and property, Karnut! Your painter appears to be rich in good health! We know people who are young in their sixties and those who are old. Our sixty year old physical condition is largely unpredictable when you're in your forties. "Working" during your retirement years may not be an option. The reality of saving huge amounts of cash to provide yourself a paycheck until your 100th birthday is also unachievable for most. However there are ways to reduce your financial needs or to supplement income in your senior years. The sooner you start planning for retirement, (voluntary or not) the better your chances for a comfortable senior life.

I bought that house 25 years ago in a non HOA subdivision with 3 acres. I built a road along side with an additional house in back I rent out. I have an IRA I’ll never touch. Along with savings. We save even with just living on our combined Social Security. The rent house is our play money. Believe it or not our hobby is playing cards at casinos. Even owning a business I drew a modest middle class salary.

Donstar · September 21

Yes, my parents enjoyed a comfortable retirement by owning extra property. They built a couple of homes during their 40's in a rapidly growing housing market. They borrowed the money to build. Rental income paid off the mortgages while they worked. When they retired, the properties were paid for and the rent and eventual sale of these houses afforded them a happy retirement. I was in my 40's when I started to appreciate that I may not want to, or be able to, work until I die. It is hard to save/plan for a time in life 20+ years into the future. However, the time will come and, when it does, the previous 20 years will feel like a blip in time.

KARNUT · September 21

I got to retire early at 58. I made a deal with my brother to buy me out of the family business. I got my salary until 65 along with health insurance. I didn’t want to make it hard on the family business with an outrageous buy out. I was able to use the extra time to visit my in-laws in Fayetteville. My father in law recently passed. I had a wonderful time with him I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Can’t put a price on that. My brother in law is getting ready to retire to McAlester Oklahoma. We’re now helping him there. I’m looking forward to handing him wrenches while he restores his first car. A 69 Firebird. I have to admit my wife is responsible for most of the financial decisions along with home purchases over the years. Being an army brat she knew how to be frugal. I just concentrated on building our business. If it was up to her I would be managing several rent houses. Being a bit OCD. I wouldn’t consider that a retirement goal. Just enough and stress free I would tell her. A rent home on the back of the property fit the bill. It’s there and you can’t see it for the trees. I charge a premium because it’s secluded and backs up to a horse farm. I usually get people who are building a home and need a 6 months lease. So I usually don’t have to deal with any destruction from people who move from one rental to another.

Donstar · September 28

I've been busy renovating our main bathroom. I only wanted to add a plug outlet next to the toilet.... and you all know what happened! One thing leads to another... Lucky for me, I was able to talk my wife out of renovating the rest of the house for now! I've done most of the work myself. Fortunately, we have another bathroom in the house because the most technical part of the project is forcing an old body to maneuver around tight spaces. This results in many hours to do an hour worth of work. In the interest of time I called in a professional to do the drywall. He was about four times quicker than I and probably did four times as nice of a job! Oh well I enjoy this type of work and appreciate still being able to do it even at 25% capacity!

KARNUT · September 29

21 hours ago, Donstar said:

I've been busy renovating our main bathroom. I only wanted to add a plug outlet next to the toilet.... and you all know what happened! One thing leads to another... Lucky for me, I was able to talk my wife out of renovating the rest of the house for now! I've done most of the work myself. Fortunately, we have another bathroom in the house because the most technical part of the project is forcing an old body to maneuver around tight spaces. This results in many hours to do an hour worth of work. In the interest of time I called in a professional to do the drywall. He was about four times quicker than I and probably did four times as nice of a job! Oh well I enjoy this type of work and appreciate still being able to do it even at 25% capacity!

Generally aside from the easiest of tasks most remodeling is left to the pros. That is the results of working all the time. I never heard of a 8 hour work day or a 5 day work week until I was in my 50s. I enjoyed what I did so there’s that at least. After retirement I did some fixing type repairs. Tearing apart and changing type tasks was never learned. Usually when any type of remodeling was done it turned into much more and expense. I was as guilty as my wife. We now in repair as needed phase more than remodeling.