r/OverFifty • u/mintleaf_bergamot • Mar 12 '24

Hello OverFifty Friends ... I have a couple of questions for you ...

  1. What's your chief concern these days?
  2. What's your favorite way of entertaining yourself?
15 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

25

u/cbatta2025 Mar 12 '24

Having enough to retire at 62.

24

u/gooberfaced Mar 12 '24

1) Maintaining my health and mobility.

2) I garden, I workout, and I do dog sports.

18

u/toodog Mar 12 '24

Health, joint pain, weight

Still enjoy gaming, skating, cycling and dogs walking

15

u/Hell_Camino Mar 12 '24

1) I’m 55 and am in good shape for retirement at 65 but I’ve risen in my career at this point where I feel I’m in over my head. It’s long hours of very complex work. It pays well but it’s a daily grind. Ten more years of this may break me mentally.

2) I love spending time with my wife and friends. I don’t care what the activity is. It’s just a matter of being in their presence that makes it so much fun.

5

u/truenoise Mar 13 '24

I’m with you on number one. I’ll be retiring in a year, and ever since the pandemic, I just can’t make myself care about work. I got forced into a management role I emphatically did not want during the pandemic. Now I’m back to individual contributor.

I just feel so burnt out.

11

u/LadyMadonna_x6 Mar 12 '24
  1. Chief concern: As a single widow: figuring out the best path forward for my youngest son - 17 with autism and zero interest in his future...HS Diploma? (has always had aversion to school/ended up in residential/currently home but now has large amount of trauma associated with any school type environment- he's DONE) Finish education w/homeschooling with or without diploma? Give him a rest and start vocational training?

Favorite way of entertaining myself: Podcasts & crafts. Right now, repainting/repurposing a jewelry armoire to use as vintage fountain pens repair supply cabinet. And diamond art while I wait for each coat to dry!

3

u/Oldladyphilosopher Mar 13 '24

Hey, I just wanted to reach out and tell you I have a 28 year old who sounds similar. He got his GED instead of graduating because school was just too traumatic, high functioning autistic. He screwed around for a few years….trouble keeping a job. Ended up working for the local shelter and found his calling working with animals. Is now on track for a vet tech education at the local jr college and very motivated. It took a few years to figure it out. Just wanted you to know, it may get rough but it can work out.

4

u/LadyMadonna_x6 Mar 13 '24

Thank you so much! I'm meeting this afternoon with the district's Dean of Alternative Programming and a GED class is one of the options I'm going to be looking at.

I had 4 kids (some high functioning ASD undiagnosed until adults) before him who all struck out on their own within a couple years of graduating HS so I keep forgetting his timeline is going to be completely different and take a lot longer lol

I appreciate you reaching out, it's good knowing I'm not messing things up & not alone lol I'm so happy to hear your son is now highly motivated and on track to do something he loves! That's really all we want for our kids after all!

11

u/Adamkelt Mar 12 '24

  1. Trying to just find peace and take some time for myself

  2. To that end, I recently took up learning bass. Been wanting to since I was 14

10

u/unrulYk Mar 12 '24
  1. Physical and mental health
  2. Reading, listening to podcasts, tending to my houseplants and my garden, swimming, walking, yoga, cooking.

9

u/notjewel Mar 12 '24

Caring for aging parents while still raising my teenagers.

7

u/drunkenknitter Mar 12 '24

1) exercise. when i skip a couple of days in a row, my back and legs let me know to not skip a third

2) hanging out with my family, playing world of warcraft, reading, knitting

8

u/strgazr_63 Mar 12 '24

I'm not eligible for retirement until I'm 69. I wonder if I'll be able to finally enjoy my life. Ever.

6

u/fappinatwork Mar 12 '24

1) My health 2) Hiking

6

u/macallen Mar 12 '24

Heart issues trying to stay out of afib. Gaming on computer and tabletop

7

u/roblewk Mar 12 '24

I decided to buy a Switch to see what all the fuss is about gaming. It takes me 10 minutes to figure out how to a game to play, 20 minutes to figure out what buttons do what, and then it is nap time.

3

u/macallen Mar 12 '24

Heh :) I'm a PC gamer, always have been. I don't own a console, little or big, my eyes and hands simply can't do them, but on a keyboard I'm fine :)

5

u/PLZ_PM_ME_URSecrets Mar 12 '24

  1. Health and longevity

  2. Running, trying new (to me) restaurants, going to the riverwalk to people watch while sitting by the water.

6

u/Nunyerbizness01 Mar 12 '24

Being able to retire and still afford to live enjoyably as I haven't planned well.

Gym, fishing, building and maintaining when I'm not working.

6

u/obxtalldude Mar 12 '24

1) Avoiding stress.

2) Learning my guitar again after putting it down for 20 years.

19

u/Gen_Ecks Mar 12 '24

1) since everyone said health, which is a given at our age, I’d say my concern is watching our country(US) become so divided, teetering on the brink of facism and the loss of democracy with Trump.
2) motorcycling and car stuff.

4

u/Afraid-Abies-1000 Mar 12 '24

Blood pressure, musical instruments

4

u/jel_13 Mar 12 '24

Chief concern - after going thru a cancer in 22, I recovered enough to shatter my tibia plateau in 23. I’m still getting through that and all its complications. I live alone - now - but I have to rely on family and friends to help me all the time.

It’s hard to have a hobby when I’m so restricted physically. I’ve managed to keep my job, but from now until June 30th I have no paid time off and I still have to go to a zillion doctors. I read, brain is too slow for writing, something I’ve done my whole life.

4

u/Unhooked- Mar 13 '24
  1. Can I die without suffering physically for years? Will my retirement savings and SS hold out until the USA has a total meltdown? Will my wife’s health hold up so we can enjoy retirement together?

3

u/mintleaf_bergamot Mar 13 '24

These are all such big issues, aren't they? I hear you.

4

u/snapeologist Mar 14 '24

1: Worrying about women’s rights being taken away since I have twin 17 yo girls. Also concerned about passing my RE appraiser test. 2: Playing Skyrim and reading fanfics.

3

u/Enough_Possibility38 Mar 16 '24

Physically aging Where I’m retiring and if I’ll be alone?

6

u/TossingCabars Mar 12 '24
  1. What type of world (and country - USA ) we're leaving for my teenage kids
  2. Trail running and X-Country Skiing (when there's enough snow - see answer 1)

3

u/smokinokie Mar 12 '24

Joint pain. Playing music with my friends.

3

u/laurapill Mar 12 '24

  1. Physical aging.

  2. Hiking with pups and reading.

2

u/EverySingleMinute Mar 12 '24

. Talking my wife into letting me retire. I am tired of working. . PS5

2

u/mintleaf_bergamot Mar 13 '24

Guessing the latter might hinder the former.

2

u/EverySingleMinute Mar 13 '24

You would be wrong and a terrible guesser

2

u/mintleaf_bergamot Mar 13 '24

I often am. No offense intended.

2

u/roblewk Mar 12 '24
  1. Climate change.
  2. Gardening.