avantages of getting older

There is always the worry about health issues - arthritis, two replacement hips, just recovering from tendonitis in left arm and left knee becoming a bit dicky! DH has prostate cancer - early diagnosis and on a health watch programme but we enjoy our family, get about as much as possible. He is chairperson of the local prostate cancer group and I have recently become a school governor. Getting out and about is important, helping with the grandchildren and making sure that we enjoy as much of life as we can before we reach the stage of dementia, ill-health or meeting our maker!

I've noticed the white van men don't cut me up as much when I'm driving. the sight of my white head over the steering wheel seems to worry them for some reason

Most of my family members died younger than I am now which makes me feel that I am in uncharted territory but very blessed to be able to enjoy retirement. I do not have the best of health but am glad of the chance to do what I am able for.
I suppose that we have to work out our abilities, energies, spare time and talents and discover what is out there in order to choose.
Perhaps getting older is a challenge and not for the faint-hearted!

One of the best things about getting old is that it's better than the alternative - not getting old!

Also, when it comes to medication/food/drink/etc...you don't need to worry so much about the long term side effects

For me its becoming invisible so that I don't need to worry so much about what I'm wearing. As long as its clean and fits in all the right places who cares if its six years old and not in fashion! Actually that moment hit me about twenty years ago but its even better now - comfort comes first!

As PPP mentions, most of these positives come from being retired, I still work full time so don't have a lot of time to do all these things with my DGC but do help out as and when I can. I'm 64 this week and do admit to feeling quite tired after a week of work, weekend volunteering and hosting a firework party for the family - but oh I am so grateful for a full and busy life, long may it continue

Best thing about getting older is having a regular income and not having to worry about losing my income if I lose my job. Sick or well, whether it is large or small, my state pension gets paid into my bank account every four weeks.

We have also paid off our mortgage, as the majority of older people have and it is good to know that, any changes in our housing will be by choice or need and we do not have to worry about our home being repossessed.

PPP your right, we haven't really answered the op's question.
Give me a couple of days weeks to think about that one and I might come up with something

just just just-- see cant even type a simple word!!! LOL

Yes I know I can do courses I'm doing a writing one at the moment, I've always done something but very little point in doing anything clinical now which is what I enjoyed the most. If I can raise the mortgage required to do an OU course I suppose I could so a Science course which would be more absorbing. As for going to London it was the buzz of these big meeting at the DOH I loved and the feeling of making a real contribution to nursing development. Although I like the museums etc I no longer live near enough to London as I used to. So I juts miss it and its a sign of getting older for me that I am probably not up to it any more any , not as sharp and certainly not as much stamina or resilience. I am a trustee of a charity which does use some of my skills and I keep busy - its juts not the same. To make matters worse some old bag is looking back at me in the mirror. I know one must think positive and work at it but to be honest getting older sucks.

One of my favourite advantages about getting old is that when we go on holiday or on a train journey to visit grown up children, there is always some kind person who lifts the luggage on to and off of the train and on and off the conveyor belts at the airport.

Nearly all the above comments relate to not having to go to work, not to growing old!

There are loads of advantages in not having to go to work anymore and having more time to please ourselves (grandchildren duties permitting!), but I can't think of any advantages in being old.

I am fortunately fit at 68, but see many who aren't. And the prospects of decline in old age are not at all appealing. I suppose the only advantage in becoming a decrepit old soul is that we will have managed to survive to that state. Many of my family died when they were young, so I am extremely fortunate to be enjoying a retirement they never achieved, but that doesn't make the prospect of old age any less daunting.

I suppose it is best not to think about it and to enjoy the moment but that is quite difficult when you have always been a forward planner!!

When I retired three years ago from a part time clerical job in a hospital I thought I would miss it, but no. I was so busy that I did speak to people who came in the office, but it was fleeting conversation.

I more or less forgot all about it once I had left. The only downside was the money I wasn't earning anymore.

When I first left I loved the feeling Sunday evening that I didn't have to get up for work the next day....bliss!

Reading these has made me think.
Teetime there is a whole wealth of courses out there. I do Art History and Literature, but could find something for every day of the week (if I could afford it and if DH didn't have such an ongoing affair with the NHS, but that's another story)
I could go to London much more often than I do as there are so many exhibitions I want to see, but I am going to the Shoe exhibition at the V&A next week. So stuff meetings, go for you!
I suppose on the minus side, I no longer enjoy the stimulus of work, but if I am being honest it was more like the stimulus of an electric cattle prod at times.
I enjoy feeling I can mostly dictate my own agenda, and while that can result in a lot of time wasted spent on my iPad, who cares??
I am just grateful I do have these years, a privilege denied many.

Not having to work (although not old enough to be officially retired), love having the time to spend with GS, taking him swimming, playgroups, nursing him when poorly, baking, crafts (with and without him ;)) and being available to help my own children, decorating, gardening etc Pilates in the day rather than night, walking whenever I want, and hopping in motorhome whenever the sun comes out without having to work it around weekends, I could go on..........

Am still involved in Halloween and childrens parties ( but that's nice)
I enjoy not having to go to work, catch buses etc. go to bed whenever I like and get up in the morning when I like. Stay in for a cosy day, when the weather is foul.Go shopping or browsing, when in the mood for it.Most of all I enjoy my life not being the constant rushing about that it used to be.There are pros and cons for everything!

You don't need to miss courses and challenges there are plenty of those to choose.

I love bei ng able to do what I want when I want - family duties apart.

I keep in contact with my work colleagues, who still work and we met up regularly for a meal, but honestly listening to all the issues and processes I used to take so seriously soooo glad I am not part of it now. I had a responsible job with decisions I made making an enormous difference and perhaps bankrupting a company. I used to loved the challenges that were posed, but being out of it is freedom!

Getting up when I want.
Knowing if I want a lazy day, I can have it.
Being able to take a last minute deal on holidays
Not having a mortgage
Spending more time with DH who worked shifts most of his life. (should have put that one first )

Oh dear I had to think hard to think of the advantages. I suppose not getting up early in the winter and always being on top of the housework and coking properly are good things but I miss my life, miss the buzz of work and the challenges even though it was very painful at time. I miss going on courses and studying new things in the profession. I miss having car time to myself. I miss going up to London for a meeting and staying up for drinks and a meal with friends. I miss me really- I'm going to shut up now.

Being retired and free to do what I want when I want is the best thing, and of course Gransnet!

I'm still fit enough to get out for an hour or so, most mornings, with my dogs. It's bliss after years of walking the dog in the dark before going to work (dog often came with me, luckily).
I can go to yoga during the day, rather than working all day and having to drag myself off on a dark, rainy November evening as I used to do.
I can meet up with friends for lunch or a coffee and spend hours hanging out with virtual companions on gransnet.

The best thing about being older - apart from the Freedom Pass - is that all my time with GC is 'fun time'. I don't have to worry about their diet, their clothes, making decisions about schools. We can just have a great relationship and share books, crafts, cooking, movies and confidences.

The best thing about being older is having more confidence, having time to do the things that I want to do, not having to get up early in the morning and having a bus pass!

overthehill I do all of those things except now, the full time job. I also pick DGC up from school/nursery and sometimes take them in the morning, take them to the Doctor (injections are the worst!), take them to football, ballet, parties etc when parents aren't able, bake and decorate an individualised birthday cake for each of them, go for walks, to the park, swimming etc, help with homework, design, make or buy costumes for various occasions and parties, look after them when they are ill (one mummy doesn't do sick). In addition there are the school assemblies, performances, nativities, fetes, football matches, holiday activities and many many more throughout the year.

I don't miss working but it was easier!

I don't go out to work now that I am older and I get a pension too!