What has helped change your life the most this past decade?

10 years ago we had been retired for a couple of years, refurbished the house, had our 'once in a lifetime' cruise and cross Canada holiday. Then we had entered a new phase with 2 one year old DGC (+ a 3rd in 2009) who lived nearby and as their Mums both worked we did masses of childcare and later Nursery and School pick-ups. A very happy, busy, and productive 6 years and then........

In March 2014, DH tripped and fell in the back garden. He broke and dislocated his elbow, which kept dislocating again as he had broken the bone that would normally keep it in place. A few months later he collapsed, half in, half out the front door and finished up, in a wheelchair, unable to walk, get into or out of bed, use the toilet, etc. After a diagnosis of PTSD and months of rehab, he was mobile again but quite obviously 'not right' mentally.

Eventually we got a diagnosis of FrontalTemporal Dementia with Alzheimers, which was life changing again. Lost his driving licence, not to be left home alone, or go out alone, 5 hours at 'Day Care' once a week, Higher rate of Attendance Allowance to help towards the cost of employing people to do all the jobs (window cleaning, grass cutting, car cleaning, repairs and maintenance, he used to do himself, although I have learnt many new skills, proving that 'you can teach an old dog new tricks' and that 'Necessity is the Mother of Invention'.

Although Dh can get very confused and anxious, he is in the main quite content, loves his food, the DGC and the TV, laughs at the same old jokes. His general health is good, apart from his now useless arm. I am grateful that his illness requires no operations, or rigorous treatments and that he has no pain or sickness - just a steady decline in memory and cognitive function.

What will the next 10 years bring? More of the same? a care home when my own health fails? Poverty when our savings run out? who knows.

And forward tho' ah canna see, I guess and fear

Becoming grandparents.

Yes I do thank you cherry and I can’t wait. I just thought the OP said “the past decade” .

10 years ago I was in a very bad place following death of DS2
the previous year from an undiagnosed heart condition. During that year my lovely Father was diagnosed with cancer and died after 6 months. I really dont remember much more about that year as I was in shock and only just functioning. Ten years on DS1 has divorced his first wife about whom the less said the better then after 2 years remarried. His wife is all I could have hoped for in a daughter in law and we are great friends. Despite having been told that it was unlikely that they would conceive naturally did so and I now have a gorgeous 3 year old granddaughter who is the light of my life.
I look after her one day a week (they live 45 miles away but the drive is worth it!) DS2 would have neen 40 last summer and we held a party for his friends, at first I just contacted the few I was still in touch with but the but it snowballed and we ended up with 50 adults his friends not ours and 20 children.It gave be such comfort to know that he has not been, and will not be forgotten.

Retirement is probably the biggest change, but loosing my father and aunt who were the last of their generation did bring home the fact that now we are the eldest generation of the family. Message reinforced when my younger sister died aged 60. However, death is part of the deal, isn't it? And life goes on.

Love having the time to do some of the things we have always dreamed of and thankful for good health. Enjoying this time and refusing to worry about the future.

So much. DH died, both daughters married, 3 grandchildren, new partner for me, retirement and a holiday home in Spain. When I look back I see a completely different me, new chapter of life I suppose.

My dd married and gave me loving gs. My d Mum died after my sisters and I nursed her through a couple of months of pancreatic cancer. It made me closer to my d sisters again. I took early retirement last year at 56. Big event for us was my dh and I bought a house in France last year and now I go over several times each year. Dh can only go twice as still working. New dgd on the way in August. Life moves ever onwards.

Definitely the introduction of GC into my life. Thoroughly unexpected and a joy although mostly ethereal as I don't see as much of them as I'd like to. This is certainly not a complaint just a selfish wish.

Retirement and grandchildren. Both enriching.

You are every inch a survivor lovebeigecardigans1955......and just you go on counting your blessings and letting them help you over the various unpleasant hurdles most of us have as we trundle through life.
(flowers)

It's been a mixture of good and bad. I passed my driving test in 2009 so that was good. But oh dear, the bad stuff. DH was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in March 2010 and he passed away just nine months later at 56. Two years later I was poorly with pneumonia and was so ill that I decided to move back up to the Midlands to be nearer family. Two years after that I got lymphoma so had to go through chemo. Three years down the line I'm in remission. Good times and bad times - that's life isn't it? There's no rhyme or reason but I guess I'm a survivor.

The love of a good man who came into my life - pure and simple.

That, leaving work and the fact that my children have moved on, are grown, more sensible and are doing well. I have been able to cast off some of the huge burden of crippling anxiety life had placed on my shoulders for decades. No gadget or technology for me, just life unfolding and becoming simpler.

Easy question for me. Becoming a Grandma - I was previously a Granddad. With all the extras that go along with such a big change! It has also set me free to do things like becoming a lay preacher in a church where a woman can do that.

I would have said nothing really but when I look back over the last 10 years in reality a lot has changed. 10 years ago we were caring for my parents, my husband had finally found a job he liked after losing our business of many years, my youngest son had just got married, and we just had 2 young granddaughters with our eldest. 10 years on all 4 parents have died within 2 years of each other, husband's job was moved to another company and he left to join another. Perhaps the biggest change is our youngest son emigrating to NZ 5 years ago and giving us 2 new grandsons. Who knows what the next 10 will bring if we're lucky enough to still be here.

Sad to say that it’s the death ofour son at 35 nearly 11 years now. It changed our lives so much.

Gilly you have a lovely new baby grandchild to look forward to

DH retired. I have been retired for 20 years.
All of our children have married happily.
Five grandchildren and one step-grandchild have been added to the family.
We moved from the city to the country.
And yes computers, technology and the internet play a big part in my life.

On the downside, ongoing health issues limit my freedom of movement in a way I had not expected so our retirement is not quite as active as I
anticipated, but at least it's not life threatening.

I hope the next 10 years will be as kind to us.

Nothing at all.

Early retirement from choice, moving from the South East to the East Midlands, voluntary work, golf, croquet and walking netball have bought me many new friends.

Moved to France and had 3 DGCs.

annsixty - I do understand what life with your OH must be like and send my good wishes to you. The drip, drip of stresses each day is so draining. I hope you are getting some respite. The loss of the man you shared happy times with is so hard.

Annsixty Fifteen years ago, and much younger than you are, I found myself in the same position as yourself. Watching DH where he turned from being my right arm to me being his .You will survive and you will get stronger so don't look to what may be ahead take it day by day. Your positive approach will benefit your husband, if he wants to live in the past join him it makes life so much easier for you both. Concentrate on today easy for me? it wasn't at the time but don't think what life might be like wait and see.

10 years ago I met my now OH after some turbulent times. He is in remission from Lymphoma and we now have ten beautiful grandchildren between us.
I am retired and we are comfortably off.
Life is pretty good for us.

Retirement, definitely.Have been using computers for a long time at work and at home, although do love my iPad and my Kindle.
The joy of being free to do things without any time constraints is wonderful, often don’t bother wearing a watch.

I met my partner 10 years ago this month and it completely changed my life for the better. I had been a single parent for 16 years working full time in London and bringing up 4 daughters with no help from their dad. I am a pretty healthy 70 year old now living in a lovely town in Kent with a holiday home in Spain (I’m writing this here). I retired 6 years ago and love it.you never know where life will lead you