The inspiration for this post is a blog post by an Octogenarian. I too will shortly become an Octogenarian but, I don’t expect that to stop me from being complacent or for that matter make me more active than I am.
I have friends and relatives of around my age who are far more active and I wonder why they should be so as, I find my life of being a couch potato or rather recliner potato quite comfortable. I would rather be at home reading news papers or books and solving crossword puzzles than be traipsing around all over the place. Otherwise, what is the point of retirement?
Unlike Calvin, I am not a man of action and therefore also not interested in taking decisive action. I would rather not be well informed and prefer to be just left alone!
What about you dear reader?
Well, being concerned for my health the older I get, we do our best to stay active. By active, I mean we tend to walk 3000 steps a day, sometimes more (even though we have been told by one doctor that we should increase that to 10000 steps a day – that isn’t going to happen!
Plus, we do watch what we eat and count carbs – well my wife does but then she is a diabetic and so has to watch closer what she eats. We line dance once a week and do our best to stretch in the morning before breakfast. Other than that, we probably could be a bit more active but hey – following the routine we have seems to work good for us.
The only thing I have noticed that is missing from my routine and this has only lately been noticed and that is weight training or strength training. So, time to dust off the old barbells and work that into my daily routine (probably two or three times a week).
That’s my story and I am sticking to it. Have a great day! 🙂
Your story is interesting and I admire you for your lifestyle. We live in different countries with different ways of life and our different lifestyles reflect those differences. We also have different issues regarding our health and that too has its effect.
I thoroughly agree with you. Why traipse around all over the place when I’m quite happy pottering about at home and enjoying all my favourite activities. I did quite enough traipsing around when I was still in paid employment and I’m very glad I no longer have to.
Welcome to the club Nick!
I prefer the word contentment! I am very content these days.
I even have my blood pressure under control finally.
I’m just enjoying my life. one day… naw… one moment at a time!
and Love the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. they’re among my favorites.
I like the word contentment too.
I suspect “retirement” for those who traipse about everywhere – had much to do with their career.
Your career was vastly different to most, as far as I can see…you moved around a lot, sales and other. And now we read on your blog about loads of people you are still in contact with or know of you through whomever.
Imagine if you had worked in a factory where all you did all day was inspects “widgets” that came past you on a conveyor belt. Or an office where you were in a little cubicle. Or in one of my temporary jobs I washed and dried glass jars and metal lids all day long (this in a factory that created saline other medicine drips for hospital patients) – my hands were constantly wrinkled and the metal caps cut skin so you’d go home from work everyday with multitude of band aids on… Later I worked in a factory on the bottling line for Plush carpet cleaner, the bottles were plastic but it would only take a power surge (conveyor belt would jiggle/stop) and the bottles fell over and again you were constantly working with wrinkly fingers! Then I moved onto filling perfume bottles, more wet hands…AND as you went off the shift, everyone at the supermarket would be asking “why so much scent on you…”
If I had continued in that world, and I didn’t – I’d be traipsing all over the place as well…
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You are quite right Catherine. We have had different work experiences and we also live in different countries with different advantages and disadvantages for Seniors.
I am still enjoying working, but eventually can see enjoying a quiet recliner!
Ah, nothing like that, I can assure you Kaitlin.
Yes: I love doing nothing.
You may love doing nothing but, you are not allowed to are you?
I have been retired almost 2 years now, but “octagenarian” is more than 20 years off. Death could come in the night.
I have places I want to see, experiences I want to have, foods I want to taste for the first time, people I want to meet, and things I want to learn. And so, this balances my talent for being a couch potato with motivation to get off the couch and move. Now and then, anyway.
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Yes, you have age on your side. I hope that you will achieve all that you wish to. Immediately after my retirement, I was able to do some of the things that were on my bucket list but had to give up on some due to health issues.
I’m sorry to hear that, Ramana. In that case, reading can still whisk you away to adventure, eh?
As long as you are contented and comfortable, it’s a good life.
I can assure you that it is indeed a good life.