Modern Good Reads discussion

Great article, Dianne! Boomers will re-define retirement. Leaving a legacy is important, children or no children. Helping even one person can make a huge difference in both their future and your own.

Brushes is doing well. I'm waiting for the first wave of reviews to come in. Give it a read. I'd love your feedback!

Great job with this one, Dianne.

My wife and I are retired; she, just this week. She's the type of personality that will become involved in some the activities you have described. That's just the way she has always been since she was 18. I know that sooner or later she will join some kind of group, and it will be only a matter of time before she's the president of the organization.

On the other hand, I would rather choke myself to death than do those things. I garden, write books, work on the farm (had to stop and set the timer for the water just now) and possibly build some things, like maybe a small ohana (a small building designed for an elderly parent or indigent kid.)

I spend way too much time at my computer, but I balance that by watching hours and hours of TV sports. Sometimes I even take time to read (but the half-read books are piling up.)

I would like to travel, but packing is such a bother as Bilbo pointed out.

At 60, I'm in the process of being requalified as a vocational trainer [in IT] and, hopefully, going back into the workforce. If that doesn't work out I will continue to do what I've been doing for the last decade or so and writing fiction. In fact I'll continue to write fiction [more slowly] no matter what.

Working at a job, or raising children, is ultimately just an /activity/ and there is no reason to stop being active just because we reach a certain age. Traditional models of 'retirement' should only be considered when your health no longer permits you to continue with physical type activities. But even then, exercising your mind should be a daily activity for anyone.

Retirement is a state of mind - so don't go there. :)

Isn't it amazing all these retirees rushing round doing things. What's wrong with just relaxing your mind doesn't have to stop working if you do. I'll do just what I like with my retirement because I'm happy and content doing it.

This week I am in Roswell, New Mexico visiting family and doing research for my next book, The Beautiful Alien Nerd. A week from today I will be at the Civic Center looking at the work of over 40 artists, one of which is my friend Anna Edwards, retired from State Farm, who creates some amazing pottery.

Retirement means for many active people a form of mundane afterlife. Where we were productive and forward thinking in concepts relating to every day issues, now we are relegated to the ranks of useless. So writing is a great endeavour, it puts demands on idle hands, it gives adrenalin a reason to visit. We are involved in a new project, we set a time table of success. We have a new purpose in our existence. A few weeks ago I spent time in Algiers, the country where the Sahara meets civilisation. Many old folks wither away, II don't know if it is the desolation or the empty days ahead. I lived a tumultuous life, with the ups and downs few will ever experience, boredom was my biggest enemy. Today writing allows me to get up with a purpose, it has given me the discipline to start my day with a kick and I still have not experienced a day of boredom. It has been two decades since I retired, oh my how the time flies.

Sometimes I write pages and pages, then I am somewhat sidetracked by my curiosity. You are right, the brain must work to solve the small problem of writing, the big ones are usually solved by lives lived and events experienced.

Sybil wrote: "Isn't it amazing all these retirees rushing round doing things. What's wrong with just relaxing your mind doesn't have to stop working if you do. I'll do just what I like with my retirement because..."

Sorry Sybil, I think the comments are aimed at retirees who are feeling lost and far from happy. You don't have to change a thing. :)

Erich wrote: "Retirement means for many active people a form of mundane afterlife. Where we were productive and forward thinking in concepts relating to every day issues, now we are relegated to the ranks of use..."

Boredom is the thing I dread the most as well Erich. Luckily there is no use-by date for writing. :)

A.C. wrote: "Erich wrote: "Retirement means for many active people a form of mundane afterlife. Where we were productive and forward thinking in concepts relating to every day issues, now we are relegated to th..."

Very much the correct label for the after generation. I still do a lot of work in out of the way places. Today we fille containers , destination Philippines. Last month I was in Algeria. So if someone tells me we are to old, we can laugh, because age is just a number, so I was told.

Dianne wrote: "I often wonder, since I don't feel my age, do others feel the same way? Does anyone feel their age? And then I see some people who were dead at 40! I think so much of aging is mental. If you're ope..."

If you have to think about your age, you're old. There are those who are thirty at fifteen, fifty at thirty,and brain dead forty. But it's their choice.

Sorry to differ, guys, but the way you feel about your age is not entirely due to you, personally. There is much more involved, like your background, upbringing, having parents who could afford to give you good things and help you with schooling and homework when you needed help, and the kind of work you did to earn a living. Surely those who've herded cattled for a lifetime will have a different way of considering their age. Many of them feel old and disinterested in doing anything more than just lazying all day or lolling around from one bar to the next in search of a buddy to exchange gossip. I'm saying this from first hand observations.
I agree with Diane that much of aging is mental, but circumstance plays a huge part in this.
I consider myself blessed by having such excellent teachers and professors during my school and college years. They inspired me and encouraged to do my best, and here I am now, feeling years younger than my actual age, and loving reading and writing, listening and conversing. Unfortunately, not everyone is as fortunate as I.

Lillian, I just can't believe your serious.

Sybil wrote: "Lillian, I just can't believe your serious."

Why so? Sybil, please say something more.

There is some truth to what Lilian said. Not all of it but some. We can't forget if we talk on this subject, we also have to consider who it is we are conversing with. WE ARE MOSTLY WRITERS, we are from a different back ground and we have a different mental capacity. We use calculated reasoning to determine what we do read or how we react. Ask a Longshoreman, what his lives interest was, he will tell you of all the ships he loaded. Ask a Soldier what his greatest concern was, he will tell you he wanted to stay alive. Ask a writer what his greatest dream was he will tell you he is looking for recognition. Some of us were luckier than others, some of humanity are smarter than others. IQ quotes serve a purpose, but it carries you only so far. Many become mired in the struggle to survive and many will feel the pain of every day lives. Arthritis sets in or drug abuse all have an impact on our age. If you lived a life without any hope, you will fall by the wayside, some commit suicide by the age of 15 others talk about it by the age of fifty. Nothing is black and white, unless you are colorblind you can see the in between, while many never seem to be able to throw off the hard conditions life has served up. Aging is, true enough, a matter of the mind, but remember the body must co-operate. I am old, but what keeps me young is my willingness to go on. It is also the knowledge nobody else cares about my years except me. Those of you that enjoy old age are blessed, the others are blessed because they can still learn to enjoy it.

Erich wrote: "There is some truth to what Lilian said. Not all of it but some. We can't forget if we talk on this subject, we also have to consider who it is we are conversing with. WE ARE MOSTLY WRITERS, we are..."

I like your comments and I agree with you on all you've written. True; we are mostly writers. Nonetheless, much of what we are and how we think depends on our background and the people in our lives who influenzed us.

Lilian wrote: "Erich wrote: "There is some truth to what Lilian said. Not all of it but some. We can't forget if we talk on this subject, we also have to consider who it is we are conversing with. WE ARE MOSTLY W..." Lilian, Erich made some good comments I would not argue with you that to some extent our background make us who we are but our formal education does not in its self extend our life. There are those who herded cattle for a life time who became fine poets, there are also those brought up in the slums who becamr famous and respected people, some of them rich too. If you observe desperate people and classify them as a drag on society you do them a disservice. We can learn from them and everyone, it will make our lives and writing richer.

Sybil wrote: "Lilian wrote: "Erich wrote: "There is some truth to what Lilian said. Not all of it but some. We can't forget if we talk on this subject, we also have to consider who it is we are conversing with. ..."

Hi Sybil! Thanks for expanding on your previous comment. No, our formal education does not extend our lives but it could influence our thoughts on ageing. If we are observant, we are always learning from people around us. I have no intention of classifying anyone as a drag on society. I'm sorry for those who feel old at thirty, and try to understand them, which means, looking deep.
I live in a small town where there are many widows my age, and they all complain of growing old. When I tell them that I don't feel my age, they don't smile. One remarked, 'Oh! But you've had a lot of learning, travelled and lived a better life than we have'. This leaves me short for words.

Lilian wrote: "Sybil wrote: "Lilian wrote: "Erich wrote: "There is some truth to what Lilian said. Not all of it but some. We can't forget if we talk on this subject, we also have to consider who it is we are con..."

Lilian the words your short of are 'Life is what you make it'. I can't say I'm sorry for people who are old at thirty it's their life to do what they want with. If I maybe so bold, I would say observation is fine but we learn far more about life if we interact with those we observe. On a purely personal note I never think about age and often feel sorry for old people who are younger than I am.

Sybil wrote: "Lilian wrote: "Sybil wrote: "Lilian wrote: "Erich wrote: "There is some truth to what Lilian said. Not all of it but some. We can't forget if we talk on this subject, we also have to consider who i..."

I don't think about age until I see my next-door neighbour making a huge effort to take a five minute walk. My husband and I feel young and are delighted when are children confirm our feelings. Then we run into a friend whom we have not see for a couple of years, who looks years older, and I think, 'Gosh! We're the same age!'
We can't often interact with people we observe. They might consider it an inteference in their lives.

Lilian, again I agree with some of your sentiment. On the other hand many lives do not depend on age to be fragile. I love dogs and I have found that some breeds are hardier than others. The same with some nationalities. In Nepal I found the average age of activity still in the early eighties. Here in he western world our life expectancy has been extended by drugs and medical knowhow. Many people, as many as 30% will deal with Diabetes or heart decease and still amble along. Maybe that is your neighbour that labours through a five minute walk. If you think interaction with people because they are frail is an interference, you may just take way a bright moment in heir lives. At my age I look forward to others that I can give a moment of recognition, kindness is a life saving moment for many. If we avoid the infirm, the handicapped or the older we forego the right to call our self human. Old age is not a detriment is the crowning of a life, it is also the first step of leaving it. Pay heed sooner or later you may be one that has reached the level that embarrasses you.

Erich wrote: "Lilian, again I agree with some of your sentiment. On the other hand many lives do not depend on age to be fragile. I love dogs and I have found that some breeds are hardier than others. The same w..."

Ah ha! Eric. I was hoping you'd come on the scene because I like reading your thoughts.
Probably I expressed my self wrongly. I do not ignore or avoid frail, infirm or handicapped people. On the other hand, I take time off to visit and sit with the lonely and disabled on my block, but I wouldn't dare to tell them what to do, or try stopping them from saying they are old... if that's the way they feel. They are always glad to see me and pour out their problems, and I always lend an attentive ear.
I am already at a good level of old age, and I 'pay heed' to how others feel.
Were we discussing how some people feel old, even at an early age? Have we gone off the tracks?

Hello Lilian.... I don't know do we get of the subject? Maybe a bit. I think Dianne started it with the concept of 'Pay it forward' we are now in the middle of a Psychological discussion. The group on this discussion is obviously of advanced age. Take note I did not say "OLD". We are mentally alert or we would not be making comments of no consequence. Because to make some of our comments in an old age care home we may just get a walking cane across our backside. I still make a buck here and there, I was in Algeria for a small gig. In the places I visited no one talks of age, they talk of water and food. The old ones are used to mind the grand children and keep the fire going. I spent time in the high Arctic, the old ones are put to work on the jobs that free the young ones to do the harder ones. We all serve a purpose and we all will become fearful of the possibility to be yes, 'useless'. But until then, lets keep on trucking and fracking, pull out all the resources we have left, yes it does allow us to go out an do some good.

Erich wrote: "Hello Lilian.... I don't know do we get of the subject? Maybe a bit. I think Dianne started it with the concept of 'Pay it forward' we are now in the middle of a Psychological discussion. The group..."

A good post, Eric. Thanks!
Fortunately, I am still accepted to coach foriegn children, (elementary and middle grade) in a state school, which is just a ten-minute walk from my home. This is voluntary work, which I enjoy. We often laugh to think that maybe I'm the oldest teacher in this country's state schools. It's heart warming to see the children anxiously waiting for my lessons, (which we do out of the classroom). My joy is when my students successfully reach class level, and integrate fully with the native kids. It warms my heart to see their timidity disolve.
Worse than feeling old is feeling 'useless'. I hope none of us reach that point. However, I'm not scared or offended if someone should call me 'old'.
As you say, let's keep trucking and fracking, and I add, let's keep physically and mentally healthy and on the go to do good.

A great ending to this post!

Cheers to you until our next discussion.

Attitude...that is a slippery slope for all people. Take a healthy young being, man dog or horse, his attitude will depend on his treatment by others. Watch the circles he moves in in later years, his attitude learned decades ago will either help or hinder hi progress. but Attitudes can be positive if you pay lip service, but in general the attitude will not impact longevity by much. A man dying of cancer at 56 had great attitude, his words were morning noon and night, "I will beat this' he died Nov 23rd. I rather think lifestyle counts heavily, intelligence to recognise and realise the mistakes to make and to avoid. Smokers are 72% more likely to cut their lifespan short by a dozen years. Heavy drinkers incur a excel a risk of death by sickness or accident. But I bet at ten to one odds, we, the people that dream and look to the years ahead, we old folks that still have a tale to tell are just not finished our telling of fables. Years ago, after being knocked out by a landmine, the first thought I had when waking up was, wow this is a story to tell about. So friends, just don't finish your writing, don't let your mind go dormant!

"The past may dictate who we are, but we get to determine what we become."

Steven Spielberg (Film Director/Screenwriter/Producer)