Rethinking your life....

downshifter

Thank you again.... what interesting replies. I love the idea of a challenge a year, will think about that a bit. And while I couldn't foster teenagers, I do think that doing stuff for others is a great way to go. I work at the moment with adults who lack basic literacy skills, as well as do voluntary work with housebound people and it definitely gives you a broader and deeper outlook on life. I have a little campervan and love taking off in it whenever I can afford the petrol.

And viv0147, your answer is particularly interesting, and maybe highlights the difference between men and women - or one of them anyway!!! As a wife/mum/grandmum,- making bread and pickles, cooking from scratch, checking out cheap sources of food, budgeting, washing and ironing - (well washing anyway, I very rarely do the ironing thing!!) is stuff I've always done and still do - and maybe, to my shame, have a secret urge never to have to do it again - perhaps I'd better go and buy a lottery ticket!. I certainly agree about this website, and the internet as a whole, so many great ideas, things to learn, - though books are/were good too.

You're right though, lots of food for thought, I'm really grateful, thank you. Don't people have such interesting lives!

seven-day-weekend

We took early retirement at 55 and 54 due to my husband's health and spent the next five years living full-time in a little mountain village in the Sierra Nevadas in southern Spain.

We now do half-and-half with our UK house, spending the winter and spring in Spain and the summer /autumn in the UK.

I agree with others, do things that you haven't done before, or that you haven't had time for. Also as others have suggested, maybe downsize your home to something more suitable. When we eventually sell our Spanish house (which we will do at some point), we are going to buy a flat, despite already having a house in the UK where our son lives.

margaretclare

scotsbob wrote: »

My advice would be to stop thinking "old."

My Dad got his last job promotion at 66. My Aunt was still dating at 82. I know a lady who is 68 and trying to get into an old peoples home because "I'm nearly 70 you know"

Once you convince yourself that you are old and retired then you start to live your life on that basis.

Oh how I agree. And I also hate the words 'It's too late to....'

My pet hate at present is newspaper reports about an 'elderly person' who then turns out to be younger than DH and me! We do NOT think of ourselves as old!!!

You could meet the love of your life, as we did when we were 62 in 1997, and get married, and be happy together. DH and I were from completely different backgrounds, almost everything was different, yet we were on the same wavelength from the word 'go'. It was incredible.

Looking forward to a new experience - Christmas in the Belgian Ardennes.

pollypenny

Absolutely agree about moving to that lovely country cottage! Don't!

I know so many people who are stuck in the beautiful villages of the Clwydian Range, as they no longer drive, and are dependent on the bus which runs in the morning and in the late afternoon.

downshifter

pollypenny wrote: »

Absolutely agree about moving to that lovely country cottage! Don't!

I know so many people who are stuck in the beautiful villages of the Clwydian Range, as they no longer drive, and are dependent on the bus which runs in the morning and in the late afternoon.

I already live in a remote cottage in the country, sometimes I wonder if I would like to try living in a flat in a city for a change but I know I'm really a 'remote cottage in the country' kinda girl!! I agree about public transport, it's dire here too, I just wish I could make better use of it when I get my bus pass but it doesn't go anywhere much useful, though a new ring and ride type of service has just started so it might be better. Tesco delivers though so it wouldn't be that bad and not seeing someone for days on end is fine by me, though it might not be if it was forced on me, at the moment it's by choice.

Your love story is wonderful Margaret, has your DH got a younger brother? Apparently I scare men away as I'm very independent so maybe that's something else for me to work on.

I can't thank you all enough, thank you so much, these ideas are all helping me to focus on what's important to me. It's definitely not too late for anything, and my overarching feeling is that the world is my oyster, maybe there are too many choices!

Off to start working on some goals! Have just worked a full day on my feet so feet up in front of the fire, plate of cheese on toast (that diet is also a resolution for 2011 as it was 2010 and all the past few years!), big mug of coffee and big new diary!

That's after I've watched Dad's Army anyway!

Errata

The best advice I can offer is that whatever you think you might like to do or wherever you think you might like to live - do a thorough risk assessment. Benefits/drawbacks/what ifs/on the one hand this, on the other that.

Oldernotwiser

Errata wrote: »

The best advice I can offer is that whatever you think you might like to do or wherever you think you might like to live - do a thorough risk assessment. Benefits/drawbacks/what ifs/on the one hand this, on the other that.

This is really sensible advice but - heavens - you do make it sound so dull!

downshifter

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

This is really sensible advice but - heavens - you do make it sound so dull!

It is really sensible advice, but sadly I'm not old enough to be sensible yet - if I ever will be. I like taking risks and even making risks. So probably not for me.

Errata

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

This is really sensible advice but - heavens - you do make it sound so dull!

So's checking a bank statement, dull but very necessary

Oldernotwiser

downshifter wrote: »

It is really sensible advice, but sadly I'm not old enough to be sensible yet - if I ever will be. I like taking risks and even making risks. So probably not for me.

Me neither.