I'm 60 years old

I just turned 66 this past November. I retired 4 years ago at 62, and I'm loving every minute of it! No more long hours, or long drives in traffic. No more putting up with politics, company policies, or idiot managers. No more standing 10 and 12 hours a day. I go to bed when I'm tired, and get up when I'm not. All my time is mine, and I no longer have to sell a single minute of it to someone else in exchange for a buck.

I enjoyed my work, but after doing it for over 45 years, it went from no longer being a challenge, to more of a PITA. I love living in Arizona, and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I'm still in good health, but it takes me longer to do some things than it did when I was in my 40's. I still love to shoot, and have no problem shooting my .50 BMG, or my African big bores. I just can't shoot as many rounds as I used to in one sitting.

I exercise on the treadmill, and don't eat junk. And I no longer drink or smoke. Financially we have more coming in now than we did when I was working. My wife is 63 and she retied last year. We enjoy taking it easy, and we don't get on each others nerves. We have no children or family, (except for our dog), so there isn't any family problems or drama to deal with. Our lives are ours to live and enjoy. Hopefully good health will remain, and this will continue for a long time into the future.
 
I'm 57, and not really feeling it, physically or emotionally (there's a word I doubt I've used here before...). I suspect 33 years as a Marine (half as a reservist), with the attendant requirements to pass our PFT (physical fitness test) and maintain height-weight standard were worth more than I ever appreciated! Especially when showing up for a PFT at 0530 when its 20F outside... Oddly enough, USMC rules scale the PFT score for age (if I do the same pullups, crunches and 3-mile run as an 18 year old, I get a higher score, up to the max). But, and here's the painful part -- the height weight standards are NOT scaled for age, so all of us "old birds" had to work our whatever off to live up (down?) to standards really meant for 20 year-olds! That hurt!

Old? Never. Last year, I walked away from my old profession, and I'm presently in the middle of school, training to return to the cockpit. I flew as a navigator in my early career, and I'm now actually a licensed pilot, working presently, full-time on my Commercial, and Multi-engine ratings. I plan to instruct for a year, then go to an airline and fly there till I hit 65. The pilot shortage is so bad that they're hiring people my age, no problems. Some of us (well-experienced students...) theorize that the airlines actually prefer us to youngsters, since we don't have the long-term potential to grow into very expensive senior captains. Whatever, at 65 I'll just go to Netjets or some similar operation (Pt 135 ops = no age limit) and fly till I really want to retire.

Like someone else said, I'm ready to go "poof" today if that's required of me, but again, beyond board rules. Until I do get "recalled" permanently, I'm moving ahead at full speed. I got a T-Shirt for Christmas that reads, "PILOT GRANDPA -- Like a Regular Grandpa only Cooler". I'd like to get its companion that reads, "PILOT GRANDPA -- Like a Regular Pilot Only Cooler"! It's all good.
 
67 Not in tip top shape. But been retired nearly 2 yrs. I'm a husk of what I was at 35 or even 40. I mostly try not to hurt myself as I maintain the house and grounds Guys, do whatever you can. Plan every single move. Use your head not your body. Falls are the number one injury for us old fahts.
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I turned sixty in October 2016.
I do feel older now than I did ten years ago, but I can still physically perform any labor that my desk-bound hide would have done then.
I plan to retire when I hit sixty five but may not or may leave earlier, as I can.
Both wife and I can afford to retire, but we also like the easy money from our work and are therefore a little conflicted about it.
I sometimes really enjoy my job and at other times would be just as happy to let someone else deal with my superior and my subordinates as well as the general nonsense.
Anyway, it's a little sobering to be well into the backside of the curve.
Mortality is now a lot closer than birth and there is no escaping that simple fact.
Oh, I do love head-banging music and find myself listening to many of the same tracks I loved back in the seventies.
The younger folks around me probably don't get this older greyhead singing along to Dio or Zep or [censored] Yankees.
 
I also turned 60 in July 2018. I still hike and am fairly active, but I do get a bit stiffer. My knees would rather be standing than sitting for example.

I still listen to BOC, Led Zep, The Clash.......old people stuff

I actually could retire, but my wife wants to work a bit more and by her way of thinking, my retirement = house keeper man. Yes, I will do laundry, dishes, cook, vacuum........but.......NOT my idea of retirement. I want to have enough money so I can hire this work out, and wife would never know
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I have businesses to run, but still work for the man - and frankly the stress is not all that pleasant. My boss is cool and pretty much I am a consultant and do work 4 days a week for good pay and bene's. Wife was a stay at home, part time educator/tutor for 20 years which really was great for our kids and family, but she jumped right back into her health care field with her masters degree, and just has some things to accomplish. I get that. My youngest is planning her wedding right now.......OK that seems pretty stressful, so I'm staying out....other than holding my wallet open.......ugg......

60? Yeah plenty of people gone from cancer. Plenty of 50 year olds that don't look so good. Eat just enough, of a hugely varied diet, exercise and keep moving. I don't think many have died and said "I didn't watch enough TV".......... I want to go hog hunting this year. I want to summit a couple peaks.
 
I turned 60 in May '18. I am retiring next year. If you like your job and want to keep working, by all means do so, but I feel bad for those who would like to retire but must keep working...I'm not worried about dropping dead soon after I retire, I've got plenty of things I want to do in retirement to keep me busy...
 
Originally Posted by CT8
I am 66 years old I hate it. I would love to be invincible again.

I'm only 42 and feel the same way! Slowly getting tired of the rat race, but I have kids to finish raising, so it's not like I can make changes. But I sure do miss being thin and having nothing but opportunities ahead of me.
 
Originally Posted by Stelth

As I mentioned in another thread, the older I get the heavier the music I like. For instance, I had to travel this morning to a city about 50 miles from my home to see a business associate, and i listened to Periphery on the way up and back. Could have been Static-X, or Devin Townsend, or Pantera, but this time it was Periphery. Not sure if this music is typically popular with 60-year-olds, but probably more that you would imagine.

I know at least one coworker was mildly surprised to learn that I was into listening to trance at that time. More recently another was surprised when I was listening to Iron Maiden. [I listen with earbuds at work, via youtube, with the window up so I can hit pause at will.]

Recently I stumbled across vintage Judas Priest, and was surprised at how original it was--and how metal-like it was. I used to think the 70's were not that hard, Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper didn't seem that heavy to a kid who started listening to Metallica in the 90's. I liked it enough to contemplate buying some albums--something I haven't done in like 20 years.
 
I'm 66 and have been retired since 63. Wife retired 2 years earlier than me. Our house here in Az is a 1908 Roebuck so I always have something to do. Since retiring I've learned carpentry, painting, flooring and maintenance of old structures. Slowly the repairs are coming to a close and then we can start reinvesting our money again. Life is good, living in small town Az is vastly different from Houston, where both of us lived since the middle 60s. So far I haven't started unraveling; the glue is softening, but still not falling apart.
For the first time in my life I'm really paying attention to the vehicles I buy; how hard it is to change the oil, wash it etc. That's new for me.
My advice: stay active ( you don't have to kill yourself), challenge your mind continually and be your best friend.
 
I just turned 56. I walked 18 holes yesterday in 37°F and 20-25mph winds. Hip hurt after the 12th hole and cramped up real bad in bed last night. Having trouble walking today. Made love to my wife this morning. Feels great to be alive.
 
Just turned 76, retired from a very stressful and physically demanding job at 58. Always did all the maintenance on house and vehicles but when could no longer work on ladders or climb up to clean the chimney started to hire pros. When the auto trans in the 95 GMC lost reverse I took it to a shop. Still do all the repairs on the 77 square body when the back is not out. Father made it to 72 Mom is 94 but in nursimg home in wheel chair. That will not be my fate. Keep busy eat right and read. Also do something for others and be involved in town committees is working for me. Two of my coworkers died of glioblastomas soon after retiring due to I believe our work with asbestos shorts an getting coal oil on our hands.
 
Originally Posted by supton
Originally Posted by CT8
I am 66 years old I hate it. I would love to be invincible again.

I'm only 42 and feel the same way! Slowly getting tired of the rat race, but I have kids to finish raising, so it's not like I can make changes. But I sure do miss being thin and having nothing but opportunities ahead of me.


C'mon man, don't box yourself in! As noted above, I'm 57 -- and in the middle of training for my NEXT new career! Most of my classmates are my young children's ages! But there's one who's chronologically older than I am! My flight instructor is an ex-cop (another career changer!) who is a couple months older than my son (who is 30).

Don't get the wrong idea. I fully respect the obligations of being a parent, and it's tougher when they're still kids at home. But if you're tiring of the race, there are still things you can do. And when they're gone, well, that's when things are over, its when the shackles are off!
 
I am 71 and retired in 2007. Have not missed working at all and stay active. Father made it to 99 and Mother is 98 and still getting around fine. I may have a few years left yet.
 
These are good things to hear. People thought i was crazy when mentioned i don't really want to retire-just cut back to do what i want to do...

I have a neighbor who is doing just that. He has the money to retire, he does still like working part time at his job. He has saved enough and makes enough to take great vacations when he wants to. He just likes that his job keeps him young and busy and challenaged.

Being almost 41- i would just like to be able to do what i want on my terms. Just hoping my health holds up....being changing it for the better now....
 
I just turned 62. I retired from my full time job in 2008. I worked part time in the same field until 2015. I retired and then-on a whim-I went to work as a product specialist at my local BMW dealer in June 2016. It was lots of fun, but I hated working weekend and holidays. In December 2017 I was asked if I would serve as city attorney for my home town and I accepted. One month later I was coaxed into running for elected office and won. I resigned as city attorney in December and took office three weeks ago. It's a six year term and and after that I really AM done.
I guess this is all a roundabout way of saying that I really don't like sitting around...
 
Originally Posted by Stelth
While I wouldn't mind dying tomorrow, for reasons that I can't go into since they would violate board rules.

Originally Posted by ekpolk
Like someone else said, I'm ready to go "poof" today if that's required of me, but again, beyond board rules.

OK, I'll bite. What do, "board rules", have to do with talking about dying? Seeing as much like going to the bathroom, it happens to everyone. I had no idea it was such taboo subject matter.
 
I'll never tell my exact age but, I'm there as well & I love retirement!
I am busier now than I ever was while working but, I alway have time for others.
Makes me wonder how I ever had time for a job.
As my BIL(not the rich one) says, I don't have a thing to do but, I'm always busy.
 
51 here, and I've got around 10 years to work out what retirement is going to look like.

My bedside affirmational poster is

WORK
PAY BILLS
and
DIE

Which is fine if it's comfortable enough for the wife and kids (and it looks that way at the present time )
 
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