When You Were Younger How Did You Envision Your Seniors?

For me, I saw myself living in the 'old homestead' - a home large enough to accomodate visiting children and grands - a 'tire' swing hanging from an old maple tree - a wrap around porch with a ceiling suspended swing...etc etc. and me and my mate together and comfortable as two old shoes but enjoying life to its fullest.





NOT....life happened - I have been divorced since '77 - never remarried [nor he] - came close but no bananas...





I was hell bent on providing my kids as close to the life I had when growing up - so I lived financially too close to the edge so I could live in DC suburbs that were safe, diverse, good public schools and great neighbors [takes a whole community to raise a child!] Although I made good money through three careers over the years it all went towards the kids - housing; cars; athletics; dance; college you name it.





STILL my dream was remained in focus until I was the unfortunate recipient of a RIF from my 'good government job'.

When You Were Younger How Did You Envision Your Seniors?
I always thought I would have the marriage my parents did and grow old with my husband in a nice house. Not to big but room for the children to come home too.I also visioned traveling to different parts of the world enjoying my retirement. Well I don't see any of those things happening. Instead I am a divorced woman twice, live in an apartment, work everyday to make ends meet and my children all live in different parts of the USA with there own families. OH well life goes on and this was how it was suppose to be.
Reply:Truly never thought about it. When age starts catching up with me, I'm gonna do a lot of traveling though. Afterall, I really haven't been retired (twice after 20 yr each) %26amp; on SS THAT long.
Reply:To tell you the truth, I never stopped long enough to envision aging. IF I thought about it at all, it would have been from the standpoint that I "wait til I'm 64" and would have thought, Big deal!...but I never thought about arthritis, what aging does, etc. I never really thought about the future, I was too busy trying to make it in the present. Things have changed little in my life in this respect. Goldwing
Reply:I envisioned what I was seeing every day (most of the people in my parents city were age 65, and older. Many a LOT older);





1. I would be white haired.


2. Physically, I would be very skinny.


3. I would walk with a shuffle.


4. I would have terrible eye sight.


5. I would have terrible hearing.


6. I would not drive faster than 20 MPH.


I remember the roads full of seniors driving at this speed.


7. My clothes would be black leather shoes, white socks,


black shorts, black belt, and a white t shirt under a white


button short-sleeve shirt.


8. Sometimes I would wear a full-brim hat.





Now at 55, I STILL see a lot of seniors in terrible physical condition. Now they drive 30. Everywhere! When some drive the interstate, they are driving 50 in a 70 mph zone!





Fortunately for me, I have not experienced any of this. I started weightlifting at age 38. Now I am big, strong, and muscular.


I get physicals every 6 months and I am in GREAT shape.


I work strong, walk upright, have great balance, and walk with step and determination.





ALL thanks to daily exercising.
Reply:I had a good job, was always the bread-winner for both of my marriages, found my "dream house", thought I'd retire there %26amp; be there the rest of my life. Then as someone else put it, life happens while you're making plans. I had to start over at 45. My daughter is also not a person I can depend on. I have warned her that I can no longer aford to bail her out. I'm still here.
Reply:Old age and retirement for hubby and me was always something we planned for but never really saw with much clarity. We were just convinced that someday we would NOT HAVE TO work and be able to have our own time.





Our dream took a dramatic turn when we moved from a 24yr homestead to a beautiful house twice the size just in time for our son to have to move back in with us for 3 years. I lost both my parents in a 2yr period, then discovered I had breast cancer just months before hubby retired. ALL OF THIS happened during a 6 year period !!!





All is well now and life has once again smoothed out, but as in all things, you never know what's just around the corner and life is always full of surprises and challenges.
Reply:I have always been to busy to think what ir would be like as a senior. Istill try to keep busy but it is a little easier to be lax in things. I don't know what it would be like to have a caring mate but would love to know that feeling. I am fortunate enough to have caring and loving family and friends about.
Reply:Well I have the swing, but no porch , been married 41 years but we are" the Bickersons" reincarnated. Daughter supposed to be here, but isn't . Busy raising grandaughter who is number 1 priority right now. I consider myself lucky though because my health is good compared to a lot of people my age. I am low maintenance and don't need a lot of things to be happy (only ice-cream) which hubby gladly provides . If I'm happy, everybody is happy if you get my meaning!
Reply:OMG, I had that same comfortable 'plan' for my old age. Shoot, I can't even get our daughter and family over for a hol-


iday meal, much less having a 'clan' over. You are so right


about life happening.


I've been married almost 45 years to the same man. And


life has been almost a continual struggle. I too wanted our


kids to live in a safe environment, in a modern house with


same amenities, and the whole nine yards also. I doubt today


they even appreciate our sacrifices. For the one shuns us,


thanks to his being a JW now. And our daughter is always


on the road, or flying on business. So we see them maybe


once a month. So if we see them on any holiday, we have to


go to their house. If we're invited. Sometimes they get together with his family, or her girlfriend and family. We seem


to be swept aside in our old age. We'll get a complimentary


call maybe once every two weeks or we call them. So much


for our old age dreams. Where did we go wrong?
Reply:I have a similar dream, and I hope it works out for me! I am working hard to make it come true. I guess life happens and you can't always get what you want even if you work hard for it or deserve it, but who can live without their dreams? I hope you never stop dreaming even though things didn't work out the way you wanted them to. Good luck.
Reply:I envisioned the same thing until the 70's hit and that kinda blacked out the reminiscing in the porch swing in my later years! However, this age is a whole new thing and it's different and slowed down a lot but I lead a pretty exciting life with friends and family and my men friends!! I like to go to watch my grandkids play sports, rodeos and my Native American culture!!
Reply:I never thought about aging until people in my family started dying all around me. My mom is a rude awakening for me. I am seeing things that age does to you, and "I am not happy!"





I really thought things (i.e., body) didn't break down until at least age 70. Not true. That is why I am going to just do things as they pop into my head while I am relatively healthy because one never knows what tomorrow may bring.
Reply:Pretty much like your dream........especially the couple part like 2 comfy slippers.....strange thing happend though.....didn't end up like that at all. Afraid I didn't plan well for this chapter. Just winging it by the seat of my pants.
Reply:Thinking about it now, I realise that I have hardly ever looked forward. I have always lived for the moment. I think that while you are looking forward (or behind) you miss what is happening right now
Reply:Life is what happens while you're making other plans.


What are your kids doing to help you?



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