Reasons why being OLD really work for me

[lillypaddle]

You can cut your own hair, never knowing what the back looks like, and be good with that.

You can stay in your PJs all day if you want.

You can have cake and ice cream for supper.

You can go to bed at 7:30 pm, get up at 10:30 pm and have a snack, and go back to bed at 3:30 am, after watching Investigation Discovery murder shows.

Those are just the ones I can think of right now. Do you have any reasons being OLD works for you?

[blm]

1. It just does.

I admit I like the type of invisibility it gives me in public places.

[Tomconroy]

2. I find I'm more tolerant of things. I'm a bit kinder. I enjoy things

More. Hey! I better. I have less time than I used to!

[lillypaddle]

11. The opposite for me

I am totally intolerant.

[empedocles]

19. Betteer understanding, composure, and contentment are helpful.

[Dave in VA]

3. All of these work for me!

I would just add that I can turn down invitations to things I really don't want to participate in with whatever excuse I need at the moment, i.e., didn't get much sleep, headache, Flatulence, sore joints, etc.

[lillypaddle]

8. That's a good one!

I use that a lot.

[Lydiarose]

32. Excuses

Hasn't COVID given all ages a good excuse not to go anywhere we don't want?

[trof]

36. At 81 "I don't want to." is a perfectly good reason.

NOT an excuse.

[marybourg]

4. You can keep getting food delivery without

feeling guilty.

[MLAA]

5. I'm big on the eat what you want when you want benefit.

I also like dressing according to how I feel not so much what the occasion dictates. I sometimes over dress just because I can 🙂

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

6. Time doesn't matter

I sleep when I’m sleepy, I eat when I’m hungry, I’m up when I’m awake, and the clock makes no difference. We stay home on weekends and do our shopping or take day trips during the week when places aren’t crowded. Comfy clothes, flat shoes, and I don’t care. The longer I’m retired, the more I think about how my last day at work was a release from a long prison sentence.

[lillypaddle]

9. I hear all of that

Same here.

[Cracklin Charlie]

14. Day trips during the week?

I just retired, my husband hasn’t yet.

I never even thought about day trips during the week!

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

17. It's the best!

Uncrowded beaches, museums, nature hikes, movies, etc. You have to take notice of when schools are on holiday, but other than that, it’s like everything is open just for you.

To me, it just seems fair to stay home on weekends to let the people who work all week have that time. After all, I’m out playing while they are working.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

35. Agree, except for "uncrowded museums"

I didn't know kids had so many "field trips". Museaums can get crowded and loud. Hey, you kids, get outa my way!

We gave up on going to movies. They always seem to crank the sound to eleven, way too loud for us.

I don't stay home on weekends to give workers room to play. I stay home because things are just too crowded, like golf courses or tennis courts. During the week-days, white hair OWNS the tennis courts.

[Tomconroy]

20. Weekday lunch dates with my wife are pretty fab.

[Ocelot II]

7. Nobody cares what I look like, which means I don't have to care either.

Old people are by definition ugly, so that means I no longer have to worry about whether I look good - I just try to be clean and neat for the sake of my own self-respect. Related to this is the fact that I don't have to concern myself with dating because nobody's interested in dating old ladies, even old men - who are likely to be looking for arm-candy half their age anyhow. So I can hang out with my cat, read books and stay up all night watching Netflix.

In fact, being old means you don't really have to give a damn about a lot of things. I can be crabby if I want to because that's the way old people are anyhow, and I don't care if other people think I'm crabby (although most of the time I'm not), or anything else. Fuck the world. I'm finally having fun.

[lillypaddle]

10. You got all that right!

Why do you think I cut my own hair??

[Ninga]

12. I love exceeding young un's stereotypes about "the old". I ride a tricycle to the post office and

grocery store. I wear make-up and cut my own funky hair. I wear Doc Martin’s and bold eyeglasses. I walk on trails with walking poles because my balance is for shit. I wear every piece of jewelry I own.I volunteer, I advocate, and only do me when I want. Yes, I love retirement.

[lillypaddle]

22. You sound pretty fabulous

[Ninga]

23. So kind! But aren't we all fabulous? I think so. Being comfortable in our own skin in our own

way is a measure of success. I love to be around people of my generation who happily do their own thing.

[colsohlibgal]

13. Flexibility Rocks

I retired in 1999, but worked part time here and there till 2007.

Most days I can do what I want to do. I can go to bed and wake up when I want. Yesterday was brunch with my son and one of my grandsons.

As a gal who has been pretty athletic her whole life I have since being retired played softball, Basketball, and after that tennis since 2010.....and a plus there is, being totally ambidextrous, I can hit it back with my left hand if I have to.

Life is mostly good other that what’s happening to our country.

[cilla4progress]

15. People think I'm wise

and know more than I do.

I can humble brag about my energy, physical prowess, etc. - exceed expectations.

Ditto on looks, grooming.

The slower pace actually leads to more enjoyment - being more present. It is no longer "run down and grab the mail," or "rake up the pine needles," it's stroll to the mailbox and back, and work my triceps this afternoon!

😁😆😅

[Walleye]

16. No problem getting my medical marijuana card

Old people aren’t really suspected abusing recreational drugs. Don’t answer the phone if I don’t want to. Definitely cut my own hair. Wear my cleanest dirty shirt

[LakeArenal]

18. Not working for Republicans.

Not working.... period.

I looked forward to retiring from first job.
I would have liked my mom’s shape.
Homemaker, bridge player, golfer, with a housekeeper.

[lastlib]

21. It's vastly preferable to the alternative.....

Otherwise--senior citizen discounts.

[MichaelSoE]

24. Cake and ice cream for supper?? Crikey ... I have it for breakfast ;-)

[lillypaddle]

26. No wonder so many oldsters get diabetes

[SilverDawg]

27. I've made bread pudding for supper...

[SilverDawg]

25. Yes! "Second childhood" comes to mind

and certainly applies.

[ShazzieB]

28. This conversation reminds me of a poem.

WARNING
by Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers irT other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

[lillypaddle]

29. An oldie but a gem

Wasn't that an anthem for The Red Hat Society? Wonder if that is still an active organization. It is, I just looked:

The Red Hat Society is an international social organization that was founded in 1998 in the United States for women age 50 and beyond, but now open to women of all ages. Wikipedia
Headquarters: Fullerton, CA
Founder: Sue Ellen Cooper
Founded: 1998
Motto: "Red Hatters Matter"
Member number: 20,000+

More on google search ...

Thanks for the uplifting reminder, ShazzieB

[niyad]

33. It is indeed still a going organization. I know half a dozen chapters and their

Queens around here, ND keep up with their outings and meetings.

[Lydiarose]

30. Don't have to do anything I don't want

I love being able to come and go (or not) as I please.

[lillypaddle]

31. Me, too!

And welcome aboard DU.

[trof]

34. "I don't want to." is a perfectly acceptable reason/excuse.

I will never ever wear a necktie again.
I don't do church and I don't do weddings and I don't do funerals.

MAYBE a sport coat or suit, but that depends on the temperature and my feelings at the time.

I don't see well enough to drive anymore, but I'm happy being chauffeured.
And Miz t. is a good driver.

[trof]

37. My 24 hour wardrobe.

I live on the Alabama gulf coast.
It's warm to hot about 8-9 months of the year.
As long as I'm staying home (most of the time) I wear a cotton T shirt and knit, elastic waist shorts 24/7.
Commando!

[Paper Roses]

38. I think the "elastic waist shorts" is the best comment! n/t

[XanaDUer2]

39. I love ID Discovery! Nt

[XanaDUer2]

40. I love ID Discovery! Nt