Is there anything good about getting old?

[Felton Jarvis]

Yes.  It will all be over soon. Death solves all problems.

[Felton Jarvis]

Andropause is the great leveler.

[Hummin]

29 minutes ago, Tazmo said:

You don’t just ‘ get old’, you grow old. So it’s an ongoing lengthy process.

it all depends on the Individual’s upbringing; culture; family history; beliefs about life.

For me I had no choice but to go through the motions : school ; university; job: marriage; buy house; raise family; separation; divorce ( twice), then single for 30 years; play around; travel around; remarried at 70.

I enjoyed it all, wasn’t keen on the academic education, but made good friends and got into sport which opened doors for my life experiences.

Now, age- related health issues, taking time to accept and readjust my lifestyle, but glad that I am doing it. The mind is willing but the body isn’t, so accepting that and living on a pension is the challenge. Luckily I have an understanding partner.

Been living like a ‘Retreat’ for nearly a year now and loving it. Still think about the so called “ good times”!  Contented and pleased having made numerous changes; almost teetotal; vegan; reduced vastly any night life ; health wise I feel better for it, it’s now about the quality of life.

But, hey, each to his own. I believe our genetic inheritance makes us the way we are. But through self awareness; self realisation we can make some changes accordingly.

 

My father at 85 now, still exercise and enjoys his life in Spain. He and his wife still goes out and meet friends, enjoys dinners together, and he is a slave for tv sport as well, and always positive. So, if I would follow my family genetics, I still have a long way to go. My mom now 84, and still kicking but, not that happy about getting old, and being alone. 

 

I believe we can make our destiny if we want, but it takes som effort, and will to stay on top as long we can, or is it how long we want? Can we controll our aging, just by our outlook on life by itself? 

 

Just to mention, I have never seen my parents drunk, and they never smoked, or lived on junk food, to many late nights, or wild parties. But they have enjoyed alchohol for parties, dinners, and other social occations.  They both been active in sports, enjoyed a good life I would say, so I guess it can help being motivated to live, and do something meaningsful as long you live. 

[Gandtee]

22 hours ago, kwak250 said:

Happy birthday for yesterday

Thank you. I wish you good health and a long life. It's the luck of the draw.😉

[sidjameson]

Terry Pratchett, a great author with a fabulous mind died of dementia at 66.

Chris Hoy, an olympic gold medalist is dying of cancer at 48.

Many men need Viagra by 50.

The poster Yogoda claims to be "loving life and banging legal teenagers" in his 70's. 

We can improve the odds but old age is a lottery and is mostly coming to terms with our and our loved ones losses.

[spidermike007]

Some of my favorites quotes about getting older. 

 

Older people are perceived as cynics and misanthropes. But, they are simply people who have at last heard the still, sad music of humanity, played by a mediocre rock band howling for fame. 

 

Do not go gently into that good night. Old age should burn and rave at close of day. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas

 

30s is too soon. Dying in your 30's is tragic. As is the 40s

Sympathy dissapates from there. 50s is such a shame 

60s is too soon 

70s a good run 

80s a life well lived

90s - a fricking hell of a ride

 

Ya' know what though, I don't mind. I mean if my muscles ache, it's because I've used 'em. It's hard for me to walk up them steps now, its 'cuz I walked up 'em every night to lay next to a man who loved me. I got a few wrinkles here and there, but I've layed under thousands of skies with sunny days. I look and feel this way, well cuz I drank and I smoked. I lived and I loved, danced, sang, sweat and screwed my way thorough a pretty damn good life if you ask me. Getting old ain't bad. Getting old, that's earned.

 

[Negita43]

2 hours ago, sidjameson said:

We can improve the odds but old age is a lottery and is mostly coming to terms with our and our loved ones losses.

Agree and you know I feel guilty about leaving my Thai partner alone (20 years younger) when I finally go - so I would do things to stay alive that I wouldn't if I were alone

[connda]

Is there anything good about getting old?

 

Grandkids.  The beauty about grandkids is you keep them while their cute, and when then turn into a PITA you can send them home.

[sidjameson]

22 minutes ago, connda said:

Is there anything good about getting old?

 

Grandkids.  The beauty about grandkids is you keep them while their cute, and when then turn into a PITA you can send them home.

Kinda similar to getting a bar girl then. 

[OneMoreFarang]

34 minutes ago, connda said:

Is there anything good about getting old?

 

Grandkids.  The beauty about grandkids is you keep them while their cute, and when then turn into a PITA you can send them home.

I prefer cute rabbits - no noise. 😉

 

 

[XB12X]

Being fully literate.

[SiSePuede419]

Yes, your memories get happier over time.

When young people are polled in their 20s about their childhood, it's more negative.

The brain trims out neurons that aren't useful and negative thoughts aren't particularly useful.

Thus as we age, older people recall their childhood as more happy.

Plus older people don't have time to focus on negative thoughts although Coffin Dodgers can often be suckers for propaganda because their partisan political identities are "calcified".

In my 20s nobody talked about politics.  Even if someone's parents were Republicans you would never know it.

Eyeroll.

But as I got older, I noticed people became more obnoxious talking about politics, usually in their 40s-70s.

Other than that I get laid every week now, my Thai wife takes care of me.

And the sex is great.

Lots of sex I've had in my 20s wasn't so great.

So yeah, getting old is great if you found love & a loyal life partner.

Otherwise, I'd imagine it's quite lonely and bleak existence turning into dust. 😭

[Srikcir]

Make a lot of friends with doctors. 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Make a lot of friends with doctors. 

And nurses? 

[Hummin]

10 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I prefer cute rabbits - no noise. 😉

 

 

Short lifespan and alot of short time

[ChaiyaTH]

Lived here since 20s and now in 30s, life for sure gets better from 30s as you simply usually found your way in life more, have some more skills, better paid wages, you don't rush life anymore as if 30 is the end of the world etc.

To then speak about what life would be after 65, I'd already see it as a bonus to be honest. 1/4 males does not even make it to this age to start with, let alone in full functioning and good health in general for the 3/4 that is left by then.

Meanwhile they tell you to work until 70 years old nowadays, assuming this would be my life (luckily it is not), that means I have 25% chance to be death before retire age and 50% chance to be in not tip-top health condition. 

What is there to even worry about, I mean you basically spend and do little the older you get from that point. Life should be lived before that age, from that age it is simply bonus years + cool in case you also have kids and grand kids.

 

What surprises me daily is how many people toss away most of their good years only to try and secure something that they might never even witness. Same if a second great depression now started, basically anyone who now worked for 20-40 years, loses up to 75% of their wealth instantly.

 

For people under 45 today the chances of seeing the full pension is even only 50%, funds are going bankrupt weekly.

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Lived here since 20s and now in 30s, life for sure gets better from 30s as you simply usually found your way in life more, have some more skills, better paid wages, you don't rush life anymore as if 30 is the end of the world etc.

To then speak about what life would be after 65, I'd already see it as a bonus to be honest. 1/4 males does not even make it to this age to start with, let alone in full functioning and good health in general for the 3/4 that is left by then.

Meanwhile they tell you to work until 70 years old nowadays, assuming this would be my life (luckily it is not), that means I have 25% chance to be death before retire age and 50% chance to be in not tip-top health condition. 

What is there to even worry about, I mean you basically spend and do little the older you get from that point. Life should be lived before that age, from that age it is simply bonus years + cool in case you also have kids and grand kids.

 

What surprises me daily is how many people toss away most of their good years only to try and secure something that they might never even witness.

 

Talking about the UK.............The notion that the the fifth or six richest nation on Earth cannot afford to pay the worst pension in Europe, and then not until you are 70, is absolutely criminal.

 

People need to basically ignore the State pension.....which is exactly what they want you to do......and gear up to provide your own pension from 55 or 60.

[tmd5855]

1985 to 2007 were married, those were the wilderness years were I no longer could do what made me happy, my ex even gave my dog away when working 3 months in China 1996 she had no idea what she had done, nor that I would never forgive her, it that were first 6" nail in the coffin lid.

 

Worked overseas all my life from 1977 to retiring 2015 (38 years on the water, dive/drillships and rigs) getting away from my ex were the cause of staying so long, cash rich but no happiness or contentment. 

 

2004 aged 49 company sent me to Indonesia and like many folk I worked with used Thailand as a base for tax reasons.  

 

The older I got the less happy I were since I felt curtailed.

When my ex 2007 sent me to hospital in an ambulance made the choice to walk away and live where I worked as a new bachelor in Pattaya, behaved like a feral cat from 2007 to 2015 which were the happiest days of my life, started collecting bikes when ridden brought smiles, barfined many of Pattaya most beautiful women. 

On retiring met a woman when visiting Korat who made me happy and most important felt relaxed when with her, when lease expired on the Pattaya Villa moved to a (My) company owned house in Chaiyaphum built in 2011

.

This lady helped me start rescue for European dogs abandoned by farangs owing to Covid (Long story) one time 11 big mutts more than half Alsatians/GSD's, changed out all my bikes for bigger (faster).

 

Have private and state pensions coming in.  A dream of an angel as a wife, together 9+ years, have a lovely home, garden pond filled with Koi, no stress, no deadlines, no breakdowns to fix with off hire penalties  survived snake bite that put me in hospital for 29nights, 8 of those ICU leaving me with a bad lower left leg, but, still alive, to me opening my eyes in the morning a silent prayer goes to whoever is up there and in charge, thank you..........

 

In six months will be 70 years of age, have time, have money, have conserved energy for special tasks.  Children all gone supporting themselves just my wife, my bikes and my now 8 dogs to be concerned with.

 

So "Yes" there is a benefit about getting old if you have been sensible, avoided drugs, gambling and smoking, only faults for me have been soft female bodies, beer and bikes. 

 

Enjoying the fruits of my working life when sadly, many of my former work colleagues and all my class mates from High school are gone into the ground or up a chimney.  

 

Getting older for me has been good, no complaints except more than a few Kgs heavier, but, if you enjoy your life then that can only be "Good".

 

Apologies for the long inane ramble if it does not make sense.

[ChaiyaTH]

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

 

Talking about the UK.............The notion that the the fifth or six richest nation on Earth cannot afford to pay the worst pension in Europe, and then not until you are 70, is absolutely criminal.

 

People need to basically ignore the State pension.....which is exactly what they want you to do......and gear up to provide your own pension from 55 or 60.

Well they actually now crack down on people who emigrate in Europe already too, with plans to basically make you have tax liabilities similar to americans, if you were a EU tax resident for 3 years within 10 years. 

Secondly they crack down on people who freelance, as that means less forced social pension plan payments etc and more independence, while taxes also remain very high in general. 

So it seems they want the entire cake. 

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, Hummin said:

Short lifespan and alot of short time

Not that short, I have two x 5 year olds and one 2 year old.

[ChaiyaTH]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Not that short, I have two x 5 year olds and one 2 year old.

Life is short if you always waste time, a lot can happen in a few years.

[grain]

Now 77, for me the best thing is I know so much more about life, about how to handle people, about myself and my limitations and my weaknesses. So I can live my life without making so many dumb blunders like I did in the past. And another good thing is I don't have much libido these days, so my little head isn't leading me around getting me into trouble all the time.😁

[LarryLEB]

Just a reminder of what Bette Davis said about getting old:  "Old age ain't no place for sissies."  She followed that immediately with:  "I survived because I was tougher than anyone else."  She died at 81.

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, LarryLEB said:

Just a reminder of what Bette Davis said about getting old:  "Old age ain't no place for sissies."  She followed that immediately with:  "I survived because I was tougher than anyone else."  She died at 81.

81 isn't that impressive!

[ElwoodP]

Nasty troll post and replies removed.

[fondue zoo]

No, it's a ridiculous state of affairs.

[rickudon]

Best thing - i was able to retire at 55 - after that only worked part time and when i wanted. Had time for all those hobbies i neglected.

 

To be honest, i didn't enjoy life much until my 30's - certainly the sex life until then was pretty awful. Age 55-60 was the best (in Thailand). 70's now and slowing down, diseases beginning to pile up. Oh well, many friends died much younger.

[georgegeorgia]

4 hours ago, rickudon said:

Best thing - i was able to retire at 55 - after that only worked part time and when i wanted. Had time for all those hobbies i neglected.

 

To be honest, i didn't enjoy life much until my 30's - certainly the sex life until then was pretty awful. Age 55-60 was the best (in Thailand). 70's now and slowing down, diseases beginning to pile up. Oh well, many friends died much younger.

Enjoy the next 10 years you have left ,it could go quick 

[OneMoreFarang]

8 hours ago, rickudon said:

To be honest, i didn't enjoy life much until my 30's - certainly the sex life until then was pretty awful. Age 55-60 was the best (in Thailand).

Luckily, I started living in Thailand when I was 30 and had lots of power. 😉 

[Srikcir]

On 12/11/2024 at 6:59 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

And nurses? 

Only outside of the hospital.