What do you enjoy about getting old?

[Chris]

I'm only 42 years old, but my wife (who is 8 years younger than I am) is always ribbing me about how I'm becoming an old man.

I asked her to give me examples and she listed the following:

1. I like to bird watch.
2. I love smooth jazz and classical music.
3. I enjoy taking my time when walking (including grocery shopping).
4. I'm more interested in what people have to say as oppose to being entertained.
5. I love to sit outside, sip tea, and just enjoy the silence of rural Wyoming.

My response of course was that I enjoy these things.

That leads me to the question, what do you enjoy about getting old that you didn't used to enjoy (or appreciate) as much when you were younger?

 

[Zorba]

An afternoon nap.

 

[Rut Row]

- sitting on the porch, dog in lap, drinking coffee in the morning
- watching the birds at the feeders or the deer walking through the backyard
- listening to employed people going to work
- not listening to people who have nothing to say but say it anyway - I walk away rude or not

 

[Squatch]

I enjoy caring less about what others may think about me. It took hitting my late 50's to realize that who I am is who I am, and that if others don't care for it, then they can just politely excuse themselves from my life, and move along. This may sound like a fairly harsh response to a somewhat gentle question, but it's my reality. There just comes a time (age?) where you start to live a bit more for yourself, and not for the audience around you.

 

[Chris]

I enjoy caring less about what others may think about me. It took hitting my late 50's to realize that who I am is who I am, and that if others don't care for it, then they can just politely excuse themselves from my life, and move along. This may sound like a fairly harsh response to a somewhat gentle question, but it's my reality. There just comes a time (age?) where you start to live a bit more for yourself, and not for the audience around you.

Good one! That’s on my list as well.

 

[Zorba]

I enjoy caring less about what others may think about me. It took hitting my late 50's to realize that who I am is who I am, and that if others don't care for it, then they can just politely excuse themselves from my life, and move along. This may sound like a fairly harsh response to a somewhat gentle question, but it's my reality. There just comes a time (age?) where you start to live a bit more for yourself, and not for the audience around you.

I figured that out by the time I hit 10 years old!

 

[Chris]

I figured that out by the time I hit 10 years old!

Some of us are slow learners

 

[Squatch]

I figured that out by the time I hit 10 years old!

It just takes some people longer to ferment, I guess...

 

[bucky]

I don’t care if I’m not Politically Correct. It’s their problem. I don’t have to answer to anyone.

 

[TokenJo]

Mines a good morning (rhymes w/Zorba). Also, enjoy watch birds, love it when a hawk is soaring and stationary into the wind.

 

[Zorba]

It just takes some people longer to ferment, I guess...

I had an advantage - as I've noted before, I'm an "Aspie" - we just don't give a...

 

[Zorba]

Mines a good morning (rhymes w/Zorba). Also, enjoy watch birds, love it when a hawk is soaring and stationary into the wind.

That's another one - I can finally keep my body's schedule, not someone else's. I was up last nite until 4:30, got up at 12:30!

 

[Squatch]

I love rarely using an alarm clock, anymore. Also, being able to schedule things during weekdays, instead of having to wait for the weekends to arrive. These are more closely tied to retirement, but retirement is usually associated with being of a "certain vintage", so that's the connection, in my mind.

 

[Chris]

Good point. I’ve marveled at how easy it is as I get older to keep an internal schedule. No need for an alarm, my body is up at the same time every day. I quite like it!

 

[ColoJeep]

I love rarely using an alarm clock, anymore. Also, being able to schedule things during weekdays, instead of having to wait for the weekends to arrive. These are more closely tied to retirement, but retirement is usually associated with being of a "certain vintage", so that's the connection, in my mind.

The predawn first light is what wakes me up , It was the alarm clock long before dawn when I was employed. Now I really enjoy early morning quiet and good black coffee.

 

[Squatch]

Good point. I’ve marveled at how easy it is as I get older to keep an internal schedule. No need for an alarm, my body is up at the same time every day. I quite like it!

I actually cannot rely on my body keeping an "internal schedule". Instead, I have two cats, one of which has an absolutely uncanny knack for allowing me exactly 8 hours of sleep before relentlessly demanding that I feed her. I've taken to referring to her as "my alarm cat". She's extremely reliable, in that regard.

 

[Chris]

I actually cannot rely on my body keeping an "internal schedule". Instead, I have two cats, one of which has an absolutely uncanny knack for allowing me exactly 8 hours of sleep before relentlessly demanding that I feed her. I've taken to referring to her as "my alarm cat". She's extremely reliable, in that regard.

Meanwhile, my 12 year old daughter can sleep until noon and act as if she's still tired.

Whenever I think about criticizing her for that, I remember I used to do the same thing when I was her age.

 

[Zorba]

I love rarely using an alarm clock, anymore. Also, being able to schedule things during weekdays, instead of having to wait for the weekends to arrive. These are more closely tied to retirement, but retirement is usually associated with being of a "certain vintage", so that's the connection, in my mind.

Weekend? Oh, that's when half the offices/stores you need are closed, you can't call tradesmen, and there's a bunch of idiots on the road. I need to take a couple of doorknobs down to the locksmith - have to wait until Monday...

 

[BlueC]

I love rarely using an alarm clock, anymore. Also, being able to schedule things during weekdays, instead of having to wait for the weekends to arrive

Good point. I’ve marveled at how easy it is as I get older to keep an internal schedule. No need for an alarm, my body is up at the same time every day. I quite like it!

That's a part self-employed life that I've enjoyed for the last 10 years. I don't think I've used an alarm to wake me up in at least 6-7 years, but I'm also an early riser naturally. Of course, I've had kids over the last few years, so I don't have an option to sleep anymore. Do I need to mention my kids turn into Tiggers right about 7am no matter what.

 

[Squatch]

One of the things that I've enjoyed about being older is being a grandfather, or Pop-Pop, as the girls have so named me. It's something I always knew I'd enjoy, but I had absolutely no idea as to the extent I would relish that position in life. Truly one of the best things in my life.