Hard for me to believe, I'm now 65 years old and on Medicare. I find I remember more things from many decades ago, and forget what I did a few days ago. The joints ache, eyesight has gotten worse, and my reflexes are not as quick. So much has happened in 65 years it would take pages to list. Personally, (and maybe unfortunately) it seems the profession I chose pointed me in a direction of being cynical and non-trusting. As a member of the baby boomer generation I find everything today is happening faster. Hard work appears to be a bad word. Gimme that, or you owe me, seems to be the norm. We live in a world of high speed hand held computers for communication. Little eyeball to eyeball talking or touching. The world is changing. But, one thing I hope never changes. It's what holds we as human beings together. A bond so strong it cannot be broke. For those of the X generation and millennium generation, I hope you understand. It's not about how much money you make, or the cars parked in your driveway. Not even the number of guns you own. It's simply this: FAMILY. In the end, family is what counts. It didn't take me 65 years to know family is number one. But, when you reach age 65, one tends to look back more in time. Even at the mistakes that had high consequences. So, at the end of the day, throttle back and put your busy day to rest. Enjoy your family, especially children, they grow up so fast. Their is no "do over". I guess my message here is simple. Take it from an old guy, family is love, support, comfort and happiness. Have a safe and happy holiday season.

I'm 75 and I agree with much of your post.
Getting older ain't for Sissies.

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Armed and Dangerous

Whomever said these were our "golden years" ought to be whipped. Welcome to Medicare. it is certainly one of the good things about turning 65. I hope your physical health is good (mine is not), preserve what you have, keep weight down and exercise. You have pretty much worked for 50 years, now is the time to enjoy what you worked for. As you said when all is said and done and we are gone our loved ones will be the only people thinking of us. They should take a number one place in our lives while we are alive. Like a friend said "I never read on a tombstone, 'I wish I'd spent more time at work'".

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Luke 22:36

Welcome to the "Sr." clan. You are lucky, now you don't have to sign up for any of that "Obamacare". There are a lot of great things about being >65, and retired is one of them. Now it's time to spend your time doing what you enjoy doing but only for as long as you enjoy doing it. Please do all your traveling you discussed with your family you wanted to do now and don't put it off. Some things happen and then we can't. I have some friends that dreamed about various things when they retired then one of them got sick and those things never got done.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Shortly after I retired (13 yrs ago), I arose one morning and my wife asked "What are you going to do today?". I replied, "Nothing". She said, "You did that yesterday". I then said, "But I didn't get finished".

At any rate, enjoy life as much as you can. It passes quickly.

Welcome to our group. I became an official senior citizen, as defined by the gov't, a couple of years ago & agree that family is what's important.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

That's for sure! That's for dang sure!!
teesur.

Welcome to the old mans club. Recently called "The Over the Hill Gang". At 65 I was still working but now 17 years later, I'm doing good to get up get dressed by 9AM. Enjoy your retirement.