Advice as we age and limitations that occur..

[walkinghorse]

"…All I can say is .. enjoy what was .. prepare for what will be ... walk through what is. "

I read this on another site as a comment to another who was advising of having to give up a major physical activity in his life due to aging issues. To me it seemed to be good advise on the situation.

 

[lkabug]

In My 78th year it's time that I seriously begin to heed that advice.

 

[Rustyt1953]

We are not promised tomorrow.

 

[pmanton]

I'm 85 and hate being old. I want to go back to the age the wife and I were when we met. 17-19.

 

[alwslate]

I'm 78 and I have given up several of the activities that I previously enjoyed. It gets to the point where it's not a choice, you just do what you have to do.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

At 92 I value each day the Good Lord gives me. I did not like giving up hunting & metal detecting. Being on a cane is OK but not what it's cracked up to be. I still drive but not at night. But the good news today I became a great grand father for the 10th time, a boy named Tipton. No other info yet. Wish my wife was here to see what we produced. As I sit here I'm having a glass to celebrate. Best wishes to all my friends here on the Forum. Happy old guy.

 

[Ranger17]

Apparently I'm a youngin' at 61, but the body sure feels older. Bad bone on bone arthritis in both thumbs (one had joint surgery last fall, the other will someday), the left shoulder is fairly recovered from a "frozen shoulder" while I struggle with my right now. That all said, limitations have affected my hobbies (same with my wife) but instead of dropping everything we try to adapt.
We love tennis but found it harder to play now, so started playing pickleball instead.
We bought ebikes and bike frequently now, but without the assist (if we want to use it) for hills, well regular bikes would be sitting in the garage.
And other hobbies like bowfishing arent forgotten, just set aside until I can do them again.
So for me, yeah I can't do what I did decades ago but I sure try to find alternative ways to keep my hobbies going.

 

[walter o]

Aches and pains come with our ageing, we try to keep doing things that we yous to do that's OK But the hardest thing about growing old is loosing the friends we have made along the way.

 

[SMSgt]

We are not promised tomorrow.

Tomorrows never come; yesterdays never go away.

The older you get, the harder a ladder will try to kill you.

 

[H Richard]

Yesterday I unfortunately discovered it is no longer pleasant to shoot my 1911's with my favorite major load, not quite +P. After 50 rounds I put it away and enjoyed my 617-6 a lot more. I'm 82 with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I'm finding lots of things that aren't fun any more.

 

[dave1918a2]

I'll be 78 this month and I still shoot My 460 Weatherby, 300 Weatherby, 475 Linebaugh and several 44 & 41 mag handguns. Got back into shooting trap after moving up here. I shoot 2 rounds and have to sit down. Doesn't look that hard or tiring, but in the middle of round 2 I start missing. Really hate to admit I'm getting old, but the mind does not overpower the body. Dag-nab-it.

 

[Magnum_PI]

One of the best quotes I heard on aging was "Getting old isn't for sissies."

I had an old aquaintance one time who was around 85 tell me his life advice was, "Live fast, die young, and leave a 'beautiful corpse' because getting old sucks." He was a funny guy and I enjoyed our conversations.

I don't look forward to getting older year after year, but I try to live a life that I can look back on and say it was well lived. I am a bit younger than many here posting on this topic, but I hope to reach your ages and still be around and kicking and doing what makes me happy best I can.

It doesn't get easier as we age, but each day is a gift. Even if we don't feel like it on a given day.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

As the issues, prescriptions and limitations keep adding up, I start smiling and looking forward to the check out.

 

[Fishinfool]

Getting harder and harder for me to get around in the steep woods, let alone drag a deer out very far.

My hunting buddy has two grandsons, aged 9 and 11 who we have been grooming. We are taking them deer hunting here in PA this year.

We have high hopes they will be dragging our bucks out for us. The 9 year old is kinda scrawny, but stronger than he looks....

Larry

 

[Rpg]

My energy level has gone down in recent years, secondary to various physical issues.

I'm much less willing to go hunting or fishing alone in our mountains than I was only a year or two ago. I want help taking the groceries in from the car.

In years past, I'd drive 200 miles, hunt dove until I limited out and then drive home: all in the same day. I thought about it this year but realized discretion was the better part of valor.

Time was I could drive from Denver to Los Angeles in one sitting, stopping only for gas and coffee. Now, it's a 3 day trip with two nights in a hotel.

 

[Greyman50]

Just learned last week that a long time friend passed a month or so ago. He was a PBR Skipper in Vietnam, had a whole chapter about him in the Brown Water Navy book and many pics of him in a limited edition book on PBR uniforms, equipment and weapons. He autographed all his pics in the book for me. I'm really shocked no one called me as I would have certainly driven the 500 miles to his service. Time marches on.

 

[STCM(SW)]

All I'll say is getting older with out the one you loved sucks.....
She passed at 85, i'm only 4 years behind and still would rather be with her then alone like I am.....

 

[StrawHat]

At 92 I value each day the Good Lord gives me. I did not like giving up hunting & metal detecting. Being on a cane is OK but not what it's cracked up to be. I still drive but not at night. But the good news today I became a great grand father for the 10th time, a boy named Tipton. No other info yet. Wish my wife was here to see what we produced. As I sit here I'm having a glass to celebrate. Best wishes to all my friends here on the Forum. Happy old guy.

Happy Old Guy,

I will raise my glass of red to celebrate your good fortune!

Kevin

 

[sophie]

I am fortunate for sure. My wife an I celebrated our 62nd wedding anniversary yesterday. We're both in pretty good condition with our kinks and ailments that develop as we age. I was 20 and she was 19 when we married.
I try my best to have a good attitude about growing older but sometimes it's pretty hard. Seems like we require more medications than we like. I still enjoy the hunt for a new pistol. I gotta go now, I've got several in my watchlist.

 

[bigmtnman]

I worked for 15 years doing medical transports (mostly scheduled) of the (mostly) elderly. I took them to and from hospital, home , rehab, dialysis, nursing facilities, and Dr. Offices via ambulance and para-transit van. The main thing I learned along the way was that "WE" are our own worst enemies in maintaining our health and abilities. I am talking more about PHYSICAL ACCIDENTS here than eating high cholesterol foods etc. I saw so many times how people could have avoided serious injuries by NOT BEING STUBBORN (or just plain stupid) as they age.

Yep ... Should have been using a cane
Yep ... Should not have retired to a 3 floor home with all those stairs
Yep ... Should have gotten rid of those trip hazard throw rugs
Yep ... Should have used the walk in shower, not the tub
Yep ... Should have installed grab rails
Yep ... Should have had STURDY patio chairs

I have my challenges with mobility. At some point everyday, I think "How do I avoid hurting myself here"?

My prioritized advice is this .....
When you recognize a potential injury risk, take timely action to reduce it.
Do NOT be stubborn/prideful about using "safety" aids such as a cane or walker.
Same thing for recognizing when it is just time to STOP doing some things like driving at night.
Pre-plan for your less abled years.

Ten years ago I was 66 and had to move. I was still fine for using stairs then. BUT, when finding a new home, I made SURE it was one floor living!
That was a GREAT decision on my part ..... OK-OK .... The "shop" is in the basement, but once down and once up a day is still doable

 

[wood714]

I've not had my surfboard wet in about 3 years.

I believe I'm going to get back into it next clean hurricane swell we have.

I'm 66. There was a dude 82 years old that surfed my favorite spot when I lived in St. Augustine.

 

[StrawHat]

I am 68. We always dreamed of moving to a Century home on 50+ acres. Reality, a ranch on 3 1/2 acres! But, I have a bid on the 40+ acres behind us.

20 years ago the multilevel century house would have worked. Herself spent a few years in a wheel chair and I find that steps are not as easy as they used to be. Life is all about compromise.

Kevin

 

[MRB1]

Although I don't feel old, at 78, things are beginning to change. My first indication was mental. Chess has been my obsession since I was in grade school, with theory being the most interesting to me. A couple of years ago I discovered I could no longer follow a game, nor plan strategy. It was more like playing checkers than chess. Simple tasks require a lot of thought. I have given up reloading completely. A notebook and cell phone camera are my best friends. Not looking forward to what lies in store for the future. Older people sometimes don't realize what mother nature is doing to them.

 

[Golddollar]

I worked for 15 years doing medical transports (mostly scheduled) of the (mostly) elderly. I took them to and from hospital, home , rehab, dialysis, nursing facilities, and Dr. Offices via ambulance and para-transit van. The main thing I learned along the way was that "WE" are our own worst enemies in maintaining our health and abilities. I am talking more about PHYSICAL ACCIDENTS here than eating high cholesterol foods etc. I saw so many times how people could have avoided serious injuries by NOT BEING STUBBORN (or just plain stupid) as they age.

Yep ... Should have been using a cane
Yep ... Should not have retired to a 3 floor home with all those stairs
Yep ... Should have gotten rid of those trip hazard throw rugs
Yep ... Should have used the walk in shower, not the tub
Yep ... Should have installed grab rails
Yep ... Should have had STURDY patio chairs

I have my challenges with mobility. At some point everyday, I think "How do I avoid hurting myself here"?

My prioritized advice is this .....
When you recognize a potential injury risk, take timely action to reduce it.
Do NOT be stubborn/prideful about using "safety" aids such as a cane or walker.
Same thing for recognizing when it is just time to STOP doing some things like driving at night.
Pre-plan for your less abled years.

Ten years ago I was 66 and had to move. I was still fine for using stairs then. BUT, when finding a new home, I made SURE it was one floor living!
That was a GREAT decision on my part ..... OK-OK .... The "shop" is in the basement, but once down and once up a day is still doable

When I had my present and forever house built, the struggles of my late mother with rheumatoid arthritis and Lou Gehrig's Disease inspired me to put a lot of the senior citizen/handicap amenities you have described into this house. Part of what helped was dating a lady who was an interior designer. Having some of these amenities in place were a big help when I was recovering from knee surgery.

If any of you are having a house built it's sure a lot easier to put the senior citizen/handicap amenities in during construction than trying to retrofit them later. What we have here is a good reference to work from.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I never lock the bathroom door when I am in the shower. All here know that if they hear a "thud" to come runnin'.

 

[30-30remchester]

I am of the belief that for me I would rather wear out than rust out. At 70 I took on a job above timberline that needed to be hiked to. Following that job, I took on clearing a parcel of land that was useless as it was covered in large boulder, cactus, yucca, brush and pinions. About 5 hours a day and my butt needs a Lazyboy. The 12-to-16-hour day afield from my youth are gone forever.

 

[Oldengineer]

I'm inclined to think that, if you are lucky, all you really have is a bunch of "right now's." The present is a "present." At 77 there is no time to waste.

 

[SweetMK]

Before he passed away,, my FIL always preached,,
"If you are gonna do anything,, do it before age 75!"

I recently turned 73, and am starting to believe the wisdom of his statement.

 

[bigmtnman]

If a younger person is reading this thread and gets down to my second response here, this is what I have to say to them. When faced with a significant "do" or "don't do" decision, project yourself way into the future and look back. From the perspective of your senior citizen self, what do you think you would regret MORE ...."doing it", or "Not doing it". That has been a valuable decision making tool for me since I was a young man. It has helped me to be satisfied now that I haven't left much on the table

 

[robvious]

I am a 3 times cancer survivor... so my time-line is a bit different than most here... I just turned 57... started my cancer journey in my 40's... and coded once during my treatments.... so every day is a blessing... knowing this is a source of serenity... live today... it really is all you have.