The Saturday Morning Post: On Getting Older

Getting old is a pleasure denied to far too many. 

Ron in Delaware used to use the phrase, "more yesterdays than tomorrows."  Yes, I have reached that point in life.  There are a few adventures I want to enjoy, that I know I need to do sooner rather than later.  Google tells me that the average life expectancy for an male in the United States is 76.1, there is a 50% chance that I only have 12 years left to do everything I want to do.  Actually having lived this long, the internet tells me I can expect to live another 18.65 years.  That would put me in my early 80's, about as good as I can expect.  

I am enjoying being old. I have less hair, if I keep it cut, it is easier to tend to, less to fuss over. There are a few aches and pains, a little less flexibility than there was decades ago.  That gives me a great excuse to slow down, the pause for a rest, to not bend over to pick something up.  

I have no qualms about claiming the seats reserved for older and disabled passengers on the subway train.  Though I will get up and move if someone with greater needs boards.  Standing for my 30 minute ride would not be good.  I stay seated until the train stops, getting up or down when the train is starting or stopping puts me at greater risk of tumbling off me feet.  Safety first.  

I claim the "senior" discount on museum admissions, then turn around and make a donation.  

A friend posted on FB that he went to a high school football game recently and the person in the ticket booth asked "Senior?" and he responded 46 years ago. He did he math for her, yes he is old enough for the reduced price ticket.   

I see too many people who live as though they are going to live forever. Putting off until never what they really want to do today.  

I recently had a spell of not feeling well, it was something that passed quickly, but I had a moment when I thought, this could be the last day, and my mind went to the thought, if this was the last day, what would I want to do?  Probably not what I was doing. 

Retirement is on my mind.  From a rational perspective, I am at my earnings peak, I am at the helm and setting the course at work.  I should stay for a few more years.  There was a time when I would have said, you will find me decomposing at my desk someday.  But that time has passed. When I think of the balance between work and personal life, I am getting to the time in life when I need to spend time on me. There are things I want to do, that I can't do in the office.  Time to get them done.  I want to be in a position that when I think "oh this might be the last day." I think, this is exactly how I want to spend it.