Is this all there is?

I hav e only been member for a week, and the reason I joined this site is that I am a lonely person. I am nearly 71, fit and somewhat healthy, retired nurse. I lost mu lovely hubby last year and have since been ina very dark place. I have a son and daughter who live away so I never see them. The place I live is very remote, but only a bus ride to Cardiff, Bridgend and Barry but because I do not drive I have to rely on the bus and they do not always turn up. I walk most days but it is all lanes, and I live close to and RAF base with constant noise. I have put my house on market but have not had any feedback as yet. I know I can please myself what I do with my time but I need company in the day and that is why I come onto this site. The thing is I want to get a little dog and the rigmarole of the rescue center, I will be toold to take it for walkies the time they take. Anyway all I have poured my heart to you. Thanks if you have taken time to read this.

Wise words, Greatnan

A quick reply to the OP - Yes, this is all there is so we had better make the most of it! (smile)

That reminds me: we haven't heard from you recently, isthis. Are you still with us?
fadedglory, you sound like a resilient person who's been through the mill. Welcome to G'net. You will find plenty of people here who can relate to your experiences and help you to raise your spirits.

I sympathise with you 'Isthisallthrereis'. I had to retire early (aged 54) due to ill-health and that was ok until my partner died 4 years later.

I was badly depressed after his death and it took my about 5 years to regain something of the 'Old Me'. I keep busy but still have days when I hover over that black hole.

I think I suffer from a combination of disappointment and anger, but my daughter and grand-kids love me and that brings me happy moments.My Faith is a little off the wall but grows stronger all the time and that's an enormous help.

I think Life needs constant effort and if you can give yourself some kind of structure, wherever you find it, you can still get some enjoyment from this world.

Please don't give up trying

Yes,but you still get to 'shake it all about'!

Looks like this thread is petering out so perhaps I can end it with a smile.......

What if the hokey-kokey IS what it's all about?

I'm not there yet, but retirement is surely one of lifes 'big events' that sends out a lot of unexpected 'shockwaves'. And, no matter how lucky we are we still feel fed up sometimes and we could sit in a chair hitting ourselves on the head with a hammer telling ourselves that we're lucky, but we'll still feel fed up and have a headache as well.

Crimson am reading through quietly thanks for the kind thought, probably need to remember how lucky I am

Petra I agree, a good education itself is probably not as important as a determination to succeed in life, which you clearly have.
There are a lot of people about who are clever, but not well educated. As you say, hard work a bit of luck and the right people along the way do help.
Good for you.

Well done Petra you should be proud of yourself

petra - I can empathise with much of what you say, even if some of the details differ.
I couldn't agree more with your last sentence.

After reading the whole thread I have come to the conclusion that maybe a good education is not necessary a good thing.
I didn't have an inside toilet untill I was 16
I left school at 14 because my Mother went into a mental home and left me with a two week old baby, a sister 3 years younger and a drunk violent father.
Through hard work, meeting the right people, and a lot of luck I was able to retire at 55.
I am grateful for everything I have.

Mr P and I haven't had a holiday since May 2005.

I too struggle at this time of year, even if you are not a great fan of Christmas, it is a sort of horizon, whereas now is just, well, I can't even think of a way to describe it. This is the first time in many a year that I have not had a job to go back to, it's not as if I have retired, although like some others I do seem to sleep more, but then, there is the school of thought that sleep for the depressed is a temporary escape.

Bumped this up for tanglerose....she might relate to some of it.

If I took a winter holiday I'm sure I'd hit bad weather. We went to Kefalonia one year in September; it was quite cold and very wet, and I felt so cheated; my joints crave warmth these days and, although I never used to be into sunbathing I found that two weeks of scorching heat set me up for the rest of the year. Haven't had a holiday abroad for over 5 years [except a weekend in Paris last year]. I'm sure that's why I ache so much.

Ana , come with us , can you put up with the heat though , ?????

Be truthful

It's all right for some!

It will be in the 80"s in mauritius .

Fabulous , Mr will be brown as a berry !

Nanban - yes!

Well, I'm off to the n med. don't think it will be warm, but some sun would be nice!

Go for it if you can , ISTHIS .

Nanban; I think I hear/understand the message you've just deleted ....

I have written out a heartfelt message and then deleted it. When we were young we were on the brink of so much more, middle age and chlldren swamped the future, and now, yes, this is all there is.

Maybe some winter sun might cure my "Is this all there is?" blues! Went to La Gomera (Canary Islands) in January once when I was feeling very poorly, as a self-awarded treat before returning to work.

It certainly did the trick! And it was the out-of-season sunshine that did it. It was a luxury hotel, that helped too!