If you are over 60, can you advise me ...

I was retired from work when I was 59 due to ill health so my 60th wasn’t how I had imagined it to be. That was in 2014. Once I had kind of come to terms with it we decided to move to Spain as the warm weather does help me. We finally moved in 2018 and both wished we had done it before. We are now embarking on a new hobby, house/pet sitting, as our old dog who we brought over with us, sadly died in February this year. We now have two sits to look forward to in different villages in Spain, but only roughly an hours drive from where we live.

If you love animals, this is a way to explore different areas/countries for free. Some folk charge for their services, we are doing it purely for the free accommodation and we get our doggy fix plus the chance to meet new people/explore different parts of Spain.

Follow your dreams and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t. Good luck!

And I also had more time to devote to my hobby of Lino printing . ?

Retired at 59. Looked after DGD and proofread DD1 essays for degree while she was at uni. Decluttering the house prepared for move. Helped DD1 move to 1st home with DGD. Sold lots of stuff online. Moved to sunny (sometimes) Devon. Bred a litter of puppies - never again lol.
Still selling junk online as we were going to do a carboot but lockdown kicked in. Managed to see a friend a few times outside but not often enough as restrictions still ongoing. DD1 visits every few weeks as in the bubble with us.
I planned carboot, joining clubs, making friends here, meals out and holiday to France but perhaps next year if covid goes away.

I took up the ukulele and have made lots and lots of friends and have discovered a whole new social scene!!

Volunteered from 60to 70. Also joined a community choir,knit and natter group even though very little skill,joined a local ramblers group. Gave up the volunteering as GC came on scene and I wanted time with them.

I had to retire early due to ill health. As things plateaued out, I volunteer to raise money bucket rattling and holding events for Armed Forces Bikers veterans charity; took up pillioning on hubbies trike to go on ride outs with 3 wheeled Walker tied on the back! I rekindled an interest in crafting mainly needlework and haven’t looked back. We have a touring caravan and covid excepted regularly take that around the UK most of the year.

I took up nothing . I do what I Please when I please, time goes quick enough without planning anything.

We moved to a house with a bigger garden and a conservatory built a man shed for my husbands crafting. Spent more time on crafting, joined a club and then our son and daughter-in-law produced the first of our two adorable bundles of mischief. Now we care for them two days a week and fill our time with gardening, crafting relaxing after caring for a 4 yr and 19 mth old. And before COVID visiting NationalTrust English Heritage etc. Stil I’m only 66 so many fun yrs ahead.

RUFUS2 an inspiration to us all!

I love being retired and not being nervous on a Sunday night at the thought of work. I can spend more time with my family and I can spend more time with my ponies. Every night feels like Friday night

DH was 7 years older than me but I retired when he did. We lived on his private pension + State pension + £50 per week for me as a 'dependent relative, until I reached retirement age. He carried on for a few years playing in his dance bands and doing odd bits of work for old customers. We went on a Cruise, had lots of long weekends away, Christmases in the Canaries with the DDs and went across Canada on a shoestring. Then the DGC arrived 1,2,3. Both DDs worked so we did loads of child minding and later school pickups, which we loved. I am so glad we did these things when we could, because after 10 years of retirement DH began to show signs of Dementia. I cared for him at home for 7 years and then he had to move to a care home. He died last September.

The moral of this story is Carpe Diem

what to do for the rest of my life
Hutcho .Ask your local Council for a list of activities, join one and if you like meeting people the "rest of your life" will be taken care of, no matter how long that may be!

Retirement gave me the opportunity to indulge my imagination and write. I recently had a short story published in an Anthology. The key to retirement is to keep active, both physically and mentally. Enjoy yours!

You might find this interesting
e.ted.com/ideas.ted.com/aging-is-inevitable-so-why-not-do-it-joyfully-heres-how

do what you have always wanted to do, if circumstances ,finances allow,live each day like it is your last, one day it will be!

I volunteer with the National Trust and have made new friends there. I also go to two book groups, joined a choir and other local clubs, plus any other interesting meetups with friends and family whenever possible. I would say join clubs, volunteer, and never turn down an invitation.

Jillybird

I retired at 63 but wished I hadn't. Life did not feel meaningful and I was without purpose. I did all the things I had promised myself, so some of them made me happy, which is what you have asked: I went to South Africa on a guided tour and had a mini-safari. I did every adult ed class I was remotely interested in; French, photography, art, yoga, pilates. I did my house up from top to bottom and sold it and moved to the coast. I did up the new house.
I run a retirees group which in normal times meets up for lunches with speaker, and go on trips - only 3 lunches and 2 or 3 trips, but that suits everyone. . I continue to do art classes from time to time as I find it therapeutic - better for me than meditation, which I find irritating. I also go to a journaling group one afternoon a week, which we have continued via a Whatsapp group during lockdown.
I wanted to join U3A but our local one was full, I may try again shortly.
Frankly I still feel tad purposeless, but the above are some things I enjoyed, hope some ideas are useful.

I LOVE not having or needing a purpose. A character in Ursula le Guin's wizard of Earthsea series says about Ged, the protagonist "He is done with doing. He goes home."
That's me. Done with doing.

I left an unhappy marriage and my whole life was better!

I worked until I was 67 in Education and really enjoy the freedom and being a free spirit again. No early alarms, horrible car journeys and bells! Instead I now do what I have always wanted to do which is to paint and sell my work. I also make jewellery and run small business selling both. We have made several trips to Italy connected with the business and visited many galleries and museums in France and Italy. We are regular theatre and concert goers and have some fantastic memories. I am also learning Italian. We love to see our families and friends as much as possible and love the simple things in life such as walking, eating out and just being free.

Have a lovely birthday.
I had the best sex of my life in my 60s. I hope that happens to you.?

I am 65 and 99% retired, after 60 i found the time to have more time to do things that made me happy, did more craft, read more books. Husband and I did a few trips which were great and I get to spend more time with him and the grand/greatgrand kids. I can truly see the rest of my life going this way

I was 60 when my husband died unexpectedly aged 59. I was almost 70 when my life finally turned around again.

I wasted most of the first 9 years following my husband's death and regret it.

Whatever you do, do not waste the time you have ahead of you.

Gosh ExD - what an amazing lady you are! Travelling alone all over the world. You are an inspiration. I thought after reaching sixty I would just be waiting for death!!

What are the things you did after the age of 60 that you think made you happy?

Wake up on my 93rd birthday at home in my own bed!

Oh. Forgot. A couple of years ago a friend and I set up a group for isolated and lonely old folks meeting in our house for tea and cake. We have volunteer drivers. Because of Covid we have had to adapt so have changed one side of our garage to The Garage Cafe - was given funds for a huge banner to cheer up the walls and someone gave us money to buy a carpet. Have people on a long list, all desperate to come back to indoor meetings. We can now meet up in small groups in the garden with rugs and ways of keeping warm. Have made lots of new friends.