Only read the first page of comments but
What is everyones problem. We all need a break, would it have been OK if it was someonelse who had written that? One of your mates perhaps?

petallus, I read your comment and then re-read mine. Yes, well, it is a bit layers within layers. Not sure I'd have understood it myself if someone else had written it!!

I am in my early 70s. I am currently at our house in France. We are clearing a big garden and completing a building project. Almost everyday for the last 10 days I have been on my feet without a break, apart from mealtimes, from about 8.00am to 8.00pm; clearing scrub and overgrown trees, decorating, shifting rubbish. On a couple of days we have gone to local markets, plant fairs and the like, walking around but not working.

I am fortunate. I have inherited the good health and stamina that runs in my DF's family plus a childhood medical problem has left me eating well and actively active. Long may it continue.

The last time I did kayaking with the GSs I had rib pain for weeks afterwards. I don't mind not doing that though as it was, tbh, quite boring.

I will start walking again though once my poorly ankle is better. I might even break out into a little run now and then, if no one is looking.

Today, however, the and the garden bench is calling.

I shall be off for my run any minute- before breakfast- starts the day well.
I shall do this as long as possible - encouraged by the fact that some 90yr old manage to do it! A lovely man of 95 yrs was interviewed because he took up sprinting. My father in law was playing 18 holes of golf at 87 yrs.
I shall not give in until I have to.

I agree Jenn. I am trying to get more time for it and I certainly appreciate it far more. At the moment I can still do everything that I have always been able to do- stand for a bus journey, roll around the floor with a 2 year old, walk 10 miles, ski down a mountain, do a hour's Zumba class etc etc etc
It can't last for ever- but I shall not do the next stage 'gracefully' - I shall just have to do it differently.
I expect I shall do it quietly because I have always been rather quiet- there is no need to grow old quietly if you are naturally an extrovert.

Growing old is just an extension of what you have always been, but with physical restrictions.

I so agree with Leticia that it is your health that dictates a lot as you get older. I am aware that I will have to stop certain activities in time and in a way it adds to the experience, I appreciate every ride because now I know there are only so many years in front. Kayacking , off roading, karting, all daft fun things that I do with my son and grandson, I appreciate so much more in my sixties than I would have done when younger because I can see the day when I will be the one watching.

I think it's when you hit seventy that you start to notice it.

Age is just a number. What is important is your level of health.
I am over 60yrs and I went out for a run this morning- I shall be getting up and going running tomorrow. I am conscious that there is now a limit to how long I can do it, so I am doing as much as possible until I have to choose more sedentary things.
My mother was fine until she was mid 80s - she is now quite frail at over 90yrs- but her mind is as sharp as it ever was.
Health is relevant- but age isn't.

thatbags I read your post three times before I understood what you were saying and then decided I agreed with you.

You blinded me with science a bit there!

Oh - it's not just a number! Believe me.

Oh, me too, but my age is not irrelevant to what I do, what I want to do, or what I'm able to do, and I don't believe it is for most people. Other things being equal, age needn't stop you doing whatever, but quite often (more often than not I suspect) because of age 'other things' are not always equal because it's age, whatever age, be it ten or or thirty or fifty or seventy, etc, that makes 'other things' different.

Age is just a number though and you can't predict how you are going to be.
I am making the most of it while I can.

It's nothing to be ashamed of though.

My mother will be 86 in June. She's as sharp witted as ever but slower, much slower, physically. I'm slower than I was too and I'm not yet 60. Age most certainly does come into it.

Leticia Precisely, my father live until he was 92. At that age he was still involved in running several community groups, living independently and leading the same life he had lived since retirement and before. Age didn't come into it.

Well said,Flickety.
My life is no different except that I have far more freedom to do as I want. I am not restricted by paid employment or children. It is all very exciting!
I don't feel any different and can't see me feeling old in the near future.

I really do not understand what is so special about being old and why people keep going on about it. The only thing I am aware of is that the longer people have been around the more diverse we become.

On a family basis some Gn-ers, still have children at home, others the same age are Great Grandmothers. Some are glad to be beige, give up make-up, take life easier, others are choosing to be more active go off traveling. O

Others, and I am among them, have always had busy lives mixing work, family and personal interests and the only effect reaching my sixties had on me was that work stopped and I had a regular pension income so had more time to take on more outside interests and activities.

Apart from the work/pension element I am still leading life much as I did 20, 30 or possibly 40 years ago. I am not invisible and I have never had any reason to think anyone was ignoring me because of my age. I think we should all stop obsessing about our age and just lead the lives we choose to lead in the way we want to lead them.

I don't like the thought of growing old gracefully.

At the moment I am doing all the physical challenges - knowing that I don't have that many years to continue running, walking 10 miles etc.

I hope to emulate a friend of a friend who was camping out on a mountain to see the sun rise at the age of 84yrs.

Once I get past that I can't see why it should be any different- I have always been a great reader and liked solitude.

Jenny Joseph's poem 'When I am old I shall wear purple' holds far more appeal for me.

jingles you are so funny lol, but what you say is always very true

Good for her if she has it sussed, maybe we should read her book, we might learn something.

jingles you are so funny lol, but what you say is always very true

Good for her if she has it sussed, maybe we should read her book, we might learn something.

Your blog resonated with me and I totally get you too Sharon. Enjoy the real adventure.

@soontobe I'm good at one to one conversations with someone I feel close to. I'm not good at arguing! And I would love to be a regular gransnet contributor. I had never heard of this site before and loved it at first site!

@thank you ffinnochio

@jinglbellsfrocks, just teasing! But then again, why not!

Oh for flip's sake! Why do you hope I will take up meditation?! Totally

I wish you a happy Sunday too. And a quiet one.

Well, I completely get you Aruna51. Wishing you every success with your books.