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When Biden retires.

(25 Posts)
kircubbin2000 Sat 27-Jul-24 09:25:19

We were chatting about this yesterday wondering how he will fill his days. We came to the conclusion that it is sad that he has missed out the chance to relax, play golf or tennis ,take up new hobbies as many 60 year old enjoy. Can't think of anything worse than still working at nearly 80.Do you agree?

winterwhite Sat 27-Jul-24 09:49:24

I see what you mean but there’s another side to the coin.
For many people their work is their life and they deliberately choose that path and allow it to be so. For them working to 80 is a boon.

Urmstongran Sat 27-Jul-24 09:53:56

Our late Queen managed that in spades didn’t she? I miss her presence still.

Wyllow3 Sat 27-Jul-24 10:02:56

I imagine he'll still keep involved in political circles as long as he can - its where all his friends and contacts are.

some past interests:

www.biography.com/political-figures/joe-biden-facts

Calendargirl Sat 27-Jul-24 10:08:10

Urmstongran

Our late Queen managed that in spades didn’t she? I miss her presence still.

But she never really ‘retired’ did she, unlike Philip?

I know she didn’t have anything like the same workload, and certain GN’ers will say what she did wasn’t ‘work’, but she was still ‘working’ as such until her death.

I suppose Balmoral in the summer and Sandringham at Christmas enabled her to ride, walk, relax, those seemed to be her hobbies.

Urmstongran Sat 27-Jul-24 10:13:11

True.
We were lucky to have her.

Biden? I’m sure Dr. Jill will have plans for him. I think he may well have Parkinson’s, poor man.

annodomini Sat 27-Jul-24 10:55:10

When (by the grace of his god or Kamala) Trump has to retire, he will be free to spend even more time on his golf course - but not his Scottish ones, I hope.

M0nica Sat 27-Jul-24 11:05:15

DH is still working, intermittently, at 80, and will only gie up when the work dries up.

He is a consultant engineer and all he does now is work reviewing documents and advising on how to do things, but when COVID struck, he was about to go to Munich for a meeting. Now of course all meetings are on Zoom, or Teams, or whatever.

Biden will have his memoirs to write, his Presidential Library to establish (don't they all). He will be reviewing all his papers of a lifetime in politics to pass on to his Presidential library.

I do not think he will lack occupation in retirement. Of course whether he can do the necessary work will depend on his health.

Ladyleftfieldlover Sat 27-Jul-24 11:11:54

I don’t think trump has a Presidential library. Or does he?

M0nica Sat 27-Jul-24 11:12:28

Can he read?

aonk Sat 27-Jul-24 11:29:21

In answer to the OP’s question “do you agree?” I absolutely do not. I have been drifting miserably since I retired. I can’t seem to find anything worthwhile to fill my days. I’ve tried volunteering and help with my grandchildren but otherwise I get quite bored. I’d love to be back at work as part of a team and doing something useful. I fill my days with chores and occasionally meeting friends but have no interest in the kind of hobbies other people mention on this site. Retirement isn’t for everyone. My DH shares my views. Sadly he’s unwell at the moment and has had no choice to retire at the age of 70.

kircubbin2000 Sat 27-Jul-24 12:04:03

Perhaps you could get back into some sort of part time job.

M0nica Sat 27-Jul-24 20:10:51

aonk Why not go back to work part time? I am not sure what you did before you retired, but even if you cannot work in that line of work, there are always people looking for part time staff.

In fact, in the retail sector in particular, many big companies like supermarkets and chains like B&Q make a feature of it.

In my local Waitrose, all the till operators seem to be the very young and those beyond retirement age.

Cossy Sat 27-Jul-24 20:14:54

M0nica

Can he read?

You beat me to it grin

Casdon Sat 27-Jul-24 20:22:58

Ladyleftfieldlover

I don’t think trump has a Presidential library. Or does he?

I think his presidential library consists of all the classified documents he stole when he left office after losing the presidency. Maybe he also has a copy of ‘How to win friends and influence people’ too.

Norah Sat 27-Jul-24 20:56:15

kircubbin2000

We were chatting about this yesterday wondering how he will fill his days. We came to the conclusion that it is sad that he has missed out the chance to relax, play golf or tennis ,take up new hobbies as many 60 year old enjoy. Can't think of anything worse than still working at nearly 80.Do you agree?

My husband still works, manages his business, keeping it ready to pass along to our daughters, golfs, plays tennis, skis. I do as I always have as well.

Biden will probably stay busy with his wife and family, political friends, updates, his sorting/writing his years in government (Books, Library).

biglouis Sat 27-Jul-24 21:07:20

I once had a job as a market researcher and we regularly ran a phone survey which included asking people about their greatest fear for the future. Among older respondants, one of the most frequent responses (along with bereavement and loss of health) was "losing my independence".

Ladyleftfieldlover Sun 28-Jul-24 06:37:24

M0nica

Can he read?

Only if the words are written in bigly letters!

Sparklefizz Sun 28-Jul-24 10:38:12

Calendargirl

Urmstongran

Our late Queen managed that in spades didn’t she? I miss her presence still.

But she never really ‘retired’ did she, unlike Philip?

I know she didn’t have anything like the same workload, and certain GN’ers will say what she did wasn’t ‘work’, but she was still ‘working’ as such until her death.

I suppose Balmoral in the summer and Sandringham at Christmas enabled her to ride, walk, relax, those seemed to be her hobbies.

The Queen was shaking Liz Truss's hand the day before she died when most likely she would have preferred to have been in bed watching "Homes under the Hammer" smile

Norah Sun 28-Jul-24 14:26:02

Out of interest I read about POTUS Libraries, overseen by the USA Government. The first was Hoover, last being Trump. Papers, records, gifts, electronic records, digital records - stored for use some number of years after term ends.

Interestingly, to me, those who left in disgrace (Nixon, Clinton, Trump) have libraries - along with Reagan who had Alzheimer's - it's not clear if his records are just others thoughts?

Kim19 Sun 28-Jul-24 15:18:40

VERY good Monica! 👍

M0nica Mon 29-Jul-24 08:29:34

Any Presidency will generate records, no matter what the status of the president. There will be reports, memos et etc flowing over the presidents desk and/or being read by aids and used to inform decisions. There will be minutes of meetings and discussions leading up to major decisions.

No matter what the status of the president he will generate enough material to form a library, with his name on it. the university that gets the papers will be able to attract scholars to use it and keep their name in the news.

In this country most documents as above go into government archives. personal papers etc usually go to a unversity library somewhere, but just as a collection in their archives. I am not aware of any British Prime Minister building a libray annexe and depositing his/her papers in it.

Norah Wed 31-Jul-24 15:26:03

M0nica, No matter what the status of the president he will generate enough material to form a library, with his name on it. the university that gets the papers will be able to attract scholars to use it and keep their name in the news.

No, when I read about Presidential Libraries, was quite clear that the data stored is government property and in USA government archives. There are only 15 sites, it seems. Only 6 or maybe 7 libraries appear to be in any way connected to Universities - not a burden to universities in the whole.

My point, however, was that no matter how inconsequential, unpopular, untrained, disgraced, mentally incompetent (Nixon, Clinton, Trump, Reagan, Eisenhower) - they seem to have libraries.

winterwhite Wed 31-Jul-24 17:10:07

-I am not aware of any British Prime Minister building a libray annexe and depositing his/her papers in it.-

Gladstone at Hawarden?

Norah Fri 02-Aug-24 17:01:43

I just read (Economist 27 July 2024) Quote: "Whether the dollar should be strong or weak is a vexing question for America’s economic nationalists. In his first term as president, Donald Trump often said that he wanted a weaker currency to make American-made goods cheaper overseas. But his tariffs and deficit-financed tax cuts contributed to a surge in the greenback’s value—and he also said that “ultimately” he wanted a strong currency. Today, with the dollar higher still, Mr Trump again says he wants a devaluation. And his choice of J.D. Vance as his running-mate has added another weak-dollar proponent to his inner circle."

Opposite to Biden's policies Quote: "American workers and businesses can outcompete anyone—as long as they have fair competition."

Biden's legacy could include excellence in governing.