Getting older

I agree nibbie and like you spent my nursing career with older people BUT it taught me some lessons about staying as active as possible physically and mentally and generally not giving in. I know its easy to say and I know what its like to battle daily pain and bouts of depression but I REFUSE to let it best me. So far I'm lucky and doing well and DH and I are in a much better position on all fronts than our parents were at the age we are now so I'm am hopeful that I can keep up. The bright side is you have all of us to chat with and if you ignore the odd unhelpful post you will enjoy this site. Nice to meet you.

I watched that programme, Merlotgran. A very tough old lady.
At 80 I'm beginning to understand what happened to my Mum in her last years. I'm afraid I wasn't always very patient at the time. She lived to 87 and in her last years really struggled.
Looking back she was wonderful, as Dad died when she was 75.
Someone once told me "you always need something to look forward to". And as Ann said the odd glass helps.

I have found the older I get the less it bothers me.
I think in our late 50's/60's old age seems scary and depressing, when you reach old age you realise it actually isn't so bad. I still keep up, having young GC and my oldest at 17 is a joy, we are very good friends. I do have sadness in my life as my H has Alzheimer's but we cope well with little help and when I get my "robotic knee" as the 5and 7 year olds call it I expect to be a new woman, although still an old one.
Don't fret about it, it will come anyway and you may wonder why you worried.
The odd glass of G&T helps a lot.

I watched a programme last night on BBC4 about an elderly couple finally leaving their home in order to downsize to a bungalow.

It was a castle

The husband was very frail and didn't spend much time out of his chair. The wife finally had to give in to the challenges of old age in a way that made me really admire her spirit.

Growing old is not for wusses. We just have to 'man up' and get on with it....If our health allows.

No, I don't think you are, Nibbie. Are you new? If so, welcome.

I think one of the things that keeps me busy all the time is the fear of stopping and ending up in pain, lonely or like my Mum in a kind of half life with my children trying to do the right thing.