We're Not Dead Yet!

My wife and I help out at a holiday event.

Recently, a young person in his twenties asked me, what can you possibly do after 60? It's a fair question coming from someone who hasn't yet experienced much, if any, of adult life. Biological, chronological, and intellectual age, each being a different thing, questions like these of older folks are common. My answer to this inexperienced questioner is ...

Your life after 60 can be the most creative years ever. I have been working since I was 15 years old. I'm 70 now and still working, thinking, curious, and loving to be active. I've had four spinal fusions and multiple eye surgeries; I'm blind in one eye, and the other is not that great, but I won't let these things hold me back. My philosophy is when something wears out, you mend it or replace it if you can and keep moving forward.

I'm not wealthy, but I manage. I'm not interested in TV, amusement parks, playing golf, or anything many retirees care about. I'm fascinated by small business, the science of gardening in my backyard, reading, and writing. I'm a lifelong learner—stimulating my brain with the excitement of new ideas is most important to me.

For exercise, I'm a road cyclist, nordic walker, and gardener. I've been married to the same lovely lady for 46 years. She understands my need to keep moving and keep doing. Retirement in the traditional sense is off the table for me. I hated the corporate arena when I was in it and would never return. But I love creating, writing, running a small business, and helping others do the same. Believe me when I tell you; life after 60 is an adventure!

So, the bottom line is not all of your elders are heading en masse to retirement communities. Many are going back to school, starting new relationships, exploring their creativity, taking new spiritual paths, embarking on "encore" careers, forming new communities, fighting for causes in which they believe, giving their time and money away, and yes, bucket listing.

Me personally? I am never bored and always look forward to what tomorrow offers.