Over 65

[gkent]

I'm currently 65. I started 3 small businesses over the past 12 years. None of them are "full time" but combined they are. All are very "physical". I have arthritis so there is occasional pain. All joints don't work as they did when I was 20 so bending, getting up and down, etc is troublesome. Some positions give cramps. Damp weather is my enemy. This winter's intermittent snow and rain left a lot of ice and it seems that hitting it with the shovel has caused trauma to my shoulders and I currently have tendonitis in both - more so in the right because I'm right handed. Now its agonizing just to lift a cup of coffee. Sleeping is the worst and I haven't had a good night's rest in over a month. I run one of the business during the day and do whatever running around is necessary - pickups or deliveries - not too physically demanding. The other involves welding which I only do in the evenings because electricity is much cheaper in the off hours. Lots of heavy lifting and movement. Once I get working I'm distracted from the tendonitis so only sudden moves hurt but the work in general is not helping the healing process. All the businesses combine to keep me from my projects but the revenue is good enough to afford to have work done by professionals.

The bottom line is, I could retire tomorrow, sell two of the businesses and give the other away. But I love doing all three and they are all niche markets. However I have set a stake in the ground as far as true retirement and then I'll work on my own ****.

 

[khryslerkid]

After reading most of these post, I don't feel too bad in what I'm going through at 62!

I've met Steve from SS and I was taken by surprise when I found out his age. He looks like he's in his forties. I know FU64RY and he looks a lot younger than his age also. Never thought he was turning 69 this year. By the way HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I've had RA all my life and didn't realize it until I was diagnosed with it about ten years ago. Doing manual labor, I just thought all the pain was from over doing it. It's gotten worse over the years and I find doing simple things can be a challenge. You have your good days and bad but I'm not sitting around doing nothing.

I was forced into an early retirement and I'm not liking it. I've always been a work oriented person, getting up, going to work and working hard for my money. And I was making good money until all of the layoffs. Then looking for work at my age was a challenge. No one wants to hire a person over 50, mainly for the fact of what the benefits cost for a employee of that age. Working was becoming more difficult everyday so I decided to file for disability and was approved.

So that's where I'm at right now and I'm not liking it very much. I guess you have to play the hand that's delt to you and be thankful for what you do have and what you can do. We're kind of like these cars that we work on, worn out after 50 plus years and needing a lot of attention!

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

God bless you Kid,my daughter has RA since 9 yo,they said many outgrow it at around 21,,,,,,,,,,,,no such luck

 

[james vignogna]

Going to be 48 this year. June will be my 31st year of work. Ive been working since 1982. I wanted to race so I had to work. In a old school Italian family you want things you work for them. I don’t regret a minute of it but my body does let me know from time to time that I’m getting older.
My lower back is a train wreck. The stress of running a business that was designed around three people that I have been doing alone for the last 8 plus years is the toughest part.
Recently I had a bodily reminder that I am mortal. I had a 70 and a 30 % artery blockage. The 70 required a stent. The 30 will be maintained with meds until further doctor notice no more then a year and a half.
Arterial blockage is way more prevalent then the current health system lets us know about. We are not taught how to identify symptoms until it’s usually to late or significant damage is done. I got lucky. I asked my doctor question that there up small flags. Found it and fixed it.
I got to tell you I feel like I’m 20 years old again.

 

[66383]

I'm 71, work in maintenance at the local community college. In summer most work is mowing on a 60" Dixie Chopper. After a day on it I'm pretty stiff from old Arthur. 12 yrs ago had colon cancer and a colostomy, chemo, the whole 9 yds. A year later had a colostomy reversal and thank the good Lord for that. Yep it hurts to get under the car, but I refuse to quit!!!!! Keep truckin' my friends.

 

[oldbee]

I retired at 62. Closing in on 70 in a few days, but when I work in the garage on whatever, everything hurts, takes longer to get out from under the car than it does to get under it and just as long to straighten up again when leaning under the hood.

Can't take the heat like I used to.

Balance, dexterity and confined space is OK, but heights are another story. I still get up on the roof when I have to, but I have a death grip on the ladder. Then again I was never fond of heights. Still can't figure out how I ever got used to sitting in a chopper with my legs hanging out the door.

My advice............getting old sucks, DON'T DO IT!
Golden years my ***!

Retired at 66, I used to chuckle watching the “old guys” trying to get up off a creeper lol. Then about 65-1/2 I found out creepers all of a sudden were no fun. Now at almost 69 I hate creepers, but you do what ya gotta do!

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

My advice............getting old sucks, DON'T DO IT!
Golden years my ***!

 

[super-bee_ski]

Settle a discussion for me that i was having. Whose over 65 and still actually working in the physical sense of the word? Part time/ Full time/ Farm ranch work, trades, construction. How do you feel? What hurts after a day? Heat, cold weather, whats worse? Hows your balance/dexterity. Confined space/heights? Share with me your deal if you could, would.
Under 62 I'm not interested you should be still busting ***.

Funny you should "Post" this SFSI:
64 and working Flight Test on the F-22 at Edwards AFB
I'm "worn out"
I applied for my 2nd retirement Monday 09 April 2018 for a tentative date of May 29
Being civil Service, D.O.D, it takes a month or two to retire...
Performing WELL on my daily tasks....

 

[oldbee]

Funny you should "Post" this SFSI:
64 and working Flight Test on the F-22 at Edwards AFB
I'm "worn out"
I applied for my 2nd retirement Monday 09 April 2018 for a tentative date of May 29
Being civil Service, D.O.D, it takes a month or two to retire...
Performing WELL on my daily tasks....

Know what ur talking about. Yrs ago my dad tried to get up in the access hatch at rear 1/3 of fuselage in a Corsair; he found out it was “smaller” than he remembered from the Korean War!

 

[Dibbons]

I'm 62 and the two obvious age-related "conditions" I find are:
a) as soon as the ambient temperature hits 80 degrees, I loose all interest in doing anything physical and either wait for the cooler temperatures come evening or wait till the next morning.
b) I can pull muscles in my lower back very easily, last time was loading a new 3 ton Duralast floor jack into the back of my Dodge Dakota pick-up truck. I bent my knees and tried to keep my back straight, but pulled something nonetheless. After a week or so, I felt better. Recently, I waited for my wife to help me unload an A-body hood, used to do that on my own. Now I don't dare chance it.

 

[moparwacko]

Sorry SFSI, I can't relate to the over 65 thing (yet). But I've been doing Electric Utility Linework since the late 70's as a Journeyman. Its a very physically demanding occupation, and a lot of fun at the same time. I promoted a few times to management, but watching other people work was painful. I can relate that the older you get, the smarter you work. The only thing that has slowed me down so far is a torturous thing called plantar fasciitis.
Retirement is looming though and not sure I'm looking forward to it. I've worked since I was 13, I will definitely need something to do.
End of future geezer spiel

 

[1967coronet440]

I’m Probaly going to catch a lot of flack for this one but... I’m 31, laboring since 14 when I dropped out of school. I hurt daily, wacko I feel your pain with the PF. Sometimes hard to sit straight up when I wake up, I have to roll onto my stomach and get out of bed that way. Friends and wife laugh about it and I’ve been dubbed the old man by both but I’ll still outwork Anyone of them on my worst day. 2,4, 8 year olds and my wife depend on me, I’ll never slow down.

 

[Ranger16]

I’ll never slow down.

Wanna bet?

 

[1967coronet440]

Wanna bet?

No lol, I will keep that mentality though

 

[steve from staten island]

After reading most of these post, I don't feel too bad in what I'm going through at 62! View attachment 593834

I've met Steve from SS and I was taken by surprise when I found out his age. He looks like he's in his forties. I know FU64RY and he looks a lot younger than his age also. Never thought he was turning 69 this year. By the way HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I've had RA all my life and didn't realize it until I was diagnosed with it about ten years ago. Doing manual labor, I just thought all the pain was from over doing it. It's gotten worse over the years and I find doing simple things can be a challenge. You have your good days and bad but I'm not sitting around doing nothing.

I was forced into an early retirement and I'm not liking it. I've always been a work oriented person, getting up, going to work and working hard for my money. And I was making good money until all of the layoffs. Then looking for work at my age was a challenge. No one wants to hire a person over 50, mainly for the fact of what the benefits cost for a employee of that age. Working was becoming more difficult everyday so I decided to file for disability and was approved.

So that's where I'm at right now and I'm not liking it very much. I guess you have to play the hand that's delt to you and be thankful for what you do have and what you can do. We're kind of like these cars that we work on, worn out after 50 plus years and needing a lot of attention! View attachment 593846

Thanks for the compliment but I'm starting to show my age LOL.... When i became a grandparent i was 53 and i took that little sweetheart everywhere with me. I cant tell you how many times older women were not sure if she was my child or a grandchild. I swear that kid if i was single would have been the best chick, well older chicken magnet ever! I had a lot of fun with her and my wife would get so pissed and of course i played it for everything it was worth.
The issue now for me is how much longer. There are so many things to consider. I fell today, in front of a few guys and i felt like a invalid. I have some physical issues like knees, shoulder and neck, what really bothers me is night time leg cramps after all day standing/walking/climbing. Its worse in the summer . I just wanted to know how guys around the same age are doing. I guess were all more or less in the same boat.

 

[Ranger16]

No lol, I will keep that mentality though

That's about the best we can do.... until Mother nature overrides our wills.
Remember that old country western song, "My mind says you can do this, but my body say's oh no you can't".

 

[GrabberOrange69]

Steve,

Thanks for posting this, great thread.

I'm 53 and still working and busting ***, still paying into the ponzi scheme they call social security and hoping it will still be there when I arrive. I'm lucky that I have few real physical problems, but have learned to work "smarter" on the car. I need to exercise more, eat and drink less, but right now blood pressure is good. Some of it is genes - my family on both sides have lived long lives into their late 80s to early 90s.

I've lived a life of between blue and white collar...white color for the moment, but just made some moves to go back to the blue side. I'm tired of the bullsh*t politics and fortunate that I have maintained my skillset to allow the change back.

I used to think I'd work to 70 because I liked work and could wait on the SS. I don't think that way anymore. Life is too short, and I've been diligent preparing for retirement so 62 will be fine. House will be paid off in 4-5 years. A good acquaintance of mine passed at 60 with cancer. He never made it to retirement, you never know what life will bring, so I'm planning on being done at 62.

My dad is mid 70s and is still working on the cars and kicking around. He had a physical and dirty job his whole life and retired at 63. He's in amazing health and physical shape, walks 5 miles a day and is not on one single medication. I want to be like him.

 

[khryslerkid]

God bless you Kid,my daughter has RA since 9 yo,they said many outgrow it at around 21,,,,,,,,,,,,no such luck

God bless your daughter Hemi.

Wish they had a cure for it. They like to use drugs that lower your immune system and that's not always a good thing. Anti-inflammatorys are a temporary relief. Just make sure you're on something that helps to protect the heart.

 

[eldubb440]

53 ........ I get it done with a different pain every week...... although I have a "use it or lose it" mentality, I cannot imagine what 65 will feel like

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

God bless your daughter Hemi.

Wish they had a cure for it. They like to use drugs that lower your immune system and that's not always a good thing. Anti-inflammatorys are a temporary relief. Just make sure you're on something that helps to protect the heart.

We found a wonderful doc THAT GOT HER OFF THE STEROIDS!!