I love the fact that I don't " HAVE" to be anywhere-at a certain time like I did when I was at work--and most of the time I can now do what I want when I want--travel / stay at home/ be alone / be with others --if I want to--/sleep when I am tired--eat when I am hungry--I love retirement.

There is a great line in Janis Joplins "Bobby McGee"........"Freedom's just another word for....'nothin left to do'....". For me, retirement is the freedom to do the things I want. Thats the upside, the downside is having the funds to actually do it. Dont we all struggle to get by.....we have to economise, re-use, abstain from some of the "goodies" we would like? I think twice about using my car (cost of fuel). So, to some extent, retirement is also a prison sentence.



We all (at our age) have the benefit of "life experience", we are smarter than many of the youngsters,so I still try to make a buck where I can, do some volunteer work and look for ways to have fun without too much expense. Just meeting the fine people in this forum is a pleasure I value. The message I am trying to push is just live your life.......we all have problems, money worries, health issues etc, but every day......just make sure you DO SOMETHING. If you cant bring joy to your own life, bring joy to someone else......its all good "Karma".



All my life I have worried......worried about money, worried about my looks, weight etc, worried about my career, my marriage(s), my kids, retirement etc. These days, I dont worry because it just doesnt matter any more........The thing I love most about myself about is just being ME.

My granddaughter asked me the other day what did it feel like being "old". It was not meant as an insult because to a 6 year old anyone over 20 seems to be old.She then added that I was lucky because I could go to bed when I wanted to and didn't have to eat cauliflower if I didn't want to. I agree that being a senior isn't such a bad way of life.How I look doesn't worry me anymore and that doesn't mean that I have "let myself go' it's just that other things matter more . Good health and the company of good friends are more important.Now that we are retired, my friends and I enjoy a social get together at picnic spots, play cards, go to shows or just meet up to keep in touch.I am lucky that two of my children live in the same area so I get to see my grandchildren quite often. At present my husband and I are planning a trip to Mudgee to meet up with friends who retired there.Life seems less stressful since I retired from work and I am lucky to be in a Superannuation scheme that lets me live comfortably. The next decision coming up is whether to downsize our home and move into a unit or villa. My husband is not keen at this stage so we keep putting it off. If anyone reading this lives in a retirement village I would be grateful for any feedback and views on how they settled in to this way of life.

I live in a retirement resort style village Mary on the Fraser Coast. I like it,we are near shops,and we have 1 heated pool 1 outdoor pool, Tennis Court, Bowling Green, Library, Community Hall we we stage shows etc etc. Bingo, Trivia . There is a smaller hall for Darts and Pool. The houses are all detached with our own front and back gardens, there are 2 animal sections for people who have pets. The management and caretaking is not cheap, but I think is worth it -it includes water and rates. The caretaker lives on site and is on call 24 hrs if needed. And the euity is ours not management, mine is now worth twice what I paid for it. Thats the one thing you have to watch for - that any rise is yours and not management.

Thanks for the information Liana. You seem very happy where you are living and having the activities on site would be great. I'm sure my husband would settle in once he lived in a retirement village as he would still be able to visit friends and continue playing bowls. We did get to look at one establishment which would have suited me but he didn't think it was close enough to a hospital and felt that the units were too close together.

The message I am trying to push is just live your life.......we all have problems, money worries, health issues etc, but every day......just make sure you DO SOMETHING. If you cant bring joy to your own life, bring joy to someone else......its all good "Karma".



All my life I have worried......worried about money, worried about my looks, weight etc, worried about my career, my marriage(s), my kids, retirement etc. These days, I dont worry because it just doesnt matter any more........The thing I love most about myself about is just being ME.





Well said Hugo. Too many people look for the worst in life, (and often find it,) instead of trying to make the best of what we have. One positive thought or a smile a day will work wonders.

I don't lub too much aboud myselb ab de momend - I'd got a heavy cold. I'm managing to cough, sneeze, fart and pee myself, all at the same time. Talk about multi tasking!

Congratulations Bev ,such multi skilled folk are rare

I don't lub too much aboud myselb ab de momend - I'd got a heavy cold. I'm managing to cough, sneeze, fart and pee myself, all at the same time. Talk about multi tasking!



How about a couple of stiff drinks Bev..........With a friend of course...............It won't much matter then ........LOL

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What I love most about myself now is that at my age I still wake up and can get vertical each day.

To me that's a fair start to any day; after that it's up to me to make it worth while.

And, I think I do (big grin)