Editorials & Other Articles

Tree Lady

(13,399 posts)

33. I love being retired and able to do what I want

Thu Jun 1, 2023, 11:03 AM

Jun 2023

not having to get up early or deal with work stress.

A lot of the universities across america have Olli (Osher Life Long Learning Institute) and have classes for seniors. In my area southern Oregon ours is a great program and I attend classes Fall, Winter and spring.

From leaning dance or pickleball to history, writing, drawing, psychology there is a class for everyone and you can take all the classes you want for $150 a year.

We all learned zoom during the pandemic but it has been great for being social too. They have clubs for hiking, wine tasting etc

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No One Really Tells You The Hardest Part Of Getting Older [View all] Diamond_Dog Jun 2023 OP

Working life for me was all about paying my bills, it was a constant stress. lark Jun 2023 #1

You just don't know how much time you're going to have to spend on repair and maintenance Walleye Jun 2023 #2

Very true. Diamond_Dog Jun 2023 #3

Of the house and yourself! (nt) Pinback Jun 2023 #12

My work life was satisfying but I'm much happier now. quaint Jun 2023 #4

THIS 🙏 iluvtennis Jun 2023 #32

AMEN !! soldierant Jun 2023 #42

I'm just glad that my time is my own wryter2000 Jun 2023 #72

+1000 n/t MarcA Jun 2023 #75

Yep. Freethinker65 Jun 2023 #5

"Youth is wasted on the young" is an adage for a reason. BlueTsunami2018 Jun 2023 #6

Ohh, don't hate yourself. 1WorldHope Jun 2023 #37

Also agree, don't hate yourself sunnybrook Jun 2023 #102

My biggest regret is not living in another country (or two) when I was younger. Lonestarblue Jun 2023 #7

There used to be a program for seniors similar to the exchange student program. japple Jun 2023 #9

Thanks! That would be interesting. Lonestarblue Jun 2023 #10

Just found it. It used to be called Elderhostel but is now Road Scholar. japple Jun 2023 #18

Thank you, this looks like a great resource RainCaster Jun 2023 #23

Yes, thank you..I've saved it. Deuxcents Jun 2023 #93

Is it called Road Scholars? whathehell Jun 2023 #22

In Nebraska it's called OLLI. nt 1WorldHope Jun 2023 #41

OLLI is a day program offered in local universities, etc. No Vested Interest Jun 2023 #90

I was so lucky to be employed as a companion in my early 30's 1WorldHope Jun 2023 #99

Im overseas for nearly 3 years. A good doctor, pharmacist is essential. Tetrachloride Jun 2023 #96

Colonel Sanders was like 65 when he started KFC IronLionZion Jun 2023 #8

I found the pot of gold at the end of my rainbow. The doctors got all the gold. Wonder Why Jun 2023 #11

dreams don't die, they just age too GenXer47 Jun 2023 #13

No one is ever too old to be creative, or too old to learn. And that creativity highplainsdem Jun 2023 #14

Never confuse who you are for what you do..... getagrip_already Jun 2023 #15

I'm totally defined by my job Shermann Jun 2023 #80

Until you can't do that any longer.... getagrip_already Jun 2023 #106

Diamond_Dog ......................Retiring.... Upthevibe Jun 2023 #16

And... True Dough Mar 2024 #111

Maybe Erma Bombeck can help Farmer-Rick Jun 2023 #17

I remember Erma Bombeck's columns markodochartaigh Jun 2023 #66

There is an existential essence to what you've expressed which I won't presume to address. Magoo48 Jun 2023 #19

I do not miss getting up at 5:30 in the morning to get ready to go to work. Chainfire Jun 2023 #20

Amen to that Joinfortmill Jun 2023 #27

It's great people find satisfying things to do JohnnyRingo Jun 2023 #21

Triumph.. TRIUMPH ? TeamProg Jun 2023 #52

How cool! Always awesome to find another LBC person! JohnnyRingo Jun 2023 #86

Very nice pair! With Red Lines, too! Classic. TeamProg Jun 2023 #88

Love that GT. JohnnyRingo Jun 2023 #100

BTW... While we're on the subject. JohnnyRingo Jun 2023 #108

Looks like a great resource, thanks. Does he post on TeamProg Jun 2023 #109

I doubt he does any social media. JohnnyRingo Jun 2023 #110

Boy, do I hear you... Joinfortmill Jun 2023 #24

Diamond Dog, thank you for posting this. I think you may have just saved my life. LaMouffette Jun 2023 #25

For me, the hardest part Is that physically I feel like I'm still 30 tavernier Jun 2023 #26

👍 Joinfortmill Jun 2023 #28

-- NJCher Jun 2023 #44

Ha! 2naSalit Jun 2023 #53

I'm inching towards being able to leave work. MontanaMama Jun 2023 #29

When your son graduates Diamond_Dog Jun 2023 #61

I've been crying for two weeks! MontanaMama Jun 2023 #63

His accomplishments are a great reflection of you, Mama. Deuxcents Jun 2023 #94

Old isn't for sissies, that's for sure. ananda Jun 2023 #30

I spend at least an hour every morning soldierant Jun 2023 #45

Good for you. I changed my diet and do PT exercises. ananda Jun 2023 #70

What I eat is limited by my food allergies soldierant Jun 2023 #85

I hear you. ananda Jun 2023 #87

I worked to live, Beachnutt Jun 2023 #31

I love being retired and able to do what I want Tree Lady Jun 2023 #33

I need a job! usonian Jun 2023 #34

you and I sound very similar NJCher Jun 2023 #48

I knew there was an "evil twin" out there. usonian Jun 2023 #54

LOL NJCher Jun 2023 #55

The worst thing Traildogbob Jun 2023 #35

Living under other people's expectations continues nuxvomica Jun 2023 #36

And when I retired at 50, people couldn't understand why I didn't have a job. Midnight Writer Jun 2023 #65

Health issues are the 'fly 🪰 in the chardonnay '... rubbersole Jun 2023 #38

I have very few regrets. simply want to have a sound mind Roc2020 Jun 2023 #39

Time Lilaclady Jun 2023 #40

This is what I'm contending with right now Quanto Magnus Jun 2023 #43

This echoes my thoughts of late...Thanks for the post! qallunat Jun 2023 #46

My only regrets are about how I've treated people Orrex Jun 2023 #47

I had to stop working... 2naSalit Jun 2023 #49

Tell it, Sister! slightlv Jun 2023 #76

I hear you Skittles Jun 2023 #98

Everyone is different tiredtoo Jun 2023 #50

My life has been all about what people expected of me. I had a window opened once, a decade ago, chia Jun 2023 #51

a lot of truth here republianmushroom Jun 2023 #56

For me, the hardest part of growing older is... WestMichRad Jun 2023 #57

I didn't become a Physician Assistant until I was forty-two. Aristus Jun 2023 #58

You're too kind, Aristus. Diamond_Dog Jun 2023 #59

Don't worry; all of us are. Aristus Jun 2023 #60

Great thread, Diamond_Dog.. Permanut Jun 2023 #62

One thing I did True Blue American Jun 2023 #64

One of the things I love about being retired ... I'm finally able to own a dog FakeNoose Jun 2023 #67

Lil' bouncy! He's adorable! Diamond_Dog Jun 2023 #68

I have been extraordinarily fortunate. mike_c Jun 2023 #69

Find something creative to do wryter2000 Jun 2023 #71

My life. Richard58 Jun 2023 #73

I'm 65 and learning to play guitar JPPaverage Jun 2023 #74

Crank up the amp to 11! Shermann Jun 2023 #81

Retired early at 62 AmBlue Jun 2023 #77

I'm 80. This weekend was spent with the kids and grandkids at an AirB in Pennsylvania. 8:30 p.m. 3Hotdogs Jun 2023 #78

No idea stillspkg Jun 2023 #79

I did become a nurse, working those 12 hour shifts Warpy Jun 2023 #82

I'm 81. No regrets. trof Jun 2023 #83

OMG I loved TWA Skittles Jun 2023 #97

I am grinding the wheat as well, but Javaman Jun 2023 #84

I have taken up telling "dad" jokes... PXR-5 Jun 2023 #89

I guess Mr Lake and I are the lucky ones. LakeArenal Jun 2023 #91

I've found that I've been living through several "careers", calimary Jun 2023 #92

Bannon turned himself in. Guo Wengui was at the end of his rope. Abigail233333 Jun 2023 #95

I feel a song coming on! Aussie105 Jun 2023 #101

The song, "My Way", has also been used by very destructive people who hurt a lot of people in their CTyankee Jun 2023 #107

I'm nearly 66 and I find it liberating samplegirl Jun 2023 #103

59 here. Woodwizard Jun 2023 #104

My father was a physician Danascot Jun 2023 #105