I am in the pre-phase of retirement. Another couple of years and it is there. I am worried about how COVID and the recession have impacted on my plans. But I am even more worried about how the community is stigmatizing me as “becoming old”, sometimes asking me when I intend to take it slow. Thereby implying that age means becoming less mobile, less interested in life activities, and having to sit on a porch of whatever age care home sipping away coffee. On the contrary, I feel I belong to an increasing amount of “baby boomers” who can believe in “seventy being the new sixty”. There are sound reasons for what I am saying.
- The medical world has become so successful that people remain healthy and independent for longer. It is not necessarily the case that people retire due to ill health. In many instances, it is a deliberate choice that has nothing to do with health. Retirement is frequently viewed as a stepping stone into the next phase of life. And even if there are some medical issues, there are many helping aids to support staying healthy longer.
- In society itself, there is a greater acceptance of the above. Interesting enough. the word “retire” is sometimes used by persons below the age of sixty, wanting to indicate their ability to make a life-choice of fulfilling their dreams which in most instances include escaping from the negative impact of the “rat race”.
- There are also sound psychological principles to approach aging in a healthy way. You can find many articles about the “existential vacuum” and the danger here-of when aging.
Thus, ….. while I am worried about a recession and COVID, I believe I can realize some unfulfilled dreams. I am a middle-income earner who has seen two children through to adulthood alongside my wife. We are happy with three grandkids and a fourth coming. We can now have a look at our budget and think: where to from here? As stated, we are worried about the current climate and how things will unfold. However, both of us have this interest (or need) to do some traveling prior to setting down our post for the final stretch. As such we could easily have been gypsies. But wanting to have a waterhole at night. Whether this is a hotel room, Airbnb or a caravan park. In Oz, it can be called a “billabong”.
Locally, nationally (for the moment) as well as internationally. This is what my blog is about. It’s about a fella that has to watch his budget, but at the same time has dreams of living LIFE when greying. Maybe I could share some tips with others. But I am sure you could also share it with me. In the first instance providing satisfaction for myself to share our wanderings. But there may be some other greying travelers out there who may find it encouraging to hear it is possible. Or interesting. You are welcome to contribute as we go along. Share some wisdom!
