There is a review in the Guardian this morning of the concert played by Paul McCartney yesterday. At the age of 82, he fronted a set that included 36 songs, which took nearly 3 hours to play.
I quite often joke that my nominated real retirement age is 83, which is when my father began to slow down, although I think he did it too soon.
There is, of course, an element of luck as to whether I will reach that age or be as fit as I would hope when doing so, but I like the fact that there are people like Paul McCartney who demonstrate that age is not an impediment to doing things.
Throughout life, I think too many people are impeded by the idea, too often put to them, that they cannot do things because they are too young, too old, do not fit in, do not have the necessary bits of paper, or whatever else somebody who stands in their path wishes to claim. I am not suggesting for a moment that all achievements are available to everyone. That is obviously not true. It is, however, true that everyone is capable of achieving, and often a great deal more than they think. Wouldn't it be great if we had a society that was built upon that premise?
I have no plans to go quietly into the night.
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…..David Attenborough, Ruper Murdoch, Noam Chomsky, Henry Kissinger, Jimmy Carter……James Ivory
There are women too…
I’ve always liked what the late Stephen Pollan, an American lawyer and financial planner, wrote back in the 90s in his book “Die Broke.”
“…Retirement is not only not worth striving for, it’s impossible for most – and something you should do your best to avoid. The notions it’s based on are simply no longer true. When age sixty-five was chosen as the retirement age, most people died at sixty-three. Today, not only are you likely to live into your eighties or nineties, but your older years are going to be active and productive ones. Retiring at age sixty-five would mean your spending two decades doing needlework and gardening.
When retirement was first developed, everyone thought leisure was automatically more fulfilling than work. You know better. You take pride in a job well done, enjoy being part of a team, and know that work – in one form or another – is as integral a part of your life as play”.
Agreed
I hear people of my age discussing their endless holidays, and plans for those to come and quietly groan.
Then I realise that many of them did what were best described as well paid shit jobs.
Stephen Pollan, again :-
“…Underlying the advocacy of the climb up the corporate ladder is the concept that what others think of you is more important than what you think of yourself, and that the only rung that’s worthwhile is the top one. Implicit in the promotion of buying on credit is the belief that something earned is no more valuable than something simply acquired. Urging full and early retirement is tantamount to saying work is a curse to be avoided if at all possible. And pushing for estate creation and the transfer of wealth through inheritance is based on the belief that money is the most important thing you could leave your children.”
He was a wise man, Stephen Pollan.
Bullshit jobs is the term you’re looking for I think (courtesy the late David Graeber).
It was
And if, like Paul McCartney, you enjoy singing, then if you keep singing, your voice will stay healthy well into your nineties. If you are retired, and don’t already sing, do think about it, and believe this: if you can speak, you can sing, we all have a voice, and a few singing lessons are worth their weight in gold. Not only is singing good for the body and the mind, it is a great source of social interaction, and enjoyment.
Only in the car for me
My wife is a very good singer, and we do together, but a choir has never appeared to me. My mother was in a Bach choir and it was so stuffy in those days I think I still make the association.
There are still some “stuffy” choral societies around, best avoided. But there are also many community choirs, that don’t audition, and are very relaxed and friendly.
Lots of good things here – I would still like to get out of work because it is dying – the workplace has never been so disjointed for me at least for reasons I’ve gone into in the past. But retirement should not be the end – I have loads of songs I wish to write and finish off, books to re-read and read for the first time and some jamming to be done on the guitar. And there is walking too and photography.
Enjoy, when it comes.
Recruiting able volunteers seems to be getting harder. There are many valuable organisations which are plugging the gaps in statutory care and which could do more for more people with more volunteers. If you can afford to retire you could have a whole new worthwhile ’career’ doing something completely different. Not all work is paid work.
I could, except I am not really retiring – this is my work from now on.
This is not a job!!!!!
Why not? Please explain.
This reminds me of a line from an Elvis Costello song – ‘Are we stronger than we believe?’. To which there is an obvious answer…
🙂
There are many quotes that “age is just a number”, and I admire Paul McCartney still performing at 82. We have shows from quite a lot of the ‘oldies’ in Buxton (most remark on what a beautiful theatre it is – it was opened 1923 and is a Frank Matcham theatre and these ‘oldies’ appreciate the stunning surroundings – Grade 2 listed and in a Conservation area) – amongst regular visits ‘Sensational 60s’ come annually, this year with Mike d’Abo (now 80), The Fortunes from various eras and Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich etc –. Mike Pender gave up last year (83), recently Elkie Brooks performed here (one day older than me), Tony Christie (age 81, memory helped by his wife in the audience) performing for Music for Dementia, Ian McKellen age 85, one group from the 1960s where the average age was 80! One of my former clients went back on the road in the 2000s and he must be at least approaching 80 if not more. I admire them all – never give up. My own Father was above Base Camp on Everest at the age of 76 (with his own sherpa’s – he said walking groups were too slow) , and he and I were walking in the high Alps in Switzerland when he was 93. Could your Father not be persuaded? Dame Joan Collins (age 91) entertained us recently, aided by her 5th husband – she is responsible for my favourite ‘age’ quote – “age is just a number. It’s totally irrelevant unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine.”
Much to amuse
Charles Handy (RIP) got it right. Have a portfolio career and don’t just focus on one thing for the whole of your work life but have a number of income streams – all different – which help to keep intellect, hands and body in good shape for as long as possible. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portfolio_career.
Always have a number of projects on the go – intellectual & practical – and always think you are 15 years younger than you are!
I find the phrase ‘age is just a number’ trite and patronising. So much depends on good genes and the fact that Andrew Broadbent (first commentator as I write this) can name a number of still active elderly people illustrates their rarity. I’ve led a very active life which has been of benefit to me, particularly a few years ago when I received a kidney transplant after many years of chronic kidney disease at the then age of 74 (my age was just a number then and the kidney specialists approved me for transplant based on my general fitness despite my age). My active life also worked against me when I contracted Mitochondrial Disease (a disease that retards the body’s ability to process energy) aged 47 as a result of over exerting while unwell. Collectively these two ailments have greatly impaired my physical and cognitive ability and in the case of my kidney disease caused serious arthritis. I’m still active and take a deep interest in life, however I do get irritated when elderly people who have been blessed with good genes appear to take the view that being healthy in old age is all in the mind.
I take nothing for granted, Philip.
I know I can do things to improve my longevity, but I also know luck plays a big part.
Sir Rod Stewart is touring next year and he’s 79.
He has also created a wonderful model railway – see this months Railway Modeller
🙂
I rarely take RM these days, but I might take a look.
Can I also mention the u3a network? This has no lower age limit and relies on members sharing their passions, hobbies and interests with others. No formal studying but guest speakers have introduced me to many varied subjects. https://www.u3a.org.uk/
I have dine talks for U3A and they are always a good audience.
Don’t forget to mention the blind winner of Strictly…seriously uplifting.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002569y/strictly-come-dancing-series-22-blackpool-special?seriesId=b006m8dq-day-86
I wish to contribute; However reading the comments I do so with trepidation[a word I found hard to spell] for my knowledge and grasp of most things discussed is fragile to say the least & I fear embarrassment[got to love spell check].
I find that most here enjoy their work, taking solace and pleasure from a job done right. My lack of enthusiasm and life of underachievement has developed an infinity for melancholy. I have always avoided work, even when I did a job (Early IT) that I found interesting and such, I found the meagre wages and neoliberal conditioning did not prepare me for life. I feel it must be pleasant to have a stable footing, the ability to retain knowledge and achieve such amazing outcomes in life must be mentally satisfying.
I am ill with a life illness now and try to avoid employment at all cost, I am fairly stable although not by much more than an unexpected bill and my living arrangements fair better than others currently, but are tenuous[the first word I spelt correctly] at best. I enjoy YouTube as my primary knowledge giver and recently found myself relating to the philosophy of Emil Cioran. But I feel he might have come from a place of privilege.
Thanks, and go well, Phil.