Green Fingered, and Flourishing in Retirement ?

[Nature's Babe]

It struck me how many people here are just not conforming to societies stereotypes for those past retirement, the elderly are often seen as needy lonely, inactive, declining mentally and with mulyiple problems, so maybe society needs to catch up? Many people here are optimistic enough to plan and plant for the future, passing their skills and wisdom on to family and others, volunteering, active, positive etc. Recent research shows that these positive attitudes can add six to eight years to our life where low cholesterol or blood pressure only adds 2 years, Younger people bring these beliefs about old age with them into retirement negative or positive affecting how they age and survive. Is it the gardening that sparks our interest in life and gives us reason to get up and get going, the healthy veg we eat or the exercise we get growing it? Many here seem to be flourihing like their gardens. So I thought it would be nice to share our tips for positive contented life after retirement with younger members, and maybe how gardening fits with wellbeing in our latter years ? Hopefully they will enter retirement with the same positive attitude.

My tip - I use it - or lose it and that includes giving my brain a work out not just physical excercise, i am never too old to learn something new or do something different. I still have ambitions and dreams of things I want to do.

[Cider Boys]

You are quite right Nature Babe, gardening cheers me up and keeps me going too. I have always enjoyed gardening and when I was young used to get fed up during the long Winters months waiting for the Spring, now unfortunately all time both Winters and Summers seem to pass too quickly. So as you say - best use it before you loose it.

Barney

[oldherbaceous]

I can't wait to hear, and learn, from all your replies .

[Nature's Babe]

You rascal OH, er what does the O in OH stand for? ... you don't get away with that....come on spill your tips Could it be something to do with keeping a sense of fun and humour ?

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Old Nature's Babe, old to me, has always been a term of endearment.

Work hard, play hard, but always enjoy it.
When you don't enjoy it, it's time to stop.

[Primrose]

I think the one thing about gardening above all else is that when you're sowing and planting, there is always the anticipation of something to look forward to, rather than a final ride in a wooden box. Whilst the opportunity exists to look forward to something in the future, it's difficult just to sit in an armchair and rot away.

[Nature's Babe]

Good advice OH, I like how you included enjoy work too, I always did, we work for a long time, sure helps if we enjoy it, and when we enjoy gardening
it doesn't seem like hard work either.
Hi Primrose, good point, we all like something to look forward to.

[DiG]

My tip would be that it is never too late to start.

We did not have the opportunity to garden very much when we lived in London as we had a tiny back yard. We moved from there to rural Wales and 3.5 acres when we retired. Our friends thought we were mad to take it on but we love it and it is us that are fit and healthy and them (younger by a fair bit and bone idle) who have the aches and pains and diabetes from overweight.

I don't think it matters whether it is gardening or any other interest; something to keep your mind and body active - we are also currently building (with no outside help) a large workshop for my 'old man' to indulge his passion for woodwork.

[Geoff]

I'm not sure I'm qualified to respond to this post as I am not "past retirement". I retired early because I have a fairly simple lifestyle that I can maintain on a modest pension. Gardening kept me sane (well almost) while I was working and continues to do so in retirement. I'm not very sociable and quite happy in my own company pottering about outside, in fact I'm probably pretty unbearable when confined to the house! The secret of a relaxed life is to be satisfied with what you've got, if you could teach people to be satisfied with their own company there would be a lot less loneliness and depression.
Relax, plant a tree and watch it grow!

[Nature's Babe]

Diane, your place sounds wonderful
I once nursed a couple who married in their nineties, and I think they would agree with you

Being content with less,and with own company, how wise Geoff, glad you chose to be included. I retired early too, a little less pension but other things are more important, I agree, if we are lucky we get a lot less needy as we mature.

[JohnN]

I've been retired for 12 years now and keep myself occupied with the garden, cooking, fishing, playing cards, reading and meeting friends for a pint or a meal. The two most important things I think are:
(a) always have something to look forward to within the next 48 hours, however small, as well as long-range things like the garden and holidays.
(b) when you retire remember that people are more important to happiness than places. In other words don't go rushing off to live by the seaside, breaking long-held circles of friends. The place you relocate to will already have its social circles set up and you haven't got the years it takes to break in and be accepted.
The biggest danger? Getting too smug about it

[Nature's Babe]

There is truth in that John, it is easy to make aquaintances but true friendships take time to develop.