The best thing to do is to downsize and find a place that has all your hobbies close by such as a gun club, shopping, etc.

It is important to take a walk every day and get outside for vitamin D3. Also eat less and do strength exercises to increase your NAD. By the time we are over 70, our NAD levels drop to 1-2 percent while it was 20 percent when we were younger.

Assisted Living Facility can have its problems such as taking medications and even vitamins which have to be recommended by a doctor. Most ALF's can vary in procedures, etc and you could be tied down. It is also hard to find a good one without spending some time there.

Some of my friends have moved into Condo's where they don't have to mow the grass, etc.

As someone has mentioned, being around younger people is positive for your health.

I think within the next 5 to 10 years, people will be able to live past 100 and have the body of a younger person. Dr Faloon has started a program on his own since he is 65 and can't wait around.

Recently, he got a donation of $1M to start a study this fall. They know what needs to done to turn back aging. The dosage and duration needs to be fine tuned to get the best results. Here is his latest video:

I just turned 76, the wife of 49 years, is 75. We are living in an old tree story farm house with a total of 7 bedrooms on a large amount of acreage. After the children moved out their own we started out by using the third floor bed rooms for storage have not been in the third floor for a lot of years.

As we got older and weren't spending any time of the second floor its bedrooms too became a storage areas. We are now living in the ground level of the house and all the junk that we accumulated is packed in the second and third floor bedrooms. I cut the yard back around the back to 1/2 acre around the house so I could keep with the yard work with less effort and yesterday & today I cut down four 50 to 75 foot trees near the house.

Still have probably two weeks to a month in clean up of the trees limbs, branches, cutting of fire wood, etc. My daughters and son decided to give me hell for not hiring someone to drop the trees and to do the clean up. Told them if they didn't want me to do work they come out here and get her done. I don't expect to see any of them till the jobs done. I am a little stiff and sore but I'll be fine in few days. Used a lot muscles I haven't used in a while

When I turned 73 I was getting bored and went back to work for three days a week just to stay active and to get out and spend some time with the younger work force (average age of 30). I was talked into taking a position I didn't want as a supervisor and slowly became a father figure to a lot of the employees. I enjoy the job and would probably continue working it without pay; that saying something for me as I retired from two jobs with 20 year pensions and I hated the work; but I had a family to support.

No assisted living or retirement community for this old fart, if I want to shoot I can safely and legally shoot off the back porch into the hill side back stop. I live on an old farm and have no neighbors close by.

quote:

3K classical music CDs (which I know nobody wants)

I would dearly LOVE to have your classical music CDs! All I have are extremely used vinyl records complete with popping and skips, etc. There's only ONE classical music station in my vicinity, and they play about 50% classical music, and 50% Opera - for which I have never been able to develop a taste.

I agree with Gene. My wife and I moved into a 55+ community last year. I feel as though I have aged 10 years. Everything moves real slow. I am 62 but I like the energy of much younger people.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
Hi Jim.

I’m totally serious when I say this. Be around younger people. Don’t be around a bunch of older frail bitchy whiney grumpy old farts.

The energy of younger people will help your physical, mental and emotional well being.

My very best wishes to you.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
We are totally overwhelmed with crap, and to make it worse my wife and I differ on what is crap and what is treasure.

Oh, that is easy. All of the modern-production kitschy furniture dust-catcher stuff is important and the real antique stuff, interesting and historically significant though maybe awaiting proper restoration, is without value.

Moving from California a few large items didn't make the van. Including a later 1800s table with a SINGLE 5/4" SLAB of sugar pine 22" WIDE for a top ... "Oh, your junk didn't fit? That's all right ... "

Jim, have you considered other options? I understand not wanting to stay in a huge house with two tons of shit. Why not sell the house, get rid of most of the stuff, and move into a nice apartment or condo? Something small and comfortable.

My next door neighbours for 20 years were an oncologist and his wife, lovely people, now both in their late 80s. He was incredibly active, splitting wood and doing repairs up on his roof. But his wife needed daily care, so some months ago they moved into a retirement community, a very high end one. My daughter happened to see him when he stopped by the house a month ago, and she said he did not look well, did not look like his usual buoyant, cheerful self. She asked him how he liked the retirement community and he said, "It's just a lot of sad old people."

Buy my house & I'll move to a +55 in Ocala. my house in Gulf Breeze

^^^^^^
I have read that somewhere and couldn't believe it.

You would have a hard time getting Jim away from the Paper Moon. Maybe he could get a room there?

Jim,

I think you are on the right track. Collections and “stuff” can certainly become a burden later in life. I saw it with my mom and it had a profound impact on my outlook as far as how many things we had accumulated.

We have a move coming up with work and are taking that opportunity to ditch the extra stuff and get back to a basic no-frills lifestyle. Still a few years from retirement but are excited about living a simpler life. I will say it seems impossible at first. Then you start getting rid of junk and it feels great! The more you send out the door, the easier it gets.

As for retirement communities, it depends on how independent or assisted you want to be. Some offer daily activities and varying degrees of assistance. Some are just neighborhoods w lot of retirees. Either way a smaller house can be great as you get older. Think single-story, 1100 sq ft ranch or similar. Have a friend that did what you are talking about a few years ago. She ended up in a 2 bedroom, 1 and half bath ranch w a one-car garage. Not really assisted living but good neighbors that help look out for each other. Seems to work very well for her. She is 86 now and it is a manageable size, with room for family to visit.

It’s a journey, free yourself from the stuff and enjoy life!

Good luck to you!

quote:

Originally posted by 41:
^^^^^^
I have read that somewhere and couldn't believe it.

You would have a hard time getting Jim away from the Paper Moon. Maybe he could get a room there?

I couldn't afford it. Rooms there are very small, have no amenities, and cost several hundred bucks for just an hour.

My mom, who is 70, lives in a retirement community in Florida. it is amazing for her and has every amenity you could ask for. The neighbors are amazing and her quality of life has improved dramatically. If the place is right then go for it and enjoy the several years you have remaining.