I'm in my mid sixties and firmly believe age ain't nothing but a number. I have done many things wrong in my life but my mother taught me the value eating properly and exercise. A career in the Navy kept me surrounded by young people. I have pull-up contests with kids young enough to be my grandsons and I date women young enough to be my daughter.

And I can't stand geezer rock. It makes you old. There's too much new and exciting music coming out every week to live in the past. Grab life by the balls and enjoy it cuz no one gets outta here alive. Someone here has a Steve McQueen quote that sums it all up but I can't remember (maybe I am getting old

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Originally posted by TMats:
If you can afford it, get something that's fun to drive now instead of after retirement. I don't think I could have, kids in college and all, but you don't have to spend $70k for a car to be enjoyable to drive and own.

If you're in any way a car guy I agree. My wife and I made this decision 3 years ago after hanging out with a bunch of 60 and 70 year old neighbors who required a minivan or similar for ease of entry. If we were ever going to have another car with 4" of ground clearance and your ass damn near that low, now was the time!

Of course, 8 months later I gimped up my knee and it's still a challenge....

We made it a goal to get the family to the beach for a week each summer. We started that when we were in our mid-twenties. Now in their 30's, those memories are among their fondest. Some years we stayed in a real nice ocean front home. Sometimes a bit more rustic. But we went. No regrets.

I still have a few months before i’m 60. What i’m Glad to have done was to maxed out my 401k (maximum plus catch up) and other savings. When I quit an awful job I had for only 6 months this February, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I no longer need to work for a salary. It’s a good feeling to come to a point where you are indifferent to working instead of needing to work. I figure any incremental savings from working isn’t really going to significantly add proportionately to my savings so why bother working.

Wish I had started competition pistol shooting when I 50 vs. when I was 60.

Great thread. I just turned 48 and will be taking time to read through this later.

I turned 60 a few weeks ago, but hunting season has kept me too busy to notice any difference.

I'm 66 and have enjoyed reading the posts of others. I have no regrets of what I have done. SCUBA, Sky Diving, motorcycles, firearms, hiking,and traveling. The advise stated by those above is all good stuff. I have retired, work part time at a fun stress free environment and look forward to the next adventure. Recently we have been to Alaska several times. Hiked the glaziers and made terrific friends. Plan on returning to the Last Frontier. At any age: enjoy life to the fullest. Oh, I have had a triple by-pass and hiked the glaziers post surgery.

If you have any kids that are just starting families do what you can with them. Once your grandchildren hit that age where they are involved in everything you won't have the leisure time with them that you might be able to enjoy now. You get to go to soccer games etc. but the days where you can just hang out with them become few and far between.

ADVISE: DO IT NOW!
Getting old is no picnic,anybody that tells you that life is as good or better now that they are older(physically) is kidding you.
I was amazed at how well I was doing physically when I was about 62, It all took a downward spiral after that. Arthritis in the knees,2 torn rotator cuffs,arthritis in the hands,having to pee every couple hours,etc. It all comes on you like a giant wave.
Sure you can have surgery to fix stuff but now you have rehab and possibly poor outcomes from surgery.
You never see it coming.
Take it all while you can, you are on borrowed time.

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Originally posted by armored:
Arthritis in the knees,2 torn rotator cuffs,arthritis in the hands,having to pee every couple hours,etc.

Just curious: Did the torn RCs happen from overdoing it with work / exercise as you got older?

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IMO, if your retired and financially able, tour the country - by car, truck, camper or motorcycle. There is so much to see in America.

For several years we toured the USA with a German couple who were childhood friends of my wife.

I think we hit every state. Would fly out to a major hub, rent a car and then drive a "great circle" route over a couple weeks. Had great times and saw so much. Would do it again, but doubt that German couple would come over here. He is scared (badly) of flying now.

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Originally posted by MNSIG:

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Originally posted by armored:
Arthritis in the knees,2 torn rotator cuffs,arthritis in the hands,having to pee every couple hours,etc.

Just curious: Did the torn RCs happen from overdoing it with work / exercise as you got older?

One was a previous tear that was repaired,then re-torn.
The other happened while I was working but I could not say that it was work related.
I would have them repaired again but feel I was lucky the first time with the repair and the quick trouble free recovery, I might not be so luck again and might end up with 2 really bad shoulders. I recently have had trouble shooting one handed and my re-think the repair.
The older you get the more of a throw of the dice surgery might be. Sometimes things should be left alone.

my nephew just turned 50,
his dad ( my brother) told me that since last January, his son has gotten his pilots license, climbed Mount kilaminjaro , fly fished in patagonia, and is currently on a 9 day safari in so. africa.