Just turned fiddy meself, and this thread is relevant.

When my wife and I were still in our 20's we developed a great plan on what we wanted out of life (financially) through 50, with "be able to retire by 50" as the last goal.

Now, we are both 50, and we really didn't plan for this phase. We are nearing our retirement (ability) financially, but haven't really done anything except work and raise two great kids, so we are beginning to move from that "acquirement" phase to more of a reflective mood. Suddenly, having more money isn't as important as using the time we have left to actually live, and to enjoy one another's company. Especially when you look at the age that some of our grandparents went to be with our Lord (mid 50's!!).

There are a lot of guys who still play after 50. Several even score goals now and again. Never against me of course but no reason not to lace them up and try.

Goals after 50. Double it while enjoying every minute! Being 66 I'm finding after 60 some of the healthy fun dwindles. And I'm not talking sex! I'm talking physical mobility issues. In my case being due to arthritis.

I have a ways to go, but at 60 I'm retired, no ifs ands or buts about it.

I'd like to do that at 50, but child timing puts two in simo college from 51-55, so 55 is my first opportunity.

Stay above ground as long as possible, become a burden on the family for fun.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
To not have to get up at 5:30 am to pee.

And then get hit again with another bladder tsunami at 9:30 am, while in the middle of a college lecture.

"Mere dilettante":
1. Naval officer
2. Pilot
3. Ham radio operator
4. Attorney
5. Real estate broker
6. Financial advisor/investor
7. Shooter
8. Husband to lovely musician, lady of many talents herself
9. Grandpa
10. Indispensable source of wisdom to 85,000 or so

Sounds pretty Renaissancey to me.

Read this article, and at 56, I think I'm gonna give it a go. Wish me luck.

And for those not wanting to go to the link, it's an S I article about a 41y/o wanting to dunk a basketball.

This is an interesting question. Tomorrow (June 9) marks 40 continuous years that I have worked for Uncle Sam.

I went to Boot Camp at RTC/NTC San Diego. Was in the Navy 24 years. Retired as an LDO/LCDR and immediately (while on terminal leave) took a job with a govt contractor for 6 months, then started as a govt civilian employee.

I have been doing the same stuff for 40 years. I'm kind of tired of it. I have seen a lot of changes. Forgotten more stuff than I can remember.

I hope to retire in March 2019. For many years I have said the one of my "objectives" at work is not to die at my desk. I have seen too many friends die while working or die within 6 months of retirement.

I don't want to be that guy.

after 50 I want to learn Judo and become a Black Belt.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
"Mere dilettante":
1. Naval officer
2. Pilot
3. Ham radio operator
4. Attorney
5. Real estate broker
6. Financial advisor/investor
7. Shooter
8. Husband to lovely musician, lady of many talents herself
9. Grandpa
10. Indispensable source of wisdom to 85,000 or so

Sounds pretty Renaissancey to me.

Well, Merriam-Webster says a dilettante is

quote:

1
: an admirer or lover of the arts
2
: a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge : dabbler

Add to the list musician and triathlete, BTW.

I did get into some of those areas well beyond dabbling, the business/professional ones, particularly, but I'm certainly not a proficient shooter, never was. Same with triathloning. I was a survivor, a finisher, not really a racer.

I was a Navy officer, had the commission, but was never occupied in those duties, never a qualified watch stander, etc. I was a computer geek.

I was a pretty serious pilot, really into it, but private only with no interest in flying professionally, instructing. I didn't want to be a Blue Angel; I just wanted to fly like one! Same with ham radio, merely a hobby. I did work my way through college as a musician, among other things.

Being a grandpa is pretty easy. You just take pictures, pose for pictures while beaming proudly like you had something to do with it.

Being married to a terrific wife, young, thin, blond and French, and an avid classical pianist, pilot and triathlete herself, is just a matter of luck. She made me an offer I couldn't refuse!

Well, I have gone to Fla a couple different times.
We just got back from Az. Doing a shooting school for a week with my son.
We went to Utah about 3 years ago and took our UTV, that was a great vacation.
We went to Montana,Wyo, and South Dakota about 6 years ago, pretty good vacation.
Seeing The Cody Wyo museum was fantastic.
Next we want to do another house boat on lake Cumberland again.
We want to go to WV to the Hatfield McCoy ATV trails.
We want to go to Mich and the UP to the National Forest to UTV.
Want to see my grandson play little league in a few years, he is 3.

Well I'm fifteen years late.

First goal, retiring at the end of this month. Well, semi retiring. Three days a week in a Harley dealership. Friend wants to sell on Ebay, he owns a shop that does hot rod work and fabrication. Wants me to help set it up.

Finish a lot of things started but not finished over the years. One stalled project car build, pretty much at a standstill for various reasons. Put in a garden next year. Spend more time with my wife and grandchild and soon to be another grandchild.

Trace my family tree, have a mystery, need to locate my great great grandfather's grave along with my great grandmother's brother's also, I know the cemetery but incomplete records for that time period. Have some leads to track down, been working on this since the mid 1990's.

Want to get proficient with my Garand. Learn to reload. We are planning to travel, will start next year looking for a used Class C motorhome, I hate motels and hotels with a passion.

Want to bum around the southwest for awhile. When we lived in New Mexico in the 80's I made a lot of friends there, now scattered from Missouri to California. Want to see all them again. Pick up the 1965 Suzuki Hillbilly my friend in California is holding for me. Will restore it and use it as a camp bike on the back of the motorhome.

Last but not least, one of my friends quit motorcycling a few years ago. He told me that he wants to get another and hinted, well came right out and said that he wants me to come to Texas, meet him and we take off for a few weeks to the Pacific Northwest. So, just in the discussion stages at present.

Doubled the horsepower in my car and owned many more 1911s!

Able to retire now... Still love my job and the people I work with.

When I do, I would love to live either in Italy or Spain and immerse in the language and culture.

Love to travel, would like to experience deeper.
In Barcelona now.

quote:

Originally posted by Tommydogg:
Doubled the horsepower in my car and owned many more 1911s!

Truth right there....

Do a pilgrimage like the Shikoku 88 Temple ohenro.

See the aurora borealis.

See the bioluminescent squid in Toyama.

See the bioluminescent mushrooms in Japan.

See sea life by snorkeling/scuba in places like the Great Barrier Reef.

Swim with dolphins, feed rays in their natural habitats.

Eat at the top Michelin rated restaurant for French, Italian, Japanese cuisines.

Breathing

My goal at 50 (2008) was to live 2 more years until retirement (2010).

DONE!

Yeah, I've got some goals, but most days I'm happy if I can just make it onto the ice.