Why am I posting this?......

[Griswold]

Don't tell me - it's coming to me.....
.
.
Oh, yeah, I remember now.....
.
.
I?ve just taken early retirement at the ripe young age of 58 and a half.
.
.
Seems we now need young, dynamic, go-ahead people in management these days, whatever that means? (Presumably young, dynamic, go-ahead people are more capable than older, conscientious, loyal, experienced and qualified people) and, at 58 and one half with 41 years of experience in the industry behind me, I was clearly past it; so they made me an offer I couldn?t refuse. It was a bit of a shock at first, and the pension?s not brilliant but now I?m looking forward to enjoying every last minute of it.

As I?m going to be retired, drawing my company pension, (all too small), and therefore classed as a Senior Citizen I got to thinking. What exactly are the roles and responsibilities of a Senior Citizen? And what will it be like being one?

Well it seems Senior Citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary.

We know that Senior Citizens take responsibility for all they have done and do not blame others. HOWEVER, upon reflection, I would like to point out that, as I join their ranks, it was NOT the Senior Citizens who took: -

. The melody out of music,
. The pride out of appearance,
. The courtesy out of driving,
. The romance out of lovemaking,
. The commitment out of marriage,
. The responsibility out of parenthood,
. The togetherness out of the family,
. The learning out of education,
. The service out of patriotism,
. The Golden Rule from rulers,
. The nativity scene out of cities,
. The civility out of behavior,
. The refinement out of language,
. The dedication out of employment,
. The prudence out of spending,
. The ambition out of achievement, or,
. God out of government and school.

And we certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from personal relationships and interactions with others!!

And, we do understand the meaning of courage, honor and patriotism; and remember those who have fought and died for our country. Just look at the Senior Citizens with tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts as they stand to attention, on Remembrance Day.

YES, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN!

I'm the life of the party...... even if it lasts until 8 p.m.
I'm very good at opening childproof caps... with a hammer.
I'm usually interested in going home before I get to where I am going.
I'm awake many hours before my body allows me to get up.
I'm smiling all the time because I can't hear a thing you're saying.
I'm very good at telling stories; over and over and over and over...
I'm aware that other people's grandchildren are not nearly as cute as mine.
I'm so cared for --- long term care, eye care, private medical care, dental care.

And I'm not really grouchy. I just don't like: -

. traffic,
. waiting,
. crowds,
. lawyers,
. loud music,
. unruly kids,
. barking dogs,
. not being able to remember things,
. and a few other things I can't seem to remember right now.

I'm sure everything I can't find is in a safe secure place, somewhere.
I'm wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that's just my left leg.
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
And I'm sure they are making adults much younger these days.

Hey, and when did they let kids become policemen?

I'm wondering....

If you're only as old as you feel, how could I still be alive at 150?

And, how can my kids be older than I feel sometimes?

I'm a walking storeroom of facts..... it's just that I've lost the key to the storeroom door.

Have an Awesome Day all, I?m off to enjoy the rest of my retirement. :D

I may not be able to afford as many watches now, but I will be able to get to more boot sales. :D :D ......... Well, in between the golf and the fishing that is. :wink:

[Michael in Frisco, Texas]

Well, Peter, I don't yet know what to comment on your post....

[Michael in Frisco, Texas]

...some could say that you are now in a very good position to do all those things in life that were earlier placed on hold (the exercise of adult and parental judgment)...

[Michael in Frisco, Texas]

"If you're only as old as you feel, how could I still be alive at 150?"

I believe the correct version of this is:

"You're only as young as the woman you feel..." :wink:

[Ron Jr]

I'm happy and sad for you. Happy that your retired but sad because you don't seem to want to be.

[swanbourne]

You still have plenty of time to do what Dyson did for vacuum cleaners in your area of expertise. Trust me.

Eddie

[rfrazier]

Fishing sounds good to me. :)

Best wishes and good luck,
Bob

[Eccles]

Peter, it sounds like you haven't quite reached the age where,
when you wake up and nothing hurts, you're probably dead.
Enjoy your retirement, but try to stay busy.
Regards, Jon.

[Andrzej]

Good luck

I"retired" for a few months four years ago. Found it was not for me, and I now try to keep work down to 3 or 4 days a week, but rarely succeed.

[Mrcrowley]

At first I was going to congratulate you. I'm not sure now.

[Steve264]

And I'm not really grouchy. I just don't like: -

. traffic,
. waiting,
. crowds,
. lawyers,
. loud music,
. unruly kids,
. barking dogs,
. not being able to remember things,
. and a few other things I can't seem to remember right now.

:roll: miserable old fart.

:lol:

[endure]

All you need to do now is to move to Cheltenham and start writing letters to the Daily Telegraph :D

[Crusader]

Enjoy your retirement, but try to stay busy.

Seconded! :D

[Griswold]

Thanks guys. :D

Michael; The irony about age is, for me, that I've never really noticed it. I dont feel like I'm 58, I just don't do the high speed things I did when I was younger. :wink:

Ron; I'll take the 'happy', thanks. :D Strangely, it's actually what I really wanted, it's just that it came up entirely unexpectedly. I'd always planned on retiring at 60, (it's the standard retirement age in my company anyway), the opportunity to 'retire' early for the same money I would have earned if I'd stayed on till I was 60 was too good to turn down. I just didn't think that they'd let me go under those conditions. :? In fact, the nickname my friends at work gave me was SYB, (short for Smug Yorkshire Bastard) due to me walking around the office all day with a huge smile on my face. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Eddie; I believe you're right. It's just that this happened rather unexpectedly so I've not been able to make any plans or even 'think' about what I want to do next. :D Lynn has agreed to my taking a 3 month holiday at home to give me time to think through what I really want to do next. :D :D

Bob; I've been 'retired' for two weeks now and have only been able to go fishing once!!! :( But I do intend to do some fishing next week. :D

Eccles; Staying busy has been the easy bit so far. :D In fact, I'm not sure how I found the time to go to work before. :? Heck, I even got to post on this forum more frequently when I was working. :shock: But good advice, too many people retire to do nothing. :(

Andrzej; I'm thoroughly enjoyong it at the moment, though it probably feels more like a holiday at the moment than retirement itself. Am expecting I may feel different in a month or so's time, but we'll see. :D

Paul; I'll take the congratulations thanks. :D Being paid not to be under pressure is wondefull. :lol: :lol:

Steve264; Yep. :D One of my sons bought me a wonderfull book entitled 'Is It Just me Or Is everything Shit?'. Suits me down to the ground. :wink:

Endure; If I moved to Cheltenham I'd end up spending all my time at the racecourse there. :wink: Mind you, I wouldn't have to pay inflated hotel prices when I wanted to go to the 'festival'. :lol: :lol:

Crusader; Thanks, I will. :D :D