I wrote about this very topic a long time ago:
Men who are broken-hearted or just unlucky in love could be more likely to have health-damaging inflammation, new research suggests.
Serious breakups and solo living for many years may increase the risk of ill health and death — but apparently only for men, according to the researchers behind a new Danish study.
All my suggestions are still valid.
This past summer semester, I returned to college as a 64 year old non-traditional student. Taking on a full class load has been challenging but very gratifying. Turns out that my high school education was far better than what most are getting these days. I haven’t found the academics difficult and am holding onto a 4.0 GPA. Being around the late teens and early twenties age group gives me hope for the future – a good many are conservative and 1st and 2nd amendment advocates. Of course this is Tennessee, so that probably has a strong bearing on their beliefs. Having lived in six states over the past twenty years, Tennessee is almost heaven!
In six months, I’ll be at an age where I can retire early – legally – Meaning I can touch my retirement funds without a beating. That said, I have zero plans to retire.
I do plan to stop working for a stupor-woke rainbow software company, though.
There’s still plenty of work around, even if it’s sitting in the doorway of a Wally World being a greeter – “Welcome to Wally’s. Get yer shit and git”
I have a mad set of man skills. I’ll find something to do.
I once was bragging to the son that the average age of plumbers, electricians, and HVAC techs was mid fifties and that when I got old maybe I’d head to doing that.
He said “Yeah…when…”
I know a dude that’s at least 76, One of a few I know that’s a contractor. He does work here and there, but mostly manages his subs. He rebuilt our kitchen. He demoed it, did the structure, wiring and drywall (pressing me into service, of course), then had his boys do the tile, counter, cabinets, and paint.
I’ll probably do something similar (as I do now) with networking.
“… but apparently only for men…”
Is this related to an affinity for cats?
I had to take a disability retirement in 2018.
I’ve kept busy holding a position at my local VFW Post and as a volunteer for the local Emergency Management Agency.
I also increased my activity in ham radio (especially during the Great Chicom Flu Panic of 2020) which gives me something to do besides sit on the couch and watch TV with occasional events out in the field to get me out of the house.
I’d like to increase my shooting time, but severely budget limited ( I’m not spending up to $1.00 every time I push the talk button on a radio, vs pulling a trigger).
Also have plenty of family keeping me busy on various things.
Looked at jobs, but with most of them, if I could handle that job, I could go back to my real job.
Turning 62 this year, but so far so good.
I’ve just re-read your original article and I think you are right about the sudden shift to retirement with no wind-down. Back when I worked at BAe those in their last year (maybe last two years – it’s been a while) before retirement worked only 4 days a week. Similarly a now-retired friend shifted from a full week to a four day week to a four day weekend to retirement over a couple of years. I’m rather younger and was put on the scrapheap yonks ago so it was easier for me to transfer to being idle – as my waistline attests.
Doing things with other people is especially difficult in these Covid days when groups are banned.
As it happens, today is my last day before retirement. I’ve been working full-time for 36 years and have never been unemployed. My decision was partly that I can afford to retire, and partly getting tired of the corporate woke bullshit. You see, I work for a consulting company. Every hour I’ve spent at this company has been billable, meaning I generate income for the company. They’ve been hiring more and more non-billable people (diversity specialists, communication specialists IOW people who send out newsletters about things that have nothing to do with company income). Then when raise time comes around we hear “profits were lower than expected so raises are capped at 2%”. Yeah, maybe if you didn’t hire so much dead wood we’d have more profits.
Still, I have hobbies, and the priest at my church has promised to keep me busy.
Mark D