<p>I will be 60 soon, and I know I will be 60 whether I am ready or not. I feel each new decade is a time to take stock of my life so far, and I am really glad to have made it! For you older CC members, what does the sixth decade of your life mean to you? BTW, my son is 1/2 way through his prison sentence. ( For those of you who “know” something about me.) Is 60 the new 40?</p>
<p>I don’t feel 60, whatever being 60 means. It feels weird.</p>
<p>I still remember throwing H a half century Bday party. It was odd. He recently turned 71 with no fuss–insisted on a quiet dinner with just D and me. The one difference is that he’s finally retired. Don’t remember that his turning 60 was much of an event in our household.</p>
<p>How about that 60 most likely means you have passed the 1/2 way point of total years of living?</p>
<p>Same age as you, and for me it’s no big deal (though maybe I will feel differently as the day approaches). For me, the big shakeup was the day I became “gwamma” - which happened almost 3 1/2 years ago – I really, really wasn’t ready for grandmother-hood. (Grandson was a surprise, conceived when his Daddy - my son - was in his mid-twenties). </p>
<p>But now that I’ve settled into the whole grandma thing – it seems only natural that I should be the same age that I remember my own grandparents being when I was young. </p>
<p>Actually, I really wish I could fast forward to age 65 so I could get Medicaid – the worst part about 60 is going to be my health insurance premium. </p>
<p>Healthwise I’m fine – moving somewhat slower, and starting to have little things not working as well as they used to. Not enough problems to require enhanced medical care, but enough so that I can see the problems creeping up. I’ve started to watch t.v. with close captioning turned on because it seems that I am missing little bits of dialogue (did a hearing test for myself online, seems I have “mild” age-related hearing loss). I’ve been wearing multi-focal lenses for many years already; eye doctor says she is beginning to see just the tiniest bit of a cataract form around the edge. In general I seem to be doing better than average for my age on most measures – as in, I am 59 and my body is functioning like the average 57 year old. (So for me, maybe 60 will be the new 58?)</p>
<p>Anyway, Dyan Nyad is 64 and seems to be swimming better than ever. So I think most of us 60-somethings should be alive and kicking for many years to come. :)</p>
<p>
I think that was 50. Or maybe 48. </p>
<p>I had a great uncle who lived to be 102. Surprised us all because he outlived his wife who was 20 years younger than him. </p>
<p>But I can’t really think of any other family members who made it past 96.</p>
<p>I turned 60 a year ago, and I moved into a new age group for running, which was very advantageous. I have raced a lot this past year to collect some hardware! I feel like I tire more easily (in life and running). I’m still working and, in my mind, am not old…</p>
<p>Turned 60 last month (how did that happen?) and starting a new job tomorrow!, when so many friends are starting to downshift, work less and plan retirement. Feeling renewed energy, focus and optimism. A little creakier and need to get more active and shed some pounds but otherwise my annual physical seemed to confirm that I’m in pretty good shape. My new job is located in a State Park and I am packing walking shoes to keep under my desk and plan to walk at least 2 miles at lunchtime every day.</p>
<p>60 is the new 70!</p>
<p>I have a new career, that takes me around the world, and where I make new friends almost everywhere! And I only work 10 hours a day rather than 16. And don’t get paid for any of them! (I refuse to take pay, so I’m a “kept man”.) I’ve well outlived my life expectancy, died once and so I’ll be ready the next time around. (and if I died tomorrow, I’d feel very satisfied - I accomplished everything on my list (except growing okra.)</p>
<p>orchestramom, that sounds great! I’m envious. :)</p>
<p>My great uncle died at 107 and H has an aunt turning 97 soon, so we have some longevity genes. Hopefully we will age gracefully–my folks are in their 80s and only see their one doc annually. They have great health and take no ongoing meds. </p>
<p>I would agree that many will not live to turn 120 or beyond. </p>
<p>H just got Medicare B, after a struggle with The govt that ended up saving us 6 months in premiums due to their sloppy staff. Am glad we don’t qualify for Medicaid and are able to keep H’s great medical insurance, with employer paying 25-33% of the premiums. Supposedly it will eliminate our small copay on things other than Rx and dental. </p>
<p>Have no wish to qualify for Medicaid.</p>
<p>I am 62, had a very aggressive type of breast cancer in my 50’s with a sobering prognosis, just hoped to see my son graduate from high school, saw that, and everything since (over five years) has been gravy. I have been able to enjoy a LOT of gravy! :)</p>
<p>My docs say I am doing great (I had benefited from some fairly recent advances in treatment), and I have heard other cancer survivors say they no longer dread birthdays, as they had the experience of coming close to the alternative. Each birthday candle is a symbol of a year of survivorship.</p>
<p>Later this month H and I will witness our D getting married, with our S (now out of college and working in his field) officiating. We are acquiring a wonderful new family member – and I never had to change a single diaper or pay any college tuition for him! ;)</p>
<p>H had a new career opportunity at 60, which necessitated a partial relocation for us, and gave us an opportunity to change things up, which has been good.</p>
<p>I feel truly blessed. I never had imagined to experience such abundance of joy.</p>
<p>Age is just a number. Health and family and friends and interests/involvements are to be valued, and if anything, appreciated more at later ages.</p>
<p>Next year for me, but it only feels weird to me when I actually say it out loud because it doesn’t seem real. My parents are still alive and living life in their early 90s so I supposed it all will seem real when one of them passes away. So yeah, weird is the right word Consolation.</p>
<p>I’m loving the sixties!</p>
<p>I turned 60 last year and it honestly is the best time of my life. Four of my five girls are established in their careers, the fifth is in med school. Three are married, two engaged. Two grandchildren, who live close by and are the joys of our lives. My H is retired so we’re able to do whatever we want. As for having lived more than half of our lives, well, yes, but knowing that I’ve already lived six years longer than my father did, I’m happy to be here. So, yes, we’re loving the 60s.</p>
<p>No problem here. I’ll be 60 in 3.5 months, and I’m healthier and thinner than I was at 30, 40 and 50. Some cancer, but that was 22 years ago. I feel great! My parents and most of my aunts and uncles died of heart disease in their early 40’s. I fully expected to have the same fate. What a nice surprise for me! And I have no desire to live into my nineties.</p>
<p>2 words: Diana Nyad…</p>
<p>She reminds me that I want to go lie down.</p>
<p>Here’s my gloomy take: when you are 60 (actually circa 57) you know that everyone who was your age when you were born is dead. </p>
<p>More positive: I tell my kids–all born in the 1990s–they have a shot to live in 3 centuries. I had an aunt who just missed making it from the 19th to the 21st.</p>
<p>LOL latichever, my D, born in 1993 is always jealous when I say that my S, born in 1998 has the best chance of anyone in our family to live in 3 centuries. She always says well, why can’t I? I tell her that she can, but at 5 years younger, her brother has a better chance of it. </p>
<p>I am not ready to think about being in my sixties, I just turned 47 a few days ago…</p>