<p>Yea, I’m hoping the good genes from my folks will help balance out the random weird genetic thing that has cause me a progressive chronic condition–so far so good. It is tough to adjust one’s speed or stride; I have been told by docs to slow down (walking pace), but it seems like more work to do so & less exercise. Sounds like a good idea to keep walking as briskly as is comfortable. 
:)</p>
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Sort of depends what side of the bus on which you sit. What if you did not slow down to a slow walk but have always been a slow walker … do you still have a lower life expectancy? (I for one, hope not).</p>
<p>Or maybe fast walkers in old age are walking fast because they are healthy and not vice versa. </p>
<p>My dad is ridiculously fast walker. Always has been. I literally have to trot to keep up with him, even now. My mom creeps along. In all honesty, I suspect my mom will outlive him. He also gulps his food, races through conversations, goes fast with everything. He doesn’t look good. My mom is Buddha like. Sits a lot. Moves slow. Changeless.</p>
<p>Busdriver11, I walked in the neighborhood where I grew up so there is meaning to me and there won’t be to you. There won’t be people throwing up where I walked though. </p>
<p>SF has beautiful areas adjacent to not so beautiful areas. You start walking west on Bush St and eventually you are going to end up in the tenderloin which should be avoided. Fillmore St is a great st, but if you walk south it eventually gets sketchy. Nob Hill is near
the tenderloin. Parts of Geary Blvd are in the western addition, another area to be
avoided. The Marina area is great including Chestnut st. Upper Pacific Heights including billionaires row, The Presidio, Russian Hill, </p>
<p>Embarcadero, Sea Cliff, Ocean Beach, the area around the Legion of Honor, St. Francis Wood, parts of the Mission, Haight Ashbury, Carl and Cole area, Noe Valley, Fillmore St, Union St, NorthBeach, Golden Gate
Park…Clement st, I do like Irving St.</p>
<p>Ok…that is more than enough places. :)</p>
<p>Just north of SF, I would go across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin County if you like nature, with Mt Tam, Stinson Beach, Muir Woods, Point Reyes, etc. The towns are great also. There are great views. Great hikes.</p>
<p>Oh, dstark, that brings back memories! I only visit the city now, once every two years for Christmas celebrations, at least for now. But we get in walks. Family homestead moved around the city after folks moved from the mother lode back to town, to Pacific, to Haight, to Francisco, to Geary. I like the climb up Telegraph hill! You live in a beautiful place.</p>
<p>Overseas, yep…you know how beautiful SF is.</p>
<p>I live in Marin County now. It is beautiful here too. Living in SF or Marin County is paradise.</p>
<p>I just walked through many of the areas of SF I mentioned earlier on Thursday. I never get tired of walking in the city. I walked by Swenson’s Ice Cream on Union St. They only take cash. No cards. Come on you guys. Join the 21st century. I just wanted a mocha
almond fudge dipped. :)</p>
<p>dstark–</p>
<p>Look into your local community colleges. You could maybe teach investment classes, or even volunteer as a tutor there. At least around here, I’ve found the need for volunteer tutors to teach the kids who were not as well educated in their community k-12 programs is large. it is rewarding work, imho. I’ve run into some very bright and motivated “kids” and assisted some of them, and have seen some of them make it to our state flagship.</p>
<p>It’s been very gratifying, and it keeps me young. </p>
<p>Good luck to you. If anyone can make a go of a productive retirement, I would imagine it would be you. :)</p>
<p>Poetgrl, thanks. I appreciate your advice and good wishes.</p>
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<p>@dstark: Ive always thought that it would be heavenly if I had a home along Marina Blvd. Then I look at the property taxes and I change my mind. But my husband said he wouldnt mind buying it for me if he was a billionaire.</p>
<p>I’m going to have to pull up this thread for good walking places the next time I’m in SFO. I’ll stop avoiding it, and just broaden my walking area to those listed.</p>
<p>For me, SF is like opera: I know it’s wonderful, but I really don’t enjoy it. The last time I was in SF was this past July and we spent the weekend at Muir Woods, and driving/walking/trolleying around SF. I’m glad I went and I truly understand why others love it, but it’s not for me. </p>
<p>dstark, you ask what my story is. Well for one, I’m a slow walker. I like to study things. If you look closely at the smallest wildflower, you can see as many ridges and color variations as there are in the entire Grand Canyon.</p>
<p>dstark, Marin is not bad. I have been hiking there with my Sis. She spends every weekend with her husband on the trails of Mt. Tam. She has special names for them all.</p>
<p>Hayden, for me S.F. and the Bay Area are my guts. You know when you grow up someplace, it is just that part of you. You know it no matter how far you go. When I am there, I know I am home. It’s my past; it’s where I come from.</p>
<p>to just think that only a few years ago i walked all over SF. We were staying by Fishermans Wharf, didnt rent a car, and attended Outsidelands in GG park. ( i used to walk really fast. “Really fast when you take into account I’m only 5’2”.
)</p>
<p>i actually dont mind businesses that just take cash. ( ugh this browser doesnt automatically capitalize like Safari, but Safari wont even let me post!)
If they can survive with that business model, more power to them!
Quite a few restaurants dont take credit cards, and banks are restricting medical marijuana dispensaries to only using debit cards( some just take cash).</p>
<p>I think about retirement sometimes and I am still in my 20s. I work in med surg adult nursing and it is a very physical job. There are a few nurses older than 50 on my unit. I would say 2-3. some in their 40s very few to no one in their 70s or 80s can do it.in 5years if clinicals and hospital work I have only seen 1 nurse older than 70 in a non manager role and it was in the OR. i leave exhausted some days and am tired even the day after sometimes. i doubt i can be as fast or productive in 40 years. then where do i work? i’ll find out!</p>
<p>“For me, SF is like opera: I know it’s wonderful, but I really don’t enjoy it. The last time I was in SF was this past July and we spent the weekend at Muir Woods, and driving/walking/trolleying around SF. I’m glad I went and I truly understand why others love it, but it’s not for me.”</p>
<p>Interesting. Other than me, I didn’t know anybody else who didn’t love it. I preferred LA and San Diego above all other California cities.</p>
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<p>I worked on medical-surgical floors for several years and the older nurses became charge nurses or went into administration. That was a long time ago before a lot more about conditioning and physical fitness was known. So yes, I’d say that nursing is one of those areas where it can be hard working into your older years.</p>
<p>My mother was a maternity nurse and worked into her 70s.</p>
<p>some in their 40s very few to no one in their 70s or 80s can do it.in 5years if clinicals and hospital work I have only seen 1 nurse older than 70 in a non manager role and it was in the OR. i leave exhausted some days and am tired even the day after sometimes. i doubt i can be as fast or productive in 40 years. then where do i work? i’ll find out!</p>
<p>This is a very tough crowd. Two or three people don’t like SF and Marin County is not bad.
What was wrong with SF? Besides the bums on the street. :)</p>
<p>LA isn’t even a city. Great beaches though. Great beaches and lots of women with fake breasts. San Diego is nice. But both LA and San Diego are terrible walking cities. Everyone drives. SF is a great walking city. </p>
<p>Krlilies, you have excellent taste. Extremely expensive taste too.</p>
<p>“dstark, you ask what my story is. Well for one, I’m a slow walker. I like to study things. If you look closely at the smallest wildflower, you can
see as many ridges and color variations as there are in the entire Grand Canyon.” </p>
<p>Hayden, very nice. </p>
<p>Emeraldkity4, what is your health story? If you would like to share. Doesn’t sound good.</p>
<p>
I am involuntarily between jobs right now. I was expecting it to happen every month for the last year, so it wasn’t a surprise, but it still causes anger when it happens. My ex-company makes no effort to try to move people into other positions, you just get walked out the door.</p>
<p>I’d retire if I could afford it, or at least switch to a lower pressure job, but with 2 kids in college it’s not an option right now. Don’t know what we would do for health care either.</p>
<p>I’m at the age where age discrimination starts to become a big factor in my field.</p>
<p>Feeling a little burned out after writing code for almost 30 years, so I am taking my time looking for another job. My wife is already getting tired of me sitting around the house, although she likes it that I cook dinner every night now. :D</p>
<p>No way am I working until 70 or 80 if I can help it. Once the mortgages on my rentals are paid off I will retire from the real job and become a part-time handyman. Hopefully no more than 10 years.</p>
<p>You guys should try RUNNING! I love going to different cities and running everywhere. Helps offset the extra food I eat. (I laugh when people say, “Oh, I’m not a runner…” Ha, if you saw me run, you’d say I’m not one, either! That shouldn’t stop you.)</p>
<p>dstark, I miss Swenson’s! There was a good one in Austin. I remember we visited SF one summer and I was so happy to find another one.</p>