That I don’t have many female friends just “coupled” friends. Now that H is working 2nd shift and weekends, I find myself staying home by myself.
That’s not good, but it can be changed.
I’ve aged, but I am still trying to be a “grown up” and still needing to improve.
(I’m going on Medicare next month).
I thought I was a patient person (in my youth). I learned that kids were put on earth to teach me patience (when I had my own). I learned I am NOT a patient person.
I’ve learned that I’m better at some things than I expected and not as good at others as I had hoped. I am fortunate that most of my original body parts still work decently with minimal pain.
I also have learned how important strong healthy lungs are and sure wish mine fit that category!
@doschicos, @cameo43, and @HImom: I think we may be quadruplets. 
@rom828 - that was very insightful and most likely true! I have been running on coffee, and don’t like to drink water especially now that I don’t have a whole house filter like we had at our old house. Thank you for reminding me that it is important to stay adequately hydrated.
As I’ve aged, I’ve discovered that I’m great at small talk with complete strangers. I can ask someone in the checkout line, “What are you going to make with X ingredient?” and not offend them. In fact, it can prompt a whole fun conversation, usually including other shoppers. I think it might be because I look middle aged and harmless and friendly. Sometimes it even can get deep, as when we were all discussing our aging parents and our own fears of growing older
^^My kids and husband rue when I make those connections. They know they will be waiting a little longer than they planned for me to finish. But those moments feel really, really right sometimes.
@Waiting2exhale : I had an uncle who was a reporter for the Washington Post. It used to bug my dad that he “could make friends with anybody.” He was just a curious man:a natural reporter. I think I’ve just tossed off the inhibitions I used to have, and feel free to be curious. And nobody seems to care!
No, it’s not that. I think I’ve just more closely defined what I actually believe will work, and I don’t buy rhetoric any more. Perhaps I’m no longer a useful idiot (not saying othets who disagree with me are), I have lost trust for so many people.
Maybe not a great place to be, but since I’ve accepted that I can change very few minds, I’m at peace with that.
I think I’m less patient.
I love having guests…even for a eeekend. I like the preparation for,these infrequent visits.
I like visiting others too…and try to be very low maintenance…and appreciative.
I think I have a way higher tolerance (most of the time) for people that might have bugged me in the past. I now understand that everybody who reaches a certain age has likely had their own cross to bear and often we don’t know what’s going on that might make them difficult or different so I’m more inclined to cut them some slack…and hope they would do the same for me.
While I like having lots of quiet time I’ve realize that I don’t relish living the rest of my life alone. For that reason I can’t imagine ever retiring completely, unless paid work was replaced with significant and regular volunteer work. I think it would be all too easy for an introvert like me to end up a total recluse.
Amazingly, after thinking I hated it for all these years I now like math!
@HotCanary You need to host a talk show.
With Mr. B as a co-host! He is also a master of small talk.
I think I am becoming a bit introverted with age…
I always wanted to be or thought I was very social. But I realize I am not. Not at all. I’ve always been the kind of person to have a very small group of friends and that was fine. But I have always felt like I needed to be apart of the “in” group. But whenever I have been included, I have felt very uncomfortable.
I am social with a very small group of people. I will not be well known in my community because I realize I need to keep to myself, even though I contribute to my community in various ways.
I have become much more likely to procrastinate that which I don’t feel like doing. For example, I am procrastinating right now instead of just shooting off some emails and being done with a task.
I am more tolerant of life stressors. I think it is because I retired and am not as time and sleep deprived.
Yes, not working 40+ hours a week really helps adjust your perspective and helps keep stressors from looming as large. Your priorities can shift.
@doschicos : So funny that you would say that! I’ve always watched talk shows and thought I could ask better questions to bring the guests out of their shells. I guess I’m stuck having fun in the grocery line.Fun for me anyway.
I’m good at planning things and being on time. I have an uncanny ability to be exactly on time. I can arrive on the dot even after a trip of 500 miles. We entered a car rally once, pre-smart phone days, and hit the target time within 0.0 seconds. I ran a 10k with a goal time of 1:08, and finished in 1:08.0. It’s kind of freaky. I used to have the ability to tell what time it was without looking at my watch, but I seem to have lost that for some reason.
On the other hand, I am VERY messy. However much space I have to work in, I will fill it with clutter. My desk is always full of piles. Sigh. Every year, I resolve to do better but I don’t.
As far as life lessons go, my family has had so much adversity and tragedy that the small stuff doesn’t bother me much anymore. I cherish my family. I don’t waste (much!) time being annoyed at my husband or kids.