As part of the end of my education in nursing, my group returned to a nursing home and provided treatments and administered medications. It reminded me that I do not want to be in a nursing home in my golden years. I have not quite figured out what the best situation is/might be. A farm with able bodied folks? Any thoughts?
My "golden years" will be right here where I am now,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hopefully.If not,I will end up at the old folks home at my local VA.
I'm quite serious about this. I'm 47 and sometimes wonder how I got here so fast. 60+ has got to be around the proverbial corner. I'm thinking two communes might be nice (a winter and a summer one). Each should have an ample amount of able bodied hippies including one head cook, one lead cleaning person and two nurses.
I don't know of too many successful communes.At best,a lovely idea that doesn't seem to go the distance.What I had said in my previous post is not a joke either.If all else fails,I will finish my life at my local VA old fartz unit.At least I won't be alone.
When I was your age I was just like you, And just look at me now; I'm sure you do. But your grandfather was just as bad And you should have heard him trash his dad. Life's no picnic, that's a given: My mom's mom died when my mom was seven; My mom's father was a tragic guy, But he was so distant and nobody knows why. Now, your mother's family, you know them: Each and every one a gem, Each and every one a gem. When I was your age I was a mess; On a bad day I still am, I guess. I think I know what you're going through; Everything changes but nothing is new. And I know that I'm miserable; can't you see? I just want you to be just like me. Boys grow up to be grown men And then men change back into boys again. You're starting up and I'm winding down; Ain't it big enough for us both in this town? Say it's big enough for us both in this town. When I was your age I thought I hated my dad And that the feeling was a mutual one that we had; We fought each other day and night: I was always wrong; he was always right. But he had the power and he needed to win; His life half over, mine about to begin. I'm not sure about that Oedipal stuff, But when we were together it was always rough. Hate is a strong word; I want to back-track; The bigger the front, then the bigger the back; The bigger the front, then the bigger the back. Now you and me are me and you, And it's a different ballgame though not brand-new. I don't know what all of this fighting is for; But we're having us a teenage/middle-age war. I don't want to die and you want to live; It takes a little bit of take and a whole lot of give. It never really ends though each race is run, This thing between a father and a son. Maybe it's power and push and shove, Maybe it's hate but probably it's love, Maybe it's hate but probably it's love.
That was beautiful HHB - yours ? On the subjest Growing older - what do we become - probably much of what we already are. And for most that is a wearisome, worrisome thing - for they are not happy with who and what they are. The subsist, they survive - but the following of their bliss either long ago died or never made it through the birth canal. We are taught to give our Being away from an early age and so most are not living the life driven, following a dream, inspired from within. How to overcome this is to Change. Best way I know is to go apart for a time - take a retreat/vision quest - we all know one is long overdue us - rejuvenate ourSelfs and find not just some reason but one that ignites the fire within. Then growing old is no problem - for we continue to Do until it is our time to go - and when that comes and taps us on the shoulder - because we have been living a good life - one which we are happy with, we can leave knowing we did what we have come here for, and it's on to the next adventure. But for those who do not truly Live - it's ever a good day to die and they fight for the chance to Do -... they know not what - So Sad. Yours to Do or not - the Choice has always been with the individual and no one else can take it away or make it so - this my friend is yours Blessed Be Growing along our Way Singing and Dancing Blessing our Connections (relations) And giving reverend thanks Namaste
All I can hope or pray to my higher power for, is to die at home in my own bed. Not some sterile hospital or old folks home. Suicide is not an option for me. Plus, I don't want to be alone when the time comes.
I retired early due to injury and even though I love this place I wouldn't mind Costa Rica-friendly people and great prices and best of all it;s got 2 great oceans around it-
robspace, Sounds custom made brother > > http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176549 Blessings along the Way Namaste
and You asked for our thoughts and as it turns out I've thinking about all this a lot lately. For me it's been sort of a long re-evaluation of the ongoing. I started thinking in a longer term sort of way in the early 70s. I've found that every once and while it helps me to reassess or 'take stock' of, you know, life, the universe & everything. There's lots of reasons for this, but they all pretty much boil down to - change happens. More on that later. So anyway, my first thought is that it's good, real good that you're thinking about this. And that 60 isn't around the cornor for you (for me). Think of all the things in your life since you were 34, more will happen before you make to 60. Another thing is, don't plan just for 60, you probably wouldn't be old folks home bound for 15 years after that. From the start I've felt a couple of the most important considerations were where to be and what to do. Where to be - For me it was here on my little farm, but it's something we all need. A place to takes care of all those pesky things like eating, sleeping & shelter. And as George Carlin says, "A place for our stuff." But I've always felt it should also be a place we can have our desired level of quiet and privacy. A place we can persue our interests, our hobbies, and have room to be able to try new things. And - very important - be able to own free well before "retirement". In fact, to be well set up and without debt at all for as long as possible before "retirement". Actually, being well set up & without debt is a big part of my personel defination of retirement. What to do - Of course, this is totally personel. Oldwolf talks about following your Bliss & he's 100% right & right on. But it is sometimes hard to determine your Bliss. Being totally open and honest with ourselves what's needed, and like a lot of people I've found (as Oldwolf also was talking about)a retreat or vision quest or walkabout to be very, very helpful. And not just as something to do once. But I could go on & on about that. But one thing in general under the "What to do" deals with change. A lot of folks are afraid of change, but then again few of them get a nursing education at 47. Be prepared for change, anticipate it, embrace it, even plan for it. Many years ago I planned to re-start college fall of 2010, that'll be a big change. Planning changes prevents boredom, & who wants that. I see boredom as something to avoid, it's like like cancer of the soul. And change will happen, ready or not, watch for it. Sometimes seeing a change is happening or has happened, is very difficult. How we react to, or respond to or deal with change that is thrust on us also has great impact. Having some flexibility in what you're doing can help with that, a lot. One other thing. Some say "The only thing constant is change", I always add, "But the rate of change is not constant". I've found when the big sudden changes happen, keeping the long term in mind helps. Peace poor_old_dad
When the grasshopper see's winter approaching....... as I turn into my early 60's, I wish I had stored more nuts for the winter of my life. ...if only wishin' made it so. I hope to have a place to stay free of debt.... although taxes never die. A place with daily routines, promise and possibilities but without the workload of a real farm. Someone to share the coming and going of the seasons and to enjoy a meal with. As much health as old age allows if you work at it every day. And the will and energy to engage life on a daily basis. Not too much to ask I believe....but surprising how many people don't get that much. Rapscallion to the day I die.
HEY I AM GETTING GREY AND I HAVE HEALTH ISSUES, HOWEVER I AM STILL A YIPPIE-HIPPIE RABBLEROUSER AGAINST THAT NAZI PIG BUSH!!! I AM 56, HAVE BEEN ALL OVER AMERIKKKA DOING SMOKE-INS, THE GRIFFITH PARK LOVE-INS WITH THE GREEN POWER PEOPLE, PIEINGS OF FASCISTS, ETC. ARON PIEMAN KAY http://www.pieman.org
My mum went to her first rainbow gathering at 73. She rode her bike for transportation up into her 80's. I met an old man in his 70's wearing an denim robe and a paper bag on his head, carrying everything he needed in a burlap sack. He was walking from PA to N. Carolina. Said he had done so several times. He was ex-amish. Had no money, accepted no rides, and believed the good lord would provide for him, which was working for him. There is a very old woman near here, almost 90ish who lives alone in a shack with no electricity or plumbing, and grows MILLIONS of flowers. She is the daffidill lady... I hope to be that lucky when I get old, someday... There are lots of options.............................. Unfortunately, the way I believe I'd really like to live when I get old might be frowned upon by "human services". I hope all the busy bodies I know will please keep their noses out of my affairs when I finally finish growing into my eccentric self...
Amen... except, I don't think it's un fortunant, sounds pretty much right on to me. Sure would love to meet the "daffidill lady".... just to sit at her feet, to listen and learn. I knew a fine man from these parts, still know him even tho he's at rest now. ... continuing after many tears... He was a black man, born in about 1922 or 1923. He grew up here in the middle of Alabama and suffered as did all of his race. For example, if a black man said, "Good Day" to a white women, it could and often did cost him his life. His is a long story, I'll have to tell it someday. In the mid-1960s he was in an industrial accedent, his right arm was torn off... completely, from the shoulder joint. When I met him, in the early 1990s, he was what was called a "pulp wooder". He would drive his big truck into the woods, chain saw down, trim, and load pine trees, then take them to the paper plant, unload, go back & do another load - alone, one arm, in his mid-70s. A local TV station did a small documentry about him. I visit his grave each Martin Luther King Day. I guess most of us have had mentors like daffidill ladyand my friend Otto along the way. I lift my wine glass to The Mentors. Isn't it interesting and wonderful that we still have them. Peace, poor_old_dad
Duncan, check out The Farm's home page, find the link to Rocinante, that's their notion of a hippie "retirement ecovillage". Must say, it (or something like that) really appeals to me.
Rocinante is indeed very interesting. http://www.thefarm.org/charities/roc.html In fact, this winter I hope to be able to give myself a little time off & go check it out. They're only about 220 miles north of me. Peace, poor_old_dad
I think the Farm folks don't like visitors during the "off" times but I could be wrong. They just had a Farm Experience weekend, which I missed for several reasons, but I hope to get to the one next spring. Peace, Scott
Rapscallion, I do pray you find what your heart crys out for. I know your pain and loneliness. Lifes changes can throw us for a loop. We must indure for it is our lesson. We must lose something to make room for what we gain from the experience. Sometimes the lesson seems to great, but as time goes on, as it will, you will find yourself growing into what you are to become because of it. You are on my mind and in my heart sh
I am now retired due to injury-I had my left shoulder and my left knee replaced-They look fine but all that metal and plastic bothers me sometimes-I was a pro trucker for over 20 years so I saw alot of places-I love to travel still and I now have plenty of time to go wherever and whenever I want-But you know what?-I miss working-I miss the feeling of flyin down I-5 heading to San Francisco or LA or up to Seatlle-I had one run for a few years that took me through the Columbia Gorge everyday-If you have ever seen the Columbia River you'll know what I mean-We are very blessed to have such a beautiful country with so many cool things to see in nature-I would say go see all you can while you can before you are not able to get around so good anymore-Climb Mt. St. Helens or go river rafting or ballooning over the ocean-I went to Panama and Costa Rica this year-fantastic-great people-Question for Poor Old Dad- How far from Muscle Shoels are you and have you ever taken a tour of those famous music studios?-Question for Schulbelberg-I think your state has the best soft rock group going right now-Collective Soul-Have you seen them?-They are young but sound alot like some old 60s groups-real talented-
