Senior Happiness...
Much can be said for being happy.
Happiness is many different to different people.
No doubt one of the prominent factors is to NOT be negatively influenced by all the controversy and drama. NOT be offended by everything. And learn how to "let things go". Accepting that others may have a different perspective and the ability to simply, calmly agree to disagree. Keeping emotions in check and avoid being sucked into runaway emotional drama especially on things that have no affect on your life. Well... That's a mouth full. Never had anything been so easy... But nearly impossible for most people to do. With each passing generation it certainly seems these concepts are becoming harder to achieve.
My Grand patents were very calm. My parents were calm. Their influence on me clearly helped me enjoy a happy life... Less emotional and almost no drama. How does this happen? We didn't have all the negative influences that plague today's society. Today there is so much negative social issues and social division... Political, religious, racial, social and economic status... It's all in your face 24/7 from numerous sources that create controversy and drama. Social media perhaps being the worse. Not only exposing the younger generations to all the negativity, but encouraging them to be a part of it all. Saying is okay to be offended by everything, be filled with emotional drama, and promoting the attitude that "its all about me". So it's an uphill battle for the 30 something's, 20 something's, and teenagers... Each younger generation being sucked in even more than the previous.
But, I digress... back to the the subject at hand... happiness.
Seniors that had a happy productive life have the opportunity to redefine retirement, reimagine your goals, and execuite a plan for a happy retirement life. My plan started several years before retirement. First, I took the 30 and out at 49 years old. Yes, less money from retirement, but the advantages far surpassed the alternative. I saw too many people working until they were 65... Physically all used up, looking for that rocking chair on the front porch. Not a hard choice... Retire at 49 so that the next 16 years could be enjoyed while being in my best health. My retirement of choice? Full time rving... A life on the road. Go where ever you want, stay as long as you like, enjoy new places, new things, and make new friends. We've been doing this since 2003... What a life! The alternative... work until 65, be house bound with vacation getaways... Just wasn't for me. Too many people die within 4-6 years of retirement at 65. Looking back, now that I'm 68 years old, I've enjoyed 19 years of retirement verses 3 if I had worked until 65. Quite a huge difference. Doing the math... Retire at 49 verses 65. Less retirement money per month at 49. But the total money from 49 to 65 meant that I wouldn't hit the break even point until I reached 88 years old (verses higher monthly income retiring at 65). Plus, getting the pension at 49 meant I was spending my retirement income starting at 2003 cost levels. Waiting to retire at 65, the increased monthly income would be at 2019 cost of living... Which basically would wipe out most if not all of the extra money that I would have gotten from retirement at 65. So I had nothing to gain by waiting until 65v to retire.
Hopefully I explained that enough to understand. So, that was my plan that has worked out perfectly. We enjoyed several years as seasonal cart members at Disney world ( usually 3-4 months a year... 2-3 part time shifts a week). Being cast members got us into all the parks for free, plus perks and discounts. Total hours worked, pay plus perks, it averaged out to about $30/hr. Nothing had about it, mainly taking to the guests.
Full time rving... What a great life! Happy life... Happy retirement.
Being older, not invested in all the social media controversy and drama... Perhaps it's easier for us not to be emotionally negatively influenced by everything that overshadows others.
Easy choice for us.. No doubt harder for younger generations... But still, it's a choice. A choice that so many young people can not make, wrapped up in emotions.
Our rving choice? High end 5th wheel... Much more livable space than a motor home. But that's a personal preference.
My Grand patents were very calm. My parents were calm. Their influence on me clearly helped me enjoy a happy life... Less emotional and almost no drama. How does this happen? We didn't have all the negative influences that plague today's society. Today there is so much negative social issues and social division... Political, religious, racial, social and economic status... It's all in your face 24/7 from numerous sources that create controversy and drama. Social media perhaps being the worse. Not only exposing the younger generations to all the negativity, but encouraging them to be a part of it all. Saying is okay to be offended by everything, be filled with emotional drama, and promoting the attitude that "its all about me". So it's an uphill battle for the 30 something's, 20 something's, and teenagers... Each younger generation being sucked in even more than the previous.
But, I digress... back to the the subject at hand... happiness.
Seniors that had a happy productive life have the opportunity to redefine retirement, reimagine your goals, and execuite a plan for a happy retirement life. My plan started several years before retirement. First, I took the 30 and out at 49 years old. Yes, less money from retirement, but the advantages far surpassed the alternative. I saw too many people working until they were 65... Physically all used up, looking for that rocking chair on the front porch. Not a hard choice... Retire at 49 so that the next 16 years could be enjoyed while being in my best health. My retirement of choice? Full time rving... A life on the road. Go where ever you want, stay as long as you like, enjoy new places, new things, and make new friends. We've been doing this since 2003... What a life! The alternative... work until 65, be house bound with vacation getaways... Just wasn't for me. Too many people die within 4-6 years of retirement at 65. Looking back, now that I'm 68 years old, I've enjoyed 19 years of retirement verses 3 if I had worked until 65. Quite a huge difference. Doing the math... Retire at 49 verses 65. Less retirement money per month at 49. But the total money from 49 to 65 meant that I wouldn't hit the break even point until I reached 88 years old (verses higher monthly income retiring at 65). Plus, getting the pension at 49 meant I was spending my retirement income starting at 2003 cost levels. Waiting to retire at 65, the increased monthly income would be at 2019 cost of living... Which basically would wipe out most if not all of the extra money that I would have gotten from retirement at 65. So I had nothing to gain by waiting until 65v to retire.
Hopefully I explained that enough to understand. So, that was my plan that has worked out perfectly. We enjoyed several years as seasonal cart members at Disney world ( usually 3-4 months a year... 2-3 part time shifts a week). Being cast members got us into all the parks for free, plus perks and discounts. Total hours worked, pay plus perks, it averaged out to about $30/hr. Nothing had about it, mainly taking to the guests.
Full time rving... What a great life! Happy life... Happy retirement.
Being older, not invested in all the social media controversy and drama... Perhaps it's easier for us not to be emotionally negatively influenced by everything that overshadows others.
Easy choice for us.. No doubt harder for younger generations... But still, it's a choice. A choice that so many young people can not make, wrapped up in emotions.
Our rving choice? High end 5th wheel... Much more livable space than a motor home. But that's a personal preference.
Our home on wheels...
Yep... Lots of happy seniors...
Not wrapped up in emotional drama.
