Retirement not a cure-all.

[Judge]

I've looked for the eyeglasses I was wearing. I bang into things all the time and get huge bruises on my arms and legs. I'm old so my skin is thinning; hence, the easy bruising. I made shrimp and sausage gumbo yesterday and somehow managed to splash seafood stock all over my shirt, face and hair when I was adding it to the pot. Then I had to take a second shower on the same day to get the fish stock out of my hair.

Sheesh. Stuff just happens to some of us.

I just discovered yesterday how my eyeglasses are only good for what I can see directly in front of me, as opposed to what is above me. Where I stood up only to bang my forehead something awful by hitting the corner of an open cupboard door that appeared only as a blur until I struck it.

 

[vergil96]

With all seriousness, this phenomenon of mental decline can occur quickly in retirees who do not keep their minds and bodies busy. This is why some professionals never retire, like physicians and Wall Street bankers. People who wake up in the morning with something to do that day will keep their minds sharp. Those that just want to sit in front of the television like a lump will decline very quickly. If you are socially isolated and that's not your thing, create 2, 3, 4 things that you like to do and keep doing them. Personally, I've got a long list of special interests to focus upon into retirement, such as travel, indoor/outdoor gardening, engineering and building things, rock polishing, etc.

Sure, genetics and health play roles in this, but working in the medical field as long as I have, it's pretty clear to myself and others, that overall, physical and mental activity, being engaged in life, is key to living into our retirement years with mental clarity.

I think I won't retire as long as it's possible, like many people in my family. I plan to work part time instead. Looking at my family members, it does make all the difference in the development neurodegenerative diseases to stay active and organised, have interests. It seems like the worst thing you can do is not bother reading any longer and become a coach potato at the same time. Moderate physical effort seems to play a role too - it's the cardiovascular part of it as far as I understand.

 

[Au Naturel]

I've looked for the eyeglasses I was wearing. I bang into things all the time and get huge bruises on my arms and legs. I'm old so my skin is thinning; hence, the easy bruising. I made shrimp and sausage gumbo yesterday and somehow managed to splash seafood stock all over my shirt, face and hair when I was adding it to the pot. Then I had to take a second shower on the same day to get the fish stock out of my hair.

Sheesh. Stuff just happens to some of us.

Once upon a time, I was the clumsiest kid in the entire school. Other kids liked to trip me because I went down so easy. I still tend to crash into furniture and walls. I drop things and knock stuff over.

When we had our first child, we diligently went through the house, childproofing things. Switched over to Corelle and Melmac for our plates. Hid the sharp knives. We also made the house earthquake-safe. It greatly reduced the risk of me breaking stuff.

https://www.earthquakecountry.org/library/ECA_Step_1_SecureYourSpace_Document-EN.pdf