Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

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thirdcrank
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by thirdcrank »

I think the name University of the Third Age a bit of a misnomer, which might raise expectations or deter people, depending on circumstances. In reality, it's a network of groups for people with shared interests and it depends vey much on what those interests are eg reading groups; various languages, ancient and modern; games like chess and bridge; activities like walking. It depends very much on a combination of what takes somebody's interest and who's prepared to make the effort to do the organising. Before the pandemic, Mrs thirdcrank was a member of a reading group and she's done all sorts of one-day things. It's never interested me.

For more academic study, the Open University is worth considering: if you don't want to commit to a degree, you can do all sorts of courses as an associate student. Those BBC2 programmes at four in the morning with weird looking lecturers are long-gone.
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Mick F
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by Mick F »

For me, I'd had enough of service life in the RN. I signed on for 22 years from the age of 18 - retire at 40 - but was offered another ten years which I took - retire at 50.

One morning heading to my ship HMS Argyll, I thought to myself, "I don't want to do this any more." and very nearly turned round and went back home. I carried on in, saw the boss, and handed in my notice aged nearly 43.

I was out in a year, and took a job locally driving a car-parts delivery van. Complete change in life - from a highly skilled electronics engineer and very senior chief petty officer - to a tuppeny ha-penny van driver. When the minimum wage came in, I got a pay-rise! :D

Did that for seven years, and then completely retired. Mrs Mick F carried on working at the local primary school for another few years, and then she retired. Meanwhile, we had a paper round!

We've never been happier.

Retirement is what you make of it.
Stay fit and healthy, keep a good social life, and keep interests going.

We did the Poppy Appeal for 20 years - since handed that over - and involved with amateur dramatics prior to Covid, and hopefully to get going again.

Very happy indeed.
Old age isn't for wimps, so keep doing stuff, keep active and healthy, keep going, and keep happy.
Mick F. Cornwall
thirdcrank
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by thirdcrank »

Let me guess: The Pirates of Penzance.
:wink:
rotavator
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by rotavator »

thirdcrank wrote: 22 Sep 2021, 2:01pm I think the name University of the Third Age a bit of a misnomer,
Yes, I agree, forget the "University" bit unless you try something completely different e.g. learning a new language which would be intellectually taxing, for me at least. As a geologist, I have found that U3A geology talks and trips that I have been on are too low level and boring for me but to a non-geologist they might be moderately interesting. But I think that the main point of U3A groups is that they provide a reason to socialise and the activity is of secondary importance. Similarly with the cycling groups, I find the rides too short and slow with too much time wasting but on the up-side they are an opportunity for a chat, ride some new routes, try out new cafes etc. and it is not at all difficult to keep up even with the e-bikes when they are not on Turbo mode. I reckon it would be a different story if I joined a local cycling club but may be I should try one next year....
irc
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by irc »

I retired from full time work at 48.

Immediate priority was an 11 week bike tour. Followed by DIY, hillwalking etc etc. Come February 8 months after "retiral" I went back to working part time. For me working part time was better than not working.

The extra cash was useful and (along with kids moving out) allowed us to have a higher standard of living post retiral. Getting out the house and meeting people was beneficial. n

I found while working part time that rather than one day running into another I had days off to look forward to again.

I've done a couple of jobs, neither as stressful as my original job, and met some good people.

I've done 3 other long tours of 8 weeks or more since my intial post retiral tour. They have unvolved using a mix of holidays and unpaid leave from my part time jobs. Being retied had the great benefit that I could plan and book the holidays first and worry about the leave later because I was going anyway.

And the other thing about being retired is that you can afford to try any job or other thing you want because it is no big deal if it doesn't work out.

We did get post retiral pets. We had dogs before but were dog free at retiral. We got 1 then a few years later a second dog.
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Mick F
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by Mick F »

thirdcrank wrote: 22 Sep 2021, 2:15pm Let me guess: The Pirates of Penzance.
:wink:
Nope.

Passport to Gunnislake, "Royal" Variety Show, Trapped!, Wizard of Kernow, Pirate Panto, Babes in the Wood, Aladin, Cowboy Panto.

All written by a local chap.

Notes:

Kernow is Cornwall.

Trapped was the story of John Rule and William Bant "entombed"in Drakewalls mine for days in February 1889 with nothing more than half a candle and a rancid pasty.
http://www.calstock.info/mines/mines_pe ... drakewalls
Mick F. Cornwall
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al_yrpal
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by al_yrpal »

Well, I am not a boomer, but got bored in 2004 and retired selling my business. I have enjoyed good health throughout despite type2.
Just about to get married again after a few years looking after my Mrs who died from dementia. I have never allowed myself to relax. We had a second home which kept me busy, and I shared a yacht with two friends. But the thing that stands out was volunteering for a local charity. Driving folk to hospital, driving a minibus, then as manager organising all the trips. I made so many new friends. You do find that when you retire most of those people you worked with disappear, it can be a bit lonely. I have done CTC, Ramblers, U3A, art groups, allotment, sailing, cycle touring, rides with a friend, anything that brings you into contact with people. With your condition it could be a bit difficult.
I like projects...designing and building dinghies, garden buildings, furniture. We just moved, both 78 we said nah and took on a crumbling 18th century pile with a big garden. We feel it saves us from being 'bungalowed' :D and mouldering away. Lots of problems to solve, lots of work to do. On Monday we had our first day off since early June, but activity does you good and prolongs your existance.
Dont worry, all will become clear and enjoy it.

Very best wishes

Al
Reuse, recycle, thus do your bit to save the planet.... Get stuff at auctions, Dump, Charity Shops, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Car Boots. Choose an Old House, and a Banger ..... And cycle as often as you can......
merseymouth
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by merseymouth »

Phew! Thank goodness that I wasn't born a few years earlier, as I am definitely one of the "Silent Generation".
But I don't fit into all of the "Generation" crepe! Not many of my age went about wearing a "Demob Suit", double breasted with turn ups in their early teens :roll: Stiff starched detached collars as well.
That lot was ditched in favour of crimson velvet loon, purple suede jacket, finished off with a flour graders shirt. Carnaby Street had a lot to answer for. At least MickF's Bell Bottoms have lasted for many generations. (Do they still get horizontal creases pressed in?)
Of course at my age I have seen the fashions keep wheeling around, re-invented as trendy.
Fashion trendsetter? No way, my favouring Harris Tweed is down to the Eagle, not Hardy Ames.
Still, I'd love to get a nice new Greenspot Nomad Jacket to wear when pottering around on my 1949 Higgins Tricycle, with Ossie Dover Plusses of course! I'll act my age not my shoe size. MM
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Mick F
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by Mick F »

Horizontal creases in bell-bottoms?

We did.
Under a certain height (5ft 11?) we had five. over that height you had seven.
I had five.
Still got my "sailor suit".
In the old days, we had lockers, and our uniforms were designed to be folded so they fitted in a drawer or two. Hence folding up (concertina) your uniforms.

Theses days, they don't wear bell-bottoms ........ more like flares these days, and they have a single crease vertically and they have wardrobes and coat hangers! :shock:

This is me in September/October 1969 aged not quite 17 .......... been in the RN a matter of days - or maybe a week. :lol:
Raleigh Recruit.jpg
Mick F. Cornwall
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Hellhound
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by Hellhound »

AlanD wrote: 22 Sep 2021, 11:07amWhat gets you out of bed in the morning? Where is your focus?
Not having to go to work!
(Gen-X,not a baby-boomer)
TBH I wish I could have retired at 40!
AlanD
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by AlanD »

Well this has turned out a good response, with lots of strong ideas.
In a way, Covid has done me a favour. My normal place of work is 50 miles away down the A40, anything up to 3 hours driving a day and a small fortune burned in the engine.
Now my commute is to the shed at the bottom of the garden, or the 3rd bedroom in the winter. And I can be flexible if there are chores that need doing. What was going into the fuel tank is now going into the pension pot.

What would be a challenge is that Mrs D and I have different interests, there are also health issues that would prevent her, so I may not be able to roam too far. But I have suggested that we look for a dancing class together.

As for my bucket list:
Make like a Dwarf and go Orc hunting in New Zealand.
Do a long bike ride.
See if the local college has any cookery courses, I can't cook.
Do a tour of Scottish Distilleries.
Possibly become a volunteer at Pendon Museum, I'm already a Friend.
Finish reading The Bible from cover to cover, I have got as far as Job (pronounced Jobe)
Get better at making model buildings.
Join a choir.
Read about a different subject every day so that I can hit the jackpot on 'Who wants to be a millionaire'. So far, I have looked at:
• Monarchs from William I.
• US Presidents.
• World capitols.
• World Flags.
• Art.
• US States
• Authors.
• Prime Ministers
(still got to do: Sport, Military history, Wildlife, Nature, Meteorology, Astronomy, Biology, Religions, Films/actors/directors, Stadiums, Castles, TV soaps. Music. Basically just hit Wikipedia for anything I can think of)


Have I missed anything?
Jdsk
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by Jdsk »

Editing Wikipedia as well as consuming it?

: - )

Jonathan
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Mick F
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by Mick F »

Enid Blyton?

The Famous Five.
The Noddy series.
Not to mention the Adventure series and The Secret Seven.
Mick F. Cornwall
ossie
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by ossie »

I retired in my late 40's so nearly a decade ago. Obviously everyone's different, however golf was a hobby of mine long before retirement so its an excuse to catch up with my brother once a week on a local course but no more than that.

Cycling ?...well its two to three times a week, 30/40/50 miles plus I 'cycle tour' when I can. Plus I'm always working on my stable of bikes. I enjoy 'spannering' on cars so often have my hands greasy.

I also support my local football team so retirement has given me the option to not only watch them at home but also travel the country and watch them away and visit some wonderful (and not so wonderful) towns and cities. We are members of the National Trust so often combine long trips with a hotel and a visit to a NT property.

We also have two dogs so that is a major part of every day as we have some beautiful walks on our doorstep. I enjoy cooking, I look after my elderly mother and father in law, I enjoy DIY and we have a lovely garden. We also love travelling and have three grown up children in various parts of the UK to visit.

Model railways is an old hobby and have plans in that regard plus I've sailed for years so plan on buying a yacht (we live near the coast). The problem is something else will have to give to make way for the revival of these old Interests.

On the odd occasion I think 'what can I do now' but I don't regret retirement for a second :wink:
Psamathe
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Re: Calling all 'Baby Boomers', A change in life

Post by Psamathe »

Jdsk wrote: 22 Sep 2021, 7:51pm Editing Wikipedia as well as consuming it?

: - )

Jonathan
Good suggestion. Consider the wider Wikimedia projects (of which Wikipedia is just one). I do a lot on Wikimedia Commons (the images/media project) and some Wikipedia (total across all projects nearly 15,000 edits). And the great thing is that after a bit you get "auto-patrolled" meaning nobody routinely checks your edits! plus you can edit some semi-protected pages (which I never realised until I went to edit one and it said it was a semi-protected page but I was allowed to edit it!).

My main Wikipedia contributions are for articles about places I've travelled to, many of which seem poorly covered (stub pages) so I try and make-up for the shortcomings. Wikimedia Commons contributions again mostly places I've travelled to that are poorly covered plus some wildlife images.

It's a great thing to do as you can do it little at a time (whenever you have a few minutes to spare).

Ian
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