Another milestone birthday

My sister-in-law turned 60 a couple of weeks ago and has now also joined the world of retirees. Another milestone in the journey of life and a great excuse to celebrate. And she certainly has a few celebrations lined up. Starting with a birthday, day trip to France to enjoy the local cuisine and vin blanc. Then kindly waiting for us to return from the Caribbean to hold a celebratory lunch, for forty of her friends and family. Food and wine in abundance. Cheers Jacky 🥂 Then there was a mini cruise with her Mum, Sister and Niece to Amsterdam, a trip to Tennessee to look forward to in the summer, visiting friends and a Disney cruise with her Grandkids.

Busy lady 😃 And still so many people, of all ages, ask us retirees what we find to do with our time! My response is often “I don’t know how I had time to work”. Maybe its a cliché, but it is so true.

When I was in my twenties or even my thirties, 60 and retirement seemed an eternity away. We were busy bringing up our daughters, both working full time to pay the mortgage and have the odd holiday, albeit within the UK. Usual household chores had to be squeezed into evenings and fit around family time at the weekends. Nowadays the washing only gets done when I’m running out of pants!

As I hurtle towards joining my sister-in-law at the next milestone age, I look in the mirror and can’t quite believe that in a couple of years I will qualify for free prescriptions and free eye tests (although I will probably have to continue to pay for the glasses that I now need to wear more frequently). I will still have to wait till state retirement age to get my free bus pass, but I’m sure, once received, it will give us the opportunity for more adventures with fellow members of the silver brigade.

We are fortunate in that, despite the aches and pains, we are fairly healthy and there’s not many things we can’t do. Apart from run a marathon maybe, unlike another sister-in-law, who recently ran the Hastings half marathon in 2hours 18. Jo we salute you.

Although I may be a Granny, with laughter lines around the eyes and hair that turned silver a long time ago, there are some things I refuse to do, such as wearing my skirts below the knee and hanging the previously mentioned, now essential glasses on a rope around my neck!

Being in the younger group of so called “baby boomers” our generation’s expectations for life beyond 60 are dramatically different to those of our parents and grandparents. A lot of us aren’t planning retiring and those of us that have, see the new chapter of our lives as an adventure, rather than a time to rest and potter around in the garden.

When I was born my Granny’s were in their early 50’s. I remember them as being stay at home ladies, cooking, cleaning and looking after their menfolk. Although not all my friends are granny’s, we are all except one, in our 50’s. Much as we love our menfolk, there are times we abandon them for a few days to fend for themselves. Our generation of ladies are more independent, have our own money and spend more time doing the things we enjoy.