The Retirement Newsletter: Another birthday — it makes you think!
Issue Number: -101 — another year older, but am I any wiser?
Welcome
Welcome to issue -101 — a short newsletter this week, as I have been busy celebrating my birthday.
Yes, 101 weeks until I retire. And this week saw yet another milestone on my journey to retirement. It was my birthday. I am another year older. Twenty-one again!
Actually, I wouldn't like to be 21 again. Maybe 27 or 28? No idea why those ages, but they appeal. If you could pick, what age would you be? Leave a comment, and a reason for that age, below.
So, my birthday.
My birthday
Birthdays are funny things. Why do we celebrate them?
One thing I have noticed about birthdays is that they are milestones.
Your first birthday, your fifth, becoming a teenager, being sixteen, your eighteenth (big in the UK as that is the legal drinking age), twenty-one (big in the USA as that is the legal drinking age). And then it all slows down.
Plus, when you are younger than 10, you might say, "oh, I am seven and a half". But once you are over ten, that all stops.
Milestones after your 21st are:
Twenty-five — a quarter of a century. Not a biggy, but I felt it was significant, and it was a birthday that hit me very hard. To this day, I have no idea why, but I found turning 25 to be difficult. I felt 'down in the dumps' for several months after my twenty-fifth.
Then it is the big ones:
Thirty — yikes, I am no longer twenty! I'm getting old. Where is my life going? Am I on track? Have I, or am I, getting my life (mortgage, married, kids) sorted out?
Forty — yikes, I am no longer thirty, and you feel like you are approaching middle age.
Fifty — what happened to the last ten years? I can't be fifty? I'm so old. But at least I am still middle age! (Yeah, right, who are you kidding, you are over the hump, mate.)
Sixty — what happened to the last 20 years? Plus, when can I retire? I am done with this work lark.
Then it is the seventies, eighties and (hopefully) nineties. And somewhere in that time span, you start the fractions again — "I'm eighty-seven and a half, you know?".
And when does old age start?
50-year-olds think people who are 70 are old.
60-year-olds think people who are 75 are old.
70-year-olds think people who are 80 are old.
80-year-olds think 85 is old.
85-year-olds think 90 is old.
And, 90-year-olds think they are old!
Anyway, another year older, and I like to think, another year wiser and more handsome. But who knows? I asked a friend and was told, "who are you kidding?".
Happy birthday to me!
Nostalgia corner
Last week I met with a school friend who I haven't sat down with for a chat in 30 years.
At school, we were, I like to think, good friends, and after school, we stayed in touch for a good number of years. We exchanged Christmas cards and met for a beer and chat when we could. And then it all stopped when I moved overseas to work. We lost touch — a real shame.
Anyway, why am I telling you all this? Well, the meeting caused a rush of memories from our school days and the time before we lost touch. Sitting there and chatting brought a lot back. We had those sorts of conversations that go:
"Do you remember X at school?"
"No."
"Of course you do! He did A and B, and then there was him and the C."
"Oh yeah. I've got him. Whatever happened to him?"
"Well….."
This type of recall activity is good for the brain — a sort of brain workout. The recall and retelling of memories help strengthen that memory. Fitness for the brain, and that can't be a bad thing? Use it or lose it.
Another plus to meeting was catching up and renewing our friendship. Again, something that is not a bad thing, but we must not leave it another 30 years before we meet again!
Reflections
So, that is another birthday done. Cake was eaten, cards and presents were received.
Did I learn anything from it? Not really. It was just another birthday.
This week, I learned that I need to reach out more to my friends that I haven't seen or spoken to for some time. I need to renew friendships, as they will become important during retirement.
Useful links
UK Government Website:
Next week
Next week, issue -100, which means 100 weeks until I retire. Another milestone of sorts — the last minus three-digit newsletter.
Thanks
Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter, and please don't hesitate to share it with your friends or on social media using the buttons below.
If you would like to say 'thanks' for the newsletter, why not buy me a cup of tea?
Until next time,
Nick
PS, If you have something you would like to contribute to the newsletter — a story, advice, anything — please get in touch.