Things to do before I'm 60....

[grannyjules]

Since having my children, my life has been all about them. They have been at the forefront of everything I have done. Stupidly I never thought to have any "Me Time", whatever is that?! I didn't hold on to any hopes and ambitions, I can't even remember if I had any, let alone, what they where. But I must have had dreams.
So now I've been giving it some thought. Hubby will be retiring in a couple of years if not sooner and he is coming up with his plans, and I'm thinking I'm not always included in them, so I must think of my own.
So I'm signed up for a "Memory Walk" over the Humber Bridge and back. I'm planning of having a Spray Tan. I've already had my feet nibbled by small fish, and been to the spa for a day, so the tan should finish the beauty bit off nicely. I think I'll try or build up to Driving us to our next holiday destination. Though I will choose this carefully . DD2 has asked us two Grannies if we would go on holiday with them to Norfolk. She has been up front and said it is so we can help out and give them a break too and they need two cars for all the gubbins and bodies, but it will be fun and an adventure. (Independent of Hubby )
If I think back I could add a few things that I have already done, like, managing the London Underground on my own. Easy for some, but very daunting for me.
I'm a late starter so I'm starting small. I've just realised you only live once and this is my life, so onwards and upwards. No more wasting it away, and living in the shadows!!

What have you still got to do........?

[WeeGranny]

It's before I'm 70 for me GJ!!!

[Daisy]

GJ - what a truly inspirational and uplifting post!

I know what you mean about having so little 'me' time you aren't even sure what it is! Well done on the things you've already achieved and on your plans for the future. It doesn't matter whether they seem easy for some people, if they are a challenge for you that's the important thing.

I can't remember what, if any, hope and ambitions I had when I was young, except that I knew I didn't want to spend my whole life in one place. I've achieved that, at least! But otherwise - I think I just dealt with life on a day-to-day basis. But, you're right, children, and in my case work, took over my life and 'me' time was a quick trip to the hairdressers every few weeks so I didn't look too scruffy!

One of the things I would like to do over the next few years is travel to some of the beautiful and amazing places in the UK that I've never visited, but I would definitely like to do that with OH. You've set me thinking now ….

[Oma]

My ambitions never got started I went from school to being a mother a job that never ends then a carer for my wonderful husband and then my sister when she was dying then the boys came along got them to school and then hubby took ill again that has consumed the last 3 years . But I would still like to do certain things , we have enjoyed lovely holidays and I hope we enjoy many more . I always wanted to be a Electrician or a archaeologist but they never going to happen now so I will have to think of other things to do , maybe parachute jumping or wing walking 😁

[Nanto2girls]

When I was in my last year or so at school, all I wanted was to get married and have children. Well I got married at 17,had the children, and thought I had it all. As we got older, I did start to think of some places I would like to see, especially America, but never though I'd get there. Fortunatley we have been a few times, as well as a lot of other places, near and far.

[ZIZI]

Well I cannot say hand on heart that I have led an uneventful life and if there is anything in particular I want to do before I am 60 I had better think what it is quickly as it is only about six weeks away! I am not one for hang gliding type adventures, more shopping type adventures as most of you know. I suppose I would have liked to have seen my natural son settled with little people by now but that isn't going to happen, well it might but not before my 60th.

I am not doing a lot for my birthday, flying up to Newcastle hopefully to have lunch with some of the ladies who can make it, to be arranged. hving dinner with a friend (an ex colleague) and her husband who live just outside Newcastle in the evening. She is 60 two days before me. Coming back the next day then Saturday going to stay up in town. Husband has something planned. Not sure what but I suspect a show or something like that. Then we will go to my birthday lunch on the Sunday with my family. My two sisters and one brother and their spouses are coming which makes a change for them to find their way in this direction on the M4!! I haven't seen them for along time, probably two years for my sisters and longer for my brother.

My friend is being taken to Paris for the weekend so they are going to stay in the same hotel and we will go to the airport together. I predict a drunken night.........

[Guest]

Hmm, all you youthful people. The first thing I would say to you is to do it soon, as in your 60s you still have a lot of energy and as the decade draws to its close that energy diminishes somewhat.. So that's the first thing I mean to do. Seriously take some exercise every day to keep fit and ward off dementia.

Secondly, I would like to really get to know London. That is seriously explore rather than emerge at a tube station and rush to where I have to go.

And I have a list of places I should like to visit, mostly in Europe as the thought of long haul flights doesn't appeal.

I suppose I'm a bit different from the rest of those on this thread. I was a student in London, have worked for long periods of time in Africa and Pakistan, been head of two schools, taught at a university, been on the bench for a fair few years, been very involved in local politics and local affairs, been involved in my church and travelled quite widely. I never intended to get married, but then changed my mind and had my children in my 30s.

Oddly enough, I now spend a great deal of time caring for the grandchildren and being a bit more of a home body than ever I was. So, a change for me. But I don't intend to stagnate, I just need to be more serious about keeping fit and energetic.

[Daisy]

MS - I agree with the point about energy. I'm now making inroads into my 70s and I'm glad I gave up the day job at 58 and had 12 years as a photographer. I doubt I'd have the stamina needed to do that now! However, I do think it's essential to my well-being to keep doing new things - and of course, GRU is the main one. Physical exercise is a whole different matter that I need to find a solution to!

[Elisi]

I'd like to keep travelling. Hopefully with OH although I have been on my own to the States, Arizona and New York and other places he didn't want to go at the time. I think riding my wonderful horse through the desert was something ticked off my bucket list! Not entirely sure I could get on and off a horse now

I lived in Africa for 2 years as a child and don't want to go there, but I'd love to visit Japan.

I started a book which I neglected, to my granddaughters, and I must get back to that.

Really I would love and so would OH our own house again. A bungalow preferably as me old knees are not what they were and stairs can be difficult. We saw an ideal 3 bedder recently but I have not been able to put all the business finance in place as yet so I guess it will sell to someone else. I long to have my own home again, we have been renting for 18 months and I hate it although it is a nice house, it's not mine!

I need to exercise more too. I was always working, all through my life even when I had DD and still working now but thankfully from home. Not very relaxing as for example, out yesterday to see friends and in the middle a text from a tenant, and I have to stop everything and deal (I look after my tenants) so I'm always on call and can only ever relax when I've turned the phone off which I dare not do for too long. So I would truly love to retire, properly with nothing to think about except my GK's my DD and the rest of our extended family, and where to travel to next!

I'd love to see GRU floated and gaining members and becoming what Daisy Liz and I hope it will be

[Gemini]

GJ, my changes were when I was 50. I passed my driving test, trained as a reflexologist and started up my own business, and flew to America on my own. That was 'my' year.

Yours are happening at 60. All are wonderful, good for you !!

[Grauntie Mag]

I've been saying since I don't know when that I will go to the Womad festival. We always seem to be busy on that weekend. Don't wait for a certain time to do things, do them now, you just don't know what is round the next corner.

[Pearl5]

Well I have another 10yrs to catch up, had plenty of spray tans, all different colours... always wanted a cruise done that, I thought when our children were older we would be able to do what we want, now there older we realise we cannot...hmmmm, will get my thinking cap on and make a list, there must be plenty...

[ZIZI]

I don't think I have ever hankered for a spray tan. I did for a while fancy a cruise but changed my mind when there were a few accidents and anyway husband was very anti. when we went to NZ ten years ago I wanted to go to Stewart Island which is a NZ kiwi sanctuary but I have to say I hated the journey back from Australia and I Am not sure I will go there again. A few years ago I wanted to do a three month drive across certain parts of Australia, we planned, well talked about, doing that after I retired at 60 (in the knowledge that husband would not be able to drive). I don't think that will be feasible now. I really do believe I could do it now but we cannot afford to give up work right now without affecting our future income which is a shame.

I suppose being a size ten with an unlined and very smooth and beautiful face doesn't count in these circumstances? No I didn't think so.....

[Bizzy Lizzy]

In my case it is before I'm 70. We plan to go to NZ to visit DS1 and new grandchild due in August (God willing), although we do not have anything planned due to dog commitments, but I am only doing that because I want to see them. After that I would be quite happy to come straight home
I know travelling can be wonderful and I know people that go on holiday several times a year and love it. The whole idea just leaves me cold and I am not sure why unless I am the most boring person in the world which may be the case. I love being at home and am really quite content with my lot overall although there are a few people I would like to change but I know that is impossible.

[Plantaholic]

I am with you BL, I do not like travelling and as I get older more so. I am very happy now with my holiday in Cornwall and the odd few days away.