You know you’re old when…
For us (DH and myself), it was the first time we visited the Senior Center in our area – the same Senior
Center we used to drop my mother off at several times a week 20 years ago.
Someone had told us that it had been recently been remodeled and renovated and
that it had a really large well stocked exercise room. Since I have had trouble convincing DH that
we need to exercise more, I thought this might offer a possible solution. It
was close. It was convenient. And best of all - it wasn’t expensive.
We have
found that many fitness centers are expensive and most people don’t continue after
the first few months. We do walk at the mall twice a week. We walk the upstairs
and the downstairs each once… and keep track of the other ‘walkers’ who are
doing the same. We have names for them (not their real names – but made-up ones
like the ‘Pat look alike’, ‘the serious walker’, ‘the couple with the friendly
wife’, etc.). We do wonder what they
call us...? But generally, we see them all on the days we walk… and
occasionally have begun to either smile or wave at each other.
There is no
shopping done during these expeditions – well, almost none. Occasionally I will
run into a store for a specific item (like candles at the bath and body shop - I love Campfire coffee or Hot Cocoa and cream),
but since DH is waiting, there is no real time for shopping around. And on
occasion, I find it necessary to grab a Mocha Frappuccino at the Mall
Starbucks. DH would prefer a Cinnabon – and once in a while we do indulge.
Anyway, this
is how reaching 74 has found us… and I thought it might be interesting and fun
to share just how life is at this stage of the game. You may find that a lot of
this sounds very familiar.
So for the next few postings, I'm going to mention other things that perhaps are 'age-related' and occasionally funny, sometimes sad, but none-the-less worth mentioning (IMO anyway).
If you can remember times like these, I'd love to hear about them.
As always, thanks for visiting. And hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Hugs,
- Rian
Our seniors centre offers a lot of interesting activities, courses, exercise classes, etc. I'll happily join if I'm still living here when I'm retired.
ReplyDeleteOur one big mall has a lot of early-AM walkers, too. Many (most?) of them can out-walk (out-pace) me and are quite serious about it. I'll see them as I amble in at 8 AM on a Saturday, in between buses, to get a London Fog tea latte from either Tim Horton's or Starbucks. And many seem to congregate in groups afterward, have coffee and/or breakfast together. I guess it becomes a nice, social occasion. I'm too much of a loner to do that! But I think it's great you are both walking, mall or no mall. It's certainly very convenient and safe to do it indoors!
Kim, the Senior Center here offers activities and classes too... as well as lunch I'm told. The thing is, DH and I have never been much for playing games or cards - but the exercise room might be a good substitute for our mall walks if or when the need arises. And they also have a library and a medical facility. Walking outdoors here is only possible in the spring and fall... much too hot (or too cold) otherwise to even walk around our area.
DeleteI am one of those people who makes faithful use of our local YMCA gym, with weights and classes and even a well-attended swimming pool. I have discovered that injuries are a whole lot more difficult to recover from as I age. I am two years older than you, and still think walking is the best thing for overall fitness, whether you can do it fast or slow, it is very satisfying. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe community college here has a great emeritus program where anyone over 65 can take 6 credit hours per semester free. This is where I do my pottery and have taken several exercise classes. And I do agree, DJan, that walking is one of the best exercises - especially for us older folk.
DeleteI haven't yet joined the mall walkers...I was away for much of last winter and when I was home I was too much of a wuss to go out in the cold. Perhaps this winter. I'm not certain we have a senior center here. I guess I should look into it.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to hearing your experiences!
I would love if we had somewhere outdoors to walk. We do have a park nearby and a friend (who has now passed away) and I use to walk there once a week... but it's not really comfortable except in the spring and fall. And I'm a wuss too, Mae... not walking outside in the cold (or heat).
DeleteI have walked the mall with my friend. Ours is one floor but we go around many times -- usually walk for 90 minutes. It's a bad weather venue for us although I know there are people who walk it regularly in the morning before stores open. Recently I joined a 50+ activity group and have been participating in the hikes once a week. I think I am pretty active for 71 and my only injury has been yoga related. I know that seems weird but some poses can irritate carpal tunnel and I started taking classes from a physical therapist who shows me good modifications. When I am in Florida I still take yoga classes and walk but also bike (so much flatter there) and take line dance lessons, which is fun and great exercise. Wish I could get a certain gentleman friend to join me sometimes with the exercise thing!
ReplyDeleteOlga, I also had a yoga related injury a few years back. It involved my rotator cuff and took quite a long time to heal. But I still think yoga is excellent exercise - the stretching alone keeps us agile as we age. It sounds like you do keep busy and fit with all your activities.
DeleteI belonged to the "wellness" gym associated with our local hospital. Now too many injuries have completely curtailed my working out. In fact, I fell and broke my leg, my foot and my shoulder walking into the gym. And that's how it goes.
ReplyDeleteYou need to be very careful, Joanne. Although you seem to come through your injuries well, you certainly don't want any more.
DeleteI love those pictures. You have aged beautifully. The last one still looks like you, with lighter hair. I feel like there is not enough time in the day to go to our local senior center. I did go once when someone was teaching weaving on a little handheld loom. I didn't like the yarn place mats we made. :)
ReplyDeleteThat last pic was taken about 15 years ago... a few more wrinkles have definitely been added. But I'm of the philosophy that the stages of our life have a purpose and it's up to each of us to determine what that might be. And you don't have to leave home to find it, you seem to have created a wonderful life in your little corner of the world.
DeleteI wish we had an inexpensive gym. Our indoor pool is a half hour away and I am way to lazy to drive up and back. I do weights at home and reward myself with watching something I like on TV.
ReplyDeleteWe have weights at home and I have used them on occasion... unfortunately I never seem to keep at it. Walking works best for me, and having someone to do it with is always an incentive. My daughter-in-law has some leg and foot problems. She just put in an above the ground pool so she could exercise that way. She swims almost every night that way and doesn't have to go anywhere.
DeleteI always enjoy seeing age progression photos. We have several state funded programs here for seniors to exercise that are quite inexpensive. I had to quit when I hurt my shoulder in an unrelated event. Our senior center is really something I need to look into. They have exercise classes several days a week and really inexpensive meals--$3 for lunch and $1.50 for breakfast. My only problem is that they serve too much and you can't determine what you want. Felt a little like grade school cafeteria. Still, you have inspired me to check out the exercise programs again. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWell, Patti, DH and I plan to check out our Senior Center again this week. The first time we did (the time I wrote about), we decided that we wouldn't join until the Fall. Now... Fall it is! So I will post more about our visits and thoughts as they happen.
DeleteGetting old is different for everyone I suppose. i am seventy-six years old but still very active and I do a lot of public speaking, lead nature walks and give presentations to a whole range of audiences. Last year I had a contract with a chain of retirement centres where many of the people who came to the presentations were younger than I am, but far more physically challenged and some were already dealing with dementia. Getting old means different things to different people, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteGetting old certainly does mean different things to different people, David. My cousins and myself as well as DH's brothers are all getting up there in age... but most are still active and lead interesting lives. However, some friends our age are dealing with difficult physical and/or mental complications. But it means 'adjustments' must be made, not that life is over. Perhaps life as was once known is over to some extent, but that old mantra, "breathe in, breathe out, move on..." still works... if one chooses such.
DeleteI haven't tried the senior center yet. It is very important to keep active.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth a look, John... at least I think so.
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