Welcome to Life begins at 60
Embark on a journey with me as I redefine what it means to be 60 and beyond. Join me as I discover and share my stories of inspiration, travel, and rediscovery of passions that make my life truly fulfilling.
About My Journey.
Life begins at 60 is a personal project dedicated to sharing the transformative experiences of venturing into the exciting realm of post-retirement life. Join me in exploring the endless possibilities that come with this new chapter.
I have decided instead of finding ways to retire and grow old with pleasant enough activities or dedicating all my spare time to being my grandchildren's (whom I would give my life for, and love dearly) go to, taxi driver, nurse and dog walker , that I'm still young and have years before my body craps out and my brain stops being the machine its capable of today. Instead of trying out bingo again I'm going to go on an adventure. A life altering adventure that will change my life and fill my days with excitement and joy. and its selfishly all just for me and no one else.
It's about time...
Part of this new Journey is to do things I have always wanted to do and that's where this blog comes in. it's a way to keep in touch with my family while sharing my journey with others that are finding the transition from middle to senior age as confusing as I have. with all the social norms and stigma around employment, and solo traveling and the WOW moments of a young boy giving his seat to me on a bus the other day.
Does that mean its official I'm old now.? lol
What fun I am going to have putting all this together. Join me for some laughs and tears as I move into my new life. Because for me life really does begin at 60.
Where It all began.
2 years ago, I went on a trip to Japan with my sons. This was the life changing moment that gave me a Suprise that the world is accessible, and I can travel to far off lands and I will be ok. I explored alone at times, and I took the subway alone and went shopping and managed to get home again tired and exhilarated. Just because I hit 60 does not mean I have to get ready to stop everything, learn to sew and knit and grow to love bingo, which by the way I did try, and it was so boring.
This was the trip that started it all, not just the excitement about travel but the concern that my time is running out and the unspoken concern about growing older and becoming unable to make choices for myself. I never had a midlife crisis, so I guess this was it.
The world is not hard to navigate and it's probably the only thing I felt was out of reach for me. Not financially so much as courageously. I see myself as a very courageous person I will always try something new.
But I have been in a fog the last few years trying to piece together what my future is supposed to look like as I head to retirement. I have had my family, started successful company's and businesses, I have navigated relationships very unsuccessfully. So, the one thing I know for sure is I am far happier single with the love and support of my family.
As the fog began to clear I started to see the light again and realized that my life was not coming to an end it was just beginning again. I realized that life is compartmentalized into phases or stages. It was time to rejoice and celebrate for the ending of one phase, taking all the lessons from that period of my life and being grateful for everything, good and bad, accepting I can't go back but that maybe I am living the best years right now, so it's time to embrace them and boy am I ready for it.
Bring on the fun.
The past and the present side by side.
It's like life, I have to live with the past no matter how that looks it's a constant in my life and is the fabric of who I am and who I will become, but it does not define me. I don't have to live there; it's just an old ruin that I used to call myself. It was part of my personal evolution and can stand side by side with who I am today. but there is distance between then and now and I choose to live in today. Today I am a better me because of the ruins of my past, so I am grateful for them. I only have today to plan and dream and feel and love so I am grateful for today, and tomorrow, who knows....
Jump starting my 60's literally.
So, as I turned 60 in 2023, I decided I needed to kickstart the adventures to prove to myself and the world that I was a strong and courageous woman I decided to jump out of a perfectly sound plan and plumet to the earth from 17000 feet.
It felt like the best idea I had ever had. Until... they opened the doors at 15000 feet and people seemed to just drop like dead bodies from the open door of the plane. I held my breath as it was now my turn.
The doors shut and I was the last one still one the plane. I turned to the lovely man I was strapped to and asked how come we didn't go, I thought maybe I had died of fright already and was unaware of it. He said Oh you bought the higher jump.... Of course I did, how bloody cleaver of me. Up we went and finally the doors opened again and now I was terrified but determined. I dangled my feet over the edge and shut my eyes (as we all know if you shut your eye's, it's not really happening) and I was out with my guts in my mouth until it caught up with the speed of the fall.
It was incredible and scary and one of the best gifts my daughter had ever given me. Once I got over the family, I gave a wave bravely then landed gently.
My person said how was it? as I sat shaking on the ground, are you going to go again. I said hell no one and done. lol My son JB said he would like to do it, so maybe one more, maybe on my 70th.
Taking a different kind of leap.
There was a conversation a couple of years ago when my brother moved to Australia about our whole family moving to Australia. The conversation was pretty much Yes from me, Doll and KC. But then it went nowhere. I have lived on the gold coast 40 years ago before children and loved it. I only returned because my mother asked me to. Then I met my husband and had a family, so I never gave it another thought. Then when my brother moved there at age 64 I thought, oh maybe. My daughter backed out as her career is just taking off, and they are settled but KC said yup I will do it. so, we started to plan and save.
Now is the time. I'm still young enough to get a job am courageous enough to do anything. I have nothing to lose, too old to care, I no longer know anyone there and KC is not moving till December but bugger it I'm going now.
So, I'm flying out on the 5th of October which is 5 days away now. don't get me wrong this has been planned. I have secured a couple of casual jobs, a flat and will buy a car once I arrive. then I can hit the ground running. I'm beyond excited and it will be amazing to just focus on me and look after me and work when I want to lol. The past 6 yrs have been working around the needs of my darling granddaughters and grand dog. now is my time to have an amazing adventure. It was an honor and a privilege to be so involved in my grandchildren's life and I hope I made a difference for the years I was here. Every time my wee bean looks up at me and says I will miss you Taua, I reply but don't get sad just remember that I'm having a fun adventure, and when you see me next you will have so much news to tell me and show me how much you have grown. Secretly I'm dreading our good buys, if I cry, she will cry. But you know what, I think this time we are just going to have to both cry. It's the end of something priceless and the beginning of something new. New is scary for everyone and she will get used to the newness of it. As will I. I will miss going for bubble Tea with Bubba and hanging out. I will miss getting the debrief of Doll's Day, and the sudden outbursts of Beans songs. It will feel far away from JB and KC but we have plans to holiday together. I will at times miss everyone but with technology these days it's only a push of a button and you can catch up as a family.
LOL that was an old person thing to say. I just need to follow it up with "IN MY DAY "and we are all set.
I flew down to Dunedin to see JB and KC and S, it was a lovely visit and just got me more excited about my new life to come. First time in years I slept like the dead and napped in the afternoon. I guess I was tired. So, the countdown is on, and I can't wait. I don't think I have been this excited since I was a kid waiting for Christmas. Bubba is away all week in Hamilton playing volleyball and it's just me and bean, so we are going to have our own adventures for the week.
Go to the blog at the top right of the page to follow along.
My darling wee JB and me.
Hansom KC in his chef uniform.