Old is 10years older than you.
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I’m 64 and run with a group of women who have become close friends. One is a few years younger than me, the others are in their early 40’s. Our friend who moved (we are all in touch with her regularly ) is 70. We just like each other, support each other and have similar fitness goals.
H and I retired this year and are planning to move to another city next year. I remember a thread that was here on cc some years back about making new friends as an empty nester and someone recommended moving when you are still young enough to be active as it is easier to make friends.
BTW - I never think of myself as “old”.
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I always say 15.
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My mom is about to be 88 and still in her home. Has never done a lot of social stuff so as she has gotten older and stopped working (she worked until about 5 years ago!) her people contact has become less. Last summer a family down the street befriended her - they had 3 little boys and she became like their sub-in grandma. They - and the parents - brought her SO much joy even on their short COVID visits outside. She would bake them cookies, give them ice cream bars. They made her bead bracelets and sometimes would help with yard jobs.
They moved in the fall and she was so sad! She just got another set of new neighbors right next door with two little girls. The little girls will sometimes just come and visit her when she is sitting on her front porch. I can say those everyday conversations and nothing more mean so much to her.
Our bodies may look old but that doesn’t mean we aren’t still interesting, funny, insightful and engaging!
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That’s so lovely. One reason H and I do not want to move to an over 55 community is that we hope to meet and be friends with people of all ages. We love seeing the younger kids in our neighborhood.
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In our first house, there was a lovely lady in her 80s across the street. Often if I saw her sitting in her screened porch, I’d stop by with my little daughter (and/or son after he was born). We both really enjoyed the conversation. Often she’d tell me about our houses and the town 50 years ago.
In the winter, a few times she saw us and encouraged us to stop by for an indoor visit. Ha… when son was an energetic toddler, I realized that he was NOT ready for a non-babyproof house with beautiful bric a brac on the coffee table… .that was a very short visit.
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I agree completely on being in an area with all ages! My brother moved to an over 55 community in AZ when he retired a few years ago. He loves it. I know I wouldn’t. Different strokes and all that!
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I love living in a neighborhood. For a while almost all of us were older, but there have been a few families with kids moving in. I just love hearing their laughter. I got to meet a new 4 year old when her Dad rang our doorbell… ha, he was asking if OK to take the hose/reel on my front door that said “Free”. What a good chance to say Howdy.
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I thought of this thread when I read the Luann comic today. Young women made snide remarks to Luann’s mother, the co-owner of a little restaurant, calling her granny and she invited them to leave. It’s just a comic, but I was glad to see the character stand up to the rudeness.
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I saw the comic also.
I may be the only single, older person posting on this thread. I believe I know most of my neighbors because of walking my dog. Even the little children know my dog by name. Ever since the pandemic, people invite others to sit together outside. One woman organized a workout group outside her house. Every so often, we have a food truck come into the Cul de sac.
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Some of my closest friends right now are my elderly neighbors. He’s 84 and she’s younger (I’m not asking, she’s not telling) I’m 30 years or so younger. I love hearing the stories they tell. My parents passed away when I was in my early 20s so they actually feel like substitute parents in a way to me although I consider them my good friends. They invite me to many extended family affairs and I sometimes attend and enjoy those too. They always offer me whatever they have cooking and they both are great cooks. The husband and I are both heavily into gardening and I used to help him out with his until he cut back. I still share many garden goods with them. I take care of little things around the house for them occasionally that need attention. It’s certainly a give and take relationship where everyone is getting good stuff They absolutely LOVE my little dog. He is their baby. He really enjoys visiting them too. Honestly it’s one of the best relationships I’ve had outside of friends I grew up with. I hope they are around for a long time to come.
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I am 73 and single. I live on the 4th floor of a 6-story (plus lobby) apartment building whose elevator was replaced this summer. The landlord is (I think; he’s not answering the phone) currently awaiting city inspection. I am by no means the oldest person in the building but I may be the only 70+ tenant who still goes out to work. On my way back up the steps at 9 pm after work on Wednesdays and Thursdays, I commisserate with my fellow tenants and let them pass me on the steps. Ugh, not my favorite way to meet my neighbors.
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But you probably have more strength and physical fitness now after going up the stairs every day for some time, right?
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I love your situation. What great neighbors you are to each other!
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Just a coincidence. All the new neighbors are young families. One man has been working on his lawn for the past year. He works for a TV show (cooking) and was sharing with me the latest product. So, I will be the proud/ happy recipient of a new set of knives!
I have only replaced my paring knife in 43 years. We do enjoy talking landscaping, but this is a very generous offer.
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Walking a dog is a great way to get to know your neighbors! In a few places we lived people who didn’t know our names greeted our dog by his!
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No, not really. Usually I walk around, take the subway to visit Trader Joe’s and see friends, go grocery shopping at several different supermarkets, take the bus to Costco. Now I plan every single trip down and up those steps. Tonight it was 86 degrees outside at 9 pm when I came home from work with my supermarket shopping. It was a very long, slow trudge up those steps. The next two days I work from home and I am unlikely to go downstairs again until Sunday.
Edited to add: unless of course tomorrow is our lucky day!
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If I encountered somebody with groceries on the stairs during elevator outage, I’d surely offer to share the load.
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