The biological clock ticking - not the typical stereotype.

[imwjl]

Does this sound familiar? It's not something like a mid life crisis and buying a car, boat or or motorcycle. You become obsessed with doing all the physical stuff you possibly can before you totally age out. You keep at stuff through pain and pretty much plan your everything to keep having fun you won't some day soon.

It is there for work too. Hammering at difficult projects, wanting to do more complex stuff, and when catch agism I can really stick it at back at someone - preferably in a subtle and teaching way.

There's also a sad aspect. I get really bummed when I catch people in my cohort not doing well and wish I had better answers to help people there because "let's do something" doesn't always work when someone is down.

 

[maxvintage]

So yes, I've been playing the flute in irish music for about four years now. I mostly play a very good Keyless flute in D. Handmade by Patrick Olwell in Southern Virginia. I think about ordering an Olwell keyed flute. Expensive, but it would keep its value. The problem is the wait list is 6-7 years.

A: Will I still be here in 6-7 years?
B: Will I still be able to play at age 70?

And maybe C: it will take at least that long to be any good on the flute I have.


With guitar I'm old enough to think about getting rid of stuff, not buying new stuff.

It's an odd feeling--not depressing, but odd. It's a new stage of life

 

[blowtorch]

Yeah for me it's more wanting to accomplish my musical goals

For example- just last night I auditioned for my church's music worship team- on electric bass, electric guitar, and acoustic guitar
they don't have a bagpipe option or a jerry lee lewis style (only) piano option or a thwackin thumpin standup bass option ...
not yet, anyway

I'd love to record another album's worth of originals, after three (and other contributions to other projects) under my belt. Wlling (to contribute) musicians are in short supply currently though, if I could only get a handle on programming drums...


that, and I've got bookshelves just crammed with books I have lots of (yet apparently not enough) ambition to read

I did book a weeks worth of backpack camping for this summer recently, so that's good

 

[telleutelleme]

75. Downsizing in all aspects is my current motivation. I am also beginning to work near full-time again. Both challenges keep me very active and not much time to feel my age. Health wise i don't have any major issues so I feel capable of tackling whatever confronts me.

 

[imwjl]

It's an odd feeling--not depressing, but odd. It's a new stage of life

I'm a late age parent your age. It seems our kids or at least the daughter have gone from embarrassed by it to thinking it is cool now. Getting there was a mix of interesting and hilarious.

Chronic pain can be depressing. I don't miss not doing a jump line on bike or big drops (bike or ski) but it will probably sad when I can't do basic versions of that. Last and this year I've had two basic falls in black diamond skiing stuff and because of an injured arm not healing I was honestly a bit scared two weeks ago. It's kept aging out as a haunting matter we're discussing.

 

[Toto'sDad]

When you get to feeling blue and think you might want to go out and accomplish something, just a few sips of Hadacol, and you'll be feeling like new again.

 

[Tom Grattan]

76 and I can't stop. I keep saying to myself to lighten my load but it doesn't seem to be happening. Just put together a Tele and I look at my guitars and say to myself I should sell some of my stuff but...

 

[brookdalebill]

I’ve been wrestling with being (old guy) tired.
It really started hitting me about a year and a half ago.
I still work.
I have a Wednesday only day job, and regularly gig 2-3 times a week.
It’s not the work that beats me up, it’s the dang driving.
My day job is one hour in, two hours out.
Austin traffic.
My gigs are almost always 1-2 hours away, and back.
Boo hoo.
No one is making me do it, but myself.
Anyways, thanks for listening.

 

[Toto'sDad]

I’ve been wrestling with being (old guy) tired.
It really started hitting me about a year and a half ago.
I still work.
I have a Wednesday only day job, and regularly gig 2-3 times a week.
It’s not the work that beats me up, it’s the dang driving.
My day job is one hour in, two hours out.
Austin traffic.
My gigs are almost always 1-2 hours away, and back.
Boo hoo.
No one is making me do it, but myself.
Anyways, thanks for listening.

If you let up for a minute you start slipping. My wife and I played golf yesterday after having not been able to play since before Christmas. Even though I swing a club every day, it's not the same as playing.

Yesterday, I had to hit a demanding shot off an uphill lie with a three wood, somehow, I slipped and hurt my knee. I was able to continue, but it was painful for the next ten holes on the golf course.

My wife bless her heart, seems impervious to laying off, she shot the best round she's had in a couple of years!

 

[Mjark]

You become obsessed with doing all the physical stuff you possibly can before you totally age out.

I had friends who started sky diving when they were probably about my age now which is 71. I get it I guess that's not my mind set. I just want to keep playing music and be around with my kids and grandson for as long as possible. My sky diving friends are dead. (not from jumping).

 

[Mjark]

It’s not the work that beats me up, it’s the dang driving.
My day job is one hour in, two hours out.
Austin traffic.
My gigs are almost always 1-2 hours away, and back.
Boo hoo.
No one is making me do it, but myself.
Anyways, thanks for listening.

I drove about 200 miles yesterday up to Philadelphia and back to see my dad. The puppy woke me at 5:20 am I got home about 6:00 pm. I was hurting pretty good by then. I used to drive 100 miles 5 days a week. I'm really glad that's over.

 

[imwjl]

This is kind of funny to me. I'm one of the old farts by 12-20 years in my posse of outdoor sports funsters. My arthritis and old eyes not wanting contact lenses didn't stop me from up before the 5 AM and ready for a road trip. They are the ones who pooped out today.

It won't be a total loss. I think I'll go to our ski club and help with little kiddie lessons and get fresh snow when the other side opens later. I believe it is really important for old farts to teach hedonism and silliness to little kids.

 

[imwjl]

Yeah for me it's more wanting to accomplish my musical goals

For example- just last night I auditioned for my church's music worship team- on electric bass, electric guitar, and acoustic guitar
they don't have a bagpipe option or a jerry lee lewis style (only) piano option or a thwackin thumpin standup bass option ...
not yet, anyway

I'd love to record another album's worth of originals, after three (and other contributions to other projects) under my belt. Wlling (to contribute) musicians are in short supply currently though, if I could only get a handle on programming drums...


that, and I've got bookshelves just crammed with books I have lots of (yet apparently not enough) ambition to read

I did book a weeks worth of backpack camping for this summer recently, so that's good

In my mind I feel I'll have more years to play guitar than the sum-total of being able to do black diamond skiing and MTB riding but I'm not any more than a home hack as far as music. It might be more electric playing just because of hand pain.

Your week of backpacking is a good goal. I like to aim for some accomplishments like that. It's two positive aspects. Beyond the excitement to do it there is the motivation to keep busy in prep and carry on the fitness. Closest to go to gym type discipline I can keep at is then prep for an event or goal.

 

[maxvintage]

I think everybody ages differently? My wife is a year younger than me and she's off to Maine next week for a rugged cross country skiiing trip. I would love to be going with her, but there's no way my knee would allow it. I've tried physical therapy, and the exercises have made it worse. I don't think it's my fault, I think it's mostly genetics.

At every stage of life, we have to figure out how to make the best of the hand we're dealt

 

[blowtorch]

I'm not any more than a home hack as far as music.

Same here- utter hobbyist, really but it's really the thing I seem to enjoy the most

 

[blowtorch]

I think everybody ages differently?

Injuries often make a big difference- I have two old broken bones injuries that slow me down plenty