At age 55 or more, what would you change?

And I'm 25 years into a 50 year project ( Yours will grow in time, buddy ).......I need to get down and see yours.

I finally got the wood cook stove connected up in the auxiliary kitchen.....we used the kitchen all summer while I was re-doing the house kitchen. Made the first fire in it today. Only thing I lack in there is finishing up the walk-in cooler, which I'm gonna have to get done.....pigs are near slaughter weight.

I'm 62......not retired yet.
I do wish I had saved more money for retirement...especially now that there might not be much social Security now matter how much I paid into it.

In truth, though, raising, educating, and marrying off three kids took all the extra money we had. There was really never any "extra" money to save. We have been saving, religiously since then, but it is simply too late to raise the amount we need.

I don't know what to say about hard manual work... it keeps one's healthy....at the same time it wears out one's joints. I don't think I will be much of a happy camper when I can't do it anymore.

I'm going to be 56 later this year, and looking back over the last 28 years we've been here, there isn't much of anything I'd change. We kept things pretty low tech and simple, and used a lot of human power instead of machinery, and that keeps costs lower. I had a wonderful time with my kids and my horses. We saved and invested carefully, so I have no real worries about retirement. Our home is paid for and we have little debt.

Now I have grandkids and horses, and life is so rich. I think of how my mother used to tell me that happiness isn't found in getting what you want; it's in wanting what you have. I feel that every day, and celebrate the wonders around me.

If I had it to do over I'd start on the bucket list at age 20. Do and see all you want when you're young and healthy and before you take on responsibilities. Making memories is perhaps the most important thing we do as humans.
http://www.wimp.com/wherematt

If I had it to do over I would have worked on developing a long term view of life. That just never happened and now instead of being comfortably retired I'm still tethered to a job I don't like with little retirement saved.

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"Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbs
"I'm not sure that man needs the help." Calvin

I don't remember who said it but,

"If I had known I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself."

Hi... Well, I love my life, even tho it has been difficult. I love the spiritual journey I have been/am still on. I spend quality time with my grandkids and kids. I have very little debt. However, because of health issues, I cannot do all the physical things I did for 40 years. So, I would have built my home with 10" walls instead of 6". I would have put in an alternate heating system in my home....solar, geo thermal, wind ??????? Anything but a forced air furnace. Even tho I have wood stove to cook on and heat with, it would be difficult to do that all winter if I had to. I am frugal and simple....but I would have saved a little more $$$. In my late 60's, not much to retire on when I do, and it gets cold in Minn. in the winter....and you get cold when you get old!!!

The two things I have learned to do over the years is to take one day at a time and thank God for every day .

Laura thank you for reminding me that it is only 38 days until I hit 55, I'll get back to you with my answer then.

I would have bought more cattle panels.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful input.
I will be back here (God Willing) when I am 55, asking the same question of those who are 80+!!

It is SO very helpful to see all of the different advice, that really at the end of the day, is so similiar.
Good Health, Get out of debt and stay that way, save money, live, love, and be grateful for each day.

This is amazing good advice.
And it is going to be put into my action plan.......thank you. Thank you so much.

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I am sure of two things: There is a God, and I am not Him.
The movie Rudy

This is one of the two posts that I really agree with.

This is a big one. Unfortunately the men I have married didn't feel it was that important. I have taken the children and grandchildren on a lot of trips to see a lot of the Eastern US. I think I would've started earlier to do this without nagging either husband to accompany me and giving up on family trips for so long when they made it clear it wasn't important to them. I also think I should've started long distance hiking and/or canoing (kayaking) when my son married the second time. There was a window of opportunity there- both children's familes had sufficient income and so did we. As the economy has gone south so has the ability to fund such a trip and be reassured about finding employment. Also so has my health.

We will be 59 this year and the one thing I would have been sure to do was to have our mortage paid off AS SOON as I could. Things are pushed back a bit and it will happen but the freedom and options of choice is greater when you don't have to be concerned about where you will live if you don't have to be concerned with a mortage.

If I could go back I'd realize that the best gift I could give myself and my family is to be more self-disciplined in the things that matter, and spend less time and money on things that don't matter. Important things like spending time with family, spending money wisely and saving more, just keep on keeping on with the old-time traditions such as berry picking, canning and preserving. I did that in the early years and then just gave it all up for a long time..too much 'easy livin' and fast food and working too many hours away from home, trying to get kids through college and having what we thought would be a good start in life. But then, our experiences make us what we are today, so I don't know if I would have done things differently after all.. we do what we think is best at the time. But if I could, that's what I would do.

Hmmmm........Looking back from 70 years old..........I don't think I'd change too much.
I've had Two really good marriages.........in my Life.
I ended up with 5 kids at home and...I was a single custodial parent for 18 years.
They mostly turned out pretty mature, productive individuals. All are pretty independent.
I have as of now 16 Grandkids and 4 Great Grandkids.
I served my Country. I worked at and retired after 37 years for Ford Motor Co.

I have entertained many folks with my guitar & music, I made 'em laugh & I've made 'em cry.
I was fortunate enough to contribute to the Spititual Growth, of many Folks over the years & decades, through teaching and interaction.
I've often been there to offer Comfort and understanding, when it was needed. And, I'm lucky enough to have been and to be a friend when one was needed.
I don't guess I could have asked for much more from "Life" than what I have been led to and been given.
ETA........OBTW, I have Never had a "Bucket list". I'm a doer.
And, sitting here right now, and whenever I hear this sort of Question.........I am always reminded of the Garth Brooks song, "The Dance".........
I wouldn't have missed it, for the World.

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Be Intense, always. But always take the time to
Smell the Roses, give a Hug, Really Listen, or
Jump to Defend your Friends & What you Believe in.
'Til later, Have Fun,
Old John

aww, Old John..that is so sweet! You've done well. I can relate to much of what you wrote but maybe too hard on myself. I wouldn't have missed it for the world, either. Bless you!

I would have eaten more cheese. I still can't seem to get enough.

Not a cotton-pickin' thing!

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Homesteader in Sunshine Hollow

I'd have started this lifestyle a lot earlier than I did.

We would not have bought horses.

We would have made things easier right from the start. I know the things we should have done.

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Homesteading On The Internet
Solar Baby
Reflections of katlupe