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Original poster

Nancy Pelosi is 80, Joe Biden is 78..how do they do it?

147 replies

ssd · 10/01/2021 22:58

And more to the point,how can they be arsed?

I'm knackered mid 50s. I'm just tired and hoping someday to be able to wind down.

My parents died at 76 and 85. And they had had enough by then.

I admire Pelosi and Biden, but I'm more amazed they still want to be doing what they're doing at their age.

OP posts:
TheRuleofStix · 11/01/2021 07:30

Retiring at 65 (completely against his will) was the worse thing my dad ever did.

I’ve no intention of retiring or “slowing down”. The older people I know in their 70s and 80s who enjoy excellent health, are constantly on the go. Use it or lose it.

Ducksarenotmyfriends · 11/01/2021 07:37

Bit surprised that no ones mentioned the fact that they're incredibly wealthy. They don't have to get knackered and driven down by the grunt work of life (cleaning, looking after kids etc). They can just focus and get on with what they want to do career-wise.

SlothWithACloth · 11/01/2021 07:44

Regardless of how idiotic he is, Trump is still going strong at 74 and he’s not exactly slim.

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kitschplease · 11/01/2021 07:45

My granny retired at 75. She went overnight from party-loving, healthy, physically and mentally active to frail, stereotypical "little old lady". Puts me off ever retiring even though I'm knackered at 40 Grin.

JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson · 11/01/2021 07:47

Staff.

trixiebelden77 · 11/01/2021 07:50

They’ve never carried excess weight and they both have pursued stimulating careers they love.

JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson · 11/01/2021 07:52

@SlothWithACloth

Regardless of how idiotic he is, Trump is still going strong at 74 and he’s not exactly slim.
He is famously lazy when it comes to the actual business of government, though.
evilharpy · 11/01/2021 07:53

I really think it's partly mindset, partly how well you look after your body and partly luck.

My next door neighbour is 86 and less active than he would like now as he's vulnerable due to a heart condition so not out and about much. But up until last year he was constantly on the go, away on lads holidays with the local football team (last one standing on the dancefloor too) and went to all their away games, and painted his son's new business premises when he was 83. He's a superstar.

My dad's old boss was a vicar who worked tirelessly for the local community. When he retired at 70 odd he organised a lunch club for "the old people" and was still driving the minibus to pick them all up and deliver them back home again till he was about 90. He's well in his 90s now and still very active.

My mum on the other hand is in her early 80s but has always had an old mindset and her catchphrase since she was in her 50s has been "I'm not fit". This can apply to anything from changing a lightbulb to reading instructions and filling in forms.

I don't want to be doing my current job when I'm 70 (I barely want to be doing it now at 40) but I would love to retire from my main job at 65 and keep teaching fitness/yoga and pilates to a similar demographic as myself.

FortunesFave · 11/01/2021 07:56

I believe it's passion OP. If you're passionate about your work then you don't want to stop.

I am passionate about my work and want to carry on forever...obviously there may come a day when that's no longer possible...but I don't like thinking about that!

ElfieElfington · 11/01/2021 08:00

Makes a huge difference if you can focus on work and someone else cooks, cleans, takes care of the children etc. whether that's a SAHP or staff, working full time plus running a home and family takes it's toll. I know plenty of men and a few women who are in that position and it makes a huge difference, employers see them as more committed and they do well in their careers.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 11/01/2021 08:01

I’ve no intention of retiring or “slowing down”. The older people I know in their 70s and 80s who enjoy excellent health, are constantly on the go. Use it or lose it.

But is it because they have excellent health that they can be constantly on the go?

I’m only in my 40s but have been unwell over the last year with fatigue and I feel really ‘old’ - it has sapped my motivation and drive so much. Previously I would pack my days and always be doing something, not so much these days.

wildraisins · 11/01/2021 08:05

It's absolutely nothing to do with sheer force of will and everything to do with damn good luck and the roll of the dice

I think it's actually a bit of both.

Luck is important, genetics are important, but the lifestyle choices you make throughout your whole life are important too. Also sheer resilience and mental health do play a part.

YippieKayakOtherBuckets · 11/01/2021 08:06

You might be knackered in your mid-50s, but how much more time and energy would you have if you had:

  • a car and driver to take you everywhere you need, so you can work on the way and never have to find parking
  • staff who manage your professional and personal diaries so you never have to consider the logistics of being in the right place at the right time, and never have to worry about forgetting a birthday or anniversary
  • people to clean and maintain your house and garden, do your shopping, cook your meals, sort your laundry and dry cleaning
  • people to pay your bills and manage your finances
  • a personal trainer who comes to your house or work so you can fit exercise into your day
  • a hairdresser and beautician for regular appointments, again at home or work, so you always look groomed
  • thanks to all of these people, the choice to make the time that you spend with your friends and family really high quality rather than rushed or frazzled

plus so much more. Biden famously took the train to commute for years but he doesn't any more!

I don't want to take anything away from these people. They are passionately committed to their life's work and I admire this. But don't compare yourself to them. These are people who have purged and outsourced every single possible drop of mental load from their lives in order to focus completely on their job.

zafferana · 11/01/2021 08:13

I agree it's genes and sheer force of will. My maternal grandma had it - used to run up and down stairs for exercise and run for the bus well into her 80s. My dad is 77 and walks the dog miles every day, is interested in and loves to talk about all kinds of things. My DM, OTOH, sits on her arse all day, watches hours of TV, inc. sport and quiz shows, and just moans. I know which I want to be in old age!

Othering · 11/01/2021 08:13

Yippee, are you really suggesting that having to find a parking spot in any way contributes to illl health? I've heard some bonkers stuff but this is right up there.

Original poster
ssd · 11/01/2021 08:14

It's great to hear of so many fit and motivatied older folks.
My mum was still walking a lot at 76, I remember trying to insist she takes a lift to the station but she brushed me away and said NO.
Good on her.

OP posts:
CaveMum · 11/01/2021 08:15

Agree that movement is very important. MIL was very active, mentally and physically until she had a serious fall in 2016 - carrying too much stuff down the stairs in an underground car park. She was 75 at the time and broke her clavicle, several vertebrae and several ribs. She spent about 6 weeks in hospital and when she came out was never the same again.

We had to move her out of her 3 storey house, as she could no longer cope with the stairs, into a ground floor flat. She had at least 3 more falls that hospitalised her for at least a few days at a time and although she was still well mentally stimulated (she attended and taught U3A classes 3 times a week) her health went down hill as her mobility was greatly reduced - she needed a walking frame or a stick to get around - and she passed away aged 79, less than 3 years after that first fall.

I also think her attitude to her situation didn’t help - she refused to acknowledge that she was “old”. When in hospital she’d complain about how awful the wards were with “all the old people” when she was one of the oldest there!

Othering · 11/01/2021 08:15

@zafferana

I agree it's genes and sheer force of will. My maternal grandma had it - used to run up and down stairs for exercise and run for the bus well into her 80s. My dad is 77 and walks the dog miles every day, is interested in and loves to talk about all kinds of things. My DM, OTOH, sits on her arse all day, watches hours of TV, inc. sport and quiz shows, and just moans. I know which I want to be in old age!
Is it fuck. It's got absolutely nothing to do with grit n determination. If you're struck down with a debilitating illness, then having a bit of determination won't really cut it.
zafferana · 11/01/2021 08:15

And yes, everything @YippieKayakOtherBuckets says! It's amazing how much energy the drudgery of normal life is and how freeing it must be if you can offload it all onto other people.

MimiDaisy11 · 11/01/2021 08:16

Nancy Pelosi is really rich so I imagine she gets all her cleaning and cooking done for her. Plus she probably quite enjoys her job. I think that keeps older people in work, that they like the work.

longtimemarried · 11/01/2021 08:16

I am in my late seventies and pre Covid did a lot of voluntary work. I walk about 8 miles a day. Was sad to retire but chanelled my energies in keeping fit. I can still do a handstand! I also count my blessings every day, that is very important.

Original poster
ssd · 11/01/2021 08:17

@YippieKayakOtherBuckets , yes you're right, its daft really to compare my situation to someone who can concentrate fully on their jobs with out the distraction of ordinary lives.

OP posts:
zafferana · 11/01/2021 08:17

Yes, of course @Othering, but if you get to older age in good health you have a choice - you can choose to sit on your arse, not exercise and spend your life yelling at the TV, or you can keep fit, active and engaged.

Bingowin · 11/01/2021 08:19

I definitely think it’s state of mind too. Someone I know who is my age (mid 40’s) is always going on albeit joking about how old she is! I think she’ll age quicker just cos she talks about herself being old!

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 11/01/2021 08:21

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