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

[ssd]

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.

It’s partly genes and lifestyle and partly attitude. Being curious, mentally alert and engaged with the world is very important. Not thinking about age as a number but as an outlook. However exercise, good diet and not being stressed are vital. I think stress is a killer. There is the stress of being under pressure to make decisions in a job you love, or feeling unending stress due to situations beyond your control. The latter is very ageing and bad for health.
Having a positive outlook is vital. Looking for the good in the world and in others. Trying to help others and your community. Those who sit at home thinking about their own problems and feeling bitter/anxious will not age well.
Very few people have jobs they really enjoy. Unless you are one of the fortunate few, work is not a source of joy and fulfilment. Retirement offers opportunities to learn new things and enjoy your time more, but only if you use that time well. Sitting on the sofa watching the news multiple times a day is not a good use of time. Friends are really important. Without a support network of people who know you and like you for who you are, people you can really talk to, life can be very bleak. Partners can become over reliant on one another so that when one dies, the other is completely isolated.

Yeah I find it crazy. If I was them I want be relaxing in my twilight years

I find this mindset crazy. I want to be doing all the things work doesn’t allow time for- travel, getting fit, hobbies, cooking properly, Diy, gardening- i have all sorts of plans, the last thing I want to do is “relax”...

They probably see the way the world is headed and believe they can make a positive difference. That is probably the point of living.

Yippie put it perfectly. They have none of the daily grunt-work to do, which can weigh pretty heavily.

you rest, you rust

But also...... good genes, a healthy life, good food and environment, lack of poverty etc ect.

You are probably knackered at 50 because you have spent the last 20 years or so of your life dealing with children and all the nonsense they bring me (I love mine and I love being a parent but my goodness did I age fast during the toddler years). My hope is that you start to get your energy back and get a new lease of life once they are more self-sufficient.

Good luck and wealth help with the ageing process.
Wealth is the biggest indicator of good health in old age.
There are plenty of people who work past retirement and are active.
My 73yo FIL still runs everyday and although is technically retired still consults regularly as he likes to stay busy - he is fitter than 45yo DH. His mother just died at 96 and she was in a good state until the last few years when she declined very suddenly.
My mum was less lucky and is 74 with Alzheimer's and cannot feed or dress herself. Put mum & FIL side by side and you'd think she was 20yrs older than him.

My Grandad was a bit of an exception to the wealth thing he lived to 96, working class (dockyards, then electricity board) he played cricket until he was 80 and golf until he was 95 which he walked to and from (8miles) . He had a heartattack at 96 whilst out with his new 'girlfriend', my gran passed away 30yrs earlier from cancer.

Betty Boothroyd is a good example in U.K. politics.

I don't get it either. I have a really young looking, with it, smart dad who is 84, but at times he is a bit lost and not all there. I wouldn't want to put the running of the most powerful nation on earth in his hands.

I wondered if she had any children and she does have 5.......

DM is widowed and in her 70s. Hasn’t worked for 20 years, told me recently she was busier than I am (DH, 2DC and work). She is super busyand active and stopping work hasn’t stopped her....but she wouldn’t want to have a high profile job or in fact any job that tied her down...and that’s the bit I don’t really get. Do these people not just want some down time with their families, rather than running a country?

@TwentyTwentyOne ask yourself if your Dad would do a better job than the current President.

Because they never have to drive anywhere, clean anything, cook anything or look after anyone. They have other people to do that stuff for them. If we all lived that way we would all live to a ripe old age and have lots of energy LOL.

My Grandad was like this. I can remember him playing football in the garden with the grandchildren when he was pushing 80. He walked miles everyday, never got on the bus, refused to use the stairlift that was installed for my Nana, cooked and cleaned and shopped for himself. He lived till just short of 100. I definitely think his outlook on life and refusal to slow down kept him going, his mind was still sharp to the end as well.

My dad just retired at 70. I say retired but he’s the chairman of our local community centre which takes up most of his time, a local councillor, a trustee on 2 charities, part of a hiking group and has kept on a few clients to keep his hand in. He is also co-ordinating food bank collections.

I worry for MN’ers who are so tired in their 40’s and 50’s, surely that should be the tiny minority.

I'm nearly 60 and have more stamina than I did in my 20s.
I am not planning on retirement for a few decades yet.

I eat well, exercise daily and keep slim.

@Ducksarenotmyfriends

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.

^^This 100% I was very active and fit then had viral myocarditis and my heart is buggered. Drugs keep me alive and I do as much as I can when I can. Never take for granted your health. At 67 I am just glad to be alive and able to walk on the flat for 15 minutes before I become too breathless.

Joe Biden is not ‘lucky’. He lost his wife and daughter in a car accident and a son to cancer. What more bad luck could anyone have?

This is all about attitude and determination.

I could not go on if I lived through what he did.

I think those who are saying effectively it’s because they don’t do any housework etc are overlooking the immense strain that a high pressure high level job brings with it. Ok perhaps they don’t mop their floor but I’ll guarantee you their week is far more strenuous AND it’s quite sedentary work so they must be fitting in some fitness activities too.

My nana btw was never in the least wealthy or privileged. I think the answer is a mix of genes, outlook, and luck in not catching something awful?

Definitely think it’s genes, good health and attitude
My mum is in her early seventies and never ever stops. She doesn’t believe that she’s old. In fact I bought her a lovely blouse from M and S
She told me it was for old people.

Before the March lockdown she was out every weekend with her friends. She walks faster than I do and I often find myself running to keep up with her.

Hard work, drive and purpose. Look at Attenborough, he's 94 and travelling to remote places, presenting, doing press, getting on Instagram... All because he feels an intense sense of purpose about his work. That's well known to lengthen life and help.

I don't intend to ever retire if I can help it.

Joe Biden is just a place marker. Everyone knows that. Kamala will come in via the back door before this term is out.

Ah they succeed because they are slim, that'll be right.

My grandfather carried on working into his late seventies. Even after he sold his business he was still doing consulting work for them. The work itself seemed to sustain him. He didn’t have a lot of other interests other than drinking alcohol so he declined pretty quickly after he gave up work altogether.

They have a massive, massive amount of support.
Work is all they have to do.
Everything else is done for them.
They have no young kids to raise, feed and educate and they are rich.