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.

Yes I'd say it is. Let's take Biden's wealth. As U.S. Senator he was paid $174000 last year. He was a senator for about 46 years. As VP he was paid approx $230,000. Both figures are peanuts in the US. He owns 4 mansions and lives like an extremely rich man. His son Hunter is even richer due to the Chinese government (through the bank of China) giving him 1 billion dollars to invest when he traveled on Air Force two to China with Daddy. They later raised this to 1.5 Billion. There is no other known example of the Chinese doing this. When Joe was point man for Obama in the Ukraine, Hunter became a board member of "Barisma" the gas giant, this despite never having served on a board or knowing anything about the gas business. He was paid up to 86,000 US a month. Joe says he has never discussed business with Hunter. A partner of Hunter says this is not true. Your son is given a billion dollars by China and you don't talk about it? I mean, C'mon man. (a favorite gee shucks remark used by Biden).
Joe's brother was given a billion dollar contract to build houses in Iraq. Joe's brother had not built any houses before. Etc.

Republican and democrat Washington is a sewer of corruption

And luck plays a huge part. If it wasn't for bad luck we could be talking about President-elect Beau Biden now.

My Grandad says never buy a bungalow! Or that’s it over.

Both my sets of grandparents have been opposites. One really old, by probably about age 50. The other still very young mid 70’s.

My grandma is amazing I want to be her when I grow up. She’s very motivated, glamorous and well put together, I think it helps that she’s independent (they are divorced). My MiL is almost the same age as my grandma and honestly she’s just like a child, can’t do anything for herself and just sat on the sofa relying on her husband all the time since retiring 5 years ago. My biggest fear is becoming like her when I get older.

So, independence, volunteering , friends, good family support, physical and mental health.

Looking after yourself. I look after old people. We have slim, healthy 90 year olds who are out walking, driving, doing hobbies with their friends etc. They don’t really need us to go there but we do anyway for the company.
The ones who are in a really bad way are usually very over weight, moan about everything and are usually quite entitled. Ranging from 60-80. You can tell they’re the ones who have been old since 40, much like my own nan. It’s a shame.

And don’t get me started on the men who have had their wives do everything for them all their lives! When the wife dies, the basically revert Into babies and it’s so sad.

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. Count your blessings that they have been fortunate enough not to be struck down by one of the very many debilitating illnesses.

I imagine that Joe Biden is someone who understands this more than most, given that his first wife and his daughter were killed in a tragic car accident, and that his eldest son was dead at the age of 46 from a brain tumour.

I am simply pointing out that they are able to do exceptionally stressful, high-profile jobs at the age when many people have retired because they have outsourced absolutely everything else, in addition to whatever personal qualities and good health they have.

Anyone holding the jobs that they hold would do the same, though, even if thirty to forty years younger. It's how anybody makes a job at the top end of politics manageable.

And lots of people have posted on this thread examples of their own family members or loved ones who remained active, vital and working and contributing into their 80s and 90s, even though they continued to manage their own lives (and probably did not have personalised health plans based on regular blood tests). Genes no doubt play a part, but examples of remarkable preservation are pretty much inevitably people who stay physically active, mentally engaged, and purposeful and socially connected, in whatever form that takes. I fondly remember going to meet my then 93-year-old great aunt with my DF. She was on her knees vigorously gardening - she then arose, and took us our for a lively lunch, on foot my DF has a younger brother who has sat on his bum his whole life, and already seems considerably older than my DF despite being considerably younger.

Sorry, looks like I've interrupted the St Joe love in.... As you were....

What intrigues me, OP, is why you (and others on MN) are knackered in your 50s.

Menopause. I'm 49 and bloody knackered

I think working beyond retirement/being active plays an enormous part in it (health conditions aside).

My Grandmother’s are the same age (83) but one could pass for early 70’s and the other old enough to be her mother. One grandmother worked as a palliative care nurse beyond retirement age, retiring only to give that same care to my grandfather. My other grandmother retired at 60 and did not remain active or stimulated in any way.

I think Joe Biden actually grew up during the Irish potato famine before moving to America to build his fortune and live the American dream but will never forget his roots.

Tangent but if he's Irish then Hilaria can be spanish. Jmo.

I'm 50 and I'm not tired. I go easier on myself though. I used to jump abot the kitchen doing jillian michaels, and running twice a week and staying under xxx lbs, but now I just go for walks and do yoga. I'm no less tired.

I mean no more tired than I ever was.

Luck, care and long term healthcare provisions. It’s a long game so you have to be really driven and take care of your body as part of your work!

Pretty sure Joe Biden didn't live through the Irish potato famine, or in Ireland for that matter.

@6heartsforhumphrey

Pretty sure Joe Biden didn't live through the Irish potato famine, or in Ireland for that matter.

The potato famine of 1845-9? Yes, I think you can be pretty confident about that.

Randomer was poking fun at a PP’s suggestion that slimness was one of the major secrets of Pelosi’s and Biden’s success

If it's me you're referring to, I was answering OP's question "how do they do it?" when OP is knackered in her 50s.

I think it's fair to assume that their slim physiques (and the associated healthy choices they make) give Biden and Pelosi the ability to do the work they do with such vigour.

Thanks Yippie - that is a good point.

I actually agree with a lot of the point, and suspect it is a combination of
genetics and luck with health
wealthy enough to be able to outsource everything but work
a strong work ethic and drive

I still think I wouldn't want to be working at that age though.
At 80 odd - you are likely to have been a child, then student possibly - let's say until 21, so you've been working practically 60 years, and, statistically are unlikely to have that many years left. I think after 40 - 45 years of work, I want to be able to do things I choose to do and never really had the time or energy to do whilst working, bringing up a family, volunteering, at times also studying, and all that's involved in the mundane things like housework / cooking / shopping etc.
Travel. Walking. Learning to dance. (Potentially) having time to play with grandchildren without worrying about the fact I should be getting on with (paid) work. Spending time with friends just putting the world to rights. Having some music lessons, putting the time in, and improving skills. Volunteering in more / different ways. Regular exercise.

For those criticising those of us who are tired in our 50s - I've been told by 2 friends who are 10 years older than me, that they (and many of their friends) feel a lot better in their 60s and into their 70s than they did in their 50s. Giving up work seems to be the main factor, but, for many, the menopause can affect health and energy levels. Plus (as said above) you have the time to put into looking after your health a bit more - gardening, gym, swimming, walking, cycling, and cooking all can be sidelined when you are busy at work.

They have exciting jobs though. There's a big difference between what they do and what lots of ordinary people do. A lot easier to keep going if the job feels important and you can pay for someone else to do the drudge at home. It's why so many PMs find it difficult to go back to the back benches - politics is exciting at that level. Hillary Clinton is 73 but, weight-wise, not as skinny as Pelosi.

@stairway please tell me your post was tongue in cheek??

stairway may have been making reference to the fact that a lot of Americans like to refer to themselves as Irish despite being several generations removed.

I find that there is a subconscious message in our society that young is good, and somehow it filters through that you are old by mid fifties.I’m not sure where I’m getting this from - maybe the endless young blondes on tv and the ads for stair lifts that seem to be used by patronising images of snowy haired vital looking couples on beaches. A friend summed it up by saying until you are 50 you are defined by advertisers by your hobbies. After 50 you are defined by your age- regardless of your interests. But yes, it’s not so much that I feel old, it’s more that I’m questioning whether I should feel old! Have decided not to.😃🌺🌺go me!

My dad is 78 & just had a 2nd stroke. He had no health issues at all until 1st stroke at age 65. I reckon mostly luck who gets to keep going strong. We easily forget the public figures who had to retire early due to ill health or died young from an 'old-age' illness.

Michael J. Fox, Robin Williams, Alan Clark, Chadwick Boseman, Eisenhower, Eddie Van Halen, Farah Fawcett...

Some get a very lucky 2nd lease of life in spite of life-threatening condition (Tina Turner).