Drama with retired people

[crunchymint]

I am working, in my mid fifties. But I have better off friends who are retiring early or working very very part time. These are fun but sensible women. And yet suddenly some of them seem to be getting embroiled in dramas of the type I have not witnessed since my early twenties. AIBU to think this may be because they do not have enough real life stuff to think about? And so tiny issues are getting blown up into bigger issues.

50's? Could be menopause. Or maybe she is having some new to her family issues or drama?

Women involved have all been through menopause. And women that would have hated any drama in the past.

My friends like this just seem to be on one long holiday in their new campervans. Very jealous.

Yes, maybe they were too busy before while they were working full time, but are in the thick of it now that they seeing people more often? Are they just gossipy, or right in the thick of it all?

They need a dog maybe? That should get them a new group of dog friends.

I don't know about retired people specifically but I do know people who used to have good careers and are now jostling for position on the PTA and squabbling about cupcakes.

My dad got like this soon after he retired. Every single little thing however trivial became a massive drama and focus of his day. Must be because they have nothing else to really worry about.

True, my mum moved into a gated community, when she retired.

It's non stop rules, gossip and the valley of the twitching curtains.

What kind of drama is it?

I don't understand the attraction of early retirement.

I'm in my 50s and hope to keep working for much longer or I'll go even more odd.

I would love early retirement, but no chance.
The drama is really about making a bigger deal out of things than they would have in the past. For example, a fall out with a woman who has a long history of drama. This has become a BIG THING, whereas in the past it would have been laughed of.

Absolutely true. My parents neighbour retired from a high flying city job at 50. He now spends every moment he has complaining about my mums cat tormenting his dog, people shutting their car doors too loudly, putting notes through neighbours doors that they shouldn’t be doing this and that. It’s incredibly entertaining hearing his latest antic

Yep. I’m forever saying ‘none of these things are THINGS’ to people. Totally a thing. We all develop little obsessions when we are under occupied in life.

I guess people who are drama llamas don't change just because they get older.

I think it depends what kind of groups you are talking about though - I'm retired and belong to various groups of similarly aged people and we don't do drama at all, everyone is very laid back and kind to each other. I actually found groups I belonged to when I had young children much more rife with petty squabbles and intrigue.

But I wouldn't assume all groups of younger people are like that any more than all groups of older people are. As I said people who like drama and gossip and all that tedious shit, have probably always been that way.

Kurri No they have not always been that way. That is what has surprised me. I suspect they don't have enough to think about.

You are just very jealous! Own it!

Sure that is why I have been taken aback at their drama