Are you planning to downsize when you are older?

[D20]

What age/life stage are you aiming for? We’ve always assumed at some point we will downsize (physically) when we retire. Our Mortgage will be paid off, kids will be well on their way into adulthood. Both of our neighbours are now in their 70s and in failing health but no plans to move so I wonder if we’ll end up the same.

Thanks @Ursulla.

You still haven't said how old you are.

& 61 is definitely still middle-aged.

It's not 'old' or 'elderly'.

Unless I missed your job title and you are 'The Definer'.

In which case, I apologise.

@Ursulla I have to agree that 61 isn’t middle-aged in my opinion. I’ll be 50 this year and I think I’d class 60 as the end of middle age as very few people make it past 100.

I’m not sure what 60 is nowadays, tbh. As @JeysusH says, many people are healthy and active in their 60’s. Although invisible conditions like high blood pressure (do start to creep in. My most sporty friend (57) has high blood pressure and is on statins. He looks like the athlete he is!

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/middle-aged

middle-aged

1. ADJECTIVE B1+

If you describe someone as middle-aged, you mean that they are neither young nor old. People between the ages of 40 and 60 are usually considered to be middle-aged.

Probably not, love my house and the village i'm in, if i were to move within the village (which can be had as it's so popular) it would be a house that is dated and would need a full refurb, not something i ever fancy taking on.

Why will you not say how old you are @Ursulla?

You seem to have quite a few opinions on the age of others, so why won't you stake your claim?

I downsized big time from a two bedroom house in a sleepy chocolate box village to a single room in a shared house in London. Theatres, concerts, museums, art galleries, parks and river walks are all on my doorstep, and with an over 60s Oyster, travel anywhere in London is free. I’m living the dream, and I don’t know how I ever had time to work!

Love that - sounds perfect!

@LoserWinner That's also my ideal retirement!

That does sound pretty flipping brilliant.

Where has @Ursulla gone?

I'm guessing late 20s, early 30s.

I say that, but I had friends in their early 60s then, I was friends with an incredible woman in her 80s when I had young children. I didn't consider her to be old, she was very much a positive force in my life, we learnt so much from each other, I really cherished her friendship.

I speak a lot to my sister's mother-in-law. She's 85. We have a phone-call every week. I love hearing about her life. I consider her a friend. And her sister who lives in the states. Inspiring women.

C'mon @Ursulla. Tell us about you.

M’y house is big, over three storeys , but I reckon we could live comfortably on the bottom floor. I also still have student aged kids who seem to be intending to come home and save a bit before buying themselves. We will both be retired next year( I am 61) and I have just signed up with a pet sitting agency that will allow me to see a fair bit of Europe.
I run, do barre and horse ride. I am not ready for Windy Pines yet.

Windy pines 😀

@LoserWinner gosh, all speed to you but I couldn't imagine much worse than sharing a kitchen/bathroom and having an insecure tenancy - did it in my twenties, glad I don't now.

@JeysusH not that it's at all relevant but I'm 56. Older than I was, younger than I hope to be.

Why so ageist then?

You're my age, are you just preparing yourself for Soylent Green?

Ready for the meat grinder?

I'm 60 and my 10 year old granddaughter thinks I'm extremely old. I'm starting to think of myself as at the younger end of old, because you can't call yourself middle-aged when you pay senior entry prices when you visit places and have a bus pass. I live alone in a 4 bed house, have no intention of downsizing, all the bedrooms are used. I hope I will continue like my widowed mother who at 86 lives alone in a 5 bed house with a huge garden which she tends herself, including up ladders pruning, digging etc. She has had heart issues and a pacemaker but has carried on as normal, no intention of moving.

I'm starting to think of myself as at the younger end of old, because you can't call yourself middle-aged when you pay senior entry prices when you visit places and have a bus pass.

@ISeriouslyDoubtIt Good point, I’m not hanging onto the middle-aged moniker if I can get senior discounts. I’d rather classify myself as a “senior” and save money. 😂

I will in my 50s.
I currently rent a 4 bed social housing home, dc will all be adults when I'm 50, so I plan on buying a 2 bed house for myself.

@JeysusH I haven't said anything ageist.

I don't think the word "old" is in and of itself an insult/redolent of Soylent Green/meat grinders/whatever other wild shit you've been flinging around on this thread. If you do, you could perhaps examine why

I say that, but I had friends in their early 60s then, I was friends with an incredible woman in her 80s when I had young children. I didn't consider her to be old, she was very much a positive force in my life, we learnt so much from each other, I really cherished her friendship.

Do you have a really negative idea of what old means?

Someone in their 80s is old. Doesn't mean they can't be a positive force or a good friend. But they are also old, isn't that just factually true? It's not an insult!

Eh?

You seem to be saying - this person in their 80s was so great that you didn't consider them to be old.

I am asking why you seem not to want to see them as being old because they are also a great friend and a positive force. To me, there's no reason why someone can't be old and also all of the things you mentioned.

But you seem to think otherwise - why is that?

To me it's like saying "I just don't think of my friend as a redhead, she's such a good friend" - it's implying there is some kind of conflict between these two things and that being a redhead is some kind of value judgement.

@ISeriouslyDoubtIt where do you live where you get a bus pass at 60?

Wales

Merseyside, too!