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Printed from https://writing.com/main/books/item_id/2094924-How-to-live-the-last-quarter/month/11-1-2024
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by Sue Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E · Book · Biographical · #2094924
Blog about growing older!
I think that life should be divided into quarters! My observations are that the first quarter includes childhood, and early adulthood, the second quarter marriage, children, and middle adulthood, the third quarter healthy empty nest days and now the fourth one where age begins to take its toll. I think that I am still in the third quarter, as I am really healthy albeit retired, but can recognize the signs of the fourth quarter, as my ability to do things like I used to has definitely diminished.

The question is what does one do to make the fourth quarter bearable. I find it very scary. I think it was Bette Davis who said that it took a lot of courage to get old, and I am beginning to understand her! I must hasten to add that I am very lucky with a husband who is still alive, and two married sons with between them 4 grandchildren and another very shortly on the way!

So my musings are really about what can I do to make the fourth quarter at all bearable, as I am a total coward at heart.

Our current dilemma is should we move to be nearer our younger son who lives in Sydney. He has a very pregnant wife, and our adorable five year old grandson, who we have successfully baby sat for periods of up to two weeks, when his parents were away. Most of my friends think we are crazy to think about moving, as we have a very pleasant life in Adelaide. I pause here to put in a plug for Adelaide which has to be the best place in the World to life. Lots of things to do, and very easy to get around. Great warm weather for most of the year, and very pleasant and friendly people. Who would think about leaving such a paradise. Well we do, as I feel that the older one gets the better is to be near some family! On top of that we can be very useful indeed as grandparents to our son and his wife as they both work, and we can help out with the kids!

Financially we can do it. We are looking at appartments and retirement villages. Both will mean that we will have to rearrange our finances, but despite the gloom my husband emits at the prospect I think that we will be OK. Mind you OK means moving from our comfortable house into a very small two bedroom apartment and I am actually not quite sure how we will do this as we will need to be in quite close proximity for most of the time, and right now we do have places in the house where we can escape! Sydney is ridiculously expensive!
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Printed from https://writing.com/main/books/item_id/2094924-How-to-live-the-last-quarter/month/11-1-2024