This is a thread for ILXORS IN THEIR 50's

I got my first mail from Saga the day after my 50th birthday. The only one I get repeated mail from is a retirement village outside Malvern (which admittedly looks very nice).

We actually took advantage of a special over 50s hotel discount earlier this year. We were by far the youngest people there.

I might have claimed pensioner discount for F at the outdoor museum in Bucharest last year. She wasn't best pleased (but the lady on the desk took it all in good spirits and gave her it anyway).

My wife takes great joy in claiming discounts based on me.

it doesn’t seem so bad

Long, fine hairs have begun sprouting from my collarbone region. Will there be much more of this kind of thing? Maybe I should ask the ILXORS IN THEIR 60's thread.

bye thread. off to the 60s. haven't noticed those hairs though in related news I started growing my hair long this year for the first time. not had a cut in a year. enjoying the old wild man vibes

https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/entrepreneurs/article/almost-half-of-recruiters-think-57-is-too-old-for-a-job-gxpn6nsfj

two days after my 57th birthday...

that's when you become a Walmart greeter

has anyone experimented with glucosamine?

I'm generally suspicious of most supplement claims, or just suspect that they may be more placebo than actually effective... I've never been diagnosed with actual arthritis, just experiencing more frequent joint pain (mostly hip and knee) and wondered if this might actually help.

As usual, the google search runs the gamut from 'total waste of time & money' to 'moderately effective but needs more research'... just wanted to see if any of you codgers had any experience

I went through a few bottles a few decades ago, thinking it'd help a sore knee. No startling change pre- to post-usage (other than a sore knee isn't part of my ailments these days), so stopped taking it.

Have been taking milk thistle lately as a non-statin cholesterol option, and have the same question.

ha, I take milk thistle everyday... for my liver
God only knows if it's helping, but I doubt it's hurting

I hear you. Potassium (to avoid leg cramps) is the one vitamin I stand by.

i'm due to graduate from this board next tuesday. what i want for my birthday gift is for the forces of good to stomp the living shit out the maga losers. please help make that happen good people of ilx. thank you in advance.

otm (although I have two years)

Who the fuck puts their age on their resume/CV? I only list my last 15 years of jobs, more or less. I leave my college degree on there because I got it in 2006. If people can do math, great. But in any case it's illegal in the US to ask a person their age in a job interview.

I graduate to this thread next Thursday ! And yes otm.

I would only expect to see ages on a resume/CV if the person is applying for something for a specific age demographic… like a “youth fellowship” or something where you have to be under a certain age

I put my year of college and HS graduations, but not my actual age

but I like unperson's strategy here, I am thankfully not currently looking but would prob redo mine to leave off dates

I put college and grad school … someone doing the math will likely assume I am 1-2 years older than I am, though in person I look almost 10 years younger than I am, and I definitely am not putting my birthdate down, in case of astrological discrimination

typical scorpio

HR manager: "The last person in this role was a Taurus. We're looking to hire someone less bullish."

lol koogs

in person I look almost 10 years younger than I am

I went to the doctor for my quarterly checkup not long ago, and he wrote in his notes (which I can see in the online patient portal) "appears somewhat younger than stated age," which... I'll fuckin' take that compliment any day, thanks!

I have a doctor's letter that calls me a "pleasant gentleman" or some such. I assume it's some sort of code. Similarly, I interpreted the words "classic symptoms" as to mean "we believe he's read about this in a book".

Yeah, there are definitely some code phrases in mine which I can translate to "speaks in complete sentences," "understands and responds when spoken to," "did not soil himself in the office," stuff like that.

My goal is to never apply for another job in my life. Just picked up a freelance contributor at the thing I run who's a 58-yr-old guy with a really interesting and varied resume who applied to us partly because he said "I'm finding it really hard to get anyone to consider a 58-yr-old for anything." We were like, "We are sympathetic to this plight! Come write for us."

My sister, who's also in her 50s, got a new teaching job and was super stressed by the first month of it and thinking about quitting and doing "something else." I had to caution her that there is almost nothing anyone would conceivably hire a 50-something former teacher for that would pay anywhere close to what a 50-something teacher makes. Fortunately she's settled in a bit. But I know so many people who have been unemployed in their 50s and it is No Fun.

I got a call from my doctor's office this morning reporting on my blood and urine results from my recent physical. They said "the doctor wanted to let you know that your results were perfect, which does not happen very often."

I did take an Archie Shepp record off the turntable on Sunday in favor of a Jimmy Smith record, so the struggle is real.

(knocks on wood) xp

I am immensely stressed out about new neighbors being total psychos about our uneven fence line, I had my physical 8 days ago and my blood pressure was 15 points higher than it had ever been before

My current field seems very welcoming to older folks. Unfortunately, it's one of the most evil industries in America (red state health insurance), but I'm gonna hang onto this job as long as I can regardless.

I changed jobs this year for what I am determined is the last time, and trying to plan how early I can stop working (or cut back to a couple of days).

In possibly related news I'm going through my first extended period of illness in my 50s - back in the hospital today a little over a month since the last time over a similar matter - and the clinicians keep using the term "at your age".

Xp phil, the accounting/tax profession is great for people in their 50s. Lots of room for growth as the boomers continue to retire.

I didn’t really get into it until my 30s when I decided that the warehouse and art installation work I did in my 20s was not something I wanted to do with an older person’s less resilient lower back.

My mom does tax preparation for old(er) people every year through the United Way, and all she had to do was take some kind of certification course, so I guess I'll keep that in mind.

one feature about my 50's has been, when I get down - I genuinely feel like committing suicide. This was something I only joked about in my 40's!

I know that caregiving exacts a relentless emotional tax, calz. How many years have you been at it now? I found it helped to finally realize that I couldn't be a human shield between my kid and all the grim realities she'd have to deal with out in the world. Slowly pulling back seemed less risky than suddenly crumbling and disappearing.

My mom does tax preparation for old(er) people every year through the United Way, and all she had to do was take some kind of certification course, so I guess I'll keep that in mind.

xxp

roughly, about 13 years now. I used to feel rugged and unbreakable and able to get through anything, Now I frequently break down in tears. Maybe more of a grinding attritional thing, than strictly a 50's thing. The last few years have almost killed me tbh. But then again, still I feel like carrying on. But it is fucking hard!

Relatable, calzino

Now I frequently break down in tears.

If it's anything like the same as me, that sounds like deep grief breaking through that you've never had a chance to acknowledge or express because feeling the grief feels like it will break you and you're too necessary to allow that.

Been there. It is fucking hard!!! <i raised you a couple of bangs!

cheers Aimless. We haven't always been on agreeable terms on here, but thanks for raising the couple o bangs!

I think I mentioned this upthread, but I get semi-weepy over really maudlin, sentimental things these days, feel like it's a byproduct of reaching the warm September of my years

HAHAHA LOL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh8iXc2d71U

(always wrings a tear or two out of me this one)

and the clinicians keep using the term "at your age".

I don't even want to go to the doctor anymore. I could go in there with my kneecap slid down to my ankle, and they'd probably just go, "Well, you are in your 50s now..."

I go in with that mindset of 'Hey, I am the age I am' and it makes such visits relaxing, really.

I am super bummed because I just got a note that my doctor is retiring. I've been going to her for nearly 30 years (except for the period I moved away, but signed back up with her when I got back). She's probably 8-10 years older than me so I guess not a surprise but now I gotta start all over with somebody.

I keep wondering about that re my dentist. Had him only for about ten years, but that was on the recommendation of my sis, who has been seeing him since 2000!

I was super bummed when our awesome old dentist retired, have still not found a new one but I need to for my end-of-year cleaning

Sick of having to remember the name of all the damn pills I have to take now.