Time For Some Positivity

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Away_Employment_2783@reddit

My husband and I are 65, and I have been retired for the last 17 years and my husband the last 14. Because my husband was part-time military, worked at an aerospace company in experimental aircraft, and was paid handsomely. We have a house paid off and own a few properties we rent out. With great insurance and plenty of savings and 3 monthly pensions, we frankly have too much money, so we sponsor a yearly scholarship for a student from the local school that will go on after we are gone. In 2020, i fell and broke my leg. Then again, my femur in 2023. With back problems and numbness, my legs are numb and I'm in a wheelchair. However, luckily, I'm pretty happy go lucky and am dealing with it perfectly fine. Nothing has ever really affected me in spite of plenty of hospitalizations and casts on my back while growing up. I had hands off Parents while my husband's Mom was too involved and Dad had a habit of disappearing. We have no children but have been together the last 39 years and both of us were fine with no kids. I am sometimes amazed at how caring my husband has been. I couldn't ask for better. Nowadays we travel some but really like staying home. There is nothing we like better. If the need arises, we are able to pay a salary for nursing care at home. We are happy and hope to live a good long time.

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invislign@reddit

Essentially raised myself and married young! I was married until death did we part! I got to live all over the world! I recently remarried a great guy! We keep everything separate which was unthinkable only a generation ago.

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Endless-Non-Mono@reddit

Wife (F48) & I (M47) met in the arcades of NYC when we were 19. Started off as an ONS. She was way out of league. 4 weeks later we ran into each again and have been together since. I was already a teen dad when she met me. We went on a bunch of crazy adventures from crashing concerts, multiple threesomes with women that hit us at various venues, traveled, got jumped and beat some ppl's asses lol Her family taught her boxing from a young age. I was into ninja weapons like a dweeb. 30+ years later we both race to get home to see each other. She still hot as fuck and at the center of my heart. She calls me her favorite human and still likes to climb me like I'm a tree lol We don't live traditionally and we have a fucking blast while still supporting our community. We raise two no nonsense warrior women that are now adults with their own families and lives.

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VerityLGreen@reddit

I love my job. I’m hoping my health holds up so I *get* to work at least into my seventies!

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newwriter365@reddit

I grew up in a family that simply didn’t know what to do with me - I am a middle child and the first in my family to graduate from college. I had no mentors, lots of detractors and a mother who was deeply unhappy with her own life and unwilling to do the work to fix it, so she would quietly sabotage my attempts to not be like her. I married at 24, which was, in retrospect, too young, but from my parents’ perspective, “an old maid”. Of course, I married the wrong (for me) person and had three kids. Divorced at 50. Life has only gotten better since. I have a good job, great kids and great relationships with my kids. I will retire in 7-8 years with a small pension, a solid retirement fund and a fully paid off house. I travel as one of my hobbies and just visited the 42nd country on my list. I’m hoping to visit half the countries on the planet before I retire, compiling a short list of ten to revisit and slow travel through when I retire. My life is good despite a chronic illness. I’m grateful that I found the courage to divorce when I did, it truly changed my life for the better.

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-DethLok-@reddit

I retired at 55, comfortably. Live is pretty cruisy now.

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Roy4Pris@reddit

I grew up with loving parents, who were nevertheless adherents of the ‘benign neglect’ school of childrearing. They often travelled overseas, leaving us to stay with friends, and also moved us around the world a lot. I went to 9 schools in total, and as an adult have resided in the UK, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Probably due to all that moving around I never really settled down. But it also made me super resilient. When my previous career bottomed out, I was able to go back to university full time and do a bachelors in a completely different field. I was a 40 year old ‘freshman’, and my classmates were literally half my age. Now they’re all in their 30s and some of them have become good friends. I also have a completely new career. There are some downsides: I’ve still never owned my own home, or had my own kids. But I’ve had so many great opportunities to see the world and challenge myself in ways that weren’t post older generations, and would terrify the younger ones. Winona Forever! * That’s actually the name of a cafe here

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CyndiIsOnReddit@reddit

I just made two awesome kids. My daughter turned 36 today. It's crazy thinking 36 years have flown by. I was just 36 myself a few weeks ago! And I love that she says I'm her best friend. Her bestie. :) My son is a sweetheart too. He's so clever and such a smart ass but an endearing one. Neither of them have given me any trouble in all these years. They're good people. I did good. I am proud of myself for that. I had a good teacher though. I had a great mom too!

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SquirrelBowl@reddit

I’m whatever

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Weird-Conflict-3066@reddit

Showoff

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PahzTakesPhotos@reddit

Some things in our life are better than they used to be. I get to do my absolute dream job at my favorite hobby (photographer at the renaissance faire). The husband has his entire basement for his N-scale model trains. We didn't get to have pets when we were young (his parents don't like animals and my parents just wouldn't let us have our own dog/cat/whatever- just the family dog), so we have plenty of pets now. We get to see our kids on a regular basis. We have one grandgoblin and to quote the husband: "She's a hoot!". I finally got hearing aids that were an awesome improvement to the quality of life.

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LayerNo3634@reddit

My kids turned out to be well adjusted, successful adults, who like us. Hubby and I are happily married and retired at 55. We were never rich, but always lived debt free (except house and car), and did without until we had the cash to purchase it.

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hippiestitcher@reddit

I feel like I'm living my dream life every day. Happy marriage of almost 33 years, 4 fantastic, healthy, great adult kids, one adorable grandson. Living in recovery from mental illness for almost 10 years now. Husband has been at the same company for 20 years this August and will probably be able to write his own work from home/consulting ticket moving toward retirement because he's invaluable to them. Neither of us have any major health problems. We live in our dream house in a quiet small town and don't want to ever move again.

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Capital-Cheesecake67@reddit

Five years ago we closed on a lake house. I have a job I like. My husband and I don’t have to worry about life paycheck to paycheck anymore. We get to sit on our deck and watch the boats and jet skis go by. Bonus is the comedy factor watching people on boards, skis, and tubes wipe out.

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MaximumJones@reddit

My 50s have been the greatest time of my life so far.

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gaddnyc@reddit

Yes, 💯

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MountainFlower970@reddit

I will 3rd that, hitting my stride in my 50s has been fan-fucking-tastic 😎

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FloridaGirlMary@reddit

46 here and paid off my house 3 years ago!!!!

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negcap@reddit

Not to jinx it but so far I am immortal.

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SnuggleMoose44@reddit

My life was going well until my now ex bailed and I finished raising the kids alone. I’ve been homeless, my son has been developing a lot of medical issues and we are both dealing with that. I had cancer when my son was in high school (remission) and that was the second of the three financial ruins that has me in my third bankruptcy. It’s great for y’all saving for your second home and have lots of money banked, but many of us are just a paycheck away from financial collapse. It could happen to any of us. Sorry, that’s too negative, isn’t it?

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MetalTrek1@reddit

See my story above. My ex-wife robbed me of about 40 grand throwing me into a financial hole from which I'll most likely never crawl out. Nothing like yours, but still bad. Good luck. I hope it all works out for you. 🤘

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SnuggleMoose44@reddit

Same. ✌🏻

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knowitstime@reddit

Sorry to hear you've been through it! Hang in there and hope the luck bends to the good side from now on. 💚

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SnuggleMoose44@reddit

Thank you. Things started being bad in 2009 and I’ve not had time to breathe easily since.

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leomaddox@reddit

Congratulations 🎉 I am kicking ass because of the Gratitude group I found in this Subreddit. I was in a very dark place a few years ago. Following and reading all the positive posts here got me thinking about Gratitude. Best way to start my day! Thank you

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MetalTrek1@reddit

I'll probably be in the "work until I die" category thanks to my adulterous ex wife robbing me of 40 grand, BUT on the plus side, I DO like my job, it's easy (not at all physically demanding), I'm good at it, and I can do it remotely if I take the training (which I am working on). Plus, my older kid lives with me and will be able to help me out (said older kid also wants nothing to do with said ex-wife/their mom). Lemons from lemonade 🍋 (seriously). *I've also lost about 115 pounds so I'm in better health than my ex who DOES work a physically demanding job that doesn't pay anywhere near what mine pays (her knight is shining armor affair partner MADE her get this job).

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lassobsgkinglost@reddit

I’m happy! Financially stable. Both of my kids graduated college this spring with zero debt. Building a future with the man of my dreams. Managing my health. I am at peace most days.

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Complete_Willow_101@reddit

I’m sorry but what’s the point of this? Are you devaluing others’ life stories as ‘negative’? Good for you that you made it and are thriving. Congratulations! But everyone else has their own story that’s equally authentic and important. I don’t think it should be brushed off as negative.

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BraveG365@reddit

You can probably take a lot of these stories with a grain of salt. My previous neighbors were Gen X and the husband had two nice trucks and the wife had a nice SUV and luxury car and they dressed nice and had their kids always dressed in expensive clothes and last month I heard from a past neighbor that the wife confided to her one time that the family was so far in debt that she needed to borrow some money just to get by for the month. The wife told her that they were past due by months or more on most bills and that they were having to go to local food banks to get food. When I lived in the neighborhood the husband was always cruising around in his big trucks telling everyone about vacations they took and all that time they were broke ass poor just living paycheck to paycheck. So you got to realize a lot of people talk the talk....but can't really back it up.

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FowlTemptress@reddit

it’s a response to the constant doom and gloom posts we see here.

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Mental-Claim5827@reddit

I think the point is sometimes we only focus on the negative and don’t realize all we have. I am surely guilty of that. In fact, it was a nice exercise for me, as I generally think my life sucks.

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DetroitsGoingToWin@reddit

We’ll see what the next decade brings, for now, I’m enjoying relatively decent health and some of the things it allows me to do. I gardened hard Saturday, swam and road bikes with the kids yesterday, hit the gym this morning. Rustic camping this weekend. Your health is your wealth

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Tiny-Albatross518@reddit

I think to be fair it’s something like this (I’m a gen X) Boomers- get a job at the post office, wife doesn’t work, buy a house, pay your bills: made in the shade Gen X- both of you work and put in an effort, buy a house, be halfway careful: made in the shade Millennials- this is way too hard for what you’ll get out of it. You feel like you’re swimming upstream because you are. You still could make it if you’re hardheaded. Gen Z- ridiculous. You won’t be able to get anywhere without a lot of help or luck no matter how you kill yourself trying

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Eatmore-plants@reddit

57f here. I choose a different path and spent my 20’s traveling the world and becoming a nurse. Tried the whole marriage and suburban house wife thing that didn’t work out for me and now I’m on my own. I have some money saved, not a lot, but I’m super healthy and plan on working less and less as I get older. I’ve always taken 5-8 weeks off a year to enjoy the journey. My current job doing home care and hospice really puts life and what matters into perspective.

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chopprjock@reddit

I am (finally) in a really good place, although that wasn't always the case. I partied my way out of college in the 80's, bounced around a couple of jobs after getting married. I was working at a mine near my hometown as a surveyor's apprentice in 1990/1991 when I realized that the company only had a few years left before they would be out of ore (lead, zinc, copper) and have to start shutting things down. I remember laying in bed beside my wife and wondering what I could do with my life. What did I want to be? What were my dreams? I kept coming back to flying. So I joined the military as an enlisted aircrewmember on Blackhawk helicopters. Back then you could go to army flight school with only 60 hours of college. I had 61, haha. A few years later I was selected for Warrant Officer candidate school and became a helicopter pilot. I thought I had it made. Until my first unaccompanied tour to Korea. The day I got back my wife handed me divorce papers and ran off with the dude that she had been sleeping with for some time. A few years later I was training in airplanes (civilian) and decided to try and make it in the airlines. I resigned my commission, and was able to get hired at a regional airline..... on 10 September 200l. Let's just say I scrambled to stop my resignation and decided to stay in the military. I spent the next 10 years mostly deployed and barely scraping by. The good thing was, though, that I made it to retirement from the Army. I got out at 20 years and zero days! I went back to school and finished an aerospace engineering degree. I got hired at Boeing and had a few good years, including adding an MBA. Then Boeing had their "troubles" lol. I bounced to another company for an incredible pay raise, married an incredible woman, and started getting us, and my adult kids, out of debt (mostly student loans) It seemed like for every downer, there was a corresponding silver lining. Today I am 57, sitting in a good spot financially, a wonderful place relationship-wise (both with my spouse and my adult kids), and we are one month away from an early retirement- in France! It was definitely a squirrelly, curvy path to get here but we are excited to begin our new adventure!!

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tboy160@reddit

Love this post! Yes, our house and cars are paid, we are 48 and 46. Haven't paid interest on anything in years. We vacation where we want, we attend every game and concert we want to (though some we skip on principle alone with jacked prices) We have our retirement building nicely. Living the life!

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GothGranny75@reddit

I created the family i always wanted.

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The_Burghanite@reddit

I’m going to be working till I die. I plan to outlive most of you, though, so that’s my positive. 😂

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ShadowKat2k@reddit

Same here. You'll never outlive me! Muhahaha!

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Merciless_Soup@reddit

Are you challenging u/The_Burghanite? A group of friends in college took bets on how long I'd live, and no one chose past thirty. For better or worse I'll be 51 soon.

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ShadowKat2k@reddit

When I was 7 I remember my pediatrician saying I'll live "another hundred years" and by gum I'm going to hold him to that.

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wsu2005grad@reddit

Pretty sure I'll never be financially secure enough to ever retire. I do have 3 great kids though.

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Throwaway7219017@reddit

I ended up being rich. Not financially wealthy, but rich in the fact that I obtained what I most needed, wanted and desired - a family of my own. I’m an empty nester now, but the perspective I’ve gained once the kid’s departed had left me truly content and happy. I long prioritized my wife and kids over career or monetary obligations (i.e. keeping up with the Joneses). My kids aren’t perfect, but they have the most important quality one can have (IMO), they’re kind and loving people. I have everything I need and most of what I want, albeit my wants are quite simple - a coffee and a good book or streaming series.

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Traditional_Fan_2655@reddit

I no longer have much, but I have hope. I also appreciate the evening sky, cut out toxic relationships, enjoy watching the deer, talk to great friends, cook different meals simply to enjoy, and live. It's all good.

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WaitingitOut000@reddit

Just retired, will turn 53 this year. I’m having an awesome summer so far and can’t believe my luck.

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DarkNestTravels@reddit

51 here. Travelling in a Class A motorhome, debt free, writing fiction and working all over the U.S. Life is but a dream for me!

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ElleMNOTee@reddit

In my mid 50’s, life has been a struggle but I’m here. Worked in corporate America most of my life providing support to executives while barely making ends meet. Was blessed with a job 2.5 years ago that pays well, financially I can breathe. I will admit I think about retiring every day, just tired of the grind The cost of inflation and preparing/recovering from weather related disasters has taken a big bite out of the increased income. Overall, I’m grateful. My car is paid off, I have one credit card debt that’s close to being paid off. Working on a list of home repairs so I can be comfortable as I age or sell the house and travel. That’s my positive realist spin.

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PotPumper43@reddit

I retire on Labor Day weekend at 53. Have a wonderful wife and large circle of friends. Never thought I’d be where I’m at.

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RCA2CE@reddit

Braggart Congratulations We good over here - a couple of squirrels tryna find a nut

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Door_Number_Four@reddit

Me(47) and my wife. (42), have put together a blended family of three, soon to be four kids, are on track to retire around 60-62. Both of us came from modest backgrounds, working an industry that is notoriously hard to get into as an outsider. We wake up each day comfortable, not worried about bills, and that is a big win.

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LeighofMar@reddit

It's been a rough ride but I'm happy with where I'm at. House paid off at 46, son on his own since 20 enjoying his life, new business projects that are engaging and exciting for us and fun times traveling via road trips in the US. Even if we work until death, it's our company that we can run as long as one of us is cognitive and enjoy a modest check in retirement for life. Not too bad I'd say.

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Away_Bench7003@reddit

Well, I’m proud of being Gen X and I do love everything in the 80s. I wouldn’t go back for all the money in the world. I am personally much happier as an adult. I am a much better adult.

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QuizzicalWizard@reddit

We're doing great compared with where we started and we're still 1 health emergency away from losing everything we have. Does that count?

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CranberryMission9713@reddit

Married my best friend, just bought our first house, both doing something we LOVE for a career, no kids. Life is great.

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bobj33@reddit

My sister and I are 53 and 49. Both of us have jobs that pay well, mortgages paid off, take nice vacations around the world. Kids are doing well and in college or will be soon. The vast majority of my friends are similar age and similar situations. Our parents always stressed the importance of education and doing something practical like engineering or medical. Their advice has literally paid off. I'm generally happy and have saved a lot of money.

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bikramchick@reddit

My life turned out better than I could've ever dreamed. Grew up in a single parent household with a typical Gen X latchkey childhood (I refer to it as being like Lord of the Flies). All I knew for sure at age 16 was that I wanted to be with my husband, regardless of what that would look like. We'll celebrate 32 years of marriage this December and our kids are grown and college educated with one even in medical school. We retired early and now split our time between the US and Paris. This is the shit dreams are made of and I pinch myself every day.

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JackpineSauvage@reddit

"Lord of the Flies" 🤣

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smallerthantears@reddit

I feel that way as well. I had a rough beginning with pretty abusive alcoholic parents. I wasn't great at school and kind of imagined I'd be living in a trailer working at walgreens one day (it doesn't even sound all that bad to me if you want to know the truth--so long as i have a roof over my head). I married a guy I was madly in love but he was as broke as I was. He was from another country and immigration didn't believe we were married in spite of the fact we had a child. He was nearly deported. Eventually, he found an industry he could thrive in and has a small biz that gives us a great quality of life. We live below our means but very well. We have two kids who are happy and healthy. I sit home and do my creative writing and hobbies while my husband runs around doing his dream career. I have a spiritual practice that keeps me from sinking into depression or despair for the most part. I feel wildly content these days. It's a good life.

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JackpineSauvage@reddit

For the most part (excluding my body) I like getting older. Temperamentally, I've really mellowed out well. No longer sweat the small stuff that I can't control and have really learned to pick my battles. And just through an accumulation of knowledge and experiences with time, living day to day life in my 50s is exponentially easier and happier than in my 20s. I also have far more meaningful relationships these days. Great post and great point! Some real plusses about aging.

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ezgomer@reddit

Some people work their asses off and still end up fucked but okay. i appreciate the desire for positivity but this post ain’t it, chief. Needs a rewrite.

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archedhighbrow@reddit

I'm very happy. I went semi-retired three years ago and love it. I have a minimum wage job with very little responsibility, I put half my pay into my savings account for travel to see my children. The other half pays for my cellphone, auto insurance, and spending money. I'm blessed that we own our home and that my husband covers costs.

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Directorshaggy@reddit

Well..I'm alive with some money in the bank and food in the fridge. No huge health issues. Pretty...pretty. .pretty good.

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GreatGreenGobbo@reddit

I am doing ok, by all measurements I am doing better than most. I still am sometimes down on myself for not being further, but I'm not sure what that would look like. I'm trying to learn to be more content where I am now. If I could figure out a way to be Financially Independent that would be amazing.

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Mental-Claim5827@reddit

I’m doing pretty good. I’m saving to buy my second home. My current home is paid off. My daughter has her problems, but she got straight A’s last year. My marriage isn’t great but we are good friends. I’m having fun with creating an online business that will hopefully allow me to retire early. Regardless of whether or not it works out I’m having so much fun doing it.

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krack1925@reddit

I am doing much better than I ever thought i would. Financially we are ok... I am not sure i would ever think i am secure... unless I won a big lotto. We work hard but I enjoy my job. If we do a vacation and don't travel, I am normally ready to go back by mid week... I know that is lucky

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toqer@reddit

52(me) 50(her) Just celebrated our 28th anniversary + 4 years of dating for a grand total of 32 years together. A lot of our older friendships went to the wayside because so many of our friends were still living in the past. "HERP DERP REMEMBER THAT THING YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE 12?!? IT STILL DEFINES YOU FOR ME 40 YEARS LATER!" kind of stuff.

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