Ever think about growing old and g(r)ay ? I sometimes wonder where I'll be and what I'll be doing when I'm in my 70s or 80s. I am working on paying off a mortgage on a tiny house in L.A. Do I want to live here forever? I dunno. What are your thoughts--if any--on the subject?
I've heard of a number of LGBT oriented retirement homes, mostly through the Advocate. I can't give you any specifics, but I did notice that most such homes, like most retirement homes and even housing developments in general, are aimed at people with at least a fair amount of money -- big surprise there, huh?
i once had an idea to buy some cheap land somewhere on the north coast of new south wales (east coast of australia) with a few friends. then, collectively, build a retirement type estate kind of thing, not just 4 gay people, but for anybody who wanted to live in a hip old people's community. and make it affordable, so even people on low fixed incomes could buy in too. we would all have equity in it and we would make up our own rules rather than be subject to the rules of the organisation running it. my mum lives in a retirement village run by the masonic lodge, for instance, and it's a real rip off. they also impose alot of shitty rules on everyone (u can't have friends to stay for more than a fortnight). but yeah, i think it's a good idea to start thinking about it now while we are still young enough to work and make money. i don't want to be lonely when i get old: 4 me that's a fate worse than death.
Duncan, I've thought about the same thing more than once. I'm convinced that at least part of my search for a partner is a way of dealing with the fear of growing old alone. Stay in touch; maybe we can share housing when we're old. Housing in this part of Ohio is dirt cheap. Anyone who lives in California and reads this will be shocked or amused to learn that a $100,000 house in this region is usually a very nice house in a more-than-decent neighborhood. Even for $50,000 you can get something modest but pleasant. Of course, salaries are low and unemployment is sky high. Our winters can be tough, but people in states such as North Dakota and Vermont laugh at us when we complain about what we consider a rough winter.
We did get an unusually rough winter in Reno Nevada last winter, thanks to a couple of freak snowstorms around New Years Day that left 3-4 feet of snow on the ground -- it took till mid-February to mostly melt away. Lots of Californians groused, but I remember my mom telling me about the time it snowed in Reno on the 4th of July. No kidding! Regrettably it's getting a lot more expensive here, lots of Californians buying houses and condos so as to have the tax-free residence, as Nevada has no state income tax. Anyway, freak weather is the norm around here. Maybe we should all stay in touch -- if you get away from the cities (Reno & Vegas), land in Nevada gets a lot cheaper. Parts of northern Nevada are actually very nice, if a bit remote -- VERY remote if you're an easterner, but large gaps of unpopulated land are the norm in much of the West.
i have promised myself never to grow old...old age to me is death...granted and i am naive 18 years of age...but life after 36 seems so aweful. i made a $500 bet with my friend that i would be dead before the age of 36. i value life...but too much to watch myself unhappy and wasting away in old age...even if i find someone to share my life with.
"I hope I die before I get old"... that thought's been around for a while. Actually middle age isn't too bad, sure you're no longer young and energetic, but you do gain in experience, and the cool-off can actually be rather restful. That is, if you're not driving yourself crazy pursuing success! However, I do agree that I wouldn't want to spend my last days in the decline of REAL old age, say after you're 80 or so, especially since many who are in that stage get warehoused into nursing homes. I saw a lot of one particular nursing home while looking after my dad; the place was decent enough as nursing homes go, but it still struck me as very depressing, and most of the clients had no one even come to visit. Out of curiosity, how would you collect on that bet if you're already dead?
i realize that my friend gets the upper hand in the bet...but when i win she will give the money to my family to have...to use for my funeral i guess...or whatever they need.
It's kind of depressing to think of life being awful after 36. If that's the case, I've just experienced almost nine bad years with the prospect of nothing better to come. My definition of "old age" has changed over the years, and I think that's a good thing.
I'll second that idea. Of course, I won't have any kids to look after me, maybe my kid sister or one of my nephews will be there to look after me. But then, I'll probably off myself before I get to that point so I won't have to worry about it.
