Sixty - retired?

Like many in my friend’s circle, I too turned 60 a few years back. So, the children born in sixties, are turning sixty. 

When  young (still think  I am) and had entered into professional life in MICO (now Bosch India), we organised and attended “Retirement parties” for our seniors. The retirement age being 58. I used to think that “they” were old and perhaps many of them thought the same. 

Not many of them took up an active role and would be happy with a consulting role, if it came across or accept  a more domesticated role as go-getters, getting milk, vegetables, helping in the kitchen, hang out with friends, go to temple, turn more philosophical and sometimes ritualistic. 

 I am now in this specific group and haven’t retired. Also having seen many of my friends leading an “active life”, set me thinking whether the 'old age' definition has changed? Do the current generations have a “longer life” as the life expectancy has gone up? Are people more conscious about fitness? Are they more mentally engaged and agile and no longer the old Kannada saying ಅರವತ್ತಕ್ಕೆ ಅರಳುಮರುಳು (Sixties leads to mental infirmity - signifying old age) holds good.

Remember having heard that many would not live past their 50's or 60's and hence reaching an age of 60 was a milestone in itself and was celebrated in those days. 

This also leads to the question that if people are still not old and can contribute to the society actively, why retire them? Is it to allow fresh blood into the system and people with baggage step back?

Is that a baggage or is it experience and hence wisdom?

In a society where knowledge and information is available at literally our finger tip and on our mobile, obviously we aren’t any longer tribal in nature and are institutionalised and democratic, and hence we don’t need  “wise old men” in the system?

If the answer to this is yes, then what should these “old young people” do? 

How can they spend time? There are no, one set of answers to this question. 

One obvious choice is that they are now free to do whatever they want to do. Follow their passions and be themselves. Be it gardening, reading, writing, engage in some form of sports, get into spiritual pursuits or just enjoy spending time with spouse, children and more so grandchildren. 

 Let  it be whatever, but it is important to plan for this retirement. 

While we all know what we retire from, many don’t know what they should retire to!

Picking up a hobby or a pursuit post fifty would perhaps help in trying out a few things and then develop interest in a few that can be pursued in the post retirement life. 

I have had many examples around me of those who are contended and leading a full life. Be it playing golf, tennis and such sports, doing gardening, riding bikes, actively sitting on the boards of companies as independent directors, establishing their own consultancy firms or working for one, getting into social work, travelling around with spouse, friends, happy with children / Grandchildren  and so on. 

A few like me decided to prolong our tenures in the professional world and not yet retire. Being occupied and keeping oneself engaged is the key to happiness. 

It is nicely said by Dr. DVG in his kagga

ಹೊಸ ಚಿಗುರು ಹಳೆಬೇರು ಕೂಡಿರಲು ಮರ ಸೊಬಗು ।

ಹೊಸಯುಕ್ತಿ ಹಳೆತತ್ವದೊಡಗೂಡೆ ಧರ್ಮ ।।

ಋಷಿವಾಕ್ಯದೊಡನೆ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ ಕಲೆ ಮೇಳವಿಸೆ ।

ಜಸವು ಜನಜೀವನಕೆ – ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ।।

“A tree looks nice when it has old roots and new shoots. 

Dharma is that which has an amalgamation of new ideas and old principles. 

When the wisdom of the old sages and the art of science is appropriately imbibed, the society gets enriched”. 

These are some casual thoughts that occurred to me - what do you think?