There are many ways in which one can view retirement: as a loss – of contact with workmates, of income and, for many, a purpose for living. Or as an opportunity – to pursue interests that were neglected before, to study for a new occupation, to learn a language prior to travel, to make new friends and so on. One could worry about how long this period will be and how it will end, or putting the future aside, live fully and love every day.

I see it as similar to waiting on a platform for a train or at a bus stop. Sometimes it is possible to see your transport approaching from a long way away, and you feel the need to gaze frequently and anxiously into the distance to see the first sign of its distant presence. At other times, your train or bus is hidden by buildings or a bend in the route, and you can only know when it arrives. In the latter case, continuous and futile anticipation is replaced with a chance to read, to talk to fellow travelers, or just meditate on the good things in life. The secret to a rewarding retirement is not to worry about how your life will progress and what the end will be, but to live in the ‘now’ and enjoy every moment.

Are you suffering from the retirement blues? Is your life all routine and habit? Tired of the same old coffee shops and repetitive conversations with friends? Do you really need to visit your grumpy old great aunt again? Does the attic need sorting out? Has the spark gone out of your life? What is the answer – get yourself a puppy!

What sort of puppy you may ask. Now you have something different to do with your computer and the internet. It’s time for some research. How big do you want it to grow? How active will it be? What colour? Would you like a pedigree dog or a mongrel? How about a rescue dog from the RSPCA? You may fancy an -oodle, a cross with a miniature or toy poodle with the aim of a dog that doesn’t shed it’s coat. And, of course, there is the need to avoid ‘puppy farms’ which churn out puppies with little respect for the parents. There’s lots to think about.

Once your puppy has arrived there will be no time to worry about your ailments and how you are less active than last year. No time now for stressing if the house is clean and tidy enough in case someone calls. Forget about those new plants for the garden – they won’t survive. Ignore your next door neighbour’s whinging about the overhanging branches – there are more important issues to consider: what to feed it and how often? How much exercise and how much sleep? Is it allowed on the couch or the bed? How does one manage the wees and poos? When do we start obedience training? And what about its vaccinations?

But it’s not all work, there will be much fun. Puppies are full of mischief and you will spend a lot of time entertaining him/her and rescuing items removed from tables and drawers. They love to steal a toilet roll and run with it through the house. Items which you think have no importance become pretend prey to be thrown and jumped on. When you have a puppy there is no time to think about yourself and your future. There’s an exciting new life in the house and it’s demanding your attention.

Society is being rent apart by the pronunciations of right wing bigots. The internet, which in many ways is a great boon for those who need to keep in touch with others, is also a valuable tool for those who wish to promote their extreme views. Prominent among them are the preachers of white superiority and hatred against people of other races and different faiths. It would seem from their rantings that they believe their countries would be better places if only white males were in charge and immigration were banned. White racism usually goes hand in hand with misogyny.

Another aspect of modern society, and especially of the large retired demographic, is the obsession with genealogy. Tracing back one’s ancestors seems to be important to well-being. Also, thanks to the advances in biochemistry it is now possible to submit a sample of one’s DNA (a little spit is all that is needed) and find out roughly where one’s antecedents derived from. From my point of view, knowing who the 16 people were in my Great grandparents generation, or the 32 in the generation before that has little relevance for me. And finding out, perhaps, from my DNA that I have ancestors who came to Europe from Siberia, is of no more than passing interest. The world is a vast melting pot in which various peoples meet and breed, and unless the promoters of Brexit, supporters of Trump and other right wing populists get their way, the intermixing will continue unchecked.

But putting these two trends together, perhaps we have the answer to the white supremacists. Wouldn’t it be a lark to secretly obtain a DNA sample from a beer glass or other utensil they have used and check their origins. With 16, 32 or 64 contributors to their genealogy, it is very likely there will be someone, perhaps several, whom they would not want to acknowledge as contributing to their existence. A good example would be the genetic contribution of black African slaves to the genealogy of ‘white’ Americans and Europeans. Interestingly, would they then claim that researching their antecedents without their permission was an attack on their human rights; even while they remain free to attack the rights of others?

It is tempting to give up on the rapid changes in the technology of communication and let the ýoung ones’ take over. Long ago I decided that Facebook was not for me – looking at pictures of cute kittens, holiday hotels and awesome meals wasted too much valuable time. The development of complex mobile phones and bluetooth devices has also demanded my attention but I refused to become involved with the technology. To an old fuddy duddy like me, all this new stuff seems unnecessary: it is more pleasant and effective to communicate directly, face to face; it is easier to read a book than a mobile phone screen, and it is much more fun to interpret a map than let an app show you the quickest way to get from A to B. I concede there is value in emails and blogs, but one must admit that writing in longhand on paper with a pen or pencil is aesthetically rewarding!

My distaste for the present obsession with social networks was confirmed by watching a TED talk recently which had been suggested by my sister: see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IujGf9DObuY which describes the influence of Facebook on the outcome of the Brexit referendum. It seems that we are at risk of being influenced and our thinking controlled by anyone who wants to promote a particular agenda, whether or not it is worthwhile. And concomitant with this potential for changing public opinion is the lack of ability, even the refusal, of the media companies to monitor and censor the content of their transmissions.

This reinforces the message of previous blogs – that we oldies still have much to contribute to our communities. It would be easier as elders to stand back and let the young úns take over. However, for the sake of sanity we should ignore the frenzy of communication via the new technology and reiterate loudly and frequently the long-standing truths that are essential to maintaining civil society: facts are superior to opinion; Science is superior to New Age beliefs and the latest food fads; acknowledgement of the range of difference in humans regarding their sexuality and gender preferences is preferable to misogyny and homophobia; internationalism is superior to right wing nationalism and racism, and so on. In this age of ‘fake truths’ spread by the uninhibited social media it is essential for civilisation that we continue to speak out and make our quaking voices heard above the tumult.

After the recent massacre of Muslim worshippers by a white supremacist in Christchurch, New Zealand there was a call by many leaders for harmony between disparate groups in society. We need, it was suggested, to engage more with people of different faiths and customs, in order to increase social cohesiveness and counteract intolerance. But there were few suggestions as to how this could take place. Public schools enroll children from many backgrounds and provide the opportunity to start the process. Unfortunately, this is counteracted by the existence of single-faith schools and private schools catering for the children of wealthy ‘anglo’ families. The time demands of work and rearing of families also mitigate against the mingling of people from different cultures.

Older retired members of society, free of the time constraints of having to provide an income and care for children, are in the best position to help create societal harmony. And this only one of many opportunities provided by being retired. It is unfortunate that in ‘western societies’, retirees are largely ignored. Once they leave work, older people are considered of little value to the community and allowed to drift away into senility. What a waste of ability, knowledge and experience! Less ‘advanced’ societies greatly value their elders and regularly include and consult them when planning and making decisions.

There is a vast range of activities within which our Elders could and should contribute to society. At present, this mostly takes place on a voluntary basis – if you feel like helping out with a community activity it’s OK, but don’t step on the toes of the professionals! We need more formal structures which validate and enable retirees to make significant contributions to society – promoting racial harmony; helping settle and informing refugees; mentoring youth and released prisoners; educating and training; contributing ideas; supporting the democratic process and, of course, advising those who are approaching retirement or already there and not coping with the change of pace in life.

One comment on my blogs on retirement asks why I bother to give advice when so many older people cannot retire. Some reach their late 60s and even early 70s while still paying off a mortgage; others are committed to financially supporting ailing family members, relatives or friends. And of course there are those who enjoy their work so much they are reluctant to give it up. One book I read recently proposed at great length that the solution to retirement is that no one should retire! I have much sympathy for those who continue to work to support themselves or others; less for those who work merely to increase their wealth.

It is a temptation for many to keep working past the usual age for retirement, as the alternative – no job or role, is frightening. Stopping work creates a void in one’s life, removes a purpose for living, and may diminish one’s self-esteem. There is no doubt that retirement for some results in depression and social isolation. This event needs to be anticipated and planned for. In particular, retirement needs to be viewed as an exciting and unique opportunity rather than as an inevitable hiatus in life that will be hard to fill. Even for those who are constrained by financial demands, it is important that they look ahead to a time when they will be free to pursue their dreams.

And a fulfilling retirement does not demand lots of money. There are many worthwhile and satisfying activities that are cheap, even free, and many which will bring you into social contact with people. All it takes is to think about what you have always wanted to do – painting, singing, walking, acting, public speaking, bridge, exotic cooking, working with refugees, coaching sport, bush regeneration, and so on, and pursue it with enthusiasm. My mantra is that: If you wish to get value out of life, you need to put something of value in. So just go for it!

Earlier in human history, lives were short and few lived to see their grandchildren arrive and develop into adults. The few survivors, the ‘elders’ in communities, were greatly valued for their knowledge and experience, and consulted on important issues. And this respect for the older generation persists in Australian Aboriginal and New Zealand Maori communities. In all ‘Western ‘ societies, thanks to better nutrition and effective medical services, there has been a remarkable increase in the average lifespan and in the percentage of older people who survive to a great age. It is not unusual today for three or four generations to be alive at the same time. And this blog will continue to comment on issues associated with the ever increasing number of retirees in society – a totally new human phenomenon.

However, there seems to be a reverse relationship between the burgeoning demographic of older people and the frequency with which society consults its elders. Modern society appears to want its oldest generation to remain out of sight and out of mind. What a waste of resources! Despite not being up to date, perhaps, with all the scientific and technical advances which preoccupy the current working population, retirees are still an enormous repository of knowledge and experience, and still capable of critical thinking, innovation and organisation. Yet we are mostly ignored and rarely consulted on the important issues that face society.

Is this because we have lost the means by which the younger generations can contact and consult their elders? If so, then perhaps it is up to us to recreate this connection. How could this come about? There are many possible structures which could work. How about, for example, if there were groups of volunteer senior citizens attached to various official bodies or boards which could give an opinion on complex issues and plans. Such groups of elders – ‘Elder Trusts?’, would be free of commercial, religious or other bias, and provide free unfettered advice to Government, Business, Education and NGOs. Obviously, setting up such advisory groups will take careful organisation – and we are good at that too!

Earlier life, pre-retirement, is built around purpose. Childhood is for growth and learning; adolescence for education and establishing an identity; adulthood for work and raising a family. But what is retirement for? In the past, this question was unasked and often irrelevant – the period was but a brief respite from a lifetime of toil. And, for the many with no financial resources, there was no holiday, only a slow and gradual reduction in the intensity of work. Retirement is a modern concept, the outcome of better medical services and universal pensions.

But having been handed an extra, work-free, extension to life, we are unsure what to do with it. This is also a dilemma for governments. There is no philosophy of retirement. There are plenty of guidelines for successful careers, for productive work, for raising children, for maintaining relationships and so on. But none for how to plan, develop or live a rewarding life in retirement. Perhaps, given our knowledge and experience we are expected to be able to arrange this for ourselves. However, from talking to many people, prior to, or already in retirement, this change in life comes as a shock. What can I do? What should I do? What is there to do? Leaving a previous time when there was a purpose to life based on work and family, suddenly there is none.

The perennial question of ‘What is life for?’ can be set aside when there is a need to be educated, an income to be earned and children to be raised. The question seems to be answered for us by circumstances, or we are too involved or too tired to even consider it. But the chickens come home to roost in retirement. And there is no one who can answer it for us. Retirement takes a lot of thought, and diversions such as expensive holidays only put off the inevitable. One, perhaps brutal way, to think this through is to ask yourself: ‘What would I like them to say in my eulogy about what I did in retirement?’

This is not my only blog! In another one (avetsview.co) I examine various features of the human animal. Yes, we are also animals, and we like to overlook that we have evolved from primate stock. Even more importantly, we ignore the fact that it has been only a relatively short time since our ancestors were moving around in small bands, using temporary shelters, and using their innate abilities to obtain food and avoid predators.  Our predecessors evolved to be a migrant, thinking, problem-solving species, Homo sapiens, and we are born with the same characteristics. Agriculture, settlement, trade, science and technical innovation have radically changed our lives, but we humans are still structurally the same as those who roamed the African plains and invaded the rest of the world several thousand years ago.

So what does this revelation mean for human health and, in the context of this blog, for keeping healthy in retirement. We need to visualise our earlier ancestors, recalling how she and he moved, fed and behaved, and compare this with how we live now. The comparison will suggest ways in which we could move, eat and behave more healthily. This approach should bring greater benefits than following fashion with a ‘paleo diet’ or counting steps, as it acknowledges and reinforces our basic evolved features.

A few prompts to start you off:

How often and how well do you use your legs and feet? Do you sit most of the day? Our ancestors were frequently on the move to find new food supplies and avoid danger. Do you use your eyes often to see far ahead, and peripherally, or only for close work? Earlier humans needed their distance vision to look for predators, game and food sources. How is your hearing? Do you protect it from damaging noise? The ability to hear subtle sounds and distant calls was essential to early survival. Do you feel encumbered by large numbers of possessions? Migration meant carrying only the essential minimum of tools, weapons and containers. Do you make up stories and sing, especially with children? Songs and stories were the only means of retaining knowledge and educating the young. Have you kept your manipulative skills?  Do you maintain your ability to solve problems and create ideas? and so on.

It’s time to think about your evolved human features and look after them. See also avetsview.co

All of life before retirement is viewed in terms of our development. We learn through our childhood and adolescence and through further education and employment. We strive to advance to better jobs and use our experience to seek higher levels of responsibility and income. However, for many, retirement is seen as the time when one can relax and give up the need for further progress. A time for being entertained, and for indulging in all the activities which were part of life before, but which were restricted by attention to work and family. Previously I occasionally enjoyed golf/bridge/fishing/films/cruises etc, so now I can do them all day, every day.

The question is, given that our faculties and physical abilities are bound to deteriorate over time, can we maintain the same level of interest and will we continue to achieve the same satisfactory performance in these activities? For perhaps 25 years? This seems unlikely. There are two aspects which could be considered. Firstly, why abandon the idea of development or progress during retirement? There is much satisfaction in learning new knowledge and skills, and in exploring new areas of interest. This is the time when you can fulfill that previous yearning to speak another language, to do Yoga, to play a musical instrument, to make pots, or to help refugees. Secondly, there are plenty of activities which would be more appropriate to retirees with weaker physiques and limited finances.

Instead of viewing retirement as the time when all that was previously important will fade away, why not see it as your third era of progress. Not downhill into the valley of inactivity, but uphill towards the sunny uplands of achievement. How about working towards a degree – a 90 year-old was awarded a PhD last year. How about learning to become a mentor for young people? How about writing your first novel? How about taking up photography, or life drawing, or flying? Retirement is your opportunity to make progress.