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What activity do you refuse to give up? How do you adapt to age?
I spent the afternoon in my favorite place - my yard and garden. I have gardened since the age of 9, had my own gardens for 54 years, been a Master Gardener volunteer for over 20 years and in two very different climates. I'm not "old" at 74 but I have a lot challenges with arthritis, bad shoulders, bad lungs, occasional vertigo...
While "removing winter" and preparing for the new season, I thought a lot about how to simplify 8 very different garden beds so I can manage them going forward.
Here are my ideas so far:
Simplify:
Replace annuals with tough perennials and attractive ground covers. Replace aggressive perennials with low-care shrubs.
Replace high-maintenance plants like roses with natives and other easy-care plants.
Use natural mulch and ground covers to keep weeds down, instead of wood chips that need to be replaced often.
Adapt:
Use mulch, Preen and ground cover to reduce weeds.
Hire help for the heavy work, and for intense seasonal tasks like "putting the gardens to bed." Even once or twice a year is a big help.
Put heavy patio pots on wheels for ease in moving.
Reduce:
Smaller gardens. A few vegetables in pots instead of a big garden (after all, you can get produce to can or freeze at the local Farmers' Market and support small businesses.)
Shrubs, decorations and landscape rocks in place of dozens or hundreds of plants.
Plant an "esy care" lawn rich in native clover or other ground cover and tough low-need, low-growing grasses.
Automate:
Irrigate with drip lines set on timers, or and irrigation system. The initial investment pays off over time.
What is your favorite activity, and how can you adapt as you go forward?
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1995v.
For 65 years I had microscopic near sight, but could not read foot tall letters at 20 feet without glasses.
As was explained and discussed with the eye surgeon, with cataract surgery and lens replacement, I can see stars at night, leaves at the tops of trees and large text books at 3 feet without glasses, but for small text and close things I need reading glasses.
Talk with your doctor about what kind of lens was installed.
$10 drug store reading glasses may be what you need.
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1 ReactionYes, the implanted lens would have to be replaced.....too scary after having gone to a highly referred surgeon and was too lazy to order a custom lens which I would have been happy to pay for
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1 ReactionI want to read in bed without readers.....why couldn't I get an implanted lens to see close, I said I was happy to wear glasses for distance as I have since I was 9 years old.
I can relate to a lot of what you said - at age 80 I renewed my CPA license although I retired at about the same time. So, for 2024 returns, I still had a valid PTIN, etc. I doubt that I'll renew my license this year. My professional tax software company (Drake) markets a consumer version that I'll probably use to do my 2025 return (and, of course, my inept middle-aged children's). Something doesn't sound kosher about your cataract surgery! Supposed to get better, not worse! Keep us updated about that!
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1 ReactionI’ve done bike trips, Sojourn Company, they have always been accommodating to the slowest (me) and folks that only want to do part of a ride get in the van and sightsee that way. It’s never been a problem. I would assume Road Scholar is the same. Good luck!
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1 ReactionHello fellow gardener!
Your post spoke to me in many ways, as we are in the middle of transforming our different garden areas to be more manageable as we age. I am sixty-nine and my husband is seventy. I am the main gardener, hubby is project management haha, so he is leaving it to me for ideas, and ideas have been a popping!
We now have raised beds in the vegetable garden and working on drip, then running drip to all other areas in the back and front yards, on timers. Learning to grow small fruit trees that I can easily take care of, so excited to try this idea! Starting to use bagged mulch that we have delivered for free, so we can do a little at a time ourselves. Using Preen in many areas. It took us five years to have multiple large trees and overgrown shrubs removed from the front and back yards to have a clean slate to begin again, it was one of the best things to have done for ourselves, as it took away less upkeep and less worry.
So, now I am deciding which small trees to plant, cannot go without my trees, and various shrubs that will be more natural and less upkeep. Certain areas for flowers for cutting in raised beds grown in front of vegetable garden, multiple seating areas for a rest when needed, learning about different types of ground covers, etc.
Looking forward to this section of Aging Well, seems to be a most positive atmosphere, and I find that very encouraging, indeed.
Sue Cindy
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