What activity do you refuse to give up? How do you adapt to age?

Posted by Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn, May 23, 2025

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

slowrunner1 | @slowrunner1 | Jun 24, 2025

Lurching 5ks. I may be slow, but I have the best view of the chix in spandex. I'd rather die running than watching jeoparady in a recliner.

sizwhatitiz2 | @sizwhatitiz2 | Jun 24, 2025

In reply to @margotcc "I’m trying. All three grown kids are different, so I try different approaches. The oldest still..." + (show)

My two oldest daughters had a fallout almost two years ago. It’s so hard because they ask me about the other. I try to stay neutral, but it’s hard.
Next year is a wedding, and I’m praying all my children will be together with no drama.

jefaho | @jefaho | Jun 24, 2025

I garden as well but also try to bike ride 2 miles everyday!

margotcc | @margotcc | Jun 24, 2025

In reply to @sizwhatitiz2 "My two oldest daughters had a fallout almost two years ago. It’s so hard because they..." + (show)

O boy, do I understand that problem! Yes, it’s hard!
If your two ask about each other, they care, and there is hope. Told mine, that they are good kids and they are smart, so I am confident that they can work it out. That I will stay out of it and not take side, because I love them both.
Think that’s all we can do, they are not kids anymore, and it’s out of our hands.
At one time I told one of them, if you want to know something about another person, ask them!
Think about that response…..
I pray a lot too.
Take care.

slowrunner1 | @slowrunner1 | Jun 27, 2025

In reply to @jefaho "I garden as well but also try to bike ride 2 miles everyday!" + (show)

That is great! It cooled off for me today, so I waddled for an hour. Right leg is ok but the left leg just tags along for the view.

slarson14 | @slarson14 | Jun 27, 2025

In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@sueinmn I refuse to give up smiling, being playful, being silly, and doing downright weird things...." + (show)

I just love your attitude!

My sister in law has been hospitalized twice in a very short period because she has come face to face with early dementia issues.

Am not sure if it is because she knows I am a gerontologist or not, but she now calls me every night and she describes the dementia and the weird/funny things and reactions of people and herself and she laughs with me, when we talk together about how weird it is and how scary it has been for her.

I have met and served many people with dementia and although it is a very sad and disturbing diagnosis, the clients and families with a high level of ability to laugh through adversity do the best.

Doom and gloom never serve any purpose, and in fact seems to make people with the dementia diagnosis do more poorly.

My sister in law ended our conversation last night with: "The sky is not falling, it is just changing" and "I am going to be a whole new somebody!".

SusanEllen66 Susan McMichael | @SusanEllen66 | Jun 27, 2025

In reply to @slarson14 "I just love your attitude! My sister in law has been hospitalized twice in a very..." + (show)

@slarson14 thank you for the compliment. I Catastrophize along with the best of them. However, I can do it with a smile, sometimes.

You and your sister-in-law have a good relationship. She trusts you.
She may enjoy the Dementia Action Alliance. DAA
This organization is for people with dementia only, although there are caretakers who join in the Zoom meetings if the person doesn’t have the ability to do the meeting on their own.
Please check out their website. http://www.daanow.org

Thanks again for your reply! Have a blessed day

reets70 | @reets70 | Jun 28, 2025

My favorite activity is living my best life! I don’t think much about age and just
Continue doing whatever I can. I have a bad back, but I don’t let it stop me from enjoying every day. I have had to make concessions with some of my activities, but at 85, I’m still moving, and I plan to be for much longer!