084 Chapter 6 Conclusion I went through a period of being quite distressed and disturbed last year. Because I couldn’t run anymore, I couldn’t walk so far, and I was breathing heavily. But I gave myself a very severe talking to and I said, ‘I’ve got to stop this, I’m just getting old’, and I’m now just accepting the fact that this is what happens when you get to be 80. I’m 80 and still here. I do quite a lot of volunteer work. And that keeps me occupied and using my brain quite a bit. Another highlight is helping to coordinate a high tea once a month for about 10 to 27 of us who meet at various homes. It’s quite delightful – we sit and chat and share and talk about all sorts of things from politics to aged care. The negative? I thought my super would be sufficient to let me live like I did before retirement. It didn’t work like that at all and I’m dependent on my husband’s income for us to exist at all. I can’t do things like give gifts to my grandkids, like I expected I would. I just send them a card or an email. I’ve not taken a real holiday since I retired. I still have a bucket list of things to do in Australia and overseas, but I can’t afford it. The surprise for me, my parents died when they were 60, and their parents did the same. So I was surprised to turn 80 and I had quite a celebration. My best surprise is that I am still here. Because that’s a turn up for my family. —Ross, 80