Strong seniors keep going,  a proverb we can all stick to in daily life. But sometimes is is good to fold ‘em.

For example, for some years I have been engaging in an online micro-business for minimal overheads and setting very basic fees as a Resume writer. I met some lovely, grateful clients online. But peoples’ expectations marched on with technological advances. Unfortunately, my last three clients, all middle-aged or older males, rang me and demanded my banking account details. I did hesitate, listening silently to my bank’s innate wisdom to never trust online strangers. Beware of scammers was the message. Anyway, the jokers in question sourced the suitable safe ways to sort an online transaction, and that was that.

Worrying in bed, as older people can, I decided I did not need to fret over potentially being scammed.

Nothing bad happened, if anyone online tells a boomer to trust them, advice is fold ‘em, and do not actively participate. So now I have removed my online advertising and settled into a calmer, less people-pleasing approach to a new rhythm of my retirement. It was interesting having a side-hustle, or a way of assisting others struggling to write good English, but that is it.

Now I do not fret or worry in bed about meeting deadlines and pushing myself too much. No woman needs hostile males, best not to bother.

The rhythm of my retirement is taking its shape. I can spend more time pottering in my garden, enjoying flowers flourishing. I do longer walks in the morning, and join in an online exercise class, keeping flexible as well as lifting more reps on my seated weights.

I spend more time on creativity, making donations for charity, and gifts for upcoming family and pals’ annual birthdays and notable days, such as St. Patrick’s Day for my craft pals. Using my expansive craft stash is certainly developing my creative ideas. All most boomer crafters need can be merely a photo of a pattern, unless it is really intricate. We can wing it, keeping the joy of hands-on, unplugged gal fun.

After lunch, now I am in my early seventies, I often put my feet up after lunch, focus on gazing at the majesty of the sky, shutting my eyes, and keeping  strong with a nanny nap, to wake up refreshed for the rest of the day. That is quite normal, as my fluid tablets take care of any wish to sleep in.

Of course, individual retirees focus on their own retirement rhythm. One good gal pal and her husband changed to a sea change, after selling their suburban traditional family home. Their  kids had all moved away, so the retired couple downsized to the beachside.

At first, they found that equivalent housing options were very expensive, so they did housesitting for a while, to get the feel of the real estate market over by the bay. Now they have a charming unit quite near to both the beach and a train station.

My gal pal started off keeping the joy by walking at sunrise, taking artistic images of the colourful sails of yachts swooping over the waves. Her rhythm of retirement has recently shaped itself into swimming in a wet suit at sunrise. Such energetic inspiration for all her friends online. Fat chance this blogger would look acceptable in either togs or a wet suit. It is great to keep so fit.  She keeps the joy of a strong senior, and she ain’t never coming back to our suburban environment. Plus the beach provides an excellent playground when the rugrat star grandchildren visit their oldies.

Each to their own, anything is doable for adapting the rhythms of retirement. Strong seniors keep going, and keep the joy.  What is the rhythm of your retirement?