[extropy-chat] Boredom in old age

[Paul Grant]

I've already hit that point and I'm only 27.
The sheer amount of time spent in the pursuit
of work in the U.S. is ridiculous. Hell,
the Egyptians had it easier than us building
the pyramids :)  I'ld much rather see a healthier
schedule (4 days work, 3 days play)...  Its a pity
that the germans have succumbed to this stupid 
mentality that you have to put in more hours at 
work to be competitive.  Besides, where do you draw
the line, why not work 20 hours a day?  You'll be
that much more competitive.  I sometimes think I'm
the only that really despises a 40 hour work week.
Everybody else just looks at me like I'm crazy :)

omard-out

PS> you've hit the nail on the head; the only break
you get is 65+; at 65+ your health is starting to go.
so why not try working on improving you and your fellows
health...





-----Original Message-----
From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org
[mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of MB
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 6:55 AM
To: ExI chat list
Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Boredom in old age



Yes, there is a flavor of youthful enthusiasm here, but it
is not intentional (on my part). What I was trying to point
out is that one spends 25+ years "working" (often on someone else's
projects) and not playing. And finally, if one is blessed with decent
health, one can try playing.

I gave an example of my brother, and he's in his mid 70s.

My other brother is pushing 80. He does ice skating, model building,
studying German (he always wanted to learn the language after he was
there in WW2), reading, website building for friends - and travel. He
sleeps a lot, and my sister in law says she thinks he may have been
without sufficient sleep all his working life. But he is busy and AFAIK
happy. The work he does now is not what he did in his job, but he still
has connections there.

I myself am only hitting this wall now, and I do wonder
"what's the point?" I don't feel very good, aches and pains. I'm not as
strong as I was, and I need more support system. :( It's most
irritating. But there are new things out there. I've built a website for
a non-profit a friend of mine suggested, I do a bit of database work for
a former boss, I help some older less able friends to get around, and
I've taken up Shaped Note Singing. I also have become interested in
snakes and I roller skate with friends. And I have more time (which is a
darn good thing, as I have less strength!) for my garden.

This is mostly new stuff for me, as I simply didn't have
time when I was working and raising my family.

However.... I admit, I'm not at all sure I'd want to look at another 100
or so years of it. My health isn't what I'd desire.

That said, I think the *real* problem is elsewhere. It is within my
mind.  My brothers have more internal drive than I do, they are ...
smarter. They've always been that way.

None of us watch TV (except my oldest brother watches the iceskating).
I'd rather sleep! :)))

I still think there's more neat stuff for me out there, I
just haven't found it yet.

That's one reason I (usually) lurk on this list. It's interesting. And
full of new stuff.

And my email was meant to be an encouragement.

Regards,
MB
ps. There's also a sort of mid-life thing that some men go through -
having spent all their energies on "the job". Perhaps this is part of
the original poster's trouble?

On Wed, 3 Dec 2003, BillK wrote:

> On Tue Dec 02, 2003 05:07 pm  Adrian Tymes wrote:
> > There's always more to learn and do, although one
> > might become tired of it and start justifying that everything out 
> > there is all the same.
>
>
> On Tue Dec 02, 2003 09:11 pm MB wrote:
> > There's stuff out there. You can find it. It may not be what you 
> > expect. It may be sort of out of your field, but nothing wrong with 
> > that.
>
>
> These sentiments strike me as having the flavor of youthful 
> enthusiasm. When you are younger, everything is new and exciting, you 
> are healthy and fit and full of energy and you want to 'go boldly 
> beyond the frontiers'.
>
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