The new stresses of old age 2

I thought when I retired that there would be unlimited time to do many things. However, it seems that the pressures of work have been replaced by a myriad of other demands, and time seems to slip away in fulfilling the new obligations. Let’s look at them:

Medical One expects old age to reveal a few extra faults in the body, but not take so much time in fixing or ameliorating them. The first expectation is for regular blood and other tests. Each time this involves a visit to the doctor, then to a pathology service, then back to the doctor, maybe then to a specialist and possibly more tests and revisiting the doctor. There will then be regular visits to a pharmacist to purchase the prescribed medicines, and back to the doctor to renew the prescriptions. The fact that one is old also demands further yearly medical tests to allow one to drive a car, and, of course, a biannual driving test.

Also with the medical intrusions, there are the regular visits to the podiatrist to cut nails – I can’t get down to my feet any more, and to the doctor, yet again, for the recommended regular vaccinations.

House It seems as one deteriorates, so does where one lives. But as age progresses and fitness fades, so does the ability to carry out simple repairs. And, of course, many house repairs necessitate climbing a ladder, which is not recommended for ancients. So it’s off to finding workmen to do the tasks which were easily accomplished by myself in earlier days. They need to visit to assess what needs to be done, then provide a quote, then fit the job into their schedule. It all takes time. Can you still clean windows? Cut the lawn? Mend the fence? Paint the roof? Prune the fruit trees? Spread mulch? Weed the flower beds?

And then there are the regular demands to pay Council rates and insure the property, and service, check, license and insure the car. Forget cleaning it.

Technology I have mentioned my current IT incompetence before. But it does seem that as one gets older, modern technology becomes more and more complex. What do you do when your computer or TV refuses to work? Or the dishwasher starts eating glasses? Or the clothes washer won’t open? What is causing the general power switch to trip in the fuse box? And then there are the continual worries about whether one should be on Facebook, or Tick Tock, or Twitter, and how one is not keeping up with modern society.

When I retired, friends said that now I would have the time to walk, to paint, to write, to sing and so on. Fat chance! I can’t even keep up with my friends.