Just joined so I'm introducing myself.
Watch this postI will be 67 next month and retired from the many different jobs in my working life. I guess that I didn’t ever find my calling. I went to university at age 59 but when it was over it was too late to launch a new career. I wanted to lecture but students don’t want to listen to old fogies, so sadly I put aside that idea and settled into life as an eccentric dog owner.
I live in a beautiful Lancashire valley surrounded by hills that demand they be walked/climbed, how could I refuse?
I would like to do a bit of cycle touring but a recent diagnosis of spondylosis and some hip pain means that I may not be doing a world tour anytime soon!
I’m keen to make some friends as I have been on my own for a very long time now, my daughters don’t bother much with me and I don’t have a partner.I didn’t expect to be so isolated at this time in my life, isn’t it strange the way family and friends seem to forget us when we get past 60?
I will pop in regularly and hope to strike up some friendships.
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I live in N Ireland and retired when my husband became ill.
Have a few close friends but not really to socialise with.
Happy to have an 'e' penpal as I love writing and chatting.
I find weekends hardest and also not having that one person yu can trust in the whole world.
Very best wishes
I'm Helena, I'm new and from North Cambridgeshire. I joined in the hope of finding friends in my area. Chatting online is a wonderful lifeline, but for me, it doesn't reduce that sense of loneliness and isolation in the way that face to face interactions do.
What do others feel?
I'm originally from Yorkshire but now live in Dorset with my little rescue dog, Ollie, who is a Shih Tzu x Bichon Frise! Unfortunately, I lost my husband last year, six months after I retired to enjoy our retirement together.
We had worked together in the pub/restaurant trade for 12 years and, after retiring from that and taking a course in computing, I found a job at our local entertainment theatre which I thoroughly enjoyed. I do enjoy meeting people from all walks of life and have just enrolled at two U3A Groups near here and, through them, I'm now doing photography, learning bridge and learning to line dance!!! Due to needing a second hip replacement, the latter can be a tad difficult at times!!!!
I have two grown-up children, each with children of their own. My son has two boys aged 13 and nearly 20 and my daughter has two girls aged 13 and nearly 17. Unfortunately, I don't see enough of them as my son lives too far away to just pop round and my daughter is too busy ferrying her youngest to gymnastics both around here and across the country for competitions.
Well, that's my life in a nutshell! I would like to meet anyone like-minded in Somerset or Dorset (I live on the border of both) so please don't be shy!!!
Jemms
It sounds like you are trying to keep busy with your classes but of course you will still be grieving ( sending you hugs), and your life has been turned upside down.
I live in Bingley, West Yorkshire do you know it ? Where were you from ?
I was born and raised in Walsall although over the years I have moved around the Midlands. Now retired and living in Chepstow and am ashamed to say I haven't been back to my home town for a while.
Hope you enjoy the site!
I lost my husband 6 months ago when he collapsed and died suddenly. We had no warning. Then I lost my last brother 6 weeks later. Again no warning. I am feeling a little shell shocked but recovering slowly. My son and his family have been very good but they live an hours drive away. An ex-work colleague who was widowed last year told me recently that she found it surprising how friends seem to disappear when you lose your partner. She is right. A number of people I thought of as friends have not contacted me since the funeral.
I do a lot of needlework and gardening - the latter from necessity. Also read a lot. A small group of us meet every couple of months for lunch and a catch up. However, I was surprised just how vulnerable and isolated you can feel after the loss of your husband/wife.
This seems an interesting site which I shall be popping back to for the interesting items. It is lovely to read what others are doing and thinking.
Unfortunately as I do not drive and have health problems I have to rely on my daughter to take me out. She has four young children and a very busy life so I am lucky to go out for an hour a week with her. I realise I must be grateful as I know her busy schedule but would love for someone to visit me for a cup of tea or to see if I am still ok.
Like most seniors nowadays although I am 70 I still feel thirty years younger in my mind. Trouble is body creaks a bit more now. I have been told like lakelover that I am such a strong person but it is because I have had to be to cope. I still feel on the odd occasion I am invited out with family that I am like a spare part not one of a couple anymore and it reminds me of the times my husband was with us all. I had only 3 weeks to come to terms he was seriously ill before he died.
Sorry for complaining but it does help to write about this as unable to discuss with daughter.
I live in the Lake District and have always enjoyed the countryside and everything in it and I have started to go walking again and although I am now doing this alone it brings a great comfort and peace to me. I do not feel ready to join any sort of walking group but I often stop and chat to other walkers and who knows perhaps I will one day I will fell ready.
Luckily I can drive so a few weeks ago took myself off on my first holiday alone. I spent four days in North Wales walking the coastal path and staying in a hotel and it made me feel better - knowing I was strong enough to do this and I plan to do it again soon. My family worried about my going alone and insisted I purchased an Iphone so they could keep in contact and make sure I was OK. They threatened that if I did not buy the phone they would have me tagged !!!!!!!
Sorry if I have rambled on a little but it has been nice to write down how I feel and hopefully in the future one day I will write again how much better I am doing without the man I love.
Once again - I am happy to get any replies from anyone.
Take baby steps, and in time you will build up some sort of new life for yourself. Don't do anything in haste as you are still probably in shock, and need time to find yourself again as being just you.
Be kind to yourself.
I'm 72 years old, long time retired. My wife and I have been married 50 years this past March and we are still celebrating.
I found this Site whilst randomly exploring general chatrooms.
We enjoy our holidays and we are very close to our family which
Includes a son a daughter in law and two grandkids who keep
us young and 'cool'.
Having been together for so long we know what the other is thinking
most of the time so conversation is virtually unnecessary. ( only kid-
ding love). So I have joined the Site for hopefully something fresh to talk about. Anybody need someone to chat with my ear is the sole of discretion.
Family and friends become swept up in their own problems which, maybe we don't fully see or realise until we become older.
Perhaps a wee bit more effort is required from us?....
I am from Manchester, 61 years old, single, with two adult children and three grandchildren. I am still working - still have a mortgage unfortunately
I have already chatted to a couple of people regarding travel and am looking forward to making some nice friends on here.
At the moment, I am in Gran Canaria on holiday with my granddaughter. When I get back to Manchester, I will write up a proper profile for myself. Please anyone, feel free to introduce yourselves.
Babs x
Recently joined thought its about time introduced myself. I,m still struggling after the sudden death of my wife in December 2015, married for 42 years without even the chance to say goodbye, it hit me hard but I,m starting to learn to live with it. I live in an isolated spot on Dartmoor just myself a dog and 15 chickens. I work at an Activity Centre which is full of young staff which is great, but I have absolutely no social life. I do charity work which keeps me busy 7 days a week as I still find it difficult being on my own. My children are all grown up and live a minimum of 200 miles away.This is entirely my own fault as I choose to live on Dartmoor in the house I built myself. I've had a great and interesting life and somehow want to get back to having something to look forward to, obviously I love my daughters and grandchildren but my late wife and I had some wonderful holidays, but I fear I will have to find another interest, as any holiday would be hard on me emotionally. Sorry my introduction is not very happy and cheerful but it helps to share.
So sorry to hear of the untimely death of your dear wife, it must have been a dreadful shock to you and your family. You sound a very positive person so I'm sure you will embark on a new social life when you least expect it, maybe through your charity work.
Good luck for the future and I hope you soon find lots of people to chat to on here!
However I'm hopeful of finding new pals in Northumberland, we moved back 18 months ago and love it up here, the 'empty' county. Anyone else in Northumberland I wonder?
I am a 61 year old woman who is having to look for work because this government/ previous government decided to move my pension qualifying age from 60 to 66 without bothering to inform me.
I am married with three grownup children and 4 grandchildren.
I enjoy gardening, reading, yoga and any excuse to go out for a meal with friends and family.
Sorry to hear about your pension issue, this is one occasion when I'm glad I was born in 1950 so only had to wait until I was 61 to qualify for my state pension.
Hope you enjoy your time with silver surfers.