Old age is not something you wait for, it is something you start

I often hear the phrase, 'I'm enduring this now for the sake of my old age.' When does old age actually begin? And what do you want to do by enduring it? Today, I'd like to think about that.

The mantra of 'for the sake of old age'

The phrase 'for the sake of old age' feels like it's being chanted like a new religion, haha. After all, I've heard it so many times. I have doubts about whether enduring things for the sake of old age will truly pay off.

Spending without waste, cutting back on hobbies, and putting off travel while living day to day. Lining up for hours to save 1,000 yen on rice, or keeping the room dark to save on electricity bills...

I don't think it's a bad thing, but people who practice such austerity seem to believe that 'someday, when I reach old age, that effort will be rewarded.' I wonder if there is any evidence for that?

I read articles saying, 'After retiring, my spouse and I were able to travel, and it was fun,' but if it's such a fun trip, you should do it every year, yet it seems to be a one-time thing.

In reality, I feel that there are surprisingly few cases where people who have continued to endure things are able to truly enjoy their old age from the heart.

To begin with, when does old age actually start?

When does old age start?

Generally, it is often considered that 'old age equals from age 65.' This is likely because it is based on the age at which public pensions begin to be paid and the age of retirement. Depending on the company, there is a movement to extend the retirement age to 70, so the 'old age' defined by the system is gradually being pushed further back.

I feel uncomfortable with the system deciding the milestones of life.

I defined 'old age starts at 55' for myself. There are two reasons. One is that the retirement age in Japan used to be 55. The other is that after experiencing the death of someone close to me, I strongly felt that 'people cannot live healthily forever.' After all, there is a limit to healthy life expectancy.

I think you should enjoy your life while you are healthy, have physical strength, and are full of energy.

The illusion of a life of leisure

Many people say, 'I want to live a life of leisure in my old age.' But what kind of life is that 'leisure' specifically?

As an abstract term, it is attractive, but I think few people can visualize it as concrete action. Just chanting the words won't change anything.

The life of leisure I envision feels like: - Not comparing myself to anyone - Not worrying about the evaluations of others - Doing what I want to do at my own pace - Making every day fulfilling through my own will - Discovering a new self.

For example, reading a book when I want to read, playing the guitar when I want to play, going on a trip when I feel like it—spending time in my own way without being tied down by anyone. That is what 'a life of leisure' and the form of old age mean to me.

I think everyone has their own definition of a life of leisure, but it is not something you can transition into immediately after retirement; you need to practice it while you are still active in your career. How you spend your weekends is perfect practice for your second life. If you just sleep in on Saturdays and Sundays and drink beer from the afternoon, you might not be able to transition into a life of leisure.

If drinking alcohol and lounging around watching TV is your idea of a life of leisure, then that is fine by me.

The concept of a second life

The term "old age" is somehow burdened with negative images of aging and stagnation. It might give the impression of sitting on a porch, basking in the sun, petting a cat, and drinking green tea.

That is why I prefer to use the term "second life" instead of "old age." You finish your first life as a company employee and open a new page of your own volition. That is what a second life is.

Even if you think, "I want to do that someday" or "I hope to achieve that eventually," that "someday" might never come. Your physical strength, curiosity, and opportunities all gradually fade away with time.

That is precisely why it is important to start the second half of your life from this very moment.

I started my second life at 56. I didn't do it because someone told me to; I started it of my own volition. It is a personal theory that no one agrees with, but you should decide your own retirement date, not the one set by your company.

After all, your retirement date is the day you start your own life. You don't need to follow others (the company), right? I strongly believe that, so that is what I did.

The "Golden Years" are not something you wait for, but something you start

I believe that old age is not something determined by systems or age, but something you decide for yourself. The sacrifices you make when you are young do not necessarily lead to happiness in your later years.

In fact, if you remain in the habit of making sacrifices, you might not know what to do with yourself even when you finally have free time. After all, you're still just drinking beer on the weekends, right?

The person who says they are sacrificing the present "for the sake of their old age" might actually—no, definitely—already be in their old age.

Old age is not an ideal time located somewhere in the future; it is something you start from this very moment. If the term "old age" feels negative and gives the impression that your life is over, you can easily use "second life" instead. You can just start your second life of your own volition from this very moment!

For information on how to spend your second life, this book is a good reference.

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