At middle age, I am a sadsack

[Anonymous]

That's usually how it ends. The great Winding Down!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like staying at home, watching movies and doing my gardening and puzzles. I have low thresholds for other people except my immediate family and a few close friends. I savor days without plans. I go to bed early. I have become a dullard.

How do you have so much free time at such a young age?

DP but just like OP.
I WFH and have teens who are becoming pretty easy and self sufficient. I still have to cook more than I’d like, but I am pretty much living the dream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mindset differences are crazy. I can’t imagine living this life and thinking I’m a sad sack.

Our capitalist system uses psychological manipulations and peer pressure to enforce a rigid ideal where generating profit and consuming more, more, more is the only “respectable” path to take in life. Our movies, tv and music reinforce that ideal while corporations use advertising to make us feel bad for loving a quiet simple life. Twisting this level of intentional manipulation is almost impossible for any human. OP is a victim to this machine so go easy on her.

Engaging in a community of friends and family is not the capitalist system’s manipulations. It’s how humans have evolved. That said, if OP wants to chill at home, that’s her call. Follow your dreams.

[Anonymous]

I’ve also become a homebody, but have accepted it because I’m not hiding from the world; I truly just love being home with my family, my book, my favorite shows. Taking a daily walk and sitting outside in my yard is enough of an adventure for me. I do work outside the home and get plenty of interaction there, but the minute I get home I’m in my PJs. I love it.

[Anonymous]

^^if I’m a sad sack, so be it.

[Anonymous]

I do not think you are a sad sack OP!

As we get older - it is completely normal to want to stay home more & do relaxing things.
There is nothing wrong with preferring to garden…..🪴…..sounds like a lovely pastime.

If you are happy w/this lifestyle > more power to you.
And if you are not, I am sure you have many options to change as well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like staying at home, watching movies and doing my gardening and puzzles. I have low thresholds for other people except my immediate family and a few close friends. I savor days without plans. I go to bed early. I have become a dullard.

How do you have so much free time at such a young age?

DP but just like OP.
I WFH and have teens who are becoming pretty easy and self sufficient. I still have to cook more than I’d like, but I am pretty much living the dream.

It is nice when our children grow up and become less dependent on us. It allows us more time to partake in our favorite hobbies such as reading, cooking or just relaxing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mindset differences are crazy. I can’t imagine living this life and thinking I’m a sad sack.

Our capitalist system uses psychological manipulations and peer pressure to enforce a rigid ideal where generating profit and consuming more, more, more is the only “respectable” path to take in life. Our movies, tv and music reinforce that ideal while corporations use advertising to make us feel bad for loving a quiet simple life. Twisting this level of intentional manipulation is almost impossible for any human. OP is a victim to this machine so go easy on her.

Engaging in a community of friends and family is not the capitalist system’s manipulations. It’s how humans have evolved. That said, if OP wants to chill at home, that’s her call. Follow your dreams.

Well obviously humans also evolved to be introverted as you can see clearly from the OP. The feeling that this is a problem that makes you feel like a sad sack is the effect of capitalism. I think you missed the key point. When humans make their own choices to chill at home the entire economic system is aligned against them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like staying at home, watching movies and doing my gardening and puzzles. I have low thresholds for other people except my immediate family and a few close friends. I savor days without plans. I go to bed early. I have become a dullard.

Oh it's cool, I am also you

Just think of it as your having already done all those other things you're supposed to miss, when really for a lot of people they're just a slog.

birthday parties, gifts, showers, cards ... when, really, as you age, the younger generations are actually pretty much very cool without having to entertain or go pay obeisance to all the olders in the family. Be honest. Do you REALLY want to be at the old people table?

Everything I'm supposed to be missing: not only did I do it all before. I knew at the time whether I liked it or not. And once I got to a comfortable place where I can take a breath, I just let it go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like staying at home, watching movies and doing my gardening and puzzles. I have low thresholds for other people except my immediate family and a few close friends. I savor days without plans. I go to bed early. I have become a dullard.

How do you have so much free time at such a young age?

DP but just like OP.
I WFH and have teens who are becoming pretty easy and self sufficient. I still have to cook more than I’d like, but I am pretty much living the dream.

Same, only getting a bit bored and have to go into work twice a week at a pointless job with office politics. I’m counting the days until I vest for my pension in January. Meanwhile, I need to remind myself to savor the slow afternoons in the garden, reading, spending time loving on my cat and golden retriever, taking my kids places, (now the older one can drive, that will drop off). I want to play tennis more, get fit and figure out how to embrace my middle age looks (thinning curly hair that looks a hot mess, frown lines, bifocals).