It is funny to me as a social worker that some retirees are bragging that they are doing ng what is essentially social work.

As with FB and Insta, I would stop reading about people bragging about themselves.

Anonymous wrote:After your 50th reunion posts will be aboutdownsizing, finishing treatments, obits. Less to fomo.

I totally get why old people read obits first now, and I’m only back from my 30th reunion.

Anonymous wrote:I just received the Alumni News from my college. My class notes are filled with classmates falling over themselves, telling of all the things they've done since retirement: Safaris in Africa, Opened a school for the poor in Ethiopia, built a cabin the the woods of Oregon, while keeping a home on an island in the Caribbean, Grown children graduated from MIT & Stanford. You get the picture. Since I retired (a number of years ago), I've done essentially nothing. I have been enjoying being relaxed and away from the pressure of my former job. My health is good, although not perfect. At first I laughed at these alumni, but obviously it has gotten to me, or I wouldn't be posting to DCUM for advice. Should I write to the editor of our class notes & tell these people to put a lid on it? That might make it worse.

A classmates DH was arrested for fraud; made the WSJ news, so very big deal. She still appears in alumni news for some nonprofit she started to help women excel in business.

I triple dog dare you to submit the following update:

Since I retired in 2018, I've done essentially nothing. I have been enjoying being relaxed and away from the pressure of my former job as Senior Manager of People and Problems at (Insert your former company). My health is good, although not perfect. My doctor continues to suggest that I drop 25 pounds, but I’ve prayed on it and decided I’m much happier throwing caution to the wind and eating whatever I want. After all, who wants to risk blowing out a knee thanks to running or cycling? No thanks! I’m super safe sitting on my couch watching Netflix and reading the Washington Post…in print thank you very much!

As I read all the impressive updates from fellow alums, it occurs to me that perhaps I really didn’t need to invest so much time, money, and energy into pursuing my BA in underwater basket weaving at our esteemed alma mater given my obvious lack of interest in doing much with my professional life. I wish someone would have sorted the strivers from the loafers upon high school graduation…I could have spared myself the ridiculous student loans and retired much earlier.

Aren't these things like the gloating Christmas newsletters?

Maybe you could submit a note about becoming a minimalist practicing mindfulness.

I was the class notes secretary when I was SAHM to a newborn. I wrote about my classmates getting advanced degrees and starting businesses and traveling the world. My only news was that I was going insane due to sleep deprivation. And I put that in the notes and got responses from other women in the same position. Send in your peaceful retirement news, OP. Other people will be glad to read about it.

After your 50th reunion posts will be aboutdownsizing, finishing treatments, obits. Less to fomo.