Living The Semi-Retired Life: Getting Older Is Weird, Man

I turn 48 in less than a week. On July 18th. So I'm approaching relative old age:

I often feel like a child in a near 50-year old’s body. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and, say, holy shit, I can’t believe I’m almost 50. Add to that the fact that I have a daughter who will turn 20 this year and it all almost feels surreal.

While I don’t consider myself old, relatively speaking I am.

Relative to my daughter. Relative to how old I was at age 30, 40 and even 45. Relative to lots of things.

I make this distinction because, on one hand, age is but a number and I don’t consider myself old. This is key to staying excited and engaged and ensuring act two of your life is full of new experiences, big plans and fun adventures…

For planning purposes—health, work, housing, money—it’s important to realize you’re getting older, especially when you’re younger. At the same time, it’s critical to realize it’s all relative. You’re merely another day older today than you were yesterday.

It’s not—and should never be—that big of a deal.

However, in some respects, it is a big deal.

For example…