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Is there or can there be a seniors section of Permies?

 
pollinator
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Hi my name is Brian Rodgers. I'm newish to permies. I'll be 65 in two months and starting on Medicare then. I've lived (camped really, in comparison to how many people live in the US) in the mountains of north eastern New Mexico for ~50 years. Always heated with wood, until ten years ago in this location on family property we had an outhouse. I've built a rocket stove, wind turbine, biodiesel processor, remote WIFI tower powered by photovoltaics, to name a few systems I'm adept at.
I've started reading chapter four of Bill Mollison's Permaculture, Designers manual: Patterns.
Last year we had a grasshopper plague that destroyed most of our gardens and nearly ruined my sunny disposition, but didn't, smiling.
This morning I was writing in my newly created bio-log about compost "systems."
I've jotted down a few interactions: Animals, Biomass, machines, zones, energy and time.
The last one got me thinking about how much time I have? How much time each of these systems will require? How much time will I be able to set aside for family? How much time I will have away from the system?
I'd love to hear from other people my age and how they cope and plan for the future.
Thank you for all you do for us already.
Brian


 
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Brian Rodgers wrote:
I'd love to hear from other people my age and how they cope and plan for the future.



I'll be 63 in March, and while I am not as self sufficient as you, I wonder how I will cope and plan for the future, and I'm sure a lot of other here do also. Just part of getting old(er) I guess. A seniors forum might be a nice place to talk about these things.
 
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A LOT of people on gardening/homesteading type sites are in their 50's, 60's, 70's etc... I would bet half this forum (or close to it) is over 50 so the topic you mentioned would be of interest to many.

I would prefer to see subjects like the one you brought up discussed in the main areas since it will likely be of interest to a large part of the forum and our topics ARE mainstream (if the "kids" don't like it they can ask for their own special section for people under 40...lol).
 
steward & author
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I'm not certain we have enough content yet for a forum for seniors.

But we do have a really good thread around here somewhere about ageing and permaculture.  


If there was enough content (I think the number to get adiquate googlelove now is 50 to 100 threads) already made and a lovely list of them to populate the new forum, I can see us making one.  

 
pollinator
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Brian, GREAT idea! I'm all for it.

I'm 70, so I'm experiencing some of the changes we have to deal with being a senior. I can't go about my farm projects like I use to when I was in my 50s, or even early 60s. It would be soooooo nice to be comparing notes and ideas with other seniors. The older we get the more we have to adapt our methods to our aging bodies.
 
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I've been thinking on this one and I guess it comes down to me not wanting to be labeled a 'senior'
I don't mind 'hippie' or 'liberal' or a few others but in the end I'd rather not be stuck in a box by any label...I'm 68 and don't feel old yet.
I really like the discussions here with folks from all different ages and 'come froms'.

There is, as Raven said a lengthy thread called aging in place on the homestead

and a couple others...
Aging in place with permaculture

Living in the forest, aging in place - land legacy

One thing I do notice is that these threads are in no particular forum.....sort of all over the place.  I did not find many in a quick search for 'aging in place'.  I know there is one about ideas for staying on the homestead with disabilities that is not age related.

Brian, I hope you begin a topic about what you mention here

The last one got me thinking about how much time I have? How much time each of these systems will require? How much time will I be able to set aside for family? How much time I will have away from the system?

 it might be interesting to more than 'seniors' and draw out some new and different perspectives?

EDIT...
Here's one more thread   Permaculture and aging

Sounds like you've had quite and interesting life so far Brian!
 
Su Ba
pollinator
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Suggestion.......add a "Seniors" discussion topic into the "Living" forum.  Then see what happens. If it takes off, then a dedicated seniors forum could be created.

I could see, and actually would be interested in participating in, discussions about senior oriented topics such as.....

Gardening Tips for Seniors
Senior Friendly Livestock
Senior Tool Tips
Senior Ergonomics
Helpers & Caretakers
Senior Health
Senior Housing Ideas
Senior Support Programs
Retirement Plans
 
steward
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Suggestion.......add a "Seniors" discussion topic into the "Living" forum

.

I just double-checked, and we don't have a Living "forum", we have a living "category." .... It took me until I was a moderator to realize we have "categories" and "forums". Not Forums (like Growies) and Subforums (like plants). And, one can't post in a Category, only in a forum. So, to make a discussion topic in Living, one would have to make a forum.

To further complicate things, I think we're trying to move Ergonomics to "Purity" and remove the "Living" category. Purity is the new Living, or something like that.

BUt, I really like the idea of getting those threads made, and if they generate discussion, and we find more relevant threads, we should be able to make the forum.


Maybe instead of "Seniors," we call it something like "Aging and Disability." When my husband had his horrible Crohn's flare up, he was effectively more of a senior than my parents who were 62. They came to help us to the tasks my husband couldn't because for a while he couldn't even walk, and that was the least of his problems!
 
Judith Browning
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a few threads with 'senior' in the title... (excluding the ones in the singles forum looking for 'seniors')...

Making Changes as a Senior Citizen

helping a senior couple eat for health and mental clarity

Incorporating Permaculture in a raised bed senior garden

Permaculture senior group in Arizona
 
Brian Rodgers
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You guys and gals are too cool. Thank you so much for considering this idea. I don't know yet whether or not I care about being labeled a senior. I never really belonged to a group before.  
Thanks for the information on the differences between categories and forums.
I'm still working my way through chapter four: Patterns. I'll reread and move forward, then something isn't sinking in and have to start over. I don't know if it's the senior version of a brain that never really was good at getting esoteric concepts to begin with, or I'm not being opened minded?
I just want to stick a shovel in it, and see what's in there, if you can follow that logic?

Today, I'm going in to day surgery and can't have coffee or anything really, so maybe that's why my brain isn't working.
The next thread I'm considering is, my first sit down in the meadow to make observations. I just don't know how much of these observations I need to share here?
With regards to ageing as I sit and watch, are things even close to what a 65 year old Hippie American thinks he sees?
I don't know it seems like as we age, but before we get old and wise we might be aided from a little group think.
I mean isn't embarking on a path of wisdom the description of a senior?
Not yet an Elder,
Brian
 
 
Lucrecia Anderson
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Judith Browning wrote:I've been thinking on this one and I guess it comes down to me not wanting to be labeled a 'senior'
I don't mind 'hippie' or 'liberal' or a few others but in the end I'd rather not be stuck in a box by any label...I'm 68 and don't feel old yet.
I really like the discussions here with folks from all different ages and 'come froms'.



I agree. Plus it also discourage those that aren't seniors (or don't want to identify as such) from participating in the sub-forum. People may even feel it is insensitive to make suggestions or comments on senior forum topics since they haven't had to undergo those challenges.

Now if folks want a forum that only caters to a certain age group great, but it is something to consider especially if they want the threads to be active with  lots of comments/feedback.
 
author and steward
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Maybe a "geezers" forum in the community category?
 
Jim Guinn
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I actually like geezer better than senior. :)
 
Lucrecia Anderson
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Jim Guinn wrote:I actually like geezer better than senior. :)



I agree. Plus the term "geezer" comes with bragging rights since people don't use it to describe "frail special needs elders". It usually implies they are a force to be reckoned with.
 
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Although I'm new here, I think it's just fine the way it is without an added forum. Old folks are free to share their experience in every forum with everyone. (I'm a 70 year old folk.)

 
pollinator
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Nicole Alderman wrote:

Maybe instead of "Seniors," we call it something like "Aging and Disability."



I like this idea.

 
Brian Rodgers
pollinator
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I think my favorite take away from this is my realization that my ethnicity is going to be listed from now on as Hippie American. Haha
 
Jim Guinn
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Definition of a Geezer
geezer.jpg
Definition of a Geezer
Definition of a Geezer
 
Judith Browning
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paul wheaton wrote:Maybe a "geezers" forum in the community category?



I think I identify with 'geezer' more than senior...
...might lead to more wanting their own forum though, like ' young whippersnappers' and 'crones', even 'old farts'
 
Brian Rodgers
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Thanks, but no thanks. I don't know much but, other than, I don't want to be labeled a geeser. In the US, in case the good folk from other areas of the world are not aware, we're suffering from a seriously divisive government. I have no tolerance left for creating another us versus them  situation.
I was hoping to address the issues facing us older folk who need to emphasize and or elaborate on the time portion of system designs. I assume since I started this thread I can delete it. Please, let's keep it on a useful track.
Brian

 
pollinator
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Well thanks, Brian.

I think, then, the general inclusive, non-divisive policy that you'll find here on Permies should suit.

Permaculturalists are, for my money, all about the long-term. I want to plant food forests and perennial food systems and resilient soil generating systems now so that they are up in full swing when I can no longer be.

I think it might be a good idea for those who are qualified and/or interested in such pertinent topics to start generating more threads and content. Once we breach the 50 thread GoogleLove mark on aging and disability-related topics, it can be spun into an aging and disability forum.

As long as these threads remain linked to other pertinent forums, I see no exclusion going on, which is my concern. While I am not yet a senior, a geezer, an oldster, or an ancient, I anticipate, with great luck, becoming one someday. I'd like to prepare my permacultural toolbox for that eventuality as well.

Or perhaps we could peruse the existing threads and see which ones delve into aging and disability in any meaningful way, and tally those. We might actually be over 50 threads, if we look at content rather than just the subject line.

-CK
 
Judith Browning
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Brian Rodgers wrote:Thanks, but no thanks. I don't know much but, other than, I don't want to be labeled a geeser. In the US, in case the good folk from other areas of the world are not aware, we're suffering from a seriously divisive government. I have no tolerance left for creating another us versus them  situation.
I was hoping to address the issues facing us older folk who need to emphasize and or elaborate on the time portion of system designs. I assume since I started this thread I can delete it. Please, let's keep it on a useful track.
Brian



I think it would be worthwhile to begin the topics in the areas you've mentioned.  The conversations can begin with or without a named forum.

I feel that members here of all ages might have some good thoughts to contribute.
Even the young have parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles that they may either be helping or at least might be aware of the challenges of growing older.

Forum name silliness happens...and often a good solid name comes out of it

 
Greg Mamishian
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This discussion reminds me of this...



(Billy Crystal as Miracle Max in "The Princess Bride")
 
pollinator
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I'm 51.
Although I never met him or know much about him Henry Taylor is a role model of mine. He lived just up the Ottawa Valley from me. Not far from Algonquin Park. Gods country up there.

If we all aspire to be like him the world will be a better place.

https://woodheat.org/95.html

Woodheat.org is a great website for those of us who heat with wood.
 
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How about Aging and Ability.
 
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