AARP Hearing Center
THE LOWDOWN: You are mostly happy, are extremely engaged and prize your family above all. Nonetheless, you miss your work colleagues.
In your 60s You ...
… are doing better, mentally and emotionally, than you expected … Among people younger than 65 surveyed in a Pew Research Center study, more than half (57 percent) expressed fears about memory loss, and about a third (29 percent) worried about being lonely later in life. But among people 65 and older in the same study, just 17 percent and 25 percent, respectively, were experiencing those problems, and 7 of 10 people in their 60s said they were "very happy" or "pretty happy."
… and think "old" might happen 20 years from now. While 60 percent of 20-somethings defined turning 65 as "old," 55 percent of people 65 and older put that number at 85. And 90 percent of people 65 and older said conventional symbols of the golden years — retirement, gray hair, grandchildren — didn't make them aged.
You want flexibility, fun and adventure between 9 and 5 … In one survey, 51 percent of retirees who landed new jobs said more flexible schedules drove their employment choices, while 43 percent wanted more fun and less stress, and 39 percent wanted to learn and experience new things.
… and miss your work buddies. After retiring, 42 percent of people in their 60s say they miss the social scene at work more than they miss paychecks, employer health insurance or the mental stimulation of their old jobs.
You watch more TV than ever … Sixty-somethings catch four hours of television a day, an hour more than do those in their 50s, according to a massive BLS study of how Americans use their time.
… and keep up with the news, the old-school way. More than 93 percent of people in their 60s stay current on the news, compared with 83 percent of people ages 18 to 29, an American Press Institute survey found. Ninety-five percent of 60-somethings watch TV news shows once a week, and 75 percent read newspapers or magazines every week (versus 47 percent of such readers who are ages 18 to 29).
You are nesting with a vengeance … You spend nearly three hours a day on home maintenance, decor, cleaning and meal prep — more than any other age group.
… but cruises beckon. People in their 60s top the charts for spending on ship fares — that's what an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by economic-forecasting firm HS Dent showed.
You turn to your kids for heart-to-heart chats … Two out of 3 moms age 65-plus talk with one of their daughters every day. In addition, half of all dads 65-plus chat with a son daily, notes the Pew Research Center.
