I'm not about to reproduce the lyrics to 'I did it my way' for this page, so don't worry!
The reason for writing it is just to put a few thoughts together which may be of some assistance if considering the downshifting route over the age of 50.

It really depends I guess on what you're downshifting to. If it's candlemaking, no problems but if it's 4.5 acres with livestock and crops and you've spent the last 30 years behind a desk - be careful!

I've done more to change myself and found more new challenges and pastimes thus far in my 50's than any other decade in my life. Profound statement !
The 20's, 30's and 40's were all about learning and 'conforming to 'normality'. Well, 'hang loose' and 'have a life'. I've seen too many people do the same routine at work for 40 years until they're 65, have a few month's at home and sadly leaving this world. Some may be happy to take that route and vive la difference.

The problem with a lot of over fifties is that they always think they're right and everyone else is wrong. "You youngsters don't know what you're talking about, I read the Telegraph every day for six hours". If they've got time to read the Telegraph for six hours every day, that is sad ! As for 'youngsters' - weren't we once and didn't we get to where we are by tripping up a few times.
It used to infuriate me when a few on the Railway said things like "What's he know about the railway, he's only been doing it for 10 years".
So these people have culminated 'x' amount of experience and knowledge and that's it. Yeah, let's just sit down and wait for the Reaper.

Downshifting is not the easy option, an easy way out, it's hard and difficult for many, but most of all it's a challenge, a challenge of 'newness' when conformity says you should be slowing down.

It was interesting to read the problems a Travel Company is having by so many 'seniors' getting sick at altitude on the Himalaya treks for seniors. Blimey, they wanted to go, got the insurance, if that's what they want to do - great!

Don't let age stop you from downshifting - just take it into consideration!

Maybe not the same rock and roller with the same audiences - but I can still get up a mountain!

Downshifting, at any age, shouldn't have the emphasis on the 'down', it is a change of life direction, a search to find fulfillment and contentment and in our case, having a better time whilst we still have the body and mind to do so.

In the last 9 years, I've returned to camping / mountain walking holidays, I've made myself a vegetable garden 'just like Grandpa did', gone from a budget centred office role to a physical support role but met just about every cricketer of any worth on the planet, I've had time to spend with my children & their's, I've opened my eyes to the nature around me with the importance it has in life and learnt to use a computer to do the things I want to do and not what someone else says I should do. There are many more.

What have been the sacrifices? The obvious one is personal wealth. I was never a rich man, but I'd never experienced looking down the car seat to see if I'd left any lose change there after the cash machine told me to 'go away'!
The other is a physical one. The body has aged and a bad back has started up - but maybe it would have done anyway, who knows? Even then it's about adapting and if you've downshifted, you know all about that. You adapt virtually weekly to costs, work and anything else. It's part of the package, part of the challenge.

So, if you're over fifty and 49% against and 51% for, go for it. If it's the other way round, don't, simple as that! Once you've done it, you'll never go back (you probably wouldn't be able to anyway over 50!!). The autumnal years are for enjoyment and new horizons. You've worked hard enough all your life, given much, now....... IT'S PAY BACK TIME!!

Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese.
 Billie Burke
Life is not for ever!

Downshifting.....