With the Aspen Daily News turning 30, this might be a good time to think about how old we are getting.
I remember picking up that first issue, and it sure seems like a long time ago. Yeah, I’ve been here a long time, but when did Aspen get this old? When did I get this old? I went into a restaurant the other day, and it looked like the cafeteria in a retirement village. I mean, everybody was really old.
Everybody had gray hair or no hair, and I saw a friend of mine’s kid working as a waiter, who was just a little kid when I first met his mom. Other friends are telling me about how their kids are in college, married, out of college and having kids of their own, and these friends didn’t even have kids when I met them. Most of them weren’t even thinking about getting married, because we were all having too much fun.
But I still wonder where all the old people come from when I go into a restaurant, see a concert or a play or just walk down the street. Has Aspen gotten so expensive that you have to be riding your golden parachute to enjoy the place?
And when did I get the title “sir”? All of a sudden, everyone is calling me “sir.” Considering the other things they could call me, I can handle it, but what really hurts is I can’t remember what people called me before I became a sir. I drive though a college campus, and the kids look like they are in elementary school. Many of the music students look like they are in kindergarten. I’m not complaining, just observing.
If you don’t think Aspen is changing, just go to the movies or any other place where you might get a senior discount. Damn near everybody in line is getting a discount for being old.
Now, I don’t mind getting older. I feel wiser, or maybe that’s just senility, and I’m certainly looking forward to Medicare — if it’s still there when I get there. I feel about the same as I did when I was 20, except when I fall down or bump into something and it takes forever to heal.
I tried skateboarding the other day, and I’m still recovering. I think my total trip was 6 inches. I did master in-line skates, after a few bumps and bruises, so I’ll probably give it another try, but not today.
But how is Aspen going to survive with everyone getting older and older?
While many of us do our best to stay in shape, it looks like a lot of us don’t. I was at Arby’s the other day, and I was surprised most people made it through the door. I mean, everybody in there, except me and my friend, were as big as a house, and their kids weren’t far behind.
It’s obvious most of the upgrades at the hospital are being made for an aging Aspen, and they wouldn’t be planning these things unless they thought we would be using these services. Heck, many of the people I met when I moved here are already getting hip replacements. Should I be getting in line?
I don’t know. Maybe I’m just in a quandary because I’m past being young and able to bounce when I fall down, but not old enough to take advantage of all the cool stuff you get when you get old.
Based on the contract I signed with the housing authority, I can’t even retire — not that I’d ever be able to. And if I did retire, what the heck would I do, and where would I go? I can’t sell my employee housing unit and cash in, so I’ll be here. And as for travel: Can you think of a better place to be besides Aspen? Well, I can, but only because my dollar goes a lot farther in other places, and the people are nicer, and they don’t have a socialistic government, and …
Well, I write a lot of these columns to get you thinking about stuff, and I guess I’ve been thinking about whether Aspen will offer me what I want as I age. It’s certainly a good place to hang out, but I could do without all the snow and shoveling, for a start.
Sheldon welcomes your comments at sheldon@sopris.net.
Comments
retirement
KNCB Moore
Aspen is great but not so great when one gets old and has a hard time at an 8,000 ft elevation. The six months of winter is tough when one is old.
The cost of living can put a strain in the budget. Selling your Aspen real estate can help you pay for your retirement. So, many dear friends leave
town. And there are still brave comrades who do not choose to leave.
And so it goes.
retirement
KNCB Moore
Aspen is great but not so great when one gets old and has a hard time at an 8,000 ft elevation. The six months of winter is tough when one is old.
The cost of living can put a strain in the budget. Selling your Aspen real estate can help you pay for your retirement. So, many dear friends leave
town. And there are still brave comrades who do not choose to leave.
And so it goes.
snow
get out while you can!
it will snow and no one likes a whiner!