Hello! I’m the old guy behind Old Guys Field Guide – a retired educator, writer, church musician, and grampa of two. I’m a stroke survivor and, powerfully motivated by those minor health scares, in the best shape of my life.
I’ve worked as a college professor and administrator, a school principal, and an elementary and middle school teacher. I’ve directed church music and youth programs and continue playing organ at my church. I’m now taking jazz piano lessons – for free! – through our local community college. It’s important to challenge the mind and develop new skills at our age, and trying to learn jazz certainly checks those boxes. So does building a bedroom, bathroom, and sauna at our small cottage UpNorth!
My wife Kathy and I love to travel. Through family vacations, mission/service trips, and guided tours, we’ve visited more than a dozen countries, hiked multiple national parks, toured ten presidential libraries, and spent one very long night in a Paris hospital. Yeah, I’ll post about that experience one of these days.
I’ve always thought I was doing well health wise, but the mini-strokes and the carotid surgery that followed helped turn my casual approach to exercise and eating well into an essential part of my daily life. I am living proof that a drop in testosterone – an unavoidable occurrence for us aging men – does not mean you can’t add significant strength, flexibility, and muscle mass in your retirement years. This blog is my effort to share that message and to counter the expectation that getting old means getting weak, being bored, or feeling useless.
So I’m writing from the perspective of an old guy who has embraced this amazing stage of life and wants to share that joy and contentment with others. I’ll summarize what research says, describe what I’m doing to stay healthy and active, share recipes for healthy meals, and try to connect spiritual faith with everyday life. Thanks for stopping by. Pull up a chair, pour yourself something you enjoy, and join me as I explore retirement and the great adventure of getting older – one field note at a time.
– Tim
