WEBVTT
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I want to welcome you back to Beyond 60 Unscripted.
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I'm Ruth Williams Brinkley, and I am your host.
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I am so glad you're here with me again.
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So, season two of Beyond 60 is officially underway.
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And I must say, it feels so good to be back in conversation with this vibrant, curious, funny, and very thoughtful community.
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This season, we are leaning into the topics that touch everybody's life every day after 60.
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Not everybody, but many people's lives.
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And today's episode is one I think many of you are going to love.
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We are going to be talking about pets.
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Now, whether you're a dog person, a cat person, a bird person, a fish person, or someone who simply enjoys visiting other people's pets or volunteering at the kennel and then going home to a quiet house, this conversation is for you.
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So pets can bring so much joy and so much warmth into our lives.
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Companionship, routine, laughter, a reason to get up and go outside every day, a warm little body sitting beside you or lying beside you when the house feels too quiet.
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And sometimes, let's be honest, a little bit of chaos.
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But pet ownership after 60 also comes with some real questions.
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What kind of pet is going to fit your life now after 60?
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How are you going to think about safety, travel, the cost of boarding, veterinary costs, and pet emergencies?
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And what happens if your life if your health changes?
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And how do you plan to care for an animal who really depends on you, totally dependent on you?
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So today we're going to talk about the joy of pets and we're also going to talk about the responsibility of owning a pet.
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And I have the perfect guest to help us in that conversation.
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But before we bring her into the conversation, it is time for our Beyond 60 Buzz.
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So let's get to that.
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In our Beyond 60 Buzz today, we are going to talk about a recent article from the street call Team Dog or Team Cat.
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What pets reveal about retirement.
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So as soon as I saw this article, I smiled because people have strong opinions about this.
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Some people are team dog, some people are team cat.
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Some people are, I like animals, but I like my furniture more.
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You know, I'm the type that I like animals, but I like my furniture more.
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I pet other people's animals, but I have never felt like I wanted to take on the responsibility of owning a pet myself.
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There's a lot to discuss.
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The article looks at research about how pets can shape life in retirement.
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And the big takeaway is that pets can really have a real positive impact on how people experience this chapter of life in retirement.
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Um pets can lead, they can ease loneliness, they can help create routine, they can encourage people to get outside, and and they can um also encourage connection with other people.
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The article made a practical point, though, that we can't ignore.
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Pets are wonderful, but they're also expensive.
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There's food, grooming, vet care, emergency visits, pet insurance, boarding, medications, all the little things we buy because our pets deserve it.
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This is what we're going to talk about today the joy, the love, the funny stories, the practical realities, and the planning that helps make pet ownership a blessing instead of a burden.
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My guest today is Sharon Hager.
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Sharon is a good friend of mine.
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She is also a healthcare attorney.
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She is the retired general counsel for our large healthcare organization.
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And I'd like to say, sort of another fact taught about Sharon is that she started her professional life as a registered nurse.
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Sharon knows firsthand the love, humor, and daily companionship that a pet can bring into this stage of life.
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So, Sharon, thank you so much for being here.
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I am so happy that you agreed to be with us on Beyond 60 Unscripted.
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Um, so you and I have known each other for a while.
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So, you know, in talking to you today, it feels more like uh like a friendly conversation rather than an interview.
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And that's what I want this this uh this session this session to feel like.
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So before we get into pets though, Sharon, tell our listeners a little bit about yourself, uh, a little bit more specifics if you want to, about the kind of work you did before retirement.
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And how would you describe this chapter of your life?
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So, first, thanks for having me.
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And um, Oliver, who I'm sure will make an appearance.
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Um, thanks you too.
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Um but yeah, you and I have known each other for uh a long time now.
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Yes, we've worked together off and on for uh, oh geez, probably for off and on for 20 years or longer.
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That's what I was thinking.
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And I was uh I did start as a registered nurse, as you know, and I um primarily worked in critical care.
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And then when I was in law school, I worked in the emergency department at um a large university trauma center.
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And then um started my legal career uh in '91 and did everything from litigation to being in-house.
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And so uh through the years, we've seen a lot, Ruth.
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We've encountered a lot, and we we've certainly learned to roll with the the punches.
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So um and try not to catch too many, right?
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Yeah, exactly.
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You know, as our friend Jackie says, you know, sometimes we were like the dog that caught the car.
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We had no idea what to do with it.
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Um, but that's kind of that's that's it it briefly.
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Uh I retired a couple of years ago now, two years ago now.
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And um so I've I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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I surprisingly, I thought I would be bored.
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Uh, but I have maintained a very active lifestyle.
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Amazing, and and I think it's because you don't you you find the time to do the things that you didn't find the time to do when you were working.
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Yeah.
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And keeping up with the people that you enjoy and you you love spending time with.
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So that's where we are.
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Well, I I will say this anecdotally, you certainly have a full social life because I have trouble catching up with you sometimes.
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This week has been particularly crazy.
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But you take great trips, you do, you do wonderful things, but that's for a different conversation today.
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Let's talk about the real star of this episode.
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Tell us a little bit about your pet, Oliver.
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Your your dog.
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My dog, Oliver.
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Um, I, you know, I had had pets uh up until 2013.
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Yeah.
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And I was on the road so much that when my last animal, my last dog died, I thought it's not fair to bring an animal into an environment where I am never home.
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And so I waited until and I didn't know.
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I had toyed with it off and on about after retirement.
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And my niece called one evening, and um, she shows horses, uh-huh, and her trainer was actually starting to breed dogs.
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And she said, I've got the cutest puppy you have to have.
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And I'm gonna tell this on myself and my friends.
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We were sitting at a bar eating, and we passed Oliver's picture around, and everybody said, Oh, yes, you've got to get this dog.
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And so that's how that's how I got Oliver.
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I bought him Side Unseen, and um, on my my niece's recommendation, uh, we came up with the name.
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The the the five of us that were at dinner came up with the name Oliver because we thought he looked like an Oliver.
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And that's how he came to be.
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I I retired on the 30th of June and picked him up on the 6th of July.
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So he's been with me almost all the time.
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Yeah, you've always had big dogs, if I remember correctly.
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Yes.
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So Oliver is a little bit of a departure from what you normally had.
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My other dogs have been in the 100 to 120 pound range.
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Oliver was three pounds when I brought him home.
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He's now two years old and 10 pounds.
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Uh and as I said earlier, he's very much a lap dog.
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So he's, and and that's partly my thought.
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I mean, I I've let him be in my lap mostly, but he's part bashan freeze, and they very much like to be close to their human.
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So he definitely has more bishon in him than Shutsu, which is his other parent.
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Uh-huh.
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Um, but he did get the Shutsu snaggle tooth.
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So he's if he if he looks in the camera and grins, you'll be able to see his his uh overbite.
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So okay.
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Okay.
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So what tell Sheridan tell us about his personality.
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Um tell us about what Oliver is like.
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What, you know, uh what how does he go about his day?
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Or how does he structure both of your days?
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That's the truth.
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He does structure both our days, including the time we get up and the time we go to bed.
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Uh he he's very shy around people.
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He's he really he's very timid until he gets to know you.
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And um, you know, we have the mutual acquaintance, Janie.
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Um and so for the longest time he wouldn't have anything to do with her.
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He would just hear.
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Um, but but now he he takes right up with her when she walks through the door.
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He's very, very excited to see her.
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Um he and he he he does well with people.
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We go out to, he has one of those women.
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I take the dog to dinner with me.
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And um he, I know Ruth.
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Just laugh and shit.
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You used to know for sure.
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And so he goes to dinner with us and he does fine.
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He curls up under the chair, or he a couple of my friends he really likes.
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So he'll he'll get in their laps and sit for a few minutes.
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But he just um overall, he's a happy little puppy, and he is very calm, doesn't bark.
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Um he whines occasionally, and then that's what I kind of know, you know, it's time to go out, or there's the the mailman's at the door, there's something, he'll whine a little bit.
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But um, quietest dog that I've ever owned, and very smart.
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So he was the easiest to train of any of the dogs that I've had.
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And uh so Sherry, sure.
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Can you do you have Oliver with you right now?
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Of course he's see, will you stand up here and can you look at the camera?
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Can you look at the camera?
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Hi, Oliver.
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Hi.
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What in the world is that?
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Can you say hello?
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Hi, he's not saying a word, he's not barking, he's he's just he does not bark.
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He doesn't bark.
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We have deer and we have all kinds of animals in our backyard, but he and the deer just graciously share the backyard when we're out there.
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He looks at them, they look at him.
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He goes to doggy daycare occasionally, and then he's so and he and so and then he stays in an open kennel.
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So he's when I'm away, um, he's in what they call the luxury lounge.
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They run free.
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It's all the Oliver when I grow up.
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I wouldn't be Oliver.
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No, so 30 pounds and under, they run free, they're not caged.
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And so he, you know, he just he gets along well with other dogs, and um, cats are confusing to him.
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But um, but yeah, he, you know, he's just he's very um, just a very laid-back personality.
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So, Sharon, what does Oliver add to your day that would be hard to replace?
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Just the companionship.
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Okay.
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You know, when you're working every day, you're you're interacting with people, and you know, if you're not face to face, you're on the phone, you were on Zoom.
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So you there was that constant interaction.
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And now we don't.
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And so I do find myself, and my sister laughs at this.
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I do find myself talking to the dog occasionally.
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Um, he has not started talking back yet, so I'm not too concerned.
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Not yet, not yet.
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Um, but but he um and he's just constantly, he just trails me room to room.
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He's he's always there.
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And if I'm sitting, he's in my lap, literally in my lap.
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Yeah.
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So he just, it's um, it's a companionship.
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It really is.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Um, is there a story that really captures his personality or something about the bond the two of you share?
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I I think a couple of things.
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One, the first night I brought him home, I put him in the crate and he's whining and crying.
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Now he was 10 weeks old.
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Oh.
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So I took him.
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I didn't know what to do.
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At this point, I was kind of beside myself, but we went out on the porch and sat in the rocker, and he just snuggled up into my neck and went to sleep.
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Oh, I tried to put him down again.
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It's like a baby.
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I tried to put him down, he starts whining again.
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So I ended up sleeping, sitting up in the rocking chair on the porch with the dog.
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And I think that just from then it just sort of defined, you know, kind of just defined our world.
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And I think the the the sweetest moments are those, and and this sounds so like when I said sweetest, but he's very much now afraid of thunder.
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And he will come immediately and burrow behind my back if when it's thundering, if it's at night or whenever.
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So um those are the kind of you know, it's kind of like you that protective, yeah.
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You know, it was that bonded.
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The two of you are bonded.
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We are now what has Oliver taught you?
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I I guess caring for him, Sharon.
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What has caring for Oliver uh taught you, if anything, about yourself?
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Uh, well, we've always known that patience was not my virtue.
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Um, but I have had to um I've really had to stop my, I mean, not that I would ever be abusive to him, but I uh, you know, I have to stop and think, okay, don't yell at him.
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It's not gonna do any good.
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Yeah.
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Don't be cutting us off.
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And um, but it's taught me a lot of patience because you know, training uh uh an animal requires patience and just you know, consistency.
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And so I and I've always known we I that's not not my virtue, it never has been.
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Yeah.
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Um, but that's really I I find myself being more patient and I don't know whether to attribute it to the fact that I'm not stressed anymore.
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I don't have the whole work situation and still have a little bit to do with it.
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I you know, probably.
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So it I think it's just I think it was just a combination of him coming at the time that he did, yeah and me retiring.
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And I think it there was just a good time for both of us.
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Yeah.
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You know, I love that story because so many people listening can probably relate to the way a pet really becomes part of the family or a part of the rhythm of the house.
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You know, they know everything about us.
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They know when we wake up, they know when we eat, they know when they're supposed to eat, they know when we're sad, and somehow they just know us and and uh on a funny level, they definitely know when when we're open to giving them a snack.
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And I'm sure Oliver's not beyond that.
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It's yeah, we um we don't use the T word around here um very often because the T-R-E-A-T, because that just absolutely oh, he knows what that means.
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He knows what that means.
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Um, but it you know, I will say an example, Bruce.
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Like as you're saying, they they sense what's going on.
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As you know, I recently had my knee replaced.
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Yeah.
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And uh he did spend a couple of weeks in the kennel while I was initially recuperating.
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But when he came home, he was so he he saw the cane, he saw the walker.
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He immediately he he was so gentle when he would jump in my lap, he would make sure I mean really it was really funny, and he would sniff around the knee, but and and and I thought it was just interesting because he left the other knee alone.
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He would but he'd sniff around the the new knee, but he he you know, we started keeping a leash on in the house so that I didn't have to chase him down, and he was fine with it instead of trying to eat the leash or the yeah, you know, he um which he has chewed on leashes, he has chewed through I don't know how many harnesses, but he has left these alone these last few months.
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And so it was really, I thought, really interesting in terms of um he was just he he just seemed to sense that I didn't feel well or I I didn't, you know, I wasn't operating on all cylinders.
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So it was really that part was interesting and it was noticeable.
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Wow, that there that is really deep, Sharon, because you know, you read these articles, some are funny, but you also read these very serious articles about you know the sniffing and when they realize when pets realize something is wrong, especially dogs, they they sniff and and they stand there and they it's it's just amazing the intelligence they have.
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You know, these um, you know, with insulin-dependent diabetics now and and patients that have seizure disorders, you know, they can sense that the sugar's going down, or you know, there's an impending seizure.
00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:11.839
It is pretty amazing what dogs can do.
00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:15.599
And you know, I and all my other friends have cats.
00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:21.920
So, you know, there are other people, there are other animals out there that are pets other than dogs.
00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:34.880
But yeah, but you know, the people are it seems like people are either cat people or dog people, some have both, but you know, some most a lot of people choose between one or the other.
00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:39.839
Yeah, and even some of my friends that have both lean toward one or the other.
00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:52.400
So, you know, they their favorite may be you know the dog or the cat, but uh but yeah, I have never I I I I don't dislike cats.
00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:57.599
I just have never we never had them growing up, so that was you know yeah, we had dogs growing up.
00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:00.640
We had a cat at one point, but mostly we had dogs.
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.279
Yeah.
00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:09.359
Now you've talked about Oliver, you didn't put it this way, but how Oliver helped you adjust to retirement and so forth.
00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:25.359
Um, can you talk just for a moment about how you think uh a pet, having a pet could help people with an empty nest, with relocation, living alone, or just bringing, you know, more life into a quieter house.
00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:27.440
Do you think that would be helpful to people?
00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:29.680
I think it would if they wanted to.
00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:45.920
Yeah, I think um I, you know, I can't it any in this is just another example of a friend of mine who had three cats, has had multiple cats for as long as I can remember, but back to back this spring, put two, had to put two down.
00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:46.799
Oh.
00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:53.519
And she's 74, so she's she's now at a point where she wants to go get at least one more cat.
00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:59.440
She's looking to adopt an older cat because you know, cats can live for quite some time.
00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:01.920
So she's looking to adopt an older cat.
00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:09.200
And and as she said, just having one, it seems lonely to her in in her house.
00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:37.599
And um so I think it it's I think once you're if you're not used to having an animal, but but you're alone and or living alone and um you're retired or or you know, and it I just think the the companionship, I I know I'm not expressing that well, but it's it really does you, you know, it feels that uh perhaps it's a void you don't even know you have.
00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.559
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:44.880
Um so that was I I think I think it it's good for companionship.
00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:48.720
I do think there are factors you have to take into account.
00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:59.599
Um uh, you know, the the travel schedules if you have one, or um you know, leaving for the day is not a big deal, even with the dog.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:16.240
But um but you know travel and and you know things that you like to do around the house that that you know if you have a lot of people in a lot of company you know that kind of thing sometimes dogs are friendly.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:16.640
Yeah.
00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:19.920
Um cats usually scatter to the wind.
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.359
That's been my experience.
00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:28.000
Um but dogs can some dogs are friendly and some dogs just don't like being around people.
00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:28.400
Right.
00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:29.680
They, you know.
00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:40.400
So I think it's it's those are the kinds of things your lifestyle does play a part in whether or not to adopt an animal at our age.
00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:47.680
I think because we're more free than we've ever been, um it it becomes a factor in it.
00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:53.519
Now a lot of times I hear from people that a pet gives structure to the day.
00:22:53.680 --> 00:23:00.960
You know, it means you gotta get up, you they have to be fed, you have to walk them or clean up after them or pay attention to their needs.
00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.720
Um, have you found that?
00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:06.640
Is is that imp is that routine sort of structure?
00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:08.240
It is that help?
00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:22.960
That helps because you know, I well, you know, because I brought him so home so sh so shortly after I retired, I was still getting up between 6 and 6 30 every morning.
00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:23.519
Okay.
00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:27.200
So that's the that's the routine he got he's too.
00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:29.279
So that's the routine we still have.
00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:34.160
Even if we didn't want to, we have that routine.
00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:41.359
Um, and then you know, we're usually in bed by 11 and he starts getting antsy about 10 30.
00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:45.200
Um, you do mean really, so he has a kind of a bedtime too.
00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:47.119
Oh, and he will let me know.
00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:50.720
Like he keeps running to the bedroom, like, okay, it's oh really?
00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:52.160
Yeah, get with it.
00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.720
Yep.
00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:55.359
Um, but but you're right.
00:23:55.599 --> 00:24:03.759
I mean, the the bathroom, especially with dogs, the potty training is it's so important to have consistent times that you're taking out.
00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:15.039
So we're usually out between 6:30 and 7, and then we go out again around 2, and then again, you know, before we right before we go to bed.
00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:18.559
Um, the walks are incredibly important.
00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:24.480
Um, I found that I missed those for a period of time that I couldn't actually get out and walk him.
00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:24.960
Yeah.
00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:27.519
Um, I think he liked it better.
00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:33.039
He got to be on a long lead and he got to just run around in the yard with me sitting there watching.
00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.000
Yeah, yeah.
00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:37.359
But um, it does give you structure to your day.
00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.640
Now that's with dogs.
00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:42.559
Cats are a little different because you can leave feed out for cats, yeah.
00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.759
Food out.
00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:51.680
They have um intermittent feeders that they can utilize that also, you know, you can they do the water that way.
00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:53.440
They use a litter box.
00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:53.920
Yeah.
00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:59.359
So, you know, you, you know, you change the litter box once every couple of days.
00:24:59.440 --> 00:24:59.680
Yeah.
00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.319
So it's not as structured with a cat as it is with a dog.
00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:04.720
Yeah.
00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:18.160
But it's definitely if you if you are out of the routine, if if if you're out of the world of routine and you like being out of the world of routine, uh dogs may not be for you.
00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.799
Okay.
00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.000
Because that isn't it.
00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:20.640
That's important.
00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.200
That's important.
00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:23.200
It's definitely a structure.
00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:27.519
It's it's just like trying to make, you know, make it on time to a meeting.
00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:27.920
Yeah.
00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.359
Um yeah.
00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.200
So yeah.
00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:35.519
What about mood, stress level, overall real well-being?
00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:39.279
Do you think Oliver has impacted any of those things in your life?
00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:46.240
Yeah, now here again, because of the timing of when I brought him home, it's hard to say if it's okay.
00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:50.319
And so I do think, so I guess here's what I I would say.
00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:52.160
Yes, he's had an effect.
00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:54.799
I think he's made me, you know, he calms me down.
00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:57.279
I could pet him and calm down immediately.
00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:07.440
Um, but I think it, you know, and because I retired when I, you know, within a few days of bringing him home, it's hard to say.
00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:20.640
Was it, you know, the the lack of of stress and the lack of deadlines and the lack of phone calls and all of those things that that contributed to a stress level that were now gone.
00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:26.640
But um, but he definitely, when he's laying in my lap, it is very calming.
00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:31.680
I mean, we he lays here, I'll watch television, I'll read a book, I'll read the papers.
00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:37.039
You know what, you know, it's it's it's and he just lays there and he lets you pet him.
00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:43.279
Um but I do think, you know, um, here again, my blood pressure is down.
00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:46.000
That could be because there's no work.
00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:50.640
But you know, I'll pop my blood pressure medicine.
00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:58.079
Um oh really, yes, and I do think yeah, that part of part of that is cont is attributable to him, I think.
00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:26.160
Okay, but um, but here again, you know, the timing for me, but but I would say overall, if I brought him home today, uh-huh, it would be a blessing still, because I think it would bring structure and it would bring um just like I said, it's the companionship, Ruth, that more than anything, even if it's not a human that talks back, it is a living being that is running around the house.
00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:28.960
And he's very devoted to you, I can tell.
00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.880
He's very devoted to you.
00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:35.680
Some days we wish a little less devoted, but that's you know, beside the point.
00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:43.519
Um, but he is, and and he it's just comforting to know, you know, that he's around.
00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:54.240
Yeah, and he's uh um, but I was trying to think if I've been upset since he's been with me, and I don't think I have.
00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:56.240
Wow, that's amazing.
00:27:56.880 --> 00:28:01.440
Say that he's ever um like he sensed my moods.
00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:04.000
Um yeah, I I suspect he would.
00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:06.480
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:15.359
Does and socially, like when you're walking Oliver or you're taking places, does it open up new conversations with people or with neighbors?
00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.079
It does.
00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.880
It does.
00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:21.119
I have met more of my neighbors um because I am out and about.
00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:26.559
But like even if I had retired, I still probably wouldn't have been walking the neighborhood.
00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:36.960
Um but I have met more of my neighbors, and it he always stimulates conversation out at restaurants, especially with little kids who want to pet him.
00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:39.359
And he's very gracious about it.
00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:41.599
He just lays there and lets them pet him.
00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:52.400
Um you know, a lot of times there are other dogs on the patio and they get together and they sniff each other and they, you know, yeah, scope each other out.
00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:54.240
And it's it's so yes.
00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:58.720
And then so then you'll talk to those people, you know, at the next table over with another dog.
00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:16.480
And um, so it has, it's opened up a whole new new world in terms of of being able to meet people and and maybe not like people at restaurants, maybe not people you'll see again, but certainly with the neighbors, I have learned I have met more of my neighbors.
00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:23.519
One has become a dear friend at this point, and so it's yeah, it's it's it's a whole new world.
00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:30.160
You know, I it's so interesting that you said that because I I have a neighbor uh who walks her dog's name is Cooper.
00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:32.960
I cannot remember what her name is, but I know Cooper.
00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:36.799
No, then whatever I know Cooper every time I see them.
00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:38.319
I'm like, hi Cooper.
00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:40.880
And he, I know Cooper.
00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:41.759
See?
00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:44.880
I I mean you do tend to remember the dogs.
00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.359
Yep.
00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:48.319
Um some reason.
00:29:48.480 --> 00:30:05.759
Um, but but uh it does, it does socially get you and and it gets you out of the house if you're not somebody that gets out a lot, because here again, the structure and the routine, and so you do get out and you you do walk and you do meet people.
00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:06.559
Yeah.
00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:09.200
So I'm gonna shift for just for a few minutes here.
00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:10.559
How do you choose?
00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:14.000
Do you have any thoughts about how you choose the right pet after 60 Sharon?
00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:19.599
Now I know like we talked about you've had big dogs, you've talked about people who had kids, kit um, cats.
00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:29.119
Anything you would say about choosing when you're over or you know, this this um podcast is about people over 60.
00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:35.039
It do you have any thoughts about older adults uh and what they should consider before bringing a new pet into the house?
00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:41.920
I I I I do, Bruce, I think, as we talked earlier, I think schedule is important.
00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:53.279
So if you're a person that travels a great deal, um that needs to filter, you know, that needs to figure into your decision if you want an animal or not.
00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:59.119
Um, if you don't mind to board an animal, then then that kind of takes it out.
00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:03.279
Um boarding can be expensive depending on you know where you live.
00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:03.920
Yeah.
00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:14.079
Um so that's a that's a cost that I now have to figure in to many vacation plans, is the cost of boarding.
00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:23.119
So cats, on the other hand, you can have a neighbor come in once every couple of days and make sure they've got food and water and the litter box.
00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:26.640
Um, and that's I've you know, I've after when you brought this up.
00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:39.359
I've sort of talked to a lot of my friends that have had primarily cats at this point, but uh that's what they all say that the travel schedule is so much easier for them when they look at me than that.
00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:49.920
Um I think budget is is important because there's a lot of um, I was they're not unforeseen bills, but they're just costs that you know are there.
00:31:50.000 --> 00:32:02.240
So you've got routine vet bills, um, the food bill, you know, and dog food is you can get it, there's all kinds, I mean, there's a range.
00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:13.759
You can get cheap dog food up to, you know, some of these um dog food services or um for a dog all over size are$60 a week.
00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:19.359
So they you can there's a you know, there's a range, but but here again, food.
00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:20.720
You gotta factor it in.
00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:22.160
You've got to factor it in.
00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:22.640
Yeah.
00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:29.839
The unex the the um um grooming cost, depending on the kind of dog you have.
00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:36.319
Um, Joe, my last dog, uh, he would we've we went to the groomer like every three or four months.
00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:41.039
He was he didn't he just didn't grow, he didn't shed.
00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:43.440
And so he was good with brushing.
00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:49.680
Um, Oliver, on the other hand, has to do every six weeks because otherwise he gets so shaggy he can't see.
00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:53.200
So grooming costs are another thing.
00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:58.319
And here again, those costs vary depending on where you live.
00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:06.799
Um, but those are the I would say those are the big things that you've got you think about it's in with with budgeting purposes.
00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:12.240
And um, I know some you know, older people are living on a very fixed income.
00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:22.079
And so that becomes, you know, a part of of the equation as to whether to adopt uh or bring a pet home.
00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:31.200
And then I think just mobility issues and and um, you know, are you able to walk a dog every day?
00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:35.839
Do you have a fenced in backyard where you can turn one loose and let them run?
00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:47.359
Um I will say, as and and we all worry about it in this neighborhood because we do have coyote, and so coyotes will attack small animals.
00:33:47.599 --> 00:34:00.160
And so even with fences, you you know, so you need to worry about the environment around you in terms of even if you've got a big fenced in backyard for a dog, are there other animals that you know could possibly interfere?
00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:00.640
Yeah.
00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:13.840
Um, but the mobility, you know, and then so if you're not able to walk, you maybe you want to consider a cat because they're pretty self-reliant, and you don't have to, you know, you don't here again, not much of a schedule or routine with them.
00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:14.559
Yeah.
00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:22.480
And I think the other thing too is um pet proofing house, believe it or not.
00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:25.119
Um there are things like child proofing, right?
00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:25.760
It is.
00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:42.719
There are things that are toxic to animals that sometimes, especially around Christmas, quinsettas, um, some of the um some of the what some of the shellac or something that's on ornaments that you know cats love to lick.
00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:47.920
I mean, there it's all those kinds of things that I think you just gotta think about child proofing.
00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:51.440
Um just, I mean, just like child proofing.
00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:56.480
Uh, I had one dog who, my first dog, who loved to get into cabinets.
00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:59.039
I had baby locks on every cabinet.
00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:00.880
You would have to go in the cabinet.
00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:04.239
She would get in the cabinet and she would eat whatever she could find.
00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:06.239
She would tear out pots and pans.
00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:07.679
It was crazy.
00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:12.719
So I had child proof locks on all of those cabinets.
00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:16.800
And um, so it's it's things like that.
00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:22.880
But I I would say, you know, you and I have talked uh some about this since I did fall.
00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:28.000
Um Yeah, I was gonna ask you about should people be concerned about fall risks?
00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:33.840
They do, and I think it's the thing is, and you and I talked about what could I do differently.
00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:40.000
I don't think there's I I think it's the same thing that we all as older adults think of.
00:35:40.159 --> 00:36:09.119
You know, what's what's in the floor, what's in my way, you know, if you're walking, you know, I need to walk, you know, I need to watch for, you know, trip hazards and the the sidewalks or, you know, um keeping the toys picked up, whether you've got cats or dogs, keeping the toys picked up and just being um, and I would say training, let's go back to caught this plays in, but but training is another cost that you may want to.
00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:11.519
That's that's an optional cost.
00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:19.840
But the training with the walking on the leash is incredibly important because they learn how to trail you, how to heal.
00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:23.280
They they don't, you know, they don't get under your feet.
00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:23.679
Okay.
00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:45.440
So those are those are the things that I think you, you know, have to really, and and I don't think you have to be any more aware of your surroundings than you do as a normal day-to-day um, because I know I find myself being much more aware of where I'm at, even when I don't have him.
00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:49.840
And you know, surfaces I'm walking on and steps and things.
00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:50.800
Yeah.
00:36:51.280 --> 00:37:09.199
Um, so um planning for your pet's future, you know, as we get older, uh we want to think about our pets and what's gonna happen to them if we can't take care of them or you know, or if we're not around to take care of them.
00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:25.920
Um what from a you know, from a legal standpoint, and I hate to get you back into the legality of it all, but you are an attorney, uh should should people prepare for their pet uh at you know in in and later in life?
00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:28.320
How what should people be thinking about?
00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:42.000
Yeah, I think if you don't have a family member or friend who is willingly agrees to take the pet and it's someone you trust, and you know that they will come through and take the pet.
00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:42.480
Yeah.
00:37:42.800 --> 00:38:01.039
Um that's one aspect, but I do know people that actually name their pet's guardian in their will or in their trust, and they set aside a certain amount of money for its care so that the person who is taking the the pet doesn't have to worry about those expenses.
00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:25.679
And so I understand, and and I I would have never known this, other than um I did talk to my lawyer, my state lawyer about this, and she said it was becoming more common for people to include that pot of money um for the care, especially when you have a younger pet that may very well outlive you.
00:38:25.840 --> 00:38:26.159
Yeah.
00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:53.760
Um but so I don't think that's an I I do think it's something as an older adult, it's one of the things you have to think about because um you do see a lot of if if any of you have gone to the pound, Ruth, you know, or that the Humane Society, there are a lot of animals that are there have been surrendered because their their owners died and did no one could take the animals.
00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:58.880
So um I think it's definitely a conversation to have with friends or family members.
00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:04.960
Um so you know, my niece who found him is gonna take him if something happens to me.
00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:06.079
So okay.
00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:12.960
But you know, it's also for people of any age who get pets because sometimes people don't recognize the responsibility of taking a pet.
00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:22.960
And they either abandon the pet or take it back to the shelter because they don't realize that the pet is going to require constant attention forever.
00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:24.480
Yay, forever.
00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:35.840
And you know, the the best example of that I have, Ruth, is um Joe, my last dog, when I adopted him, he was two, he had been at the shelter for almost a year.
00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:36.320
Uh-huh.
00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:41.599
And his owner had adopted him uh right after his wife died.
00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:42.000
Okay.
00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:46.400
And Joe dug up some rose bushes that she had planted.
00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:50.559
And so he took him back to the shelter because he surrendered him.
00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:53.119
He he couldn't, you know, he couldn't take care of him.
00:39:53.280 --> 00:39:59.280
And he really felt like, you know, he sort of destroyed some of the memories of his wife.
00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:11.039
So that definitely thinking about who you designate or or you know how you go about surrendering, yeah, I think it's definitely worth thinking about.
00:40:11.280 --> 00:40:11.519
Yeah.
00:40:11.599 --> 00:40:17.199
And if you have, you know, should people I've I uh preparing for this, I read about fostering.
00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:23.840
Should people maybe like go try to foster a pet or do something like that to see if they really want to do this?
00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:27.360
I think that's a great idea to see if it's what you want to do.
00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:27.840
Okay.
00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:37.039
Um and um I I think I've had, you know, one of the guys that I used to work with fostered all that.
00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:40.880
They they constantly had two to three foster pets in their home.
00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:42.480
Um, their kids loved it.
00:40:42.639 --> 00:40:53.679
They had kids, so the kids walked and the, you know, they they kind of did a lot of the the care and feeding of the animals, but um, it's a great way to figure out if that's for you or not.
00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:59.119
Yeah, one friend of mine fostered and ended up adopting because she loved this dog so much.
00:40:59.280 --> 00:41:01.199
She got so attached to her.
00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:04.800
And so she ended up that was the dog for her.
00:41:04.880 --> 00:41:05.119
Yeah.
00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:08.400
So I do think that's a great idea to do that.
00:41:08.719 --> 00:41:11.599
Or the shelters are always looking for volunteers.
00:41:11.760 --> 00:41:12.079
Yeah.
00:41:12.400 --> 00:41:19.280
And it's, you know, just go and man the desk or, you know, put feeding in in kennels.
00:41:19.360 --> 00:41:23.519
And, you know, you don't have to do the the dirty work per se.
00:41:24.239 --> 00:41:30.880
But, you know, it gives you an opportunity to be around animals, really get to know an animal before you bring them home.
00:41:31.039 --> 00:41:39.920
Um, so that's another thing is volunteering at shelters that that's always another good idea to determine whether or not you really want an animal.
00:41:40.239 --> 00:41:41.519
Yeah, yeah.
00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:46.239
So, Sharon, before I let you go, this has just been a wonderful conversation.
00:41:46.639 --> 00:41:51.199
And I have, I feel like I know Oliver, as I said at the beginning.
00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:59.199
And uh, so what we we try to end each season two conversation is something new we're calling the next chapter five.
00:41:59.360 --> 00:42:01.440
Just uh names I came up with.
00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:05.519
So there are five quick questions we ask every one of our guests.
00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:09.519
They're simple, a little personal, but hopefully a lot of fun, Sharon.
00:42:09.760 --> 00:42:16.639
So the idea is to help our listeners get to know you just a little bit better and let everyone know leave with something to think about.
00:42:16.800 --> 00:42:18.079
So there are five questions.
00:42:18.159 --> 00:42:19.039
They're simple.
00:42:19.280 --> 00:42:24.559
Okay, what what one word best describes this chapter of your life right now?
00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:28.000
Um exciting.
00:42:28.320 --> 00:42:29.440
Oh, okay.
00:42:29.679 --> 00:42:35.519
I mean, it's just it's fun, it's exciting, and uh, I'm enjoying every minute.
00:42:35.920 --> 00:42:39.360
I I kind of know that, but it's great to hear you say it again.
00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:40.480
I can tell.
00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:43.280
Uh what brings you joy right now?
00:42:43.920 --> 00:42:55.920
Um spending time with friends and family, and you know, just being able to it's it, you know, you don't have to do all your chores on the weekend.
00:42:56.159 --> 00:43:00.079
My goodness, you can't the the washing machine does work on Monday.
00:43:00.320 --> 00:43:06.239
So that's been that's it's the little things that give me the most pleasure now.
00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:07.119
Yeah.
00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:10.320
What is something you finally stop worrying about?
00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:18.320
Work sounds so general, but Ruth, I do, I truly don't have to worry about getting documents out the door.
00:43:18.480 --> 00:43:22.079
I don't have to worry about, you know, did I word that correctly?
00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:25.440
Was that checking emails, checking emails, yeah, checking?
00:43:26.559 --> 00:43:27.920
Constantly checking emails.
00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:29.280
You know, the 6 30 a.m.
00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:31.280
calls from the disgruntled doctor.
00:43:31.519 --> 00:43:34.000
I don't miss any of that.
00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:36.079
Um neither do I.
00:43:36.639 --> 00:43:40.880
I know, I know what kept you curious, Sharon.
00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:42.960
Oh, you would did you want to keep me curious about that?
00:43:43.039 --> 00:43:45.519
Yeah, what you keeps me curious.
00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:52.000
I think just um exploring things to open new doors.
00:43:52.239 --> 00:44:03.679
You know, as you and I talked, I took that trip down the Mississippi, and that opened up a whole new um a whole New interest for me in studying history.
00:44:04.320 --> 00:44:08.159
I've always been interested in it, but I've really picked up and I've read a lot.
00:44:08.239 --> 00:44:17.039
So I think it's it's just exploring and finding new things and then being able to pursue them that that keeps me going, keeps me interested.
00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:18.639
You've done a lot.
00:44:18.719 --> 00:44:19.679
You really have.
00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:23.840
So final question: what is one thing you would say to your younger self?
00:44:24.079 --> 00:44:25.280
Take a deep breath.
00:44:25.360 --> 00:44:27.119
It's all gonna be okay.
00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:29.119
Don't take yourself so seriously.
00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:31.280
Take yourself so seriously.
00:44:31.519 --> 00:44:38.159
And and don't, you know, you don't have to work 12 and 14 hour days.
00:44:38.239 --> 00:44:38.480
Yeah.
00:44:38.639 --> 00:44:44.239
Um, I, you know, I looked at the the younger generation, and I know you saw this as well, Ruth.
00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:46.480
They really work an eight-hour day.
00:44:46.559 --> 00:44:46.960
Yeah.
00:44:47.199 --> 00:44:48.880
And I so admired that.
00:44:48.960 --> 00:44:50.480
I wished I had done that.
00:44:50.639 --> 00:44:56.480
And so it that's what I would say is it really don't sweat the small stuff.
00:44:56.639 --> 00:44:57.039
Yeah.
00:44:57.280 --> 00:45:00.320
Um, and in the end, it's all small stuff usually.
00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:01.760
It is, it is.
00:45:02.239 --> 00:45:07.119
So, Sharon, this has just been such a warm and just a very insightful conversation.
00:45:07.280 --> 00:45:08.639
I so enjoyed this, Ruth.
00:45:08.719 --> 00:45:09.519
Thank you for having me.
00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:13.519
I enjoyed it too, and I I believe our audience will enjoy it too.
00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:22.159
So thank you for taking us through all the joys and and really the thoughtfulness about choosing a pet, but the joy of having a pet.
00:45:22.400 --> 00:45:27.679
The joy of having a pet at this age is so much different than my younger days.
00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:28.320
Yep.
00:45:28.480 --> 00:45:28.800
Yep.
00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:36.639
And I and I love your references to the things that a pet can bring you, such as affection, movement, companion, purpose.
00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:41.440
But it really is a a bilateral relationship, right?
00:45:41.599 --> 00:45:43.360
That the pet has to love you.
00:45:43.440 --> 00:45:47.119
You love the pet, and it and it's like you and Oliver seem like you bonded.
00:45:47.199 --> 00:45:48.480
Your niece was right.
00:45:48.800 --> 00:45:51.679
She needed to have Oliver, and Oliver needed you.
00:45:51.920 --> 00:45:55.119
That it's it has worked out really well.
00:45:55.599 --> 00:45:56.159
Yeah.
00:45:56.400 --> 00:45:58.400
And of course, I want to thank Oliver.
00:45:58.559 --> 00:45:59.280
Is he still around?
00:45:59.360 --> 00:46:01.199
Can we see Oliver time?
00:46:01.760 --> 00:46:03.599
Oh, get up here, big boy.
00:46:03.840 --> 00:46:05.039
Hi, Oliver.
00:46:05.199 --> 00:46:05.599
Say bye.
00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:07.679
Thank you for being with us, Oliver.
00:46:07.920 --> 00:46:09.599
Say bye, Miss Ruth.
00:46:11.440 --> 00:46:12.559
Okay, Sharon.
00:46:12.639 --> 00:46:13.519
Thank you so much.
00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:14.960
Thank you, Oliver.
00:46:15.119 --> 00:46:17.039
This has been wonderful, Sharon.
00:46:17.360 --> 00:46:17.920
Great.
00:46:18.159 --> 00:46:18.400
Okay.
00:46:18.719 --> 00:46:21.119
I look forward to talking to you soon.
00:46:21.679 --> 00:46:22.239
I will.
00:46:22.400 --> 00:46:23.679
Yes, we will talk soon.
00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:24.800
Okay, Sharon.
00:46:24.880 --> 00:46:25.119
Thank you.
00:46:25.360 --> 00:46:25.760
Bye-bye.
00:46:26.719 --> 00:46:29.280
What a lovely conversation.
00:46:29.760 --> 00:46:31.360
And thank you, Sharon.
00:46:31.519 --> 00:46:36.239
You reminded us that pets can bring extraordinary joy into our lives.
00:46:36.400 --> 00:46:38.559
They can help us feel needed.
00:46:38.719 --> 00:46:40.400
They can help make us laugh.
00:46:40.559 --> 00:46:42.079
They can get us moving.
00:46:42.239 --> 00:46:44.880
They can comfort us when the house feels too quiet.
00:46:45.039 --> 00:46:50.880
They can also force us to keep a schedule, even when we might not want to, or when we want to sleep in.
00:46:51.119 --> 00:46:54.639
But you know, they provide extraordinary companionship.
00:46:55.280 --> 00:47:00.400
So, Sharon, thank you for joining us, and thank you for every one of you who is listening today.
00:47:01.440 --> 00:47:05.920
Season two of Beyond 60 Unscripted is just getting started.
00:47:06.079 --> 00:47:10.079
And we have so many wonderful conversations ahead.
00:47:10.559 --> 00:47:17.599
New episodes come every two weeks, so be sure to follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
00:47:17.760 --> 00:47:24.000
And follow us on social media for clips, for quotes, aligning tips, and more.
00:47:25.679 --> 00:47:36.400
So until next time, keep laughing, keep learning, keep loving, and keep building a life filled with connection, purpose, and joy.
00:47:36.719 --> 00:47:44.800
I'm Ruth Williams Frankly, and this is Beyond 60 Unscripted, where the best years are still ahead.
00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:12.080
I want to welcome you back to Beyond 60 Unscripted.
00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:15.519
I'm Ruth Williams Brinkley, and I am your host.
00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:18.480
I am so glad you're here with me again.
00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:23.280
So, season two of Beyond 60 is officially underway.
00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:32.159
And I must say, it feels so good to be back in conversation with this vibrant, curious, funny, and very thoughtful community.
00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:39.520
This season, we are leaning into the topics that touch everybody's life every day after 60.
00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.840
Not everybody, but many people's lives.
00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:46.399
And today's episode is one I think many of you are going to love.
00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:49.679
We are going to be talking about pets.
00:00:50.000 --> 00:01:07.840
Now, whether you're a dog person, a cat person, a bird person, a fish person, or someone who simply enjoys visiting other people's pets or volunteering at the kennel and then going home to a quiet house, this conversation is for you.
00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:13.840
So pets can bring so much joy and so much warmth into our lives.
00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:25.280
Companionship, routine, laughter, a reason to get up and go outside every day, a warm little body sitting beside you or lying beside you when the house feels too quiet.
00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:28.560
And sometimes, let's be honest, a little bit of chaos.
00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:33.599
But pet ownership after 60 also comes with some real questions.
00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:38.159
What kind of pet is going to fit your life now after 60?
00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:46.000
How are you going to think about safety, travel, the cost of boarding, veterinary costs, and pet emergencies?
00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:49.120
And what happens if your life if your health changes?
00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:57.439
And how do you plan to care for an animal who really depends on you, totally dependent on you?
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:04.959
So today we're going to talk about the joy of pets and we're also going to talk about the responsibility of owning a pet.
00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:09.520
And I have the perfect guest to help us in that conversation.
00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:16.080
But before we bring her into the conversation, it is time for our Beyond 60 Buzz.
00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:17.759
So let's get to that.
00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:28.560
In our Beyond 60 Buzz today, we are going to talk about a recent article from the street call Team Dog or Team Cat.
00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:32.000
What pets reveal about retirement.
00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:40.000
So as soon as I saw this article, I smiled because people have strong opinions about this.
00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:43.520
Some people are team dog, some people are team cat.
00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:47.680
Some people are, I like animals, but I like my furniture more.
00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:52.240
You know, I'm the type that I like animals, but I like my furniture more.
00:02:52.319 --> 00:03:00.159
I pet other people's animals, but I have never felt like I wanted to take on the responsibility of owning a pet myself.
00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:02.159
There's a lot to discuss.
00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:06.639
The article looks at research about how pets can shape life in retirement.
00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:17.360
And the big takeaway is that pets can really have a real positive impact on how people experience this chapter of life in retirement.
00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:29.280
Um pets can lead, they can ease loneliness, they can help create routine, they can encourage people to get outside, and and they can um also encourage connection with other people.
00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:34.159
The article made a practical point, though, that we can't ignore.
00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:37.840
Pets are wonderful, but they're also expensive.
00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:50.719
There's food, grooming, vet care, emergency visits, pet insurance, boarding, medications, all the little things we buy because our pets deserve it.
00:03:50.960 --> 00:04:03.599
This is what we're going to talk about today the joy, the love, the funny stories, the practical realities, and the planning that helps make pet ownership a blessing instead of a burden.
00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:08.719
My guest today is Sharon Hager.
00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:11.039
Sharon is a good friend of mine.
00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:13.439
She is also a healthcare attorney.
00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:18.000
She is the retired general counsel for our large healthcare organization.
00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:25.199
And I'd like to say, sort of another fact taught about Sharon is that she started her professional life as a registered nurse.
00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:33.199
Sharon knows firsthand the love, humor, and daily companionship that a pet can bring into this stage of life.
00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:36.480
So, Sharon, thank you so much for being here.
00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:41.759
I am so happy that you agreed to be with us on Beyond 60 Unscripted.
00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:45.199
Um, so you and I have known each other for a while.
00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:54.560
So, you know, in talking to you today, it feels more like uh like a friendly conversation rather than an interview.
00:04:54.879 --> 00:05:00.000
And that's what I want this this uh this session this session to feel like.
00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:11.920
So before we get into pets though, Sharon, tell our listeners a little bit about yourself, uh, a little bit more specifics if you want to, about the kind of work you did before retirement.
00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:15.839
And how would you describe this chapter of your life?
00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:19.040
So, first, thanks for having me.
00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:22.079
And um, Oliver, who I'm sure will make an appearance.
00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:24.079
Um, thanks you too.
00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:30.160
Um but yeah, you and I have known each other for uh a long time now.
00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:37.279
Yes, we've worked together off and on for uh, oh geez, probably for off and on for 20 years or longer.
00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:39.040
That's what I was thinking.
00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:46.720
And I was uh I did start as a registered nurse, as you know, and I um primarily worked in critical care.
00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:54.399
And then when I was in law school, I worked in the emergency department at um a large university trauma center.
00:05:54.800 --> 00:06:04.319
And then um started my legal career uh in '91 and did everything from litigation to being in-house.
00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:09.680
And so uh through the years, we've seen a lot, Ruth.
00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:16.000
We've encountered a lot, and we we've certainly learned to roll with the the punches.
00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:18.800
So um and try not to catch too many, right?
00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:20.000
Yeah, exactly.
00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:24.800
You know, as our friend Jackie says, you know, sometimes we were like the dog that caught the car.
00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:26.959
We had no idea what to do with it.
00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:31.439
Um, but that's kind of that's that's it it briefly.
00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:35.519
Uh I retired a couple of years ago now, two years ago now.
00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:41.439
And um so I've I thoroughly enjoyed it.
00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.560
I surprisingly, I thought I would be bored.
00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:50.399
Uh, but I have maintained a very active lifestyle.
00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:57.279
Amazing, and and I think it's because you don't you you find the time to do the things that you didn't find the time to do when you were working.
00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:57.759
Yeah.
00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:02.319
And keeping up with the people that you enjoy and you you love spending time with.
00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:04.079
So that's where we are.
00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:12.079
Well, I I will say this anecdotally, you certainly have a full social life because I have trouble catching up with you sometimes.
00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:14.639
This week has been particularly crazy.
00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:21.120
But you take great trips, you do, you do wonderful things, but that's for a different conversation today.
00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:24.480
Let's talk about the real star of this episode.
00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:27.360
Tell us a little bit about your pet, Oliver.
00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:28.720
Your your dog.
00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:30.560
My dog, Oliver.
00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:36.639
Um, I, you know, I had had pets uh up until 2013.
00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:36.879
Yeah.
00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:46.800
And I was on the road so much that when my last animal, my last dog died, I thought it's not fair to bring an animal into an environment where I am never home.
00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:50.959
And so I waited until and I didn't know.
00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:54.160
I had toyed with it off and on about after retirement.
00:07:54.319 --> 00:08:03.279
And my niece called one evening, and um, she shows horses, uh-huh, and her trainer was actually starting to breed dogs.
00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:07.040
And she said, I've got the cutest puppy you have to have.
00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:11.120
And I'm gonna tell this on myself and my friends.
00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:19.439
We were sitting at a bar eating, and we passed Oliver's picture around, and everybody said, Oh, yes, you've got to get this dog.
00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:24.480
And so that's how that's how I got Oliver.
00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:32.799
I bought him Side Unseen, and um, on my my niece's recommendation, uh, we came up with the name.
00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:39.039
The the the five of us that were at dinner came up with the name Oliver because we thought he looked like an Oliver.
00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:41.840
And that's how he came to be.
00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:47.440
I I retired on the 30th of June and picked him up on the 6th of July.
00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:50.159
So he's been with me almost all the time.
00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:53.679
Yeah, you've always had big dogs, if I remember correctly.
00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:54.159
Yes.
00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:58.879
So Oliver is a little bit of a departure from what you normally had.
00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:03.360
My other dogs have been in the 100 to 120 pound range.
00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:06.399
Oliver was three pounds when I brought him home.
00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:09.440
He's now two years old and 10 pounds.
00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:13.200
Uh and as I said earlier, he's very much a lap dog.
00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:16.320
So he's, and and that's partly my thought.
00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:26.240
I mean, I I've let him be in my lap mostly, but he's part bashan freeze, and they very much like to be close to their human.
00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:32.080
So he definitely has more bishon in him than Shutsu, which is his other parent.
00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:32.639
Uh-huh.
00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:36.159
Um, but he did get the Shutsu snaggle tooth.
00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:42.240
So he's if he if he looks in the camera and grins, you'll be able to see his his uh overbite.
00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:44.000
So okay.
00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:44.559
Okay.
00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:48.480
So what tell Sheridan tell us about his personality.
00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:51.919
Um tell us about what Oliver is like.
00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:56.639
What, you know, uh what how does he go about his day?
00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:59.120
Or how does he structure both of your days?
00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:00.879
That's the truth.
00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:06.080
He does structure both our days, including the time we get up and the time we go to bed.
00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:09.440
Uh he he's very shy around people.
00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:13.679
He's he really he's very timid until he gets to know you.
00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:17.200
And um, you know, we have the mutual acquaintance, Janie.
00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:22.320
Um and so for the longest time he wouldn't have anything to do with her.
00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:24.799
He would just hear.
00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:30.240
Um, but but now he he takes right up with her when she walks through the door.
00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:32.639
He's very, very excited to see her.
00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:36.320
Um he and he he he does well with people.
00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:39.039
We go out to, he has one of those women.
00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:41.120
I take the dog to dinner with me.
00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:44.000
And um he, I know Ruth.
00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:46.159
Just laugh and shit.
00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:48.799
You used to know for sure.
00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:51.519
And so he goes to dinner with us and he does fine.
00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:55.679
He curls up under the chair, or he a couple of my friends he really likes.
00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:58.960
So he'll he'll get in their laps and sit for a few minutes.
00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:06.559
But he just um overall, he's a happy little puppy, and he is very calm, doesn't bark.
00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:18.480
Um he whines occasionally, and then that's what I kind of know, you know, it's time to go out, or there's the the mailman's at the door, there's something, he'll whine a little bit.
00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:23.360
But um, quietest dog that I've ever owned, and very smart.
00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:27.360
So he was the easiest to train of any of the dogs that I've had.
00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:30.080
And uh so Sherry, sure.
00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:32.720
Can you do you have Oliver with you right now?
00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:37.759
Of course he's see, will you stand up here and can you look at the camera?
00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:39.200
Can you look at the camera?
00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:42.159
Hi, Oliver.
00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:43.120
Hi.
00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:45.440
What in the world is that?
00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:47.600
Can you say hello?
00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:54.080
Hi, he's not saying a word, he's not barking, he's he's just he does not bark.
00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:55.039
He doesn't bark.
00:11:55.360 --> 00:12:04.080
We have deer and we have all kinds of animals in our backyard, but he and the deer just graciously share the backyard when we're out there.
00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:06.399
He looks at them, they look at him.
00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:16.480
He goes to doggy daycare occasionally, and then he's so and he and so and then he stays in an open kennel.
00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:22.559
So he's when I'm away, um, he's in what they call the luxury lounge.
00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:24.639
They run free.
00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.720
It's all the Oliver when I grow up.
00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:28.240
I wouldn't be Oliver.
00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:32.399
No, so 30 pounds and under, they run free, they're not caged.
00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:39.440
And so he, you know, he just he gets along well with other dogs, and um, cats are confusing to him.
00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:46.720
But um, but yeah, he, you know, he's just he's very um, just a very laid-back personality.
00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:52.000
So, Sharon, what does Oliver add to your day that would be hard to replace?
00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:54.080
Just the companionship.
00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:54.480
Okay.
00:12:54.799 --> 00:13:04.879
You know, when you're working every day, you're you're interacting with people, and you know, if you're not face to face, you're on the phone, you were on Zoom.
00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:07.600
So you there was that constant interaction.
00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:09.360
And now we don't.
00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:13.200
And so I do find myself, and my sister laughs at this.
00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:16.240
I do find myself talking to the dog occasionally.
00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:19.919
Um, he has not started talking back yet, so I'm not too concerned.
00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:21.279
Not yet, not yet.
00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:26.159
Um, but but he um and he's just constantly, he just trails me room to room.
00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.679
He's he's always there.
00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:31.200
And if I'm sitting, he's in my lap, literally in my lap.
00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.000
Yeah.
00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:35.919
So he just, it's um, it's a companionship.
00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:36.639
It really is.
00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:37.679
Yeah, yeah.
00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:44.480
Um, is there a story that really captures his personality or something about the bond the two of you share?
00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:46.879
I I think a couple of things.
00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:52.480
One, the first night I brought him home, I put him in the crate and he's whining and crying.
00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:54.320
Now he was 10 weeks old.
00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:54.799
Oh.
00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.720
So I took him.
00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:58.080
I didn't know what to do.
00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:07.600
At this point, I was kind of beside myself, but we went out on the porch and sat in the rocker, and he just snuggled up into my neck and went to sleep.
00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:10.960
Oh, I tried to put him down again.
00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:11.919
It's like a baby.
00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:14.879
I tried to put him down, he starts whining again.
00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:21.759
So I ended up sleeping, sitting up in the rocking chair on the porch with the dog.
00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:29.600
And I think that just from then it just sort of defined, you know, kind of just defined our world.
00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:42.399
And I think the the the sweetest moments are those, and and this sounds so like when I said sweetest, but he's very much now afraid of thunder.
00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:51.679
And he will come immediately and burrow behind my back if when it's thundering, if it's at night or whenever.
00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:57.759
So um those are the kind of you know, it's kind of like you that protective, yeah.
00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:59.759
You know, it was that bonded.
00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:00.879
The two of you are bonded.
00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:06.080
We are now what has Oliver taught you?
00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:08.799
I I guess caring for him, Sharon.
00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:13.840
What has caring for Oliver uh taught you, if anything, about yourself?
00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:19.360
Uh, well, we've always known that patience was not my virtue.
00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:35.360
Um, but I have had to um I've really had to stop my, I mean, not that I would ever be abusive to him, but I uh, you know, I have to stop and think, okay, don't yell at him.
00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.559
It's not gonna do any good.
00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:36.799
Yeah.
00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:39.039
Don't be cutting us off.
00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:51.360
And um, but it's taught me a lot of patience because you know, training uh uh an animal requires patience and just you know, consistency.
00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:59.279
And so I and I've always known we I that's not not my virtue, it never has been.
00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.080
Yeah.
00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:09.519
Um, but that's really I I find myself being more patient and I don't know whether to attribute it to the fact that I'm not stressed anymore.
00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:14.080
I don't have the whole work situation and still have a little bit to do with it.
00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.080
I you know, probably.
00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:24.399
So it I think it's just I think it was just a combination of him coming at the time that he did, yeah and me retiring.
00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:27.200
And I think it there was just a good time for both of us.
00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:27.840
Yeah.
00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:37.440
You know, I love that story because so many people listening can probably relate to the way a pet really becomes part of the family or a part of the rhythm of the house.
00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:39.120
You know, they know everything about us.
00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:53.200
They know when we wake up, they know when we eat, they know when they're supposed to eat, they know when we're sad, and somehow they just know us and and uh on a funny level, they definitely know when when we're open to giving them a snack.
00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:55.440
And I'm sure Oliver's not beyond that.
00:16:55.519 --> 00:17:08.319
It's yeah, we um we don't use the T word around here um very often because the T-R-E-A-T, because that just absolutely oh, he knows what that means.
00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:10.160
He knows what that means.
00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:14.319
Um, but it you know, I will say an example, Bruce.
00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:17.279
Like as you're saying, they they sense what's going on.
00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:19.839
As you know, I recently had my knee replaced.
00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.319
Yeah.
00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:26.319
And uh he did spend a couple of weeks in the kennel while I was initially recuperating.
00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:33.359
But when he came home, he was so he he saw the cane, he saw the walker.
00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:48.880
He immediately he he was so gentle when he would jump in my lap, he would make sure I mean really it was really funny, and he would sniff around the knee, but and and and I thought it was just interesting because he left the other knee alone.
00:17:49.039 --> 00:18:12.000
He would but he'd sniff around the the new knee, but he he you know, we started keeping a leash on in the house so that I didn't have to chase him down, and he was fine with it instead of trying to eat the leash or the yeah, you know, he um which he has chewed on leashes, he has chewed through I don't know how many harnesses, but he has left these alone these last few months.
00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:28.480
And so it was really, I thought, really interesting in terms of um he was just he he just seemed to sense that I didn't feel well or I I didn't, you know, I wasn't operating on all cylinders.
00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:33.119
So it was really that part was interesting and it was noticeable.
00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:55.920
Wow, that there that is really deep, Sharon, because you know, you read these articles, some are funny, but you also read these very serious articles about you know the sniffing and when they realize when pets realize something is wrong, especially dogs, they they sniff and and they stand there and they it's it's just amazing the intelligence they have.
00:18:56.160 --> 00:19:07.920
You know, these um, you know, with insulin-dependent diabetics now and and patients that have seizure disorders, you know, they can sense that the sugar's going down, or you know, there's an impending seizure.
00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:11.839
It is pretty amazing what dogs can do.
00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:15.599
And you know, I and all my other friends have cats.
00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:21.920
So, you know, there are other people, there are other animals out there that are pets other than dogs.
00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:34.880
But yeah, but you know, the people are it seems like people are either cat people or dog people, some have both, but you know, some most a lot of people choose between one or the other.
00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:39.839
Yeah, and even some of my friends that have both lean toward one or the other.
00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:52.400
So, you know, they their favorite may be you know the dog or the cat, but uh but yeah, I have never I I I I don't dislike cats.
00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:57.599
I just have never we never had them growing up, so that was you know yeah, we had dogs growing up.
00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:00.640
We had a cat at one point, but mostly we had dogs.
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.279
Yeah.
00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:09.359
Now you've talked about Oliver, you didn't put it this way, but how Oliver helped you adjust to retirement and so forth.
00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:25.359
Um, can you talk just for a moment about how you think uh a pet, having a pet could help people with an empty nest, with relocation, living alone, or just bringing, you know, more life into a quieter house.
00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:27.440
Do you think that would be helpful to people?
00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:29.680
I think it would if they wanted to.
00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:45.920
Yeah, I think um I, you know, I can't it any in this is just another example of a friend of mine who had three cats, has had multiple cats for as long as I can remember, but back to back this spring, put two, had to put two down.
00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:46.799
Oh.
00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:53.519
And she's 74, so she's she's now at a point where she wants to go get at least one more cat.
00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:59.440
She's looking to adopt an older cat because you know, cats can live for quite some time.
00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:01.920
So she's looking to adopt an older cat.
00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:09.200
And and as she said, just having one, it seems lonely to her in in her house.
00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:37.599
And um so I think it it's I think once you're if you're not used to having an animal, but but you're alone and or living alone and um you're retired or or you know, and it I just think the the companionship, I I know I'm not expressing that well, but it's it really does you, you know, it feels that uh perhaps it's a void you don't even know you have.
00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.559
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:44.880
Um so that was I I think I think it it's good for companionship.
00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:48.720
I do think there are factors you have to take into account.
00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:59.599
Um uh, you know, the the travel schedules if you have one, or um you know, leaving for the day is not a big deal, even with the dog.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:16.240
But um but you know travel and and you know things that you like to do around the house that that you know if you have a lot of people in a lot of company you know that kind of thing sometimes dogs are friendly.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:16.640
Yeah.
00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:19.920
Um cats usually scatter to the wind.
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.359
That's been my experience.
00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:28.000
Um but dogs can some dogs are friendly and some dogs just don't like being around people.
00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:28.400
Right.
00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:29.680
They, you know.
00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:40.400
So I think it's it's those are the kinds of things your lifestyle does play a part in whether or not to adopt an animal at our age.
00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:47.680
I think because we're more free than we've ever been, um it it becomes a factor in it.
00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:53.519
Now a lot of times I hear from people that a pet gives structure to the day.
00:22:53.680 --> 00:23:00.960
You know, it means you gotta get up, you they have to be fed, you have to walk them or clean up after them or pay attention to their needs.
00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.720
Um, have you found that?
00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:06.640
Is is that imp is that routine sort of structure?
00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:08.240
It is that help?
00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:22.960
That helps because you know, I well, you know, because I brought him so home so sh so shortly after I retired, I was still getting up between 6 and 6 30 every morning.
00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:23.519
Okay.
00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:27.200
So that's the that's the routine he got he's too.
00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:29.279
So that's the routine we still have.
00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:34.160
Even if we didn't want to, we have that routine.
00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:41.359
Um, and then you know, we're usually in bed by 11 and he starts getting antsy about 10 30.
00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:45.200
Um, you do mean really, so he has a kind of a bedtime too.
00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:47.119
Oh, and he will let me know.
00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:50.720
Like he keeps running to the bedroom, like, okay, it's oh really?
00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:52.160
Yeah, get with it.
00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.720
Yep.
00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:55.359
Um, but but you're right.
00:23:55.599 --> 00:24:03.759
I mean, the the bathroom, especially with dogs, the potty training is it's so important to have consistent times that you're taking out.
00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:15.039
So we're usually out between 6:30 and 7, and then we go out again around 2, and then again, you know, before we right before we go to bed.
00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:18.559
Um, the walks are incredibly important.
00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:24.480
Um, I found that I missed those for a period of time that I couldn't actually get out and walk him.
00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:24.960
Yeah.
00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:27.519
Um, I think he liked it better.
00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:33.039
He got to be on a long lead and he got to just run around in the yard with me sitting there watching.
00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.000
Yeah, yeah.
00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:37.359
But um, it does give you structure to your day.
00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.640
Now that's with dogs.
00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:42.559
Cats are a little different because you can leave feed out for cats, yeah.
00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.759
Food out.
00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:51.680
They have um intermittent feeders that they can utilize that also, you know, you can they do the water that way.
00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:53.440
They use a litter box.
00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:53.920
Yeah.
00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:59.359
So, you know, you, you know, you change the litter box once every couple of days.
00:24:59.440 --> 00:24:59.680
Yeah.
00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.319
So it's not as structured with a cat as it is with a dog.
00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:04.720
Yeah.
00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:18.160
But it's definitely if you if you are out of the routine, if if if you're out of the world of routine and you like being out of the world of routine, uh dogs may not be for you.
00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.799
Okay.
00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.000
Because that isn't it.
00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:20.640
That's important.
00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.200
That's important.
00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:23.200
It's definitely a structure.
00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:27.519
It's it's just like trying to make, you know, make it on time to a meeting.
00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:27.920
Yeah.
00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.359
Um yeah.
00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.200
So yeah.
00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:35.519
What about mood, stress level, overall real well-being?
00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:39.279
Do you think Oliver has impacted any of those things in your life?
00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:46.240
Yeah, now here again, because of the timing of when I brought him home, it's hard to say if it's okay.
00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:50.319
And so I do think, so I guess here's what I I would say.
00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:52.160
Yes, he's had an effect.
00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:54.799
I think he's made me, you know, he calms me down.
00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:57.279
I could pet him and calm down immediately.
00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:07.440
Um, but I think it, you know, and because I retired when I, you know, within a few days of bringing him home, it's hard to say.
00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:20.640
Was it, you know, the the lack of of stress and the lack of deadlines and the lack of phone calls and all of those things that that contributed to a stress level that were now gone.
00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:26.640
But um, but he definitely, when he's laying in my lap, it is very calming.
00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:31.680
I mean, we he lays here, I'll watch television, I'll read a book, I'll read the papers.
00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:37.039
You know what, you know, it's it's it's and he just lays there and he lets you pet him.
00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:43.279
Um but I do think, you know, um, here again, my blood pressure is down.
00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:46.000
That could be because there's no work.
00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:50.640
But you know, I'll pop my blood pressure medicine.
00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:58.079
Um oh really, yes, and I do think yeah, that part of part of that is cont is attributable to him, I think.
00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:26.160
Okay, but um, but here again, you know, the timing for me, but but I would say overall, if I brought him home today, uh-huh, it would be a blessing still, because I think it would bring structure and it would bring um just like I said, it's the companionship, Ruth, that more than anything, even if it's not a human that talks back, it is a living being that is running around the house.
00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:28.960
And he's very devoted to you, I can tell.
00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.880
He's very devoted to you.
00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:35.680
Some days we wish a little less devoted, but that's you know, beside the point.
00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:43.519
Um, but he is, and and he it's just comforting to know, you know, that he's around.
00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:54.240
Yeah, and he's uh um, but I was trying to think if I've been upset since he's been with me, and I don't think I have.
00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:56.240
Wow, that's amazing.
00:27:56.880 --> 00:28:01.440
Say that he's ever um like he sensed my moods.
00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:04.000
Um yeah, I I suspect he would.
00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:06.480
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:15.359
Does and socially, like when you're walking Oliver or you're taking places, does it open up new conversations with people or with neighbors?
00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.079
It does.
00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.880
It does.
00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:21.119
I have met more of my neighbors um because I am out and about.
00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:26.559
But like even if I had retired, I still probably wouldn't have been walking the neighborhood.
00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:36.960
Um but I have met more of my neighbors, and it he always stimulates conversation out at restaurants, especially with little kids who want to pet him.
00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:39.359
And he's very gracious about it.
00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:41.599
He just lays there and lets them pet him.
00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:52.400
Um you know, a lot of times there are other dogs on the patio and they get together and they sniff each other and they, you know, yeah, scope each other out.
00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:54.240
And it's it's so yes.
00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:58.720
And then so then you'll talk to those people, you know, at the next table over with another dog.
00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:16.480
And um, so it has, it's opened up a whole new new world in terms of of being able to meet people and and maybe not like people at restaurants, maybe not people you'll see again, but certainly with the neighbors, I have learned I have met more of my neighbors.
00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:23.519
One has become a dear friend at this point, and so it's yeah, it's it's it's a whole new world.
00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:30.160
You know, I it's so interesting that you said that because I I have a neighbor uh who walks her dog's name is Cooper.
00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:32.960
I cannot remember what her name is, but I know Cooper.
00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:36.799
No, then whatever I know Cooper every time I see them.
00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:38.319
I'm like, hi Cooper.
00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:40.880
And he, I know Cooper.
00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:41.759
See?
00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:44.880
I I mean you do tend to remember the dogs.
00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.359
Yep.
00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:48.319
Um some reason.
00:29:48.480 --> 00:30:05.759
Um, but but uh it does, it does socially get you and and it gets you out of the house if you're not somebody that gets out a lot, because here again, the structure and the routine, and so you do get out and you you do walk and you do meet people.
00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:06.559
Yeah.
00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:09.200
So I'm gonna shift for just for a few minutes here.
00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:10.559
How do you choose?
00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:14.000
Do you have any thoughts about how you choose the right pet after 60 Sharon?
00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:19.599
Now I know like we talked about you've had big dogs, you've talked about people who had kids, kit um, cats.
00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:29.119
Anything you would say about choosing when you're over or you know, this this um podcast is about people over 60.
00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:35.039
It do you have any thoughts about older adults uh and what they should consider before bringing a new pet into the house?
00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:41.920
I I I I do, Bruce, I think, as we talked earlier, I think schedule is important.
00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:53.279
So if you're a person that travels a great deal, um that needs to filter, you know, that needs to figure into your decision if you want an animal or not.
00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:59.119
Um, if you don't mind to board an animal, then then that kind of takes it out.
00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:03.279
Um boarding can be expensive depending on you know where you live.
00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:03.920
Yeah.
00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:14.079
Um so that's a that's a cost that I now have to figure in to many vacation plans, is the cost of boarding.
00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:23.119
So cats, on the other hand, you can have a neighbor come in once every couple of days and make sure they've got food and water and the litter box.
00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:26.640
Um, and that's I've you know, I've after when you brought this up.
00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:39.359
I've sort of talked to a lot of my friends that have had primarily cats at this point, but uh that's what they all say that the travel schedule is so much easier for them when they look at me than that.
00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:49.920
Um I think budget is is important because there's a lot of um, I was they're not unforeseen bills, but they're just costs that you know are there.
00:31:50.000 --> 00:32:02.240
So you've got routine vet bills, um, the food bill, you know, and dog food is you can get it, there's all kinds, I mean, there's a range.
00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:13.759
You can get cheap dog food up to, you know, some of these um dog food services or um for a dog all over size are$60 a week.
00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:19.359
So they you can there's a you know, there's a range, but but here again, food.
00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:20.720
You gotta factor it in.
00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:22.160
You've got to factor it in.
00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:22.640
Yeah.
00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:29.839
The unex the the um um grooming cost, depending on the kind of dog you have.
00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:36.319
Um, Joe, my last dog, uh, he would we've we went to the groomer like every three or four months.
00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:41.039
He was he didn't he just didn't grow, he didn't shed.
00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:43.440
And so he was good with brushing.
00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:49.680
Um, Oliver, on the other hand, has to do every six weeks because otherwise he gets so shaggy he can't see.
00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:53.200
So grooming costs are another thing.
00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:58.319
And here again, those costs vary depending on where you live.
00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:06.799
Um, but those are the I would say those are the big things that you've got you think about it's in with with budgeting purposes.
00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:12.240
And um, I know some you know, older people are living on a very fixed income.
00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:22.079
And so that becomes, you know, a part of of the equation as to whether to adopt uh or bring a pet home.
00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:31.200
And then I think just mobility issues and and um, you know, are you able to walk a dog every day?
00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:35.839
Do you have a fenced in backyard where you can turn one loose and let them run?
00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:47.359
Um I will say, as and and we all worry about it in this neighborhood because we do have coyote, and so coyotes will attack small animals.
00:33:47.599 --> 00:34:00.160
And so even with fences, you you know, so you need to worry about the environment around you in terms of even if you've got a big fenced in backyard for a dog, are there other animals that you know could possibly interfere?
00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:00.640
Yeah.
00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:13.840
Um, but the mobility, you know, and then so if you're not able to walk, you maybe you want to consider a cat because they're pretty self-reliant, and you don't have to, you know, you don't here again, not much of a schedule or routine with them.
00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:14.559
Yeah.
00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:22.480
And I think the other thing too is um pet proofing house, believe it or not.
00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:25.119
Um there are things like child proofing, right?
00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:25.760
It is.
00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:42.719
There are things that are toxic to animals that sometimes, especially around Christmas, quinsettas, um, some of the um some of the what some of the shellac or something that's on ornaments that you know cats love to lick.
00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:47.920
I mean, there it's all those kinds of things that I think you just gotta think about child proofing.
00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:51.440
Um just, I mean, just like child proofing.
00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:56.480
Uh, I had one dog who, my first dog, who loved to get into cabinets.
00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:59.039
I had baby locks on every cabinet.
00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:00.880
You would have to go in the cabinet.
00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:04.239
She would get in the cabinet and she would eat whatever she could find.
00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:06.239
She would tear out pots and pans.
00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:07.679
It was crazy.
00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:12.719
So I had child proof locks on all of those cabinets.
00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:16.800
And um, so it's it's things like that.
00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:22.880
But I I would say, you know, you and I have talked uh some about this since I did fall.
00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:28.000
Um Yeah, I was gonna ask you about should people be concerned about fall risks?
00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:33.840
They do, and I think it's the thing is, and you and I talked about what could I do differently.
00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:40.000
I don't think there's I I think it's the same thing that we all as older adults think of.
00:35:40.159 --> 00:36:09.119
You know, what's what's in the floor, what's in my way, you know, if you're walking, you know, I need to walk, you know, I need to watch for, you know, trip hazards and the the sidewalks or, you know, um keeping the toys picked up, whether you've got cats or dogs, keeping the toys picked up and just being um, and I would say training, let's go back to caught this plays in, but but training is another cost that you may want to.
00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:11.519
That's that's an optional cost.
00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:19.840
But the training with the walking on the leash is incredibly important because they learn how to trail you, how to heal.
00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:23.280
They they don't, you know, they don't get under your feet.
00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:23.679
Okay.
00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:45.440
So those are those are the things that I think you, you know, have to really, and and I don't think you have to be any more aware of your surroundings than you do as a normal day-to-day um, because I know I find myself being much more aware of where I'm at, even when I don't have him.
00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:49.840
And you know, surfaces I'm walking on and steps and things.
00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:50.800
Yeah.
00:36:51.280 --> 00:37:09.199
Um, so um planning for your pet's future, you know, as we get older, uh we want to think about our pets and what's gonna happen to them if we can't take care of them or you know, or if we're not around to take care of them.
00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:25.920
Um what from a you know, from a legal standpoint, and I hate to get you back into the legality of it all, but you are an attorney, uh should should people prepare for their pet uh at you know in in and later in life?
00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:28.320
How what should people be thinking about?
00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:42.000
Yeah, I think if you don't have a family member or friend who is willingly agrees to take the pet and it's someone you trust, and you know that they will come through and take the pet.
00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:42.480
Yeah.
00:37:42.800 --> 00:38:01.039
Um that's one aspect, but I do know people that actually name their pet's guardian in their will or in their trust, and they set aside a certain amount of money for its care so that the person who is taking the the pet doesn't have to worry about those expenses.
00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:25.679
And so I understand, and and I I would have never known this, other than um I did talk to my lawyer, my state lawyer about this, and she said it was becoming more common for people to include that pot of money um for the care, especially when you have a younger pet that may very well outlive you.
00:38:25.840 --> 00:38:26.159
Yeah.
00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:53.760
Um but so I don't think that's an I I do think it's something as an older adult, it's one of the things you have to think about because um you do see a lot of if if any of you have gone to the pound, Ruth, you know, or that the Humane Society, there are a lot of animals that are there have been surrendered because their their owners died and did no one could take the animals.
00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:58.880
So um I think it's definitely a conversation to have with friends or family members.
00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:04.960
Um so you know, my niece who found him is gonna take him if something happens to me.
00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:06.079
So okay.
00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:12.960
But you know, it's also for people of any age who get pets because sometimes people don't recognize the responsibility of taking a pet.
00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:22.960
And they either abandon the pet or take it back to the shelter because they don't realize that the pet is going to require constant attention forever.
00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:24.480
Yay, forever.
00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:35.840
And you know, the the best example of that I have, Ruth, is um Joe, my last dog, when I adopted him, he was two, he had been at the shelter for almost a year.
00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:36.320
Uh-huh.
00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:41.599
And his owner had adopted him uh right after his wife died.
00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:42.000
Okay.
00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:46.400
And Joe dug up some rose bushes that she had planted.
00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:50.559
And so he took him back to the shelter because he surrendered him.
00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:53.119
He he couldn't, you know, he couldn't take care of him.
00:39:53.280 --> 00:39:59.280
And he really felt like, you know, he sort of destroyed some of the memories of his wife.
00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:11.039
So that definitely thinking about who you designate or or you know how you go about surrendering, yeah, I think it's definitely worth thinking about.
00:40:11.280 --> 00:40:11.519
Yeah.
00:40:11.599 --> 00:40:17.199
And if you have, you know, should people I've I uh preparing for this, I read about fostering.
00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:23.840
Should people maybe like go try to foster a pet or do something like that to see if they really want to do this?
00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:27.360
I think that's a great idea to see if it's what you want to do.
00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:27.840
Okay.
00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:37.039
Um and um I I think I've had, you know, one of the guys that I used to work with fostered all that.
00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:40.880
They they constantly had two to three foster pets in their home.
00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:42.480
Um, their kids loved it.
00:40:42.639 --> 00:40:53.679
They had kids, so the kids walked and the, you know, they they kind of did a lot of the the care and feeding of the animals, but um, it's a great way to figure out if that's for you or not.
00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:59.119
Yeah, one friend of mine fostered and ended up adopting because she loved this dog so much.
00:40:59.280 --> 00:41:01.199
She got so attached to her.
00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:04.800
And so she ended up that was the dog for her.
00:41:04.880 --> 00:41:05.119
Yeah.
00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:08.400
So I do think that's a great idea to do that.
00:41:08.719 --> 00:41:11.599
Or the shelters are always looking for volunteers.
00:41:11.760 --> 00:41:12.079
Yeah.
00:41:12.400 --> 00:41:19.280
And it's, you know, just go and man the desk or, you know, put feeding in in kennels.
00:41:19.360 --> 00:41:23.519
And, you know, you don't have to do the the dirty work per se.
00:41:24.239 --> 00:41:30.880
But, you know, it gives you an opportunity to be around animals, really get to know an animal before you bring them home.
00:41:31.039 --> 00:41:39.920
Um, so that's another thing is volunteering at shelters that that's always another good idea to determine whether or not you really want an animal.
00:41:40.239 --> 00:41:41.519
Yeah, yeah.
00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:46.239
So, Sharon, before I let you go, this has just been a wonderful conversation.
00:41:46.639 --> 00:41:51.199
And I have, I feel like I know Oliver, as I said at the beginning.
00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:59.199
And uh, so what we we try to end each season two conversation is something new we're calling the next chapter five.
00:41:59.360 --> 00:42:01.440
Just uh names I came up with.
00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:05.519
So there are five quick questions we ask every one of our guests.
00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:09.519
They're simple, a little personal, but hopefully a lot of fun, Sharon.
00:42:09.760 --> 00:42:16.639
So the idea is to help our listeners get to know you just a little bit better and let everyone know leave with something to think about.
00:42:16.800 --> 00:42:18.079
So there are five questions.
00:42:18.159 --> 00:42:19.039
They're simple.
00:42:19.280 --> 00:42:24.559
Okay, what what one word best describes this chapter of your life right now?
00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:28.000
Um exciting.
00:42:28.320 --> 00:42:29.440
Oh, okay.
00:42:29.679 --> 00:42:35.519
I mean, it's just it's fun, it's exciting, and uh, I'm enjoying every minute.
00:42:35.920 --> 00:42:39.360
I I kind of know that, but it's great to hear you say it again.
00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:40.480
I can tell.
00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:43.280
Uh what brings you joy right now?
00:42:43.920 --> 00:42:55.920
Um spending time with friends and family, and you know, just being able to it's it, you know, you don't have to do all your chores on the weekend.
00:42:56.159 --> 00:43:00.079
My goodness, you can't the the washing machine does work on Monday.
00:43:00.320 --> 00:43:06.239
So that's been that's it's the little things that give me the most pleasure now.
00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:07.119
Yeah.
00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:10.320
What is something you finally stop worrying about?
00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:18.320
Work sounds so general, but Ruth, I do, I truly don't have to worry about getting documents out the door.
00:43:18.480 --> 00:43:22.079
I don't have to worry about, you know, did I word that correctly?
00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:25.440
Was that checking emails, checking emails, yeah, checking?
00:43:26.559 --> 00:43:27.920
Constantly checking emails.
00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:29.280
You know, the 6 30 a.m.
00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:31.280
calls from the disgruntled doctor.
00:43:31.519 --> 00:43:34.000
I don't miss any of that.
00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:36.079
Um neither do I.
00:43:36.639 --> 00:43:40.880
I know, I know what kept you curious, Sharon.
00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:42.960
Oh, you would did you want to keep me curious about that?
00:43:43.039 --> 00:43:45.519
Yeah, what you keeps me curious.
00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:52.000
I think just um exploring things to open new doors.
00:43:52.239 --> 00:44:03.679
You know, as you and I talked, I took that trip down the Mississippi, and that opened up a whole new um a whole New interest for me in studying history.
00:44:04.320 --> 00:44:08.159
I've always been interested in it, but I've really picked up and I've read a lot.
00:44:08.239 --> 00:44:17.039
So I think it's it's just exploring and finding new things and then being able to pursue them that that keeps me going, keeps me interested.
00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:18.639
You've done a lot.
00:44:18.719 --> 00:44:19.679
You really have.
00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:23.840
So final question: what is one thing you would say to your younger self?
00:44:24.079 --> 00:44:25.280
Take a deep breath.
00:44:25.360 --> 00:44:27.119
It's all gonna be okay.
00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:29.119
Don't take yourself so seriously.
00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:31.280
Take yourself so seriously.
00:44:31.519 --> 00:44:38.159
And and don't, you know, you don't have to work 12 and 14 hour days.
00:44:38.239 --> 00:44:38.480
Yeah.
00:44:38.639 --> 00:44:44.239
Um, I, you know, I looked at the the younger generation, and I know you saw this as well, Ruth.
00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:46.480
They really work an eight-hour day.
00:44:46.559 --> 00:44:46.960
Yeah.
00:44:47.199 --> 00:44:48.880
And I so admired that.
00:44:48.960 --> 00:44:50.480
I wished I had done that.
00:44:50.639 --> 00:44:56.480
And so it that's what I would say is it really don't sweat the small stuff.
00:44:56.639 --> 00:44:57.039
Yeah.
00:44:57.280 --> 00:45:00.320
Um, and in the end, it's all small stuff usually.
00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:01.760
It is, it is.
00:45:02.239 --> 00:45:07.119
So, Sharon, this has just been such a warm and just a very insightful conversation.
00:45:07.280 --> 00:45:08.639
I so enjoyed this, Ruth.
00:45:08.719 --> 00:45:09.519
Thank you for having me.
00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:13.519
I enjoyed it too, and I I believe our audience will enjoy it too.
00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:22.159
So thank you for taking us through all the joys and and really the thoughtfulness about choosing a pet, but the joy of having a pet.
00:45:22.400 --> 00:45:27.679
The joy of having a pet at this age is so much different than my younger days.
00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:28.320
Yep.
00:45:28.480 --> 00:45:28.800
Yep.
00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:36.639
And I and I love your references to the things that a pet can bring you, such as affection, movement, companion, purpose.
00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:41.440
But it really is a a bilateral relationship, right?
00:45:41.599 --> 00:45:43.360
That the pet has to love you.
00:45:43.440 --> 00:45:47.119
You love the pet, and it and it's like you and Oliver seem like you bonded.
00:45:47.199 --> 00:45:48.480
Your niece was right.
00:45:48.800 --> 00:45:51.679
She needed to have Oliver, and Oliver needed you.
00:45:51.920 --> 00:45:55.119
That it's it has worked out really well.
00:45:55.599 --> 00:45:56.159
Yeah.
00:45:56.400 --> 00:45:58.400
And of course, I want to thank Oliver.
00:45:58.559 --> 00:45:59.280
Is he still around?
00:45:59.360 --> 00:46:01.199
Can we see Oliver time?
00:46:01.760 --> 00:46:03.599
Oh, get up here, big boy.
00:46:03.840 --> 00:46:05.039
Hi, Oliver.
00:46:05.199 --> 00:46:05.599
Say bye.
00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:07.679
Thank you for being with us, Oliver.
00:46:07.920 --> 00:46:09.599
Say bye, Miss Ruth.
00:46:11.440 --> 00:46:12.559
Okay, Sharon.
00:46:12.639 --> 00:46:13.519
Thank you so much.
00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:14.960
Thank you, Oliver.
00:46:15.119 --> 00:46:17.039
This has been wonderful, Sharon.
00:46:17.360 --> 00:46:17.920
Great.
00:46:18.159 --> 00:46:18.400
Okay.
00:46:18.719 --> 00:46:21.119
I look forward to talking to you soon.
00:46:21.679 --> 00:46:22.239
I will.
00:46:22.400 --> 00:46:23.679
Yes, we will talk soon.
00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:24.800
Okay, Sharon.
00:46:24.880 --> 00:46:25.119
Thank you.
00:46:25.360 --> 00:46:25.760
Bye-bye.
00:46:26.719 --> 00:46:29.280
What a lovely conversation.
00:46:29.760 --> 00:46:31.360
And thank you, Sharon.
00:46:31.519 --> 00:46:36.239
You reminded us that pets can bring extraordinary joy into our lives.
00:46:36.400 --> 00:46:38.559
They can help us feel needed.
00:46:38.719 --> 00:46:40.400
They can help make us laugh.
00:46:40.559 --> 00:46:42.079
They can get us moving.
00:46:42.239 --> 00:46:44.880
They can comfort us when the house feels too quiet.
00:46:45.039 --> 00:46:50.880
They can also force us to keep a schedule, even when we might not want to, or when we want to sleep in.
00:46:51.119 --> 00:46:54.639
But you know, they provide extraordinary companionship.
00:46:55.280 --> 00:47:00.400
So, Sharon, thank you for joining us, and thank you for every one of you who is listening today.
00:47:01.440 --> 00:47:05.920
Season two of Beyond 60 Unscripted is just getting started.
00:47:06.079 --> 00:47:10.079
And we have so many wonderful conversations ahead.
00:47:10.559 --> 00:47:17.599
New episodes come every two weeks, so be sure to follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
00:47:17.760 --> 00:47:24.000
And follow us on social media for clips, for quotes, aligning tips, and more.
00:47:25.679 --> 00:47:36.400
So until next time, keep laughing, keep learning, keep loving, and keep building a life filled with connection, purpose, and joy.
00:47:36.719 --> 00:47:44.800
I'm Ruth Williams Frankly, and this is Beyond 60 Unscripted, where the best years are still ahead.
