PhD Mid-life Crisis

Since when was that mandatory for DI membership -- or doctoral study?

J.

 

You better take a pitbull with you when you go walking Johann, you might get murdered. j/k :smile:

 

If I don't have stress I get stressed. Have to have something to make me scramble and fret. So that's why I'm studying upper division acct and preparing to take CPA while working FT and raising four teenagers. Why I'm inquiring of DL PhD programs for after the CPA is passed (if it ever is).

 

Our kids are grown. However, I am struggling with the same thing. Every time I retired from studying I fret so much that my spouse wants me go back on studying. I need that particular stress to keep me sane.i try reading novels but it is not the same.

 

(1) Study hard, earn a degree in literary criticism
(2) Go back and read some novels.

Then it should be about the same... :smile:

J.

 

BTW - the colouring book is really working. I finished "Stars of Qur'an" today. Learning about geometry, tessellations etc. as I go. You can relax and learn simultaneously - just not very well at the doctoral level.

J.

 

One of my hundreds of under - $1 Thrift Store finds: Tessellations - the Geometry of Patterns, Besuszka, Kenney, Silvey. . Has some Islamic examples, many of other types. Instructive, goes nicely with the Islamic colouring book.

Proof that there are oodles of cheap, enjoyable learning experiences available. I'm also working on some applications of Lévy fractals, generated in FMSLogo and Python, to rug design. That requires no money at all. Logo and Python are free - and there is plenty of free instruction if needed.

Now, if you really need a doctorate, then a doctorate you must have, I guess. But be prepared to pay the price - effort and money. You'll have my undying admiration. :smile:

J.

 

That's cool!!!!! I like browsing around at thrift stores. It's amazing what you can find. I like surfing myself, all you need is a board, some flojos and wetsuit! :smile:

 

Dr. Bill, a friend of mine, retired in his 60s after 40 years in academia. He and his wife bought the house near the resort area and he tried to settle down but was going absolutely nuts for something to occupy his time when one day his wife told him "Honey, if you don't find something to do, I'm going to smother you with a pillow." At which point Dr. Bill started adjuncting classes at the local college. That's where I met him when he was in his 70s (but looked 58). Before long he was teaching 3 classes a term and chairing committees and essentially putting in the same amount of time he was as an academic--only for relative chicken feed. He'd have been better off never retiring. But at least he found something to do and didn't get smothered.

 

Not only are my kids grown, but, as of this summer I'll have two adult grandchildren. I'm 74 and have been legitimately retired (from an office cubicle, not from academia) for 24 years. I took the money and ran at the first opportunity.

I think it's a matter of temperament - and how much you enjoyed your career. I HATED every day of the 30 years or so I spent working. Consequently, it hasn't been in my thoughts for one minute in all these years since. My first college graduation (night school) was at age 47. After I retired, I graduated from college 3 more times and finished 2 university programs - all part-time.

That was fine, then money got a little thin for a while and learning became a self-directed thing. It still is. Nowadays, I could start paying again, but I have no need nor desire for further formal credentials - unless someone can figure out a way I can eventually leave them to my heirs. :smile:

Point being: it's an individual thing - and nothing to do with smarts, or desire to learn. Some have a strong need for formal learning and qualifications. Some are differently motivated. Some are totally unprepared for not going to work every day. Some long for the day work ends and take to the escape naturally.

One size does not fit all. Good thing we have this forum. :smile:

J.

 

Sorry. Please make that "I have neither need nor desire" or "no need or desire." There's never an excuse for bad grammar. Again, my apologies. :sorry:

J.

 

At least you weren't caught with your dipthong down.

 

My guess at 90 you will be completing that Phd. What do you want to wager?

 

We'll see. Here's a safer bet: My guess is that at 90 I'll still be posting on DI. :smile:

J.

 

Well, I don't think I'll make it to age 90, much less still posting here at age 90.

 

I'm not "going anywhere" till age 140. That's when I'll be EVEN with the Federal Government (taxes in=pension out). :smile:
I had a very pleasant dream a while ago. I was attending my second-youngest grandson's 40th birthday party. That would make me 100 - he's 13 now. What a lovely wife and kids! He has a lot to look forward to!

J.

* If I can't take it with me, I'm not going!

 

There is a very rare ancient form of Tai Chi that is said to enable people to live in to their 120's. I can't remember the name of it though (Northern Ruler long form?). If you can start practicing it now, you will have a head start. :smile: I think there are only a handful of people left now that practice it and know the form.

 

120? Well, they'd better start passing it on, before they get too forgetful!

I once collected a few books, videos etc. on Tai-Chi. It's OK, I guess but to me it looked like the most boring physical activity, except maybe plain old marching. I don't believe in guarantees, but if you've got something -- anything -- that keeps you moving, you'll be better for it. I run for buses, myself. Regularly. I can usually catch them. A buddy around my age prefers fights - bar fights, street fights, whatever. He mostly wins, but I've seen him with a black eye or two. He's 75 and has the pulse of a professional athlete.

Whatever works... it's called pragmatism, I think. :smile:

J.

 

I saw a man by the name of Dr. Carl Totton do it once. It took like 45 minutes (hundreds and hundreds of moves) and I got to admit I had trouble staying awake. :smile:

 

My impression, exactly. Well, I guess now we know what the videos are good for! The answer to SLEEPING difficulties!

J.