Over the past few years, I have been fortunate to go to a lot of concerts. Many of these were performed by people you have probably heard of: Tom Petty, the Eagles, Santana, The Rolling Stones, Smokey Robinson, Sheryl Crow and Paul Simon…
The list is long.
And seeing them still rocking out well into retirement age is a valuable lesson to us all…
In fact, just last month I saw Bob Seger, Paul McCartney and Aerosmith. Seger and McCartney were rolling out hits in the ’60s! Steven Tyler, the lead singer for Aerosmith, was belting out songs that made the band famous in the ’70s.
Most of these performers are now in the their 60s and 70s. And let me tell you – performers like Tyler, McCartney and Santana are still putting on two- and three-hour shows.
Now, I am 99% certain that some of the performers in this age group are being propped up by high-quality narcotics or huge doses of caffeine. But there is no doubt that 30 years ago, we would not have thought that a septuagenarian would be rocking it at full speed on stage in front of thousands of adoring fans.
Yet here they are, still doing it night after night at sold-out stadiums and concert halls.
If anything, the shows are better now. The performers share so much history about their relationships with other musicians, how they really got to where they are, and the meanings and origins behind many of their songs!
When I walk away from one of these concerts, I usually have the same thought (aside from what a great show it was)…
If these guys, many of whom have abused their bodies and minds, can still get out and rock the world at their age, there is no reason why I can’t look forward to an even better future when I am older.
Then, I think that if I am going to live that long and be in good shape… I’m going to need a bunch of cash too!
Retirement is a double-edged sword. If you’re in great shape, you will need a portfolio that allows you to maintain your lifestyle. If you’re in bad shape, you will need a portfolio that can support you.
There’s no getting around it – but if you have the choice today, hop on that active lifestyle train. If these guys who were stoned out of their minds for more decades than not can be making pure magic at their age, then there is no reason why we can’t be in better shape as well.
Our retirement lifestyles are not always our choice if we have congenital health issues. But with modern medicines, technology and health education, there is no reason why our quality of life won’t be much, much better than that of our parents.
If you want proof, grab a ticket to a concert being put on by one of the rock legends of the ’60s or ’70s. You’ll be a true believer too!
Good investing,
Karim