I started playing in my forties and played leagues for about ten years. Lost interest in my 50s when my first wife died and I started something new. I built a house from scratch with my second wife and we built a pool / bar / library. As and APA 6 I guess I was just a little better than a banger, not much but enough to win here and there.
It seems to me that when you hit your late 50s life takes a turn and many of the things that were important like climbing the success ladder, money, women and similar accomplishments no longer have the appeal they once did because you have what you have done and see little challenge in what is left of your life.
I “retired” at age 60 to have the rest of my life for myself. Now at age 66 a topic has to be inherently interesting or I lose interest and walk away. As an individual I have a life long interest in learning (got me a PhD and several scientific publications) and a preference for individual sports that demand a great deal (I was a three meter board diver as a kid).
Where I am now in life playing pool is one of the only true challenges left. I have all the rest and have no need to go after anything else. There is so much to learn playing pool and so much self discipline that it is a rewarding journey.
Surely my stamina is not what it was but the very lack of stamina contributes to why I play pool. I practice for about one hour a day and often play in “old man” daily tournaments with 12 – 16 guys like myself. Some of the men are in their 70s and we have at least two who are about 90 years old. Perhaps half of the men who play in our retirement community’s daily tournaments are passing time and enjoy the friendly level of competition with averages kept and reviewed every month by the players. The other half of the men are trying to get better with out any real pressure. We play in a gentleman’s atmosphere and there is no smoking, cussing or music.
A few weeks ago I found one of the local Friday night handicapped tournaments ($10.00 get in and it pays first about $100 - $150.00). The local talent is generally C players with a few B players and one fellow who is close to an A player. I have come in the money each night but seem to tire by about 1:00 Am when I lose in some stupid way. The kids (20 to 40 years old) who play in these tournaments are typical pool hall players, too loud, filthy mouthed and many have one to many tattoos for my liking. By and large they are fun to be around though they tend to get too emotional when they lose. And of course they don’t often listen to rock-n-roll but some new stuff that is mostly noise and obnoxious noise at that.
I like the competition and the handicapped approach as it keeps the tension higher. In general, the younger people are fun to be around and they do make me play better as it requires real concentration to win some of the matches. In fact the weekly tournaments are rekindling my interest. The shorter race to four (for even handicaps) is nice for an older guy like me as I get to rest a little (unless you hit the losers bracket).
For me (and many other people I know) we now really play for the fun of it and the challenge. With much of the excess baggage out of the way it is a great life style with no real demands. I suspect I am one of those guys who will play well into his 90s if the physical holds up like it has so far.
Most of all, and glad to say, I keep learning news things. Playing pool keeps me in physical shape (I swim every day) and my mind has to be focused to win. What more could an old guy want
In answer to your last post. I have always been the kind of guy who only ever plays against himself. I don't compare myself to others, never have. But I do try to beat my last accomplishment. Perhaps that is part of the secret to a good life and mine has been real good so far. Life is not a race against the other guy. There will always be greater and lesser people than yourself (too quote and old poem), so enjoy your accomplishments whatever they are, they are a real fortune in life.
What ever your doing, don't stop. :thumbup:
