Welcome to the Online Community!

[VickiM68]

Hello and welcome to the Introduce Yourself area! Feel free to tell us a little bit about yourself--your background, interests, hobbies, etc. And also check out our other forums for other interests and questions you may have and would like to share, and advice and support desired.

[nahchoo]

I'm not new to AARP but I'm fairly new to these forums. I just figured that I'd take my own advice and say, "Hello everyone!" I'm enjoying myself here and enjoying my retirement. I'll be going into my 9th year of being so situated this coming November 1st. I was a street walker for a bit more than 27 years and with 4 years I spent in the United States Navy, I was fortunate enough to retire at the ripe old age of 56. I'm 65 now. Actually this is my first full day of being 65. My birthday was yesterday but I wasn't born until 7:20 AM on that day in 1955. So, as I said this will be my first "full" day.

I enjoy many things, computers hold a special place in my heart but music (listening, not playing), reading (and writing some), gaming, conversation (love that!), travel, and a whole host of other things as well. I like to think that I'm interesting and I know that I'm interested in the world and the people who live in it with me. (That'd be you, dear reader of these words.)

If you're up to it, say hello to me, either here or via a PM. Either is fine. I don't imagine that I'll get so many that I won't be able to answer them all, so chances are good that if you reach out to me, I'll reach right back. Why not? I have time to spare, especially being home-bound most days with Covid putting a damper on most of what used to be fun!

I live in Columbus Ohio, if that's a concern and I imagine that it is for some. I was born here but I don't have a plan to die or be buried here. I've been looking for a location and a reason to relocate for a long while and anyplace on earth would be fine with me. If you know of someplace that you think I might enjoy, let me know. I'm open to suggestions and new friendships. I believe in the goodness of people as a whole and the AARP community in general. Oh and lest you wonder about my job description above, street walker. Yes, I did that for many years but a street walker can also be used in reference to a mailman. That's the kind of street walker I was. Or a lettercarrier if you prefer a less gender specific term. But now, I'm just some guy. Cheers!   😉

[ldarmogray]

Not sure how to get started on here. Any advice would be appreciated. 

[AARPMichaelP]

Hi @ldarmogray - You have come to the right place. We recently did a redesign of the community. This will help explain more: Online Community Refresh

Additionally, here are some How To's to help you navigate your way through the community and better explain functionality:

How To Start a Topic

How To Reply to a Post

How To Use the Icons

How To Set My Viewing Preferences

How To Display Discussions in Chronological Order

Enjoy and let us know if you have any questions!

[nahchoo]

It looks to me like you're making progress already. You figured out how to post a message. Now all you have to do is sit back and wait for the responses to begin pouring in!

Best advice I can offer is, don't expect too much here. The internet and AARP are big, huge places and by ourselves, we can get overlooked pretty easily. But don't despair, there's hope and plenty of it too, to have fun here!

When you say "get started on here", I'm not sure and many others too might not be sure, as to what you mean by that statement. I'd suggest something less ambiguous. For example; If you like music, so do many others, there are groups for that, or games, if you like games, there a lots of others who like them too. You can look around in the sections and find something that sounds interesting then post a "Hello there, how did you get to be so good at ..?" in any that seem appealing.

You know who I am now, and I didn't know how to get started either so I just started anyway. People are very accommodating and friendly here, for the most part. It's just like life, stick your hand out, wear your best smile and see what happens. It's all virtual though. No one can see your smile so you have to be creative to help them to see it. Not all of my experiences here have been positive ones but more have been positive than not. You've got this, you just don't know so yet! 😉

[MichaelM1717]

  Greetings From Tucson, Arizona.  

   My name is Michael and hope to maybe chat or reply to some of the posts.  Take care everyone and be safe.

[jb1702]

Greetings!  I am also new to this forum, having just discovered it when I did a Google search for something else.  I am hoping the conversations here are more interesting and inspiring than those on Facebook. 

I put just about everything you might want to know about me (and probably a lot that you didn't) in my profile description.  Anyway, I will probably lurk around for a while and see if there is anything of interest to comment on.

I hope everyone is staying healthy, safe, and sane!

[Syndellica01]

Hey Everyone,

My name is Cyndi and I’m new to this forum. Found it by accident. I am a visually impaired lady living in NC. i have a guide dog that I love very much. I’m a former background actress having been in several projects. I love meeting new people. Looking forward to hearing from you.

[JesseM399890]

Hi there, my name is jesse  l'm 63yrs young, seeking female companion to share  life with...

[BruceB26028]

Hi, my name is Bruce I just moved to a 55+ community and was just curious to meeting single ladies in my area. Sun City Calif.

[lhsevret]

HI BRUCE
Good Luck in your new home... I am to far to meet you but I wish you happiness and luck in finding that special lady....

[DebbieM230685]

Hello, I'm Debbie. Glad to be here. I've been married to a great man for 39 years now. We have 4 girls and one boy which is the youngest. We have 14 grandchildern and 1 great grandchild on the way. Our youngest grandchild is 2 and he's our  everything. So much like our son at that age.

  We live in a small town in Missouri. It used to be considered the country but it's booming, sometimes too fast for me. I love working in my flower beds and my house plants. I enjoy cooking and taking of my home and our kids.

  I worked as a Supervisor in the Housekeeping department at a hospital and love every minute of it. All the co-workers in every department are Awesome people. It's like one big happy family. Everybody knows everybody. My staff are the greatest people you would ever know and Yes, I'm very proud of each of them.

  I do have small, very smallhealth issues but it's nothing that gets me down or keeps me from enjoying family and just life.

  But anyway, glad I'm here.

[VickiM68]

Hi @DebbieM230685,

Happy New Year, and welcome to the online community! Sounds like you have a good life in Missouri. Let us know if you have any questions as you explore the various forums.

Vicki

[diandollion]

Hello to the community.

I've been coming to this site for many years to gain info  and have just realized this community is here.

lol

Anxious to read all your posts and may join in from time to time 🙂

My interests are all over the place from animal lover to music lover to trying to find a good place in the country for a permanent roost.

HA!

Hoping to have fun with you all.

*smile*

[VickiM68]

Hi @diandollion 

Welcome to the online community! Glad you found us! There are lots of interesting discussions happening in various forums. Some you might want to check out: Dogs, Cats, and Pets; Rock N' Roll; and Retirement.

Let us know if you have any questions as you explore.

Vicki

[Bea2846]

It has always been difficult to me to write a response because I get lost where to write the answer, for instance, now if I want to say something to the group in Florida, do I go go especifically to that group? or they will catch-up?

Happy New Year to everybody anyway,

Bea

[DaniGoLightly]

Hi All, Im Dani and new here. Looking forward to meeting new friends.

I'm a National bugler for an organization called Spirit of 45 and NYS Director for a group called Bugles Across America. 

I travel the country  sound TAPS at military funerals. One of the most important things in my life is to make sure that every veteran has a live bugler to give them the proper honors. 

However that is not all I do.

I'm also an FX makeup artist and fabricator. 

Looking forward to meeting you all. 

[VickiM68]

Hi @DaniGoLightly,

Welcome to the community! What interesting work you do! And all three quite different things. 

Let us know if you have any questions.

Vicki

Community Manager

[RebaM146944]

Hello,

I am a caregiver for my daughter, she is now 26 and has been severly Autistic all of her life. She was diagnosed at 3 years old and I have been her Mother, only Friend, Nurse, Teacher and Caregiver all of those years. At 20 she started having Seizures and then a year later started have Thyroid problems related to the medication she is on for the seizures. My life is full but I don't regret one moment of my time spent with her. Life was hard for many years and now in some ways it is easier because she is older and I am wiser with how I plan things. My sweet girl has taught me way more than I could ever teach her and I love her so much for it. Thanks for having me here and my heart goes out to all of the other caregivers, its hard but rewarding. 

[dg16001093]

Hello, just wondering if anyone out there has gotten a BAD/UNUSABLE gift card from the "Rewards For Good" Sweepstakes that AARP offers for members to purchase w/ their points they receive for doing alot of questionaires??????

[RieG547168]

I look forward to reading inspiring stories here..I'm still finding my place

[donnac297992]

My name is Donna I recently retired and have extra time to read the forums. My husband(still working)and I enjoy camping and walking.

[VickiM68]

Hi @donnac297992, Welcome to the forums! Look around, feel free to start your own conversations, and let us know if you have any questions.

[vw9130]

Hello online community! I would like to connect with people who love the road particularly the highway. My hobbies include photography, traveling/transportation, cooking/culinary; serving/hospitality and technology. 

[VickiM68]

@vw9130 Hello and welcome. You've come to the correct place to connect with others who share the same interests. Based on what you're telling us, you might want to check out these areas of the community:

• Travel (https://community.aarp.org/t5/Travel/ct-p/Travel) 
• Computer Questions & Tips (https://community.aarp.org/t5/Computer-Questions-Tips/bd-p/bg519)
• Photography (https://community.aarp.org/t5/Random-Thoughts-and/Photography/m-p/1927900) 

Also feel free to start your own conversations. I know many others have expressed their interest in cooking too.

Again, welcome and let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Vicki
AARP Online Community Team

[IrishGal3247]

Hi, I'm new to this and see some people saying they want "pen pals" and others saying they would like to connect and make friends.  I'm interested in corresponding through e-mail and hopefully making new friends.  I'm a senior gal with adult kids, grandkids and great-grands and when I'm not visiting with them we're talking on the phone or texting as is the case with my personal friends.  However, I have quite a bit of free time and would love to make new friends through e-mail, but don't know if I'm allowed to give my e-mail address on here or how to go about it.  Any help would be welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks, Irish

[VickiM68]

Hi @IrishGal3247,

You're not allowed to post your email for security reasons (removed on your other post), but people can send you a direct message here by clicking on your name, then clicking "Send this user a private message" on the right side under Contact Me. Let us know if you have any other questions.

Good luck, and welcome to the online community! 

Vicki

[Bea2846]

By the way, I am Bea, I live in Orlando, I am a Retired teacher reluctant to retired and trying to do something.  Right now I am working in a special project from home and filling all the paper work to be a substitute teacher for Seminole County, from the thousands of papers that I have to fill, I am almost done, witing for the letters of recommendation from abroad, my last job was in London, and my health certificate from my doctor. 

I am originally from Mexico.  I don't have friends, or too many here in Florida and this does not make things easy for me.  My only daughter lives here with her family, so, she keeps me busy helping here with her three kids, 9, 4, and 10 months 🙂

That's all folks, write me, I love to receive letters, LOL

[the9barbarians]

Hello to everyone.

I'm so happy I found this particular page on the AARP website. It'll be nice to see what others are doing and saying at this wiser, more experienced, and maybe more focused stage of our lives! Like everybody, I guess, I have my nagging regrets, the same old bad (stubborn) habits, a couple of dreams that went up in smoke, and a wealth of opinions. But I'm still at work on myself, still on a path of hope, and a day at a time praying I meet each person with grace and an open mind. Fortunately, I have my extended family members very nearby, my church, and some ability to turn out a fairly decent poem or drawing once in a while. Of course I also have my share of medical and financial, and sometimes personal, difficulties. Hearing what others have to say about their own situations will definitely help. And maybe what I might say will be of use to someone else.

[Mojo123]

Thanks for your post. I'm interested in many of the same things and have written a memoir which covers many of the same issues along my own path as a seventy-five year old who has been a gypsy performing songwriter for almost fifty years. Peace and blessings,
Jesse McRae