I asked ChatGPT (I should just give it a name because I’ve been asking it all sorts of questions) about what to do with my life before I “formally” retire at 65. I’ve still got about 12-13 years to go before society deems me retired in the formal sense. It’s also the time the filter comes off and I can rant and rave without fear.

Thing is, I have ZERO desire to go back to university and do a PhD (anyone who offered that as a suggestion obviously doesn’t know me well). Also ZERO desire to build a business. Frankly, I’d rather stick knitting needles in my eyes than do that. I can go back to the corporate world but I’d have to sell my soul and spend the next years as a zombie. I’m not prepared to waste perfectly good years to develop Onboarding and Induction Programs or teach people how to use Microsoft or Yammer ad nauseum. No thanks.

So I turned to ChatGPT and asked it the question of what shall I do with those interim years.

The Response:

Between the ages of 50 and 65, you may want to consider:

1. Continuing to work or considering a new career path. Many people choose to work part-time or start a new business during this stage of life. (Yeah to new career path and working part time).
2. Saving for retirement. This is a good time to assess your retirement savings and make any necessary adjustments to ensure you have a comfortable retirement. (Worked hard in my life towards this)
3. Maintaining social connections. It’s important to stay connected with family and friends as you age. Consider joining clubs or groups that align with your interests, or volunteering your time to help others. (Yes)
4. Staying healthy and active. Engaging in regular physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular check-ups can help you stay healthy and enjoy your later years. (Ummm… okay more work here needed)
5. Continuing to learn and grow. This is a great time to learn new skills or hobbies, or to pursue new interests. (Of course)
6. Traveling and experiencing new things. If you have the time and resources, consider traveling and experiencing new cultures. (Bien sûr!)
7. Reflecting on your life and setting new goals. This is a good time to reflect on your accomplishments and set new goals for the future. (Yes but what?!)
8. Making a plan for your later years. Consider creating a plan for your later years, including any legal or financial preparations you may need to make. (This scares me but good idea)
9. Taking care of your physical and mental health. As you age, it’s important to prioritize your physical and mental health. Consider seeking help if you are struggling with any physical or mental health issues. (Most definitely)

Okay not bad as responses but not detailed enough for my liking. I should have had an answer like the following….

• Undertake a short course in acting then get yourself on a register and apply for paid and unpaid extra work to be in a video production. Become an extra.
• Spend more time with your nephews and nieces. Be a constant presence in their lives. Don’t wait for them to come to me – send continual updates and ask about their lives.
• Spend more time with parents. Take them on more trips.
• Read more books.
• Head over to Munich for at least three months and enrol into an immersive German course while there. Study the language and live there in an AirBnB while learning a new language.
• Fly to New Caledonia and undertake the CREIPAC French immersive program and be hosted by a local family.
• Do a barista course to learn how to make coffee and then pick up casual work here and there
• Form a new knitting group from home using your fantastic outdoor area or failing that, teach young people how to knit.
• Work for a not for profit organisation but make sure that you worked as a team member – do not take charge. Do not get asked to lead any teams. Do not under any circumstances, do their social media for them. Do anything else but that.
• Head over to London for at least 3 months and live in an air bnb. Go and check out navigator William Bligh’s resting place. Go back to York and to that shop where you had that ghostly encounter to face that ghost.
• Buy yourself that tweed coat you should have bought but didn’t in Scotland. While you’re there, stay at Isle of Skye for a longer time as you felt quite at home there. Go on a fishing trawler.
• Fix your kitchen and bathroom. Paint that second bedroom as it looks like it’s out of 1984.
• Do a garage makeover
• Wear colours. Colourful paisley shirts, cravats. Wear something distinctive every day.
• Learn how to use an electric drill.
• Lose at least 10 kilos.
• Wear hats.
• Complete a textile course or become an advanced skill knitter. Crochet too.
• Get yourself on a Woollen Mills tour of Scotland and Ireland.
• Do a Creative Writing course. Write books. Write plenty of books BUT don’t market them like many people do because you hate that templated approach. Write a book that is timeless. Creates a legacy. Moves people. But don’t tell anyone.
• Take Andrew over to Strasbourg and show him around there. Then finally go to Colmar because you never got there before.
• Visit Gallipoli for an ANZAC Day commemoration
• Stay in Crete for a few months on your tiny weeny plot of land in the village filled with weeds and untended old orange trees. Dream about building a stone cottage there. Maybe do it.
• Become an English language coach so you can pick up tutoring work anywhere. (Bit don’t make it into a business. Everything comes to you through “word of mouth”.
• Turf out your business books and use all the bookshelf space for more literature. Or yarn.

Okay, maybe we don’t need AI to tell us the answers to everything. It’ll only give us the genericised, summarised, template of responses based on millions of short content articles and hack posts online.

In future these posts will be written by AI if not already. That’s one big mush of crappy writing without deep meaning and experiences and stories. It’ll slowly erode your soul if you read and follow its advice because it’s devoid of life.

Dig deeper, scratch the surface, think and reflect on answers and what they mean for you and your life. You have the answers. You don’t need AI for this.