Giovanna D.

Nowadays

Please compare what you thought about old age when you were young, your expectations about your retired life and what it is really like now (it is your golden age when you realize all the desires of the past; it is time to enjoy moments of leisure with your grandchildren and family sharing your knowledge and 2experience; it is a time of loneliness without friends and being marginalized)? What does retirement mean to you?

Now that I am 83 years old, I am going to remember how the elderly were considered in myyouth: in the environment where I lived, there was respect, consideration, listening to the story of their working life, their family experiences as young and old, etc. In my family, the most important decisions were made by the elderly. In my family, themost important decisions were made with equal consideration for the opinions of both parents, and when we reached the right age, for my sister and myself. My elderly parents never lacked the affectionate support they deserved; while their material needs were always taken care of by themselves, thanks to the good pensions they received as a reward for their long years of white-collar work in the mining company.

Describe the intergenerational relationships in your family (Did your parents or your spouse/partner's parents take care of their parents and help you with your children and run the house? Did you live with your parents or spouse/partner? Did you take care of them when they were very old?)

In our intergenerational relationships conflicts were inevitably created, but they were always short-lived, thanks to the mutual understanding exercised in favour of each other: small disagreements about going out with friends or for the time dedicated to study, for the time to devote to the commissions commanded orto tidy up the rooms.

Nowadays

Please compare what you thought about old age when you were young, your expectations about your retired life and what it is really like now (it is your golden age when you realize all the desires of the past; it is time to enjoy moments of leisure with your grandchildren and family sharing your knowledge and experience; it is a time of loneliness without friends and being marginalized)? What does retirement mean to you?

Today I live alone, in a house that has become too big for me, since my children have made their home: the boy in a town on the sea 16 km from my residence, the girl in an apartment in the same building.

Describe briefly the living conditions in your current life (living alone or with your spouse/partner or children or in the retirement home, your pension is sufficient for a dignified life, for health, for communication with children and friends in the country or abroad).

I lead a dignified life according to what my teacher's pension allows me: I provide for my material needs, every early morning I take my walk in the countryside with a friend, I attend all the events that my city offers (theatre, film, music, exhibitions, etc.. I attend all the events that my city offers (theatre, cinema, music, exhibitions, etc..), every year I plan some trips to Italy or abroad in good company, I organize my vacations with enthusiasm.

Please describe your daily habits in the present (taking care of grandchildren, socializing with friends, neighbors, extended family members,health care) Activities such as art, playing music, going to concerts, cinema, theatres, gardening, hobbies, being active in tenants' advice, volunteering in community centers, environmental organizations, pets and other animal organizations, etc. should be suggested only if the person interviewed does not mention any of them when describing his/her daily habits!)