Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Regrets in life?

I almost never look back and wonder "what if?" but as I head towards my mid 70s there isnt, on any rational basis, a lot of future to plan for. So inevitable I look back more than I ever used to do.

I have two mild regrets - I say mild because I have had a thoroughly enjoyable working life. My regrets are that my father talked me out of going to Dartmouth - as long as I can remember I have just loved being at sea. I'm probably romanticising it because the Navy has more Admirals than boats these days, but the love of being out there with wind and waves lingers still.

My second regret if of messing around at university and taking a bad degree. I would have loved academic life and I am still fascinated by Physics and maths. But the short term attraction of messing around with cars , a Singer Le Mans as it happened, outranked revision ofr going to lectures

What about you? Any regrest? Any wrong turns in life?

Not getting into playing tennis when I was young

Not getting a 4 seater Morgan earlier when the boys were much younger

Buying and adapting a house with a garage large enough for only one car

I celebrated my 70th birthday last month, it does strange things to the mind. Like you I am constantly aware that I have fewer tomorrows than yesterdays.

Regrets? I've had a few but then again...

Nev.

"Only" 66 in a few weeks, still looking forward as we have to work out how much income we can take each year from pension pots each year and make predictions on how much we will need. It certainly focusses the mind!

We are working on the assumption that for the next 10 years we will be able to maintain the lifestyle we have. But the assumptions are based on what we know now, and if the last 20 years have taught us anything the future will not be as we think it will be. But it will be fun...together.

Regrets...
For Me Frank Sinatra said it all:

And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I've traveled each and every highway
But more, much more than this
I did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill my share of losing
And now, as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say - not in a shy way
Oh no, oh no, not me
I did it my way

For what is a man, what has he got
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way

Yes, it was my way and I regret nothing.

Howard, you must sit at home dreaming of your next Morgan and thinking of really interesting topics to discuss on TM?

Now in my early 70's I have pondered this too, and come to the conclusion that you only have regrets in hindsight, obvious really. The fact that you did or didn't do something at the time was based on all the facts available at that time, so whatever happens afterwards will not change the decision, ergo, no point in regretting doing something which you can do nothing about now.

However, going into the future we can use our experience to change what we do. Hence my reason for buying the most expensive car by a mile, that I have ever owned, and it's a toy too. Why I bought a Golf R instead of a standard Golf and why I have just bought a new X5 when our existing one would soldier on for a few years yet. None of us know when we will fall off our twig, so if we can afford to do stuff, at our age we might as well do it. We build up equity by various means, and whilst it is nice to leave some to the next generation, frankly they will never appreciate it as much as we do, so leave them a little and use the rest ourselves - cars, boats, travel etc etc.

It may sound a bit self satisfied however I can honestly say I have no regrets about anything I have done in the past. Any decisions made were for the best of reasons at that time and, of course, it's no use looking back.
I think most of us have fewer future lunch dates coming than we have had so lets just go forward into the bright new future with expectant eyes and enjoy being old farts.

Regret - disappointment, repentance, sadness? A little of all three I guess. There's probably not a life lived that isn't touched by regret.

Richard Ford (a favourite) in The Sportswriter, tells his teenage son..

“...if sportswriting teaches you anything, and there is much truth to it as well as plenty of lies, it is that for your life to be worth anything you must sooner or later face the possibility of terrible, searing regret. Though you must also manage to avoid it or your life will be ruined.”

Small regrets: That I didn't do university. And when I was young and mucking about with motorsport that I didn't get some professional coaching. At least I would know for certain that I wasn't much good instead of wondering if I "couldabeen."

A friend of mine is doing a cracking job of restoring a Singer Le Mans, all his own woodwork , hand made new wings etc etc

Regrets?

I’ve had a few.
But then, again, too few to mention!

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