Let’s Get Up and Go
Where Life, Stories and New Connections Come Together
There comes a time in life when the question changes.
For years, many of us focused on our careers, raising families, meeting responsibilities and taking care of everyone around us. Our days were full, our schedules were busy and our identities were often connected to what we did for a living or what others needed from us.
Then life begins to change.
We retire, reduce our working hours, move to a new community, become empty nesters or simply realize that we finally have more time for ourselves. These changes can be exciting, but they can also leave us wondering: What comes next? How do I meet new people? Where can I
find activities I genuinely enjoy? And how do I create a life that continues to feel interesting andmeaningful?
That is why I created Let’s Get Up and Go
Creating a Place Where People Feel Welcome
Let’s Get Up and Go is a community for adults 60 and older who want to stay active, curious, involved and connected. It is a place to discover things to do, enjoy live music, share stories, explore new interests and meet people who may be asking some of the same questions.
The idea grew from my own experience.
After moving to a new state where I did not know anyone, I discovered how difficult it can be to make friends as an adult. When we were younger, friendships often developed naturally through school, work, children, neighborhoods and family activities. Later in life, those built-in opportunities may no longer exist.
You can be independent, active and comfortable in your own company while still wanting someone to meet for coffee, attend a concert with, play a round of golf or simply share a good conversation.
Let’s Get Up and Go is being created to make those connections easier.
More Than a List of Activities
You can find event listings on many websites. What I want to build is something more personal. Let’s Get Up and Go will help members discover concerts, community events, festivals, golf opportunities, travel ideas and interesting things to do in Florida and communities across the country. But the real purpose is not simply to give people another calendar to scroll through.
The purpose is to help people participate. Perhaps you have always wanted to see Chicago or Styx in concert but would rather not attend alone. Maybe you would enjoy a local theater performance, an outdoor festival, a weekend getaway or a casual afternoon of golf. You may be new to an area and looking for people who share your interests. You may even want to try something completely new.
Our activities give people a reason to come together. The experience begins with the event, but the connection can continue long after it ends.
Your Story Still Matters
The name Let’s Get Up and Go reflects the heart of the community. We spend so much of our lives asking about other people. How are the children? How is work? How is everyone else doing? Those questions are important, but sometimes we forget to ask the person standing in front of us: Let’s Get Up and Go
What did you do during your career? What are you proud of? What have you always wanted to try? What makes you laugh? What music takes you back to a special time? What are you enjoying more today than you did 20 years ago? What has your attention now? Everyone has a story, and every story has value.
Our conversations are intended to be positive, welcoming and respectful. There is no pressure to impress anyone and no requirement to have an extraordinary accomplishment to share. We are real people having real conversations about the experiences, interests and everyday moments that make us who we are.
This is not a place for political arguments or divisive conversations. It is a place to listen, laugh, learn about one another and discover how much we may have in common.
Bringing People Together—Online and In Person
Let’s Get Up and Go will offer several ways to participate.
Our online Coffee Klatch conversations provide a comfortable way to meet people from different places without leaving home. Members can bring their favorite beverage, pull up a chair and join a friendly conversation centered on an uplifting question.
We will also feature live music and concert information, local and regional events, golf, travel inspiration and things to do. As the community grows, I hope members will connect around shared interests and attend activities together.
Some people may be ready to jump in immediately. Others may prefer to read the stories, explore the event listings and become comfortable with the community before joining a conversation. Both are welcome.
Connection does not have to happen all at once. Sometimes it begins with reading an article, commenting on a post or discovering that someone else loves the same band, book, destination or activity that you do.
Life Does Not Stop After 60
Growing older does not mean becoming less curious, less adventurous or less interested in meeting people. In many ways, this stage of life gives us an opportunity to reconnect with parts of ourselves that may have been set aside.
We can return to something we once loved. We can learn something new. We can travel, attend concerts, volunteer, play golf, join conversations or simply make time for more laughter. We can also form new friendships.
I believe there are many people who want more connection but are not sure where to begin. What Let’s Get Up and Go is my answer to that need—a welcoming starting point where people can discover opportunities and feel comfortable taking the next step.
You do not need to arrive with a group of friends. You do not need to fit into a particular category or have everything figured out. You only need to be open to meeting others and sharing a little about yourself.
Let’s Begin With a Conversation
My vision is for Let’s Get Up and Go to become a trusted community where adults 60 and older can discover what is happening, find people with similar interests and feel encouraged to participate in life.
It is a place where your experiences are respected, your interests are welcomed and your next chapter is still yours to create.
So, pull up a chair. Tell us about the work you once did, the places you have been, the music you still love and what you are looking forward to next.
We would genuinely like to know:
Let’s Get Up and Go Community is our product. Connection is our purpose.