Senior citizens' hang out

Sometime back there was a beautiful picture of a row of senior citizens sitting on a bench in besant nagar beach.It was taken from a very good angle to show a walking stick in the foreground. I immediately was able to relate to the people in the picture as i used to see them everyday during my morning walks on the beach.They used to be such a jolly good bunch of 'oldies'.I used to relish getting to hear snatches of their conversation while walking past them. They used to have an opinion on everything and be very forthright and categorical about it. Normally one of them would buy a newspaper from a vendor nearby and from cricket to politics to globalisation, every matter would be discussed.The session would end till it becomes too hot to sit in the porch even while they sit with their backs to the morning sun!
Today i went for a walk on the beach after many months(gym is my latest haunt) and i was surprised to find several senior and not so senior women occupying the same spot!Has there been any turf war and these women have won this round i wondered.The decibel level was much lower than the men and they were talking not as a group but in twos and threes.They did not have the day's daily spread out in front of them. But i was happy to note that the topic did not include daughter in laws!World seems to have forged ahead and women too have shed the dull topic of daughter in laws.Good for them and good for passers by like me who could get to hear different topics analysed and dissected.Today's topic appeared to be about poojas, bhajans and rama navami festival in various temples in the city.Definiely plan to keep my ears peeled while i cross this lady's hangout joint for some juicy sound bytes.