104-year-old American Ruth Virginia Oliver is getting ready to set sail once again, continuing the work she has loved for over 90 years: lobster fishing. This well-known “Lobster Lady” from Maine is truly living up to her reputation.
Oliver was born on June 6, 1920. When she turned 100, a local filmmaker produced a documentary about her called “Conversations with the Lobster Lady,” which brought her fame.
According to TODAY.com, Oliver has renewed her commercial lobster fishing permit for the season and plans to head out to sea again this year to catch lobsters.
Starting in the lobster business at the age of 8, Oliver’s early tasks included weighing lobsters and refueling boats. She first learned from her father and later worked alongside her late husband. At the time, it was rare for women to be involved in this line of work.
“I have always been independent,” Oliver told TODAY in 2022. “I enjoy doing this.”
Now, she works on the boat named “Virginia,” with her 81-year-old son Maxwell, setting lobster traps off the coast of Rockland, Maine. They plan to start in July this year, heading out to sea three times a week.
“I don’t want to go for five days,” Oliver said. “That’s a regular job, and I don’t need that.”
However, Oliver still insists on waking up early every day. In a video, she mentioned, “It’s my routine. I wake up at 5:15 every morning.”
“But if we’re going out on the boat to fish, I usually wake up at 3:15,” she added.
Her son is responsible for pulling the lobster traps, while Oliver’s job is to bait the bags and measure the lobsters. If the size does not meet the legal requirements, she tosses them back into the water.
Oliver takes pride in her appearance and always dresses up nicely when heading out to sea. “I always wear earrings to haul (the traps),” she said in the video. “I always put on lipstick and other things, like I’m going out on the street.”
Oliver and her son live together, and she says she is in good health, still driving at 103. In the documentary, she can be seen driving a large pickup truck around town.
When asked about the secret to reaching 100 years old, Oliver said, “You have to keep living, keep working, and it’s not easy.”
TODAY reported that Oliver’s various lifestyle choices have contributed to her success, including maintaining an exercise routine, sticking to a regular sleep schedule, abstaining from smoking and alcohol.
Growing up near the water also played a role in Oliver’s longevity. Longevity expert Dan Buettner stated in June to CNBC Make It that nearly all of the world’s “Blue Zones” (areas with the longest-living populations) are in proximity to bodies of water.
As for diet, Oliver mentions her favorite food includes lobster, which is a lean protein source rich in minerals like zinc, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, potassium, and B vitamins, as reported by Consumer Reports.
In fact, Oliver enjoys a variety of foods and doesn’t restrict herself. She loves chocolate because it boosts mood and relieves stress. Her favorite foods also include bean suppers, peanut butter sandwiches, and homemade chocolate doughnuts, as noted in Maine Women magazine.
And when it comes to her beloved lobster fishing business, Oliver has no plans to retire.
“I’m not going to retire,” she told TODAY. “I’m going to keep going until I die.”