Athletes who are 50+ - what's your secret?

I am a sports-loving woman in my early 50's, and in the past few years I have gone through a seemingly-unending series of orthopedic injuries and joint pains.The Kaiser PT department is my home away from home. My doctor jokingly diagnosed me with "Falling Apart Syndrome." But in all honesty, I am getting sad, scared and depressed that I will soon have to give up playing my beloved sports, which are a huge source of joy for me. I know people can and do stay in their sports into their 60's and 70's. I want to be one of those people! My question for you fine folks... if you are over 50 and still play a sport, what do you think has allowed you to do it? I'm not just talking about staying active with things like running, hiking or cycling. I'm talking about playing the kinds of sports that require agility, strength, and even some physical contact (soccer, basketball, water polo, tennis). If you do one of those sports, how do you make it work? How often do you play? How much pain are you in afterward, and for how long? What other things do you incorporate into your life that you think help make it possible to keep playing? For context, I have all the basics covered. I do strength training a few times a week and have done for decades. I eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep. I'm on hormone replacement therapy for other symptoms of perimenopause. Insofar as is humanly possible, I keep my stress levels in check (partly through sport!) 

If you are an older athlete, what has helped you be able to keep playing your sport as you age?