So what age do you currently think is "old"?

[Road Runner]

Do you find that your definition of old age, as defined by years, is a moving target?  

[maddmaxx]

71

[Randomguy]

82.  I think of that is when the inevitable swift decline toward death begins.  I am not happy about this.

[Road Runner]

1 minute ago, maddmaxx said:

71

You're 70?  

[Road Runner]

1 minute ago, Randomguy said:

82.  I think of that is when the inevitable swift decline toward death begins.  I am not happy about this.

That is smart to raise the bar early.  Then, as you approach old age, you don't have to keep raising it.  

 

[Randomguy]

Just now, Road Runner said:

That is smart to raise the bar early.  Then, as you approach old age, you don't have to keep raising it.  

 

I don't think I will see 82, btw.  I feel old now, but I am not old.  But I am old.

[Road Runner]

Just now, Randomguy said:

I am not old.  But I am old.

Yep.  I have been that way for a very long time.   

[TrentonMakes]

13 minutes ago, Road Runner said:

Do you find that your definition of old age, as defined by years, is a moving target?  

Yes.  Just like bikes, the answer is "n+1". 

[Kzoo]

My father, who died in May at the age of 95 use to joke about this.  Old was always older than him.  I'll take his answer.  Old is somewhere north of 95.

[Guest]

55

[petitepedal]

From where I work...active people who do not have dementia issues...seem to do well thru their 70's...It is a crap shoot....but more and more I want to retire before 70....not sure if that is financially possible but hey...what is this thing about money anyway... After 80...more slow down...however there are the occasional 90somethings that surprise the heck out of you...

 

[Road Runner]

1 minute ago, Zackny said:

55

This is depressing.  

[Dirtyhip]

However old that @Randomguy is.  Dude acts old as hell compared to SOME of us.  

[BR46]

When I was 20 I thought 50. Now that I'm in my 50s I think 70 is old. 

When I'm 70 I'll say 71

[Kzoo]

1 minute ago, Dirtyhip said:

However old that @Randomguy is.  Dude acts old as hell compared to SOME of us.  

Yeah, whatever she said.

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, Road Runner said:

This is depressing.  

Next spring that will jump to 56?

[12string]

I'm going with n+20.  I may lower the bar when I hit 80.

[Zephyr]

I am planning on old being 75.  That is the age I figure I will no longer be able to dive in the Canadian climate.  When I cannot do that anymore, I will consider myself old.

[Road Runner]

4 minutes ago, BR46 said:

When I was 20 I thought 50. Now that I'm in my 50s I think 70 is old. 

When I'm 70 I'll say 71

The problem with this strategy is that you eventually realize that what you think is old is of little importance.  When people (even some in their 50's) start treating you nice because they think you are ancient, it's all over but the shouting.   

[team scooter]

When the cars that were made and sold AFTER you graduated high school have antique plates on them... 

[Road Runner]

16 minutes ago, Zephyr said:

I will no longer be able to dive in the Canadian climate.

I wouldn't want to dive in it ever.  

 

I don't want to dive in any climate.  I'm chicken.   

[Road Runner]

Just now, team scooter said:

When the cars that were made and sold AFTER you graduated high school have antique plates on them... 

Here in VA, that is only 25 years.  

[team scooter]

1 minute ago, Road Runner said:

Here in VA, that is only 25 years.  

Same here.

[Road Runner]

1 minute ago, team scooter said:

Same here.

[Dirtyhip]

22 minutes ago, Zephyr said:

I am planning on old being 75.  That is the age I figure I will no longer be able to dive in the Canadian climate.  When I cannot do that anymore, I will consider myself old.

You are so badass.  

[maddmaxx]

56 minutes ago, Road Runner said:

You're 70?  

No.  71

[Ralphie]

60. I'm 61.  

[Road Runner]

I remember one specific time when, as a teenager in the mid 60's, I was contemplating whether I would live to see the year 2000.  That seemed like a zillion years away at the time.  

I also remember thinking that if I did live to see 2000, I would be so old, I would probably be barely conscious of it even happening.   

[Wilbur]

Well, there are business here that give seniors discounts at 55.  I guess they consider that old.  The Europeans won't let me fly commercially as a Captain after 60 so I guess they consider that old.  They won't let me act as a crew member at all after 65 so they must consider that, dead. 

Outside of aches and pains, everything is working well and I sure as hell don't feel as old as that guy in the mirror.  I start a new job in November and hope to get 10 years in it.  That will make me 68.  Even that doesn't sound old anymore.  Maybe when I don't have the strength to ride a bike or sail a boat, I will consider myself old.  If any coworkers call me old, I just smile and tell them their next 30 will be gone in a flash.  Don't blink.   Enjoying the ride right to the end.  Whenever that is. 

[Ralphie]

2 minutes ago, Road Runner said:

I remember one specific time when, as a teenager in the mid 60's, I was contemplating whether I would live to see the year 2000.  That seemed like a zillion years away at the time.  

I also remember thinking that if I did live to see 2000, I would be so old, I would probably be barely conscious of it even happening.   

I had the same thought. I counted everything past 2000 as gravy.

 

[2Far]

I walk around the gym, I feel the crawl of time.

I walk around the airport, I think I'm going to live another 50 years. 

 

[Wilbur]

2 minutes ago, 2Far said:

I walk around the gym, I feel the crawl of time.

I walk around the airport, I think I'm going to live another 50 years. 

 

The gym senses weakness, the airport senses dreams.  

[Square Wheels]

I acted old years ago.  Never did anything, ate too much, drank too much, sat around a lot.  Now that I'm chronologically older, I eat better, drink less, and am far more active.  I try to find new physical challenges to test myself.  I have no desire to ever run a marathon, but if I can get into Boston, I'll train for it and run it.  That's kinda nuts for a 53 year old who runs 500 miles a year to even think about, but that's what keep me going.

If I lose physical abilities, I'll start new challenges.  Play guitar more, join a book club, write a book.

I don't think I'll ever let myself feel old.  That seems like self pity to me, and I already did that for far too much of my life.

[Road Runner]

9 minutes ago, Square Wheels said:

I don't think I'll ever let myself feel old.

This sounds good when you are free from physical problems.  But trust me on this, the effects of aging on how you feel are not optional.

My dentist, who is around eighty, has had exceptional health and still runs his practice and plays golf.  He says, "You are only as old as you feel!"

95% of the population is not blessed with his fortunate circumstances.   

[Square Wheels]

6 minutes ago, Road Runner said:

This sounds good when you are free from physical problems.  But trust me on this, the effects of aging on how you feel are not optional.  

I agree, aging and the pains that come with it will be a challenge; however, how I process that and how I fell about it will always be an option.

[BuffJim]

82. My Dad's age. Just spent the weekend with him. He's dreading the upcoming winter. Afraid he won't survive it. With his lungs failing he knows any cold or infection could be bad. They're no longer able to make the trip to Florida. 

[Road Runner]

4 minutes ago, Square Wheels said:

I agree, aging and the pains that come with it will be a challenge; however, how I process that and how I fell about it will always be an option.

It's a lot more than pain.  

[maddmaxx]

At 71 I know what I've lost in the last 15 years.  FIFA forced my retirement as a referee at 55.  My last company forced my retirement at 66.  Now at 71 I have pains that show up every day depending on what I do.  My vision is still failing and is affecting my ability to drive at night.  I did not enjoy my last night trip to JFK and part of that was all the lights and moving things and what it did to my ability to drive.  I was that old man hunkering in the right lane at under the speed limit till out of New York.  I didn't like that.  I have to turn up the audio to hear it.  I have to make my print about 8 times larger than yours to read it.  I pop and I creak when I start out on a hike or a ride.  When I trip over a cat in the dark I usually grunt in pain as my back stabs me.

Am I done yet......hell no.  I've got a number of good years yet to run

But I know what I've lost.

[Square Wheels]

5 minutes ago, Road Runner said:

It's a lot more than pain.  

I've suffered with mental pain for most of my life.  I've had my bladder pain for about 15 years.  Seems to be no end in site.  I could easily let it ruin my life, instead I've made adjustments.  I don't do things that don't give me an easy out.  For instance, I won a free flying lesson.  I won't do it.  It's probably only an hour or two, but I can't make it that long.  The pain gets worse the longer I wait, then I start to sweat, then it could get ugly.  Would I like to learn to fly?  Maybe, but I just won't do it.  A century can be hard.  The last one I did I stopped counting after I stopped fof the 20th time.  Very frustrating.

Is any of this debilitating pain?  I guess not.  I hope I can keep the same attitude if life hands me what I think I can't manage.

[Further]

Young people have dreams, Old people have memories

As long as ya got a dream, ya got a future

 

[Longjohn]

 

[Ralphie]

2 hours ago, Square Wheels said:

I've suffered with mental pain for most of my life.  I've had my bladder pain for about 15 years.  Seems to be no end in site.  I could easily let it ruin my life, instead I've made adjustments.  I don't do things that don't give me an easy out.  For instance, I won a free flying lesson.  I won't do it.  It's probably only an hour or two, but I can't make it that long.  The pain gets worse the longer I wait, then I start to sweat, then it could get ugly.  Would I like to learn to fly?  Maybe, but I just won't do it.  A century can be hard.  The last one I did I stopped counting after I stopped fof the 20th time.  Very frustrating.

Is any of this debilitating pain?  I guess not.  I hope I can keep the same attitude if life hands me what I think I can't manage.

I think it is time to consult a bougwhan.  I predict that someday western medicine and eastern mysticism will merge to solve issues like this.  Ommmmm.

[ChrisL]

2 hours ago, Further said:

Young people have dreams, Old people have memories

As long as ya got a dream, ya got a future

 

I like that saying!

I remember when I was a kid my dad was in his early 50s and I thought that was old.  Dammit now I'm in my early 50's

[sheep_herder]

Maybe 80

[Dirtyhip]

I define my age by my ability to keep going hard. Right now, recovery takes longer and I hurt more.  Apparently, some part of my age is trying to creep in. I fight it off.

All I have is train smart, eat right, sleep and take time off as needed. We will see how it goes.

[2Far]

1 minute ago, Dirtyhip said:

I define my age by my ability to keep going hard. Right now, recovery takes longer and I hurt more.  Apparently, some part of my age is trying to creep in. I fight it off.

All I have is train smart, eat right, sleep and take time off as needed. We will see how it goes.

Ed Zachary!

[Wilbur]

@Old#7 is old.  It's right there in his name. 

[LoneWolf]

I'm old.

When you see a member of the opposite sex, think they're attractive, then realize they're slightly older than half your age (and feel dirty about it), you're freakin' old.

 

[Parsnip Totin Jack]

10 hours ago, Wilbur said:

@Old#7 is old.  It's right there in his name. 

True dat.

[Kirby]

I think of "old" in different stages - not just one number.

I feel "older" when I realize the new hires at work don't get any "Get Smart" references or even references to shows from the 80's.    I also think there is a stage to "old" when I realize I'm not willing to make the same sacrifices for my job  that I would have thought were a good idea 10 years ago.

Now when I hear someone died in their 60's or 70's, I think it's a shame they died so young.  And "young" in that context keeps getting older each year

But I generally think of "old" as when there are enough age related limitations, either physically or mentally, that there is a real impairment to the quality of life and ability to do basic life function or the things you enjoy in life.