What's it like to be old?

The Backwards Man

I'll be old in two weeks, this place is full of old fogeys, what's it like being you?

Your Face

So few alive who have seen the Republic.

Arghus

It gets harder and harder, except where it counts.

Charles Babbage

Being old is a real pain; in the back, hips, knees, teeth and bollix.

s4uv3

You get to give less of a fcuk, and tell it how it is.

the_syco

Age is a state of mind. If you feel old, feel something younger :pac:

Noveight

The future is now.

jimgoose

No idea. Ask me again in twenty years and I'll tell you the same.

sbsquarepants

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'll be old in two weeks, this place is full of old fogeys, what's it like being you?

Why two weeks? Right now you're the oldest you have ever been:)

Sam Kade

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'll be old in two weeks, this place is full of old fogeys, what's it like being you?

I wish you a happy 70th birthday

jimgoose

Arghus wrote: »

It gets harder and harder, except where it counts.

Speak for yourself, kiddo! You need more red meat in yer diet.

Hector Savage

It only bothers me in sport, I can really feel it the next day after a game of Tennis or 5 a side football.

Ragnar Lothbrok

Hector Savage wrote: »

It only bothers me in sport, I can really feel it the next day after a game of Tennis or 5 a side football.

I'm the same after a lash of pints

Hector Savage

Ragnar Lothbrok wrote: »

I'm the same after a lash of pints

True, I miss being able to handle (or not having) hangovers .... Jesus 5/6 pints would kill me nowadays.

CalamariFritti

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'll be old in two weeks, this place is full of old fogeys, what's it like being you?

How old is old? You have me worried now.

Friend of mine keeps saying when the subject comes up 'its better than the alternative'.

Kimbot

Its awesome been me, the older you get the bolder you get :P

My back goes out more than I do.

not yet

Tis grand..


Never regret it, it's a privilege a lot don't get to enjoy.

erica74

How old is "old"?
I remember when being in your sixties was considered a grand old age but now, with the difference in lifestyles and people being more active etc, 60 isn't really considered "old".
80 is the new 60 and 60 is the new 40.

Grayson

My mum, who's in her 70's, says that you never get old in your head. In her head she's still in her 30's, just she has an old body with aches and pains.

I would disagree slightly, I think I've known people who were in their 60's in their head even when they were 20 years old.

backspin.

What is old, 30, 40, 50, 60 70 or are you going to be 80 in 2 weeks.

Sam Kade

Old is when your body can't keep up with your mind, I've seen plenty people in their late 30's-40's that are crippled and people in their 70's as lively as 20 year olds. Those 70 year olds would be few and far between though. The amount of people that go downhill between the ages of 60 and 70 is scary.

you are old when...buying some large item i.e a car and it occurs to you that it might be the last one you every buy. That how someone I know realised there were actuley old.

Mena Mitty

If you lived the sex, drugs, drink and rock and roll lifesyle, you probably have some grand memories of the old days feel free to reminisce.....in the privacy of your own home....No regrets, right !

Now if you lead a quiet life, now's the time to let it rip. Sit in your front garden and drink your favourite tipple, repeat 'ah this is the life' in a loud whisper to passers by and those hardworking neighbours.

Making the devil's horns gesture and shouting 'Rock and rolllll' a la Ozzy is also a suitable pastime when you are old.

Pretending your memory is not what it used to will take time to perfect....hang in there, you can do it.

If you can't wolf whistle, now's the time to learn and if you can't swim or drive, now would be a good time to start.

Leave the sky diving and bungi jumping to retired members of the defense forces and former boy scouts and girl guides. When you've won your first Demolition Derby you will be ready to do the Bungi jump.

Get all ideas of running marathons out of your head, the odd jog down to the bookies or mass should be enough excerise for any ould codger and for j'sus sake stay well away from those mail-order bride catalogues....temptation is an urge best left for the younger generation.

cml387

erica74 wrote: »

How old is "old"?
I remember when being in your sixties was considered a grand old age but now, with the difference in lifestyles and people being more active etc, 60 isn't really considered "old".
80 is the new 60 and 60 is the new 40.

I love you Erica.

Sam Kade

mariaalice wrote: »

you are old when...buying some large item i.e a car and it occurs to you that it might be the last one you every buy. That how someone I know realised there were actuley old.

How often did they change the car every two years :eek:

LushiousLips

You're only as old as the woman you feel OP ;)

All jokes aside, my parents are getting old and very slowly its like I am becoming the parent. The wheel is sadly turning

Im not old, Im vintage

_Whimsical_

erica74 wrote: »

How old is "old"?
I remember when being in your sixties was considered a grand old age but now, with the difference in lifestyles and people being more active etc, 60 isn't really considered "old".
80 is the new 60 and 60 is the new 40.

And by that reckoning 40 is the new 20, making me a mere teenager. I'm liking you Erica!

Will I Am Not

People nowadays can probably expect to live for 80 years or so but you are only really in prime physical condition for 15-20 of those years. It's a raw deal.

Sam Kade

Flossie Dickey 110th birthday, now that is old, she likes lots of naps and whiskey.

She didn't make 111.

Sam Kade

The Fake Sheikh wrote: »

People nowadays can probably expect to live for 80 years or so but you are only really in prime physical condition for 15-20 of those years. It's a raw deal.

15-20? 25 is your prime and you only go downhill slowly after that. Plenty people as fit in their 50's as they were in their 20's.

Banjo

Sam Kade wrote: »

Plenty people as fit in their 50's as they were in their 20's.

How high that bar is is very subjective...

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I'll tell you what it's like to be old....... when I get there.

I'm 73 but honestly can't say I have yet to consider myself old or to have any of the classic symptoms of old age yet.

As you get older you change perspectives, possibility become more forthright in giving your honest opinion, and suffer fools less gladly than in your younger years. If the body and mind hold together getting older is just a more relaxed and enjoyable stage of life than the manic middle age when keeping bread on the table and rearing a family where the only important issues in your life.

Will I Am Not

Sam Kade wrote: »

15-20? 25 is your prime and you only go downhill slowly after that. Plenty people as fit in their 50's as they were in their 20's.

Nah. I'm talking peak physical condition. Strength, speed, endurance etc.
You won't see too many north of 35 competing at the highest level in soccer, athletics, rugby etc.

You can apply it across the board too. I'd love to still be playing football for my local club but a few years shy of 40, I'd have rings run around me by lads in their 20s.

alberto67

Age is just a number. You're old only if you want to be.

Wanderer2010

I used to moan a lot about getting older and losing my youth and all the benefits it brings. Someone very wise then told me something I will never forget:

Never regret getting old- its a privilege denied to many...

Irish Guitarist

I'm 41 and my best friend is a 66 year old woman. She's a year younger than my father was when he died. I don't think of her as old but my father always seemed ancient.

I was sixteen years younger than I am now when he died but even now when I think about him his attitude to life just seems old. He was always complaining about something. If a kid rang the bell and ran off you'd hear about it for hours. He was always telling me to turn down my music. One time I was playing some love song from the fifties and he came upstairs to shout at me "turn that down" and "that's terrible shit" as if I was playing Napalm Death or something.

I think the definition of old is always broadening. Except on the internet where you have 23 year olds pining for the good old days when they used to buy blu-rays and owned an iPhone 5.

Ragnar Lothbrok

"What's it like to be old?"

It's a bit crap, really

Things stop working properly; hangovers last much longer; your body starts paying you back for all the years of abuse; memory can be a bit iffy; tiredness catches you out unexpectedly; most things seem just a bit too much effort; modern music is horrible noise.

Actually I'm just having a bad day today. Early 50s and still think I'm a teenager most of the time, and tend to live life like it. I'm sure I can continue for another few years

jluv

Not one to cause alarm, however the OP has not been seen or heard from since starting this thread at 2am! So sad..seems he'll never experience being old..

Benjamin Buttons

Every morning I look in the mirror I'm getting younger and younger looking.
I feel like Benjamin Buttons!

mzungu

Being old is grand.

The Backwards Man

jluv wrote: »

Not one to cause alarm, however the OP has not been seen or heard from since starting this thread at 2am! So sad..seems he'll never experience being old..

I'm OK, I'm just mis-spending the last of my youth.

Spider Web

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

I think the definition of old is always broadening. Except on the internet where you have 23 year olds pining for the good old days when they used to buy blu-rays and owned an iPhone 5.

That's the thing - despite people living much longer, and looking and feeling better because of an improved quality of life, you still have those people from aged 20 on who think because they're not teenagers any more they're old.

I assume the opening poster means he's turning 40 or 50 but because he hasn't said, I'd bet there are people under 30 giving him advice here.

jluv

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'm OK, I'm just mis-spending the last of my youth.

Lol..ok but just remember while you may have to grow old,it's not mandatory to grow up..I'm living by that!!


So you still haven't answered..what age is going to make you old?

Spider Web

alberto67 wrote: »

Age is just a number. You're old only if you want to be.

Even though I'm far from one of those people who thinks old age hits once your mid 30s arrive, and even though I know there are people who "think themselves" old, I don't agree with you either. People do of course become old - due to the ravages of time, not just because of what their state of mind is.

Of course people can delay physical issues with healthy living, but old age wear and tear is unavoidable.

I do think however that elderly and frail seems to be hitting later in life today - e.g. I know people in their early to mid 70s whom, I would have though, SHOULD be really old looking/acting and frail by now, but they're really not at all. That said, some of their friends have died, and they are more prone to joint troubles and other health issues. But jeez, they look great! And they seem to have plenty of energy.

flutered

many of the wans nearing 60 look more tempting than their daughters, w.t.f.

Sam Kade

Benjamin Buttons wrote: »

Every morning I look in the mirror I'm getting younger and younger looking.
I feel like Benjamin Buttons!

Where did you come from? The grave? Will you be going back into the womb when you leave this earth?:)

Bigus

The fella turns 70 so goes into the doctor for a check up , after being pronounced fit and well , he asks the doctor " any advice for me now that I'm in my 70's
Yes says the doc, 3 bits of advice.
1. Never pass a urinal
2 . If you get a Horn use it.
3. And Never trust a fart.

cbyrd

Being old is a state of mind. I don't feel any older than I did at 19, I'm always being told I look way younger.
Then I go to the gym and I know I'm not 19..