What's it like to be 50?
 

Todd's post on your 10 year plans has got me thinking about what my life will be like then.

So to all you 50 year olds, what's it like?
Are you slowing down?
Do you feel like you have more or less time than you did 10 years ago?
Do you feel as old as we think you are? ;)

What's it like to be 50?

It's all the same, just a bit creakier.

I'm 52 and I wish I could say it's the new 30, but it's not. I am slowing down physically. I feel my mortality and I realize I only have X number of years left.

Turned 54 last weekend. yeah, you look and go WTF happened to my life? I was just a recruit in the Marines, what 37 years ago! A little creakier, not much. Rebuilding engines was a lot easier 30 years ago for sure. For me, no specific health problems, the roids act up more than I'd like.

Mentally not much change.
But physically I have to think twice about an activity I want to participate in. I have been very active all my life (definitely not an athlete). An injury over 50 will have a longer impact and may even deter you from doing things you would like to do. So, I am careful about what sports activities I participate in (skiing is my favorite) and when I do participate I am a little more careful.
One advantage to 52 is being a little more wiser and a little more tolerant while not losing my convictions and values.

As my late uncle Pat used to say when asked how he was doing,

Other than getting old and ugly, I'm doing fine."

After 50 its hard not go gain weight. I dont jog anymore because of my foot, and I seem to want to sit around (on this board) and not exercise. 50 does not seem any different than 40. I can do just about anything as before, but I find myself mellowing as I get older. Kids are grown and out, new grandbaby, one more on the way, new job that I will love, a chance to see the country at my pace, (a little). Finances OK. It just seems like 50 to 60 goes faster than the rest.

I'll soon be 54. I was a hard core runner weight lifter for 35+ years. I basically quit it at 50 and of course gained 50lbs. I still feel good but on a related post my wife of 31 years kind of rags on me for gaining all the weight and seemingly not caring about it. I'll be retired in slightly over a year and I'll have plenty of time to get back in shape. I ran a 4:43 mile at age 47 and would like to see if I can get under 5 again.

Noquestion about it there are changes...but not all for the worse. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed each decade more than the previous one. Yeah, you know you've lost a step on the tennis court, but you've finally perfected some crafty shots.

Even the minor aches and pains remind you that you still have some life left in you. People seem to listen to you a little closer as someone who has lived life and may have something significant to add to a conversation. Maybe like Tom Wolfe's "A Man in Full."

Maybe its hard earned respect. That, or they're afraid you'll hit 'em with your cane:D

I'm getting a bit creaky, but not to point where it impacts my lifestyle much. I fast walk/jog about 45 miles per week with my wife. I have a pretty healthy diet, too. I'm more relaxed and happy than when I was in my 40's.

I'm 61 and still do most of the physical things I did years ago. (water ski, snow ski, shovel snow, volunteer EMT and fireman, hiking, flying. It takes longer to recuperate but I usually take an Ibuprofen in the morning along with two monster vitamin tablets that my wife has been feeding me for years. I think a little more about risky behavior, ladders and falling but still try to test myself with physical activity and exercise. Always been active and outdoor oriented. Have been getting a good physical every year for the last 25 years or so and when I come out of each one w/ a clean bill of health, I always feel rejuvenated. Doesn't do any good to look back as you can't do shlt about the water under the bridge. I've been retired for four years and hang with other people my age but also some younger folks as well, all very active. Have some good genes, my father's mother was 109, mother is 95 and my Dad passed at 81 after dealing with cancer for 17 years but he smoked until he was 65. Sure you think about being older but you have to enjoy all stages of life, growing older is about remembering the good old days but also making new memories.

I just turned 53 in December so I am right in the same groove as everyone else who responded....and I agree with all the above:

"I am slowing down physically. I feel my mortality..." Yup, but I try not to focus on it.

"...WTF happened to my life?" Yup, 10 yrs ago I was happily married to my childhood sweetheart, watching my kids...and quickly accelerating toward divorce and a full life tumult without knowing it.

"I am careful about what sports activities I participate in (skiing is my favorite) and when I do participate I am a little more careful." Yup, just got back from a week in Lake Tahoe, new skis, I did fine...I APPRECIATE that I did, and yes, I WAS a bit more careful.

"No question about it there are changes...but not all for the worse."

This is the most true for me. I have gained a perspective I didn't have before when my life was un-interrupted . I appreciate things more. I have noticed there are two kinds of older people: The ones who have it "all figured out", they are world weary, they are embittered about what has happened to them or what they didn't achieve, or how the world has turned out, tsk, tsk, tsk! (my mother, sad but true) ...and there are those that have had the hard "corners" on their personalities sort of polished away by being tossed in the stream of life. (my Dad, though he has passed on). They have become philosophical, appreciative, they have a witty point of view on the world and their circumstances. THis is the person I m striving...and sometimes failing...to become.

Here today, dead tommorow.

Some things just plain scare/worry you more after 50. I got fired from my job by a new boss when I was 51. Not like when I was 40 and I could blow it off and just find another one. People are less inclined to hire older people, and unfortunately I am older. Found a better job, but now have that little worry in the back of my mind.

Had a serious illness last fall. While I have recovered, I worry more about what might happen in the future.

On the other hand I drive the snot out of my 911, 325i and 2 motorcycles so life ain't all bad.

I recently turned 50 and no big deal. I have said for a long time I know people that are 30 that are old and people that are 70 that are young. This means much of your age is between your ears. Sure I'm not as fast as I once was but I am smarter and so far no health issues. My kids are grown up and out of the house and the wife and I enjoy our time. Lets face it no matter what your age you never know how much longer you have. Party hardy and eat dessert first:D

Yeah, 59 soon and I need to put up the snowboard and return to skis. Also need to lose a little weight, I have gained 40 lbs in forty years.

Last child is a junior at Cal. Others are starting out with a little hlep from me. Seem to be doing fine.

Joints are acting up.

Relish sitting by the sea watching the waves with my wife more than I used to.

I'm only 46 but I'm struck by how much older everyone else looks while I look the same.

heh. Beer good!

I'm 55 next month.
Up to then I am "early fifties", but after that, 60 is the next stop. That I find disturbing.
Like the other posters, I find I have to plan physical activity a bit more carefully. e.g. I will use lifting aids where a few years ago I would just pick it up.
I always wear the appropriate safety gear (eye protection, gloves etc) where before I would not be as careful.
The other night I was under the 911's dash on my back, arse on the seat, when it came to get out I found it very hard! I was almost at the point of calling for help!
I also don't drink like I used to 'cos like physical activity, it's the next day I can't handle.
A few friends have died (including my oldest & best) & when I found myself in an Ambulance rushing to hospital on Dec 27th (on holiday in the UK), I must say that I was a lot more worried than perhaps I would have been a few years ago (it turned out to be kidney stones, problem is they said "while we were doing the C.T. scan we noticed something else......" thats still pending tests......

On the plus side, my wife says I was always a grumpy bastard, I am now a grumpy OLD bastard! This seems to mean that I no longer get into heated arguments with people, they just smile & nod their heads, patronizing the G.O.B. !
This being old and opinionated I don't mind, If someone doesn't like what I'm saying then they can F***k off, I am at an age that I don't need to be nice to people that I can't stand!

I am fortunate have been "semi-retired" the last 6 months, which appears to mean I do more for less!
And of course you realize the things you were told about wasting your youth, were all true & you ignored them!!!
"Life is what happens when you were busy doing something else". or words to that effect.

On the whole though, I think there are a few more things I want to do, and looking back I have done a lot of stuff others only dream about (mostly because I stoped dreaming about them and DID THEM!

I haven't hit 50 yet, but I made it past 40. Even though you may slow down a bit, you feel a bit more comfortable in your own skin. And no matter how much you dwell on it, there's nothing you can do to change the past but the future is wide open.

See what I mean about some get hardened off and some get easy?

I'm not faulting dagriff, if that's how he feels then that's how he feels.

My point is this: Two things await us when we get truly old: loss of independence and probably loss of dignity. If we live long enough we have to rely on others - to take us places, to help us do things, (gulp!) to wipe our arses (Please God, no!). If I am a crusty old b@stard and see everything through schit colored glasses, why would anyone want to help me, spend time with me? I don't want to be someone's obligation. I want my kids, etc to look forward to visiting with me. Plus, I just don't want to spend the last decades of my life pi$$ed off! YMMV.

I turned 72 last month. Oh, to be 50 again!

Tom

P.S. I remember starting to feel the slide at 53. On the plus side, there are SO many things that become unimportant and that I don't have to do anymore.

I am now 60 so maybe I don't qualify, but I made several major changes in my earliest 50's. When I turned 50 I really became aware that my life was well past half over. I basically stopped drinking, now only an occasional martini or glass of wine- immediately lost 25 pounds. Started working on all the 46 high peaks in the Adirondacks, even knocked off 5 in one long day. Started really travelling to far places, still at it. Got my kids though college(now into grad schools). Got reintroduced to my faith(Episcopalian) and found a little peace. Changed my whole method of thought, much more into good karma/bad karma, much more reflective about a lot of stuff. So you might say I totally reinvented myself in my 50's and made some changes to make my later years better. Oh, and I put away my drive to accumulate stuff and money, and began to give it away in little acts of generosity. Money is a false god(younger folks are seldom ready to accept that one). Glenn

Very wise Glenn, very wise.

Change the way you think, and you change your life!

HEY.. YOU... GET OFF OF MY LAWN!!!

Lot of good post here, not much to add...
A. A little more careful, check
B. Watching what I eat and drink, check
C. Slower to recover (see A & B), check
D. Don't give a flying fuch about what other people think, great big checkareno!

Will be 51 Friday.

Was it the Stones that sang the lyric "...hope I die before I get old" and in the nineteen sixties (many that are NOW 60 years of age) had a statement that went ..."never trust anyone over thirty!"

I can only assume their outlook on life has moderated ...somewhat?

When you are young, old age seems too far away to contemplate. But guess what ...age happens! It sneaks up...like Chinese water torture, slowly, drip...drip...drip...and all too soon you arrive where you never imagined possible.

Me: Retired at 52. Still play tennis/lift weights/water ski. Enjoy life. No looking back.

Live your life daily and with the intent that if you HAD the occasion to (in the future) lie on your death bed with a few moments to ponder, be able to say to yourself ..."I have no regrets!"

Don't fear the reaper.

The young stuff no longer checks you out and they call you sir an mr.

interesting topic...... this is my yr to turn 60, do I feel 60, yes and no.

yes, I have had 13 surgeries to fix and repair my life of crazyness, does it slow me down, well as you get older you realize you need to change things some.
As my Mom always told me, you will pay for it later in life :eek:

I don't rock climb anymore cuz my knees can't take the strain of the moves but I can sail my boat on a course with a 30 degree heel and loving it. I still ski, not all day but I can still give you a run for the money for about 2 hours.

I look at my life now in more of a preservation mode, keep what I still have. I am totally convinced that you have to use it or loss it.

I can't party as long as I used to but that's probably good, I still drink about a bottle of wine a day and have a wife that still loves to rumble in the sheets, yes, my prostrate is fine, I am 6 foot, ahh make that 5'11" now and 182 pounds.

I have been semi retired for 25 yrs now, I will work till they throw dirt over my face or no one wants to have me care for them anymore, whichever comes first.

You can't take it with you so if you really have a burning desire to go somewhere or do something, well, get er done.

Yep and your senile too....it was the WHO that sang that line.

People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby

Why don't you all f-fade away (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
And don't try to dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

Get a PPI!

I hear that some of the hydraulics cease to work and some of the seals degrade over time, leading some some fluid leaks.

[QUOTE=scottmandue;3752465]HEY.. YOU... GET OFF OF MY LAWN!!!

Lot of good post here, not much to add...
A. A little more careful, check
B. Watching what I eat and drink, check
C. Slower to recover (see A & B), check
D. Don't give a flying fuch about what other people think, great big checkareno!

QUOTE]

Exactly! At 53, having had back surgery years ago, an arthritic spine, legs,hands and neck, Chron's disease, tinnitus, anxiety, asthma has not slowed me down a bit!

Mentally I'm still 18. But I have to coax, no convince myself to get up in the morning.

On the plus side.......kids are grown, and thankfully I have a lot more time and money. Now when the wife says "I booked a cruise "or something else that I would not have been able to do in the past I am able to.

Plan on slowing down albeit slowly. I still have about ten times more "piss and vinegar" than the young guys and know about fifty times more than they. It's somewhat rewarding to be the "old man" that the young guys come to for advice. I guess the best part is having time for the track!!

Hey, turning fifty still beats the alternative! Oh yeah, you'd be surprised how much younger women are attracted to an older man:D

My credo....."You'll never be better than you are today" so enjoy life now!

50 here. And I actually am having the time of my life. Still run my 5 miles a few times a week. Have a young gf that appreciates being treated like a princess/slut... oh that's another thread :D
Can finally afford toys, have the experiences to help along the road of life.
And yes the body does creek a bit more and the old injuries that one gets when young do come back to haunt to you.

My mental acuity hasn't changed, but I've decided to play basketball and baseball with an older crowd.

That and seat heat is my ailing backs Viagra;):cool:

Hit the double nickle last year, still feel thirty, weigh what I did in high school (155). Can still squat down to work on the bikes and not make noise getting up.
The mortality thing is there though, time to take some time off work to do some fun things I've been putting off. I'd sell the shop and retire but my days there are so enjoyable.
Jim

To celebrate the 50 I did a triathalon......haven't been able to move since.
I also bought my longhood which I hope to drive before my 51st...........

All well said. I would add that manopause dropped in on me and my hormonal levels changed, and it was hard for me to get used to feeling different different drive levels. This is what causes men to get the seven year itch, go buy red cars, and basicly act like jerks. But when you come out the other side, things are great, and off you go on your merry way.

at 50 it's time to start planning maxing out time available to live hard or die trying.

screw responsibilities.

2 weeks after you're planted you'll be a distant memory.

On my 54th bday last weekend, I did my first DE at Willow Springs, gonna do another one soon.

Your all a bunch of fking old geezers, with a foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. Like Ted Nuggent said, "Yah never have to go."

I turned 50 last September. Woke up that morning on a mountaintop. Actually, about 200 ft below the summit, since the summit was too narrow for safe sleeping.

Differences? Well, I'm faster and stronger now, with more sexual vitality.