Age-old Question (nothing to do with flying) . . .

[JPenny]

Okay, y'all . . . I'm going to turn 40 (there, I said it!) in the next couple weeks. I'm not feeling bad about it. It kind of feels like when you arrive somewhere on a trip and think to yourself, "I can't believe I'm really HERE!" It does make me wonder, though . . . where are all of you in your travel through this life? What is it like to be YOUR age in YOUR life? What do I have to look forward to?

Jean :wave:

[YankssRule]

Well, Jean, Like you I will be turning that ripe age of 40 in May as well. There are things I like about being this age, and things I don't. Cheers Jean :cheers: !!


Bad: I still live at home. I can't afford a house, and getting a reasonable apartment (that allows pets) is very hard as well. So, I figure, my parents aren't in a rush for me to leave, they like the money/help/support that I give them, so therefore, i'm home. Another bad point, I can't seem to find myself a good man, where are they all !!!!! I'm finding it harder and harder to find one. Either they are married, or have been married once or twice and don't want to commit. As I grow older, I think, I will wind up "alone." Only time can tell that one.

Good things. MMMMmmm, I appreciate what I do have much better then I did when I was younger. I value my few friends and my life tons more. I love my family more and more as the days go by. I have 4 nephews and they mean the world to me !!!!! I will get to see my parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary next year. I will get to see my nephews grow older, I will get to teach them to be better boys/men. I, hopefully, will get to see them marry and have kids of their own. I have wonderful brothers and a sister who love me tons, along, of course, with my Mom & Dad. I know now, NOT to drink & drive !!!!!!!!!! I am of drinking age :cheers: . I can go on, Jean about the good stuff, it definitely outways the bad ;) .

Hope this helped you a lil' bit !!!

Janet :hyped:

[jesgooch]

Well, my situation is a bit different than most...

I am 32, recently widowed.
I currently own a house that is waaaay to big for me and waaaay to expensive to run...My house is currently on the market for $895k (my husband made some very smart real estate decisions which is why I live in a house like that at my age). We were only married for 2.5 years. I have my own career and do not need anyone to support me at this time in my life. I am planning a work hiatus within the next 8 months for the first time since I was 16. My student loans are paid off, 7 years full time college equals huge debt, it is nice to be rid of it.
I have a dog, chocolate lab named Hobie and a very large kitty cat named Sam.

I like being a 32 year old independent single woman and I am planning on enjoying the feeling of empowerment it will bring. Although I may miss the feeling of stability and comfort that being married with a house brought, I am only looking forward to what my future will bring. 3 months ago, my life was on a boring course to old age...

"Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what your gonna git."
--Forrest Gump

[LeslieDEN]

"Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what your gonna git."
--Forrest Gump

I just can't resist ...

"Life is like a box of chocolates. A cheap, thoughtless, perfunctory gift that nobody ever asks for. Unreturnable, because all you get back is another box of chocolates. You're stuck with this undefinable whipped-mint crap that you mindlessly wolf down when there's nothing else left to eat. Sure, once in a while, there's a peanut butter cup, or an English toffee. But they're gone too fast, the taste is fleeting. So you end up with nothing but broken bits, filled with hardened jelly and teeth-crunching nuts, and if you're desperate enough to eat those, all you've got left is a... is an empty box... filled with useless, brown paper wrappers."
--Cigarette-Smoking Man, The X-Files

[Jeff California]

I turn 32 in March, so I cant give any insight regarding "40"... Still don't know what i want to be when I grow up.. However, I know that when I turn 40, I will be happy to get there. I live fast and according to some, wreckless. 40 will be a milestone..

Happy early Birthday!!!!!:thumbsup:

[Chris Lynch]

This post makes me feel young :thumbsup: I think 19 was the best age at uni I had so much fun. The only problem was I did not have two pennies to rub together:) If your 30's and 40's are as good as everyone says on here I can't wait:)

Chris

[ChiefAtHeart]

Great topic. I'm 32 and my husband of just over two years and I are just now trying to start our family. So, I will soon be substituting my FOF for fear of parenting http://www.fearflying.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif! Seriously though, I so hope I will be a good parent. This will also bring about BIG changes in my life in so many ways. We will not have much help from our extended family since we live away from them and so I will be giving up my career to stay home with the baby until at least kindergarten age. I'm used to being independent so it will be a big switch for me to depend on someone else. That's something that takes a lot of trust. But, aside from all of that, I'm looking forward to mother hood.

I agree with Jess...life can throw you a curve ball when you least expect it. That has happened to me a few times and I've grown from it. However, at this stage in my life I'm looking for a little security and stability and that is in short supply in this world!

[WillFlyToDisney]

Jean - party at your house??

I'm only 4 years behind you (turning 36 in August). I truly believe you are as old as you feel. While it would be nice to turn back the clock and have a younger body (especially that 19 year old figure!) it took me until I was 32 to find the job that completes me and makes me feel alive. The years before of struggling with jobs and bad relationships are something that made me into the strong, independent person I am today but are also years I dont care to live thru again. I look forward to the future. My Mom turns 80 on July 4th. She has lived each day one at a time and has truly enjoyed all of the phases of her life - she says Grandkids are better than Kids though (spoil them and send them home!). :hug:

Jess - hugs to you. What an inspiration you are to be picking up and going forward with your life - I cant wait for the pictures and trip reports from your upcoming adventures! :pompoms:

Chief - just the mere fact that you are concerned that you will be a good parent means you will be an EXCELLENT one. Everyone does something along the way to screw their kids up - they do need SOMETHING to tell Oprah about one day.... :tongue:

:)
Kelley

[ChiefAtHeart]

Thanks Kelley. :)

Jennifer

[JuliaClairesmommy]

Well, we have a lot of 32 yr olds on the board.


I am 32 as well, but turning 33 in April. In my 20's I was getting through college, graduated at age 25 (yes, I didn't know if I wanted to go to college or not) then teaching career and getting married at age 27. My husband and I were together for 9 yrs before we hitched so we grew together all those yrs before and still are during marriage.

At age 31 we had our first daughter, Julia and began to learn what being a parent is all about and how truly special that is. I quit working to stay at home full time and though it was a little strange to not be working and with people all day long, I am enjoying it still. After getting used to one child, we have our second just this past New Yrs Eve and are still adjusting. My biggest wish would be to have 8 straight hrs of sleep every night...oh, to dream the impossible dream. LOL

So my husband and I have many many yrs ahead of us with our children and we look forward to it. Our patience is being tried greatly with our toddler, and I'm sure our patience will be tried and tried again with two girls. We plan to have at least one more child before we are through, so we'll be raising young children in our 40's so we'll be too busy to really think about 40, I suppose. I used to fear being the big "30" but once you are there it's no big deal. I just want to be happy in life with many friends and family to love as well as watching our children to grow up to be loving and successful adults. And then for my husband and I to be able to enjoy each other alone again and travel the world after getting over my FOF.

Happy 40th and here's to many, many more happy yrs!!

Tara

[StPeteMark]

...I truly believe you are as old as you feel. While it would be nice to turn back the clock...:tongue:Kelley

Absolutely! I had quite an adjustment hitting 40 (a new stereo system helped), but when 50 came along, I had no problem. My favorite singer once said, "I'd rather be a day older than the alternative." When you hit the mid-50s, and blessed with grandchildren, they become a big focus in your life! :) Boy 3 and girl 9. :hug:

The strange thing about being 50+ is that you're still feeling like you're 25-ish...until you're in a place and everyone looks MUCH younger....and they're in their 30's. :lol:

Keep healthy, eat well most of the time, and get out of your car when you go to the gym, and life should treat you kindly. :tongue:

[Jeff California]

Unless Mark has aged immensely since I saw him only a few weeks ago, there is NO way I would've put him in his mid-50's. Nor Susan, who doesn't look like she could have grandchildren as old as Mark set them out to be.

Whatever you two are doing, keep it up!

Debbie


ditto. When I read that i had to go back up and double check to see if it was really Mark posting!

[WillFlyToDisney]

Tara - congrats on getting that tax deduction baby born just in time! Also, a word of advice from another Mom of 2 girls - buy stock in Gymboree!!!

Jennifer - you're welcome. Any time you want to see what it is like to have kids I will send ya mine! I am currently interviewing nannies....

Kelley

[StPeteMark]

Unless Mark has aged immensely since I saw him only a few weeks ago, there is NO way I would've put him in his mid-50's. Nor Susan, who doesn't look like she could have grandchildren as old as Mark set them out to be.
Whatever you two are doing, keep it up!Debbie

...and born in the same year. Thanks for the nice comments. Here's the next generation:

[WillFlyToDisney]

They are CUTIES, Mark!

Anyone save me a piece of that cake??

Kelley

[JuliaClairesmommy]

Tara - congrats on getting that tax deduction baby born just in time! Also, a word of advice from another Mom of 2 girls - buy stock in Gymboree!!!

Yah, that was a real nice break this year!! Can't wait to get that check! LOL I do love Gymboree but they are too expensive for us. I actually love Kohl's and Target for the great prices but cute clothes. My husband's aunt does buy us clothes from Gymboree and they are always adorable on the girls. What scares us is two future weddings we have to pay for! :eek:

Tara

Who'll be flying in 11 days

:medplane:

[Lynda]

Oh gosh!!! I hate to admit this too but I am also in the 50s!!! born 1947.

I hate my age! but do not feel it, my head is still 30, my mind is still 30 but have to admit to my body being a little older.

Would I like to go back to an age?? Yes I would I would like to perhaps be 35 - 40.
I still have one son at home (32 years old, going on 17 years, he is very much still having a good time with life and is great fun)

2 grandaughters ,twin girls, age 11 who are suddenly grown up.

The one thing that I really do not like is the thought that I have a lot less years left on this earth than I have already lived and my life has already gone so quickly to this age.

Make the most of your age and cram as much fun in there as you can, fly to new places, see the world. FLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lynda

[Falcon]

Err you have seven kids and you have to ask?

[noflyingfan]

Since there seem to be so many 32-year-olds on the board, I'll mention that I'm going to be turning 32 in 2010.

(Note: I thought I was going to be a big smart ass and put the year I'd turn 32 and get a chuckle, and then when I realized it was only five years away, and now I feel a little sad. Not that 32 is old, but it just sounds so GROWN UP!)

So, I am currently 26, and I certainly hope my 30s and 40s are better. Not that life is horrible, but I've been spending my 20s the same way many people do -- finding my way in the world and living on nothing. It's been a fun experience, definitely, not knowing from year to year where I'll be and what I'll be doing, but I'm looking forward to someday, when I'll have some stability and not have to wonder, when I have something to look forward to besides the next surprise.

[JPenny]

To answer Falcon, actually I just have six kids: the feet on the bottom are mine! :sunshine: Most of the time I really feel more like "one of the kids", though.

I've been through a lot in my (nearly) 40 years. Born in Minneapolis, grown up in Phoenix, and over 20 years here in SC. Married at 21. Lost my first baby in a miscarriage when I was 24--thought I'd NEVER get my heart's desire to have a baby. Look at me now! Four beautiful, fun, intelligent daughters (14, 13, 7, 5) and two handsome, amazing boys (10, 3)! Still married to my true love of 18 years and we're both committed for life. Granted we're not rich, according to the bank, but we measure wealth by a different standard! I get to be with my kids all day (yes, that's a good thing!), and I get to do what I always wanted to do (write, and get paid for it). I have much to be thankful for, and much to look forward to.

Hard times have come to me . . . things I wouldn't choose, but looking back, things I also wouldn't change because of the strength and growth they added to my life and character.

Thank you all for your good wishes and sharing your own stories with me. For those younger than I, I wish that you will be as content as I feel when you turn 40. For those older, you are role models and standard-bearers for the rest of us.

Jean :wave:

[spiffyone]

I will be 36 in August. My mom died when she was 36, so it may be kind of a wierd birthday, but actually this has been the best year of my life so far. Changed jobs, I'm now doing something I really like, I'm having domestic bliss with my fiance, we love our kitty cats and are looking forward to the wedding on August 13. It has been a big penny pinching year (I just got my tax return and I took a $21,000 pay cut when I changed jobs) and I worry sometimes that I got married too late to have kids, but hopefully that will all work out in time. Did anyone else worry about kids and finances? I make most of the money at our house (at our second-floor apartment) and I worry about having a kid, working, and trying to finagle paying babysitters etc on our limited budget. Staying home is not an option. Sometimes I think we should wait a few years till we're more secure and adopt, but I hear that is expensive too. Advice from those who could not afford to stay home appreciated.

Anyway - that's my only age-related worry really - everything else is good. This is the best time of my life so far.

spiffy