Easing into becoming an old person?

First of all 50 isn't old.

Ageing is a natural process, you gradually stop doing some things and find other interests. You don't become old overnight, it takes a split second to change from 49 to 50.

Keep young at heart, carry on doing the things you like doing as long as you don't behave like a kid - that will make you old to other people.

well first of all you need to change your mindset "now" since you're not old yet. You "might" be considered old at the end of your 70's if you don't take care of your health though. You won't retire until perhaps 66 or so so you have about 16 more working years so keep fit, and raise your attitude.

I'd say don't get AARP till you're retired because it will depress you. And, now there is a second organization for seniors to choose from. At 50 the only thing imo AARP can give you possibly is senior discounts at some restaurants, that is if the restaurant allows.

Age appropriate things, sure, date if you're not married, go to the beach, ride the roller coaster, do the bungy jump, do some parrottrooping jumps from a plane, do all the traveling you want and can afford, ride a sailboat, take a cruise, try golf and tennis, etc.

I'll welcome you to old age if you're in here in 16 years. Good luck to you.

We no longer live in an age when everything had to be done appropriate to one's age. My grandmother always wore black or very dark clothes (as did most people her age). She was 50 when I was born. I'm now 70 and still don't wear black (and probably never will as it will drain what little colour I have in my cheeks).

When people reached a certain age they'd suddenly start wearing a particular style of shoes, rather like lace up short ankle boots. They were a uniform for that age women. They'd wear a shawl over their shoulders indoors. That's fine when it's cold but it seemed to become a part of them. Their whole appearance seemed to be screaming "I have now become an old lady."

I have little to say about men because they never had as much variety in clothing as women do anyway but all the men I can remember from my childhood used to wear khaki trousers and a thick woollen overcoat and a trilby hat. Work wear was completely different though. They'd have a gabardine raincoat to wear on wet days.

It is wonderful to go out these days and see people of all ages wearing whatever they feel comfortable wearing. 80 year old women wear high heels now and very colourful clothing. Retired men wear anoraks, denim and a whole lot of other things that they wore when younger. It's great to see.

If you are about to embrace old age once you have your 50th birthday you will have a miserable life and will possibly never see your 60th.

Why you think that you must suddenly change to 'age appropriate things' at 50 I cannot understand. Give up doing things only when you can no longer do them. The longer you continue to do things the longer you will be able to to do them. Give up and try again next year and you will not wish to do it.

I stopped doing my own painting and decorating only 2 years ago at age 68 and that is because I felt unsafe on a ladder. I will still do similar things providing they don't involve any climbing.

I think that you are being very foolish if you think of yourself as old at only 50. You are barely middle aged.

There ARE certain things available once a person turns 50 and, by all means, take advantage of them if you need them but that does not make you old.

The age at which one received their state pension used to be the age one considered oneself old at one time but even that does not apply now as people are, often, living into their 90s.

Once you put it into your mind that you are old you WILL age quicker. Continue to mix with people who don't need old people's clubs etc. and only ever get involved with such things (this side of 70) if you decide to be a volunteer there, helping those much older than yourself.

You will become the person that you imagine yourself to be so think YOUNG for as long as that is humanly possible. My next birthday will be my 70th and, although I feel old on some issues I am sprightly, walk a lot (with a stick on bad days), do my own housework and gardening etc. and attend NO old people's clubs or dances etc. but I certainly accepted my free bus pass when I was 60 and will accept anything else on offer which will save me money (if it's legal !)

I'm a tad confused, so at 49 the day before your birthday you go to sleep

a little hell raiser, but wake up the next day and start it off with a shot of Geritol?

50 is a number and nothing more. I know 65 years olds that are more active

than most 30 year olds. After 30, it's all in your mind. My GF has been 48 for the

last 4 years. Be as old as you wish you were

Oh perlease - you are a baby! 50 is the new 30 - didn't you know that?

I am 71 next week and I am the new 50 and still don't consider myself old. My friends in their 80s are beginning to slow down a bit, so you've got ages.

I do exercise classes every day at my Club (over 50s aerobics and our instructor takes no prisoners, believe me) then out to the bar to chat to my "girl gang". Shopping or window shopping in the afternoon except Tues and Thurs when I work in a Charity shop and attend a Creative Writing class - had some short stories and poems published.

Off to our cottage in Suffolk every other weekend (live in London) for long walks and jogging to my I-Pod.

Age is a state of mind - I am still 30 in my head. You will be definitely be old if you talk yourself into it, please don't. The more ex you take and the more you do, the better. Use it or lose it as they say. Once to start wearing slippers and sitting indoors, you will get ill and old.

Look at people like Joan Collins, Meryl Street and many, many others! What's the matter with you? You are a long time dead.

Mo

Still enjoying an energetic life

Ma and Grandma who can keep up with her grandchldren!

For a start, stop thinking about being old at 50: you've another 20 years (at least) of middle age still to look forward to! I succumbed to my family's emotional blackmail and retired at 68, which was a big mistake. So I took up free lance translating and book editing which keeps me reasonably busy. I still attend professional conferences but have not found time to join any clubs. Last year, besides travels within England, I visited my son In Columbus OH twice, stayed with friends in NYC and Philadelphia and made two trips to São Paulo, Brazil. I suppose the best advice I can give you is that once you no longer go to work (how did I ever find time to do that, I wonder?), your family will conclude that you have limitless free time in which to run errands or do odd jobs for them. I am afraid I tend to succumb, and get most of my exercise taking my younger daughter's dog for walks. PS I turned 84 six days ago.

Old??? You are just as old as you believe yourself to be. Sure take advantage of AARP and the discount cards, and Sr Coffee at McDonalds.

I am 67 had a 4 way cardiac bypass at 53 and have significant arthritis in one knee and both thumbs.

I paint, garden and do volunteer work, I and a Genealogical researcher, and at 62 took an 8 week trip about the US visiting all the places that my family had lived as they moved West. I drove my own car by myself because I had wanted to take the trip for over 30 years and just knew if I waited any longer for someone to come along that want to travel with me I would never take the trip.

I am not about to "Welcome you to old age" because you are far from being old, except in your own mind.

You are not old at 50 for one thing.

Do not take advantage of AARP they are a rip off

You will not get discounts until you are older.

Do the things you still do until you can't handle it.

Keep a good diet and workout or walk everyday.

I certainly did not eased into my old age, it just happened in warp speed. If you are already retired from the working force one of the best things you can do is volunteer work like I did volunteering with the American Red Cross. Good luck easing into your old age, btw, when I turned 50 over a decade ago I certainly did not feel old. I felt old when I was already in my 70s.