<p>My mom and grandma never told anyone their true age- every year was 35 over and over. When I applied for my first passport my mom gave me a birth certificate with her age burned out! When I applied, they told me the certificate was invalid, so I marched down the hall for a new certificate. My mom said she was 23 on the certificate , turns out she had me at 33! I have always said my true age every year!</p>
<p>I just reread my post! I am not yet 60…close but no cigar.</p>
<p>Fauxmaven: are we related?</p>
<p>Well, nobody ever cards me anymore when I order a drink, but I am content that I am often told “you are nowhere near that” when I ask if I would qualify for a senior discount, often available for the 60 and up crowd.</p>
<p>^ ^ You will be qualified for 25c McDonald Sr. coffee!</p>
<p>I love the discounts.
I went to a local community center today that was having an open house to highlight their fall courses and stopped at the table with the senior center listings. I had over heard the volunteer telling someone that they mostly served people 55 & older.
I asked her about it & she told me that that had some programs that were meant for all ages, but I said " oh I am going to be 56 in a few weeks, so 55 works for me"!
( generally things seem to require you be at least 62 for a discount):(</p>
<p>I have no problem going to the senior center for activities, virtually everyone in my 4x a week water aerobics class is *well *over 60 & they are a lively & well traveled bunch. Bingo karaoke night at the senior center is the hottest ticket in town!
[Seattle</a> News and Events | Bingo Karaoke: Irony Heaven at the Greenwood Senior](<a href=“http://www.seattleweekly.com/home/915270-129/lastnight]Seattle”>http://www.seattleweekly.com/home/915270-129/lastnight)</p>
<p>I had a grandmother who also would not discuss her age, and only answered “16” when asked her age. The “secret” that she wanted to protect was that she was older than my grandfather (her husband) – I guess that was considered very embarrassing in her day. I don’t think she was much older - maybe a year or two – they had met at college, and I was just proud that I had a set of grandparents who were college graduates. </p>
<p>I’m also looking forward to my senior discount, though I’ve been using my AARP card for quite a few things over the years. (I think AARP is for age 50+? In any case, it seems that I’ve had the membership for awhile).</p>
<p>As I get older, I qualify for more and more discounts. AARP is when you reach 50. Ross gives it to folks over 55. McDonalds gives SR coffee at discount price to ass 55+ who ask for it. Some discounts aren’t available until you turn 60, 62 or 65. Golden age is for all, National Parks and monuments. It’s a one time $10 for subsequent free admissions. Great bargain, even if you lose the card and periodically have to repurchase. :). </p>
<p>Age is just a number and state of mind.</p>
<p>As 60 rushes toward me, I feel freaked - when I think about it. That being said, I hardly ever do. Having a happy family and work helps, but I welcome certain aspects of maturity, like not sweating the little stuff as much as I did.</p>
<p>I also go to water aerobics class. Most of my classmates are my mother’s age, 79. There are many well into their 80s, even a 92 year old, who actually drive to class!</p>
<p>There is an Over 50 club at my church that I very much want to join. They have lunch and play bingo every week. I loved calling Bingo for my mom’s ALF and think it would be very fun to do that with a new group now.</p>
<p>Insufferable comments continue.</p>
<p>One of the very good things about being in my 60s was that I knew stuff–lots of stuff; stuff that my new employer believed to be valuable to its doing business. I also approached maturity in my actions. Most of the pent-up anger has disappeared. Thirty years in the Federal government allowed me to bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to my, then, new job. I re-wrote the university’s procedures, and established myself as someone who knew what he was talking about and was routinely consulted within the university and by other CIC schools. Wonder of wonders I even became a consultant and was subcontracted by a Federal science agency to work on issues for them. </p>
<p>My wife and I, also a Federal retiree, had more money then ever before and her experience allowed her to start a second career. We bought the most expensive residence we had ever had and then went ahead an bought a second home in Chicago. It was a great decade for me. </p>
<p>My 70s see me wearing out on the job. An attempt to retire earlier this year led to a 10% pay raise, and a change in title, although I really wanted to retire. My memory is slipping, hard for someone initially trained as an historian to bear. I now write down the names of everyone I get together with at weekly meetings even though I have known them for years. I’m holding up physically, but I have read that the 70s are your last good decade. I do not want to spend all of it sitting in a chair in front of a computer stressed by the bad things people allegedly do to each other.</p>
<p>lovely post - tsdad</p>
<p>I am not quite 60. I spent the first half of my adult life looking younger than reality so looking older is fine with me. I think old can be as attractive as young. For us baby boomers, I think old is the new cool. If someone offers me the retirement discount, I say “yes!!” even though I don’t always technically qualify. Our kids are grown and very successfully launched. Everything beyond that is laginappe in my opinion. We are in decent health and can pretty much afford to do what we want. For work and for play. We are making a point to visit all the places we want to go and do all the things we want to do before we do have health issues. And before we the grandchildren arrive, at which point we want to be available to help as needed. I see the upcoming 60s as the best decade ever.</p>
<p>60 was no biggie. Getting all the Medicare junk mail for the upcoming bday is a biggie…</p>
<p>^^^ Shot yeah. Even College Confidential knows I’m a senior member. Boo.</p>
<p>I turned 60 in June. Now I am doing what Jill Conner Browne in her recent book described, trying to figure out what to do for the third third of my life. I like that concept, but am very short on ideas, so I just keep doing the same old thing, hoping for inspiration.</p>
<p>I think this is relevant so bear with me.
Six years ago, I fully expected that by this time( almost 56) I would be divorced.
My H & I had a stressful relationship to say the least, 
and we seemed stuck despite having sought help from various counselors over the years.
I didnt feel motivated to attack the inside of my house yet to make it more salable, but I could redo the yard, which had been sadly neglected.</p>
<p>I started small, but eventually removed all my sod and replaced it with mostly native landscaping. Incredibly therapeutic. I even started a sustainable horticulture program at an area community college and began volunteering with a local restoration community group.
With the new interest I found, my H began seeing another side of me & he was so supportive of my new venture I saw another side of him! ( it also helped that when anyone walked by, they went on & on about how great it was going to look!)</p>
<p>What Im trying to say is, it doesn’t really matter what your initial motivation is, if it gives you energy rather than depleting it, summon up all the passion you can into your project whatever it is & you may find peace.
:)</p>
<p>Well, actually it’s your seventh decade.
I’m 62. Sometimes that is shocking. LOL.</p>
<p>I have read that the 70s are your last good decade. </p>
<p>What a terrible thought? Any 80 year olds who are healthy and happy? Anybody that age on CC? I have been sick for almost 6 weeks of bronchitis, and 3 rounds of antibiotics. Did I mention an ear infection? It’s been feeling like someone has been sitting on my chest these last 2 weeks. Thursday I see a pulmonary MD. I think I have pnumonia! Not even 60 yet!</p>
<p>Wow, Fauxmaven, I hope you get turned around. That is miserable.</p>
<p>My dad is nearing 90–still works as much or little as he chooses, golfs and dines out very frequently, travels and would be astounded by talk of 70s being the last good decade. He and mom (also in her 80s remain healthy and active and happy. :).</p>
<p>My best friend’s father, whom I have known since I was in junior high, is 87. He is a retired prof at UT-Austin. He still has an office on campus and drives there three times a week. He is sharp as a tack. He does all the cooking for his wife and himself, too. She is 91 and has short-term memory issues, but otherwise is doing OK.</p>