When does Middle Age start?
Mar 26th 2010, 6:08 am
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2009
Location: Dubai
Posts: 5,965
Re: When does Middle Age start?
Patsy, I don't think women go through a mid life crisis, and as for no boy being to young, is it not correct that men are at their sexual peak at 17 whereas women don't hit it until they are 34, also the fact that women live longer than men so it actually makes perfect sense for women to go for younger men.
And what man doesn't have a Mrs Robinson fantasy?
Going back to the op I think we see the whole 40/50 years as milestones, turning 40 is a significant milestone as you think you should have achieved certain things by that age and again at 50, so you analyze your life and realize you have or haven't achieved those things which can send you into a what have I done with my life mode. Men live their lives like teenagers, only making significant decisions when they really have to, I think around 35/40 they stop having decisions made for them, their parents have let them take control and they have already got married maybe started a family almost unconsciously as its was just an automatic step in their relationships, they look around at their friends and see the same thing, so they are left as the head of a house suddenly freaking out that they aren't actually teenagers anymore and actually have responsibilities, they become unsure what to do so they run away and buy a motorbike or have an affair as they feel this takes the responsibilities of life away and they don't know what else to do. Men don't want to grow up and when they realize they have they freak out about it and revert to teenage behaviour...
Women however have their biological clock, I freaked out at turning 30 and am at the horrible age of realizing maybe I won't have kids- even though I never really wanted them you realize that you don't have forever to decide whether you do or don't, it still sends you into baby mode- especially when you see your friends starting families, it makes you look at your relationships differently and you stop looking for mr right now but its mr right or nothing. Women that have children are in maternal mode and spend the next 20-30 odd years happy raising their children putting their kids first rather than their husbands (also a very difficult time for men as they are no longer number 1 in their wives lives), so women are generally more contented than men, note why women don't run away from their responsibilities and spend the rest of their lives chasing after years gone by..
Kittycat
x
And what man doesn't have a Mrs Robinson fantasy?
Going back to the op I think we see the whole 40/50 years as milestones, turning 40 is a significant milestone as you think you should have achieved certain things by that age and again at 50, so you analyze your life and realize you have or haven't achieved those things which can send you into a what have I done with my life mode. Men live their lives like teenagers, only making significant decisions when they really have to, I think around 35/40 they stop having decisions made for them, their parents have let them take control and they have already got married maybe started a family almost unconsciously as its was just an automatic step in their relationships, they look around at their friends and see the same thing, so they are left as the head of a house suddenly freaking out that they aren't actually teenagers anymore and actually have responsibilities, they become unsure what to do so they run away and buy a motorbike or have an affair as they feel this takes the responsibilities of life away and they don't know what else to do. Men don't want to grow up and when they realize they have they freak out about it and revert to teenage behaviour...
Women however have their biological clock, I freaked out at turning 30 and am at the horrible age of realizing maybe I won't have kids- even though I never really wanted them you realize that you don't have forever to decide whether you do or don't, it still sends you into baby mode- especially when you see your friends starting families, it makes you look at your relationships differently and you stop looking for mr right now but its mr right or nothing. Women that have children are in maternal mode and spend the next 20-30 odd years happy raising their children putting their kids first rather than their husbands (also a very difficult time for men as they are no longer number 1 in their wives lives), so women are generally more contented than men, note why women don't run away from their responsibilities and spend the rest of their lives chasing after years gone by..
Kittycat
x
Mar 26th 2010, 10:05 am
#17
Excess Baggage
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 5,479
Re: When does Middle Age start?
Patsy, I don't think women go through a mid life crisis, and as for no boy being to young, is it not correct that men are at their sexual peak at 17 whereas women don't hit it until they are 34, also the fact that women live longer than men so it actually makes perfect sense for women to go for younger men.
And what man doesn't have a Mrs Robinson fantasy?
Going back to the op I think we see the whole 40/50 years as milestones, turning 40 is a significant milestone as you think you should have achieved certain things by that age and again at 50, so you analyze your life and realize you have or haven't achieved those things which can send you into a what have I done with my life mode. Men live their lives like teenagers, only making significant decisions when they really have to, I think around 35/40 they stop having decisions made for them, their parents have let them take control and they have already got married maybe started a family almost unconsciously as its was just an automatic step in their relationships, they look around at their friends and see the same thing, so they are left as the head of a house suddenly freaking out that they aren't actually teenagers anymore and actually have responsibilities, they become unsure what to do so they run away and buy a motorbike or have an affair as they feel this takes the responsibilities of life away and they don't know what else to do. Men don't want to grow up and when they realize they have they freak out about it and revert to teenage behaviour...
Women however have their biological clock, I freaked out at turning 30 and am at the horrible age of realizing maybe I won't have kids- even though I never really wanted them you realize that you don't have forever to decide whether you do or don't, it still sends you into baby mode- especially when you see your friends starting families, it makes you look at your relationships differently and you stop looking for mr right now but its mr right or nothing. Women that have children are in maternal mode and spend the next 20-30 odd years happy raising their children putting their kids first rather than their husbands (also a very difficult time for men as they are no longer number 1 in their wives lives), so women are generally more contented than men, note why women don't run away from their responsibilities and spend the rest of their lives chasing after years gone by..
Kittycat
x
And what man doesn't have a Mrs Robinson fantasy?
Going back to the op I think we see the whole 40/50 years as milestones, turning 40 is a significant milestone as you think you should have achieved certain things by that age and again at 50, so you analyze your life and realize you have or haven't achieved those things which can send you into a what have I done with my life mode. Men live their lives like teenagers, only making significant decisions when they really have to, I think around 35/40 they stop having decisions made for them, their parents have let them take control and they have already got married maybe started a family almost unconsciously as its was just an automatic step in their relationships, they look around at their friends and see the same thing, so they are left as the head of a house suddenly freaking out that they aren't actually teenagers anymore and actually have responsibilities, they become unsure what to do so they run away and buy a motorbike or have an affair as they feel this takes the responsibilities of life away and they don't know what else to do. Men don't want to grow up and when they realize they have they freak out about it and revert to teenage behaviour...
Women however have their biological clock, I freaked out at turning 30 and am at the horrible age of realizing maybe I won't have kids- even though I never really wanted them you realize that you don't have forever to decide whether you do or don't, it still sends you into baby mode- especially when you see your friends starting families, it makes you look at your relationships differently and you stop looking for mr right now but its mr right or nothing. Women that have children are in maternal mode and spend the next 20-30 odd years happy raising their children putting their kids first rather than their husbands (also a very difficult time for men as they are no longer number 1 in their wives lives), so women are generally more contented than men, note why women don't run away from their responsibilities and spend the rest of their lives chasing after years gone by..
Kittycat
x
Mar 26th 2010, 10:44 am
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: When does Middle Age start?
To answer the original Q, I think it's a lot to do with how you 'feel' about yourself and about your life at the present moment.
I know people who left Uni at the same time as me (at the end of the 70's)and immediately took a 'middle aged' approcah to everything (the way they dressed, the way they talked, the things they did in their spare time). At the other end I have an Uncle who is in his 70's, works occasionally as a male stripper and also travels to/has a g/f in Thailand.
I see life as being like one big footy game. Where are you in the game? are you still warming up? are you well into the first half? are you kicking off after half time? are you getting into extra time (if you're lucky!). Are you winning the game? are you losing and by how much?
Not as simple as it might seem.
I know people who left Uni at the same time as me (at the end of the 70's)and immediately took a 'middle aged' approcah to everything (the way they dressed, the way they talked, the things they did in their spare time). At the other end I have an Uncle who is in his 70's, works occasionally as a male stripper and also travels to/has a g/f in Thailand.
I see life as being like one big footy game. Where are you in the game? are you still warming up? are you well into the first half? are you kicking off after half time? are you getting into extra time (if you're lucky!). Are you winning the game? are you losing and by how much?
Not as simple as it might seem.
Mar 26th 2010, 1:16 pm
#20
Confirmed grumpy old man
Joined: May 2005
Location: Moved back to Riyadh KSA 2016
Posts: 1,298
Re: When does Middle Age start?
Men live their lives like teenagers, only making significant decisions when they really have to, I think around 35/40 they stop having decisions made for them, their parents have let them take control and they have already got married maybe started a family almost unconsciously as its was just an automatic step in their relationships, they look around at their friends and see the same thing, so they are left as the head of a house suddenly freaking out that they aren't actually teenagers anymore and actually have responsibilities, they become unsure what to do so they run away and buy a motorbike or have an affair as they feel this takes the responsibilities of life away and they don't know what else to do. Men don't want to grow up and when they realize they have they freak out about it and revert to teenage behaviour...
so women are generally more contented than men, note why women don't run away from their responsibilities and spend the rest of their lives chasing after years gone by..
Kittycat
x
Mar 26th 2010, 5:45 pm
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,434
Re: When does Middle Age start?
Mine was about 13 years ago...
Mar 26th 2010, 8:50 pm
#22
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: By the old canal...
Posts: 7,715
Re: When does Middle Age start?
I understand that the middle ages begin in about 1066 and end around 1500.
Oh- and Kitty Cat. You're endangered of becoming a species called cougar.
Oh- and Kitty Cat. You're endangered of becoming a species called cougar.
Mar 27th 2010, 3:20 am
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: When does Middle Age start?
I think it starts when the morning stiffy stops.
Mar 27th 2010, 10:43 am
#24
Bored liberal
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Over there ----->
Posts: 13,713
Re: When does Middle Age start?
Middle age starts when you buy shoes for comfort, not because they look good/sexy.
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Mar 28th 2010, 8:59 am
#26
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: When does Middle Age start?
Mind you, when you do reach middle age, at least you will know how to enjoy it............. 
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifes...62P0QX20100326
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifes...62P0QX20100326
Mar 28th 2010, 9:37 am
#27
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Dubai
Posts: 4,403
Re: When does Middle Age start?
You go house to car to barstool to restaurant to bar/club etc then car to home..you don't walk in them!!
Mar 28th 2010, 9:41 am
#28
Excess Baggage
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 5,479
Re: When does Middle Age start?
Mind you, when you do reach middle age, at least you will know how to enjoy it.............
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifes...62P0QX20100326
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifes...62P0QX20100326
Mar 28th 2010, 9:51 am
#29
A bubbly-jock...
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Teneriffe
Posts: 6,262
Re: When does Middle Age start?
You know that you have started middle age if you can identify with any of the following:
1. Far more members of the opposite sex start to look particularly attractive.
2. You get more excited about having a roast on a Sunday than going
clubbing the night before.
3. Before going out anywhere, you ask whether there is anywhere to park.
4. You leave clubs before the end to "beat the rush" (worst still
you don't go to the clubs).
5. To compensate for the fact that you have little desire to go
clubbing, you instead frequent trendy bars, restaurants or go to quiz nights in the mistaken belief that you have not turned into your parents.
6. You buy T-shirts without anything written on them.
7. You don't get funny looks anymore when you buy a Disney video as the sales assistant assumes they are for your children.
8. Pop music all starts to sound the same.
9. You actually find yourself saying "They don't make them like that
anymore" and "I remember when a taxi journey was 15 dirhams" and "Not
in my day...."
10. You find yourself saying "is it cold in here or is it just me?"
1. Far more members of the opposite sex start to look particularly attractive.
2. You get more excited about having a roast on a Sunday than going
clubbing the night before.
3. Before going out anywhere, you ask whether there is anywhere to park.
4. You leave clubs before the end to "beat the rush" (worst still
you don't go to the clubs).
5. To compensate for the fact that you have little desire to go
clubbing, you instead frequent trendy bars, restaurants or go to quiz nights in the mistaken belief that you have not turned into your parents.
6. You buy T-shirts without anything written on them.
7. You don't get funny looks anymore when you buy a Disney video as the sales assistant assumes they are for your children.
8. Pop music all starts to sound the same.
9. You actually find yourself saying "They don't make them like that
anymore" and "I remember when a taxi journey was 15 dirhams" and "Not
in my day...."
10. You find yourself saying "is it cold in here or is it just me?"
