Over 50's

MrsMW · 20 May 2005 at 7:19PM

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this, but I was reading the Silver Savers board about holidays and Saga. Is it just or me or do other over 50's find that they don't fit into the stereotypical categories of older folk? My impression is that if are more mature, you are classed as old. I am disabled and sometimes get depressed being at home alone all day and my Dr keeps trying to get me to join local clubs, societies etc. But I'm the wrong generation, I don't want to play bingo, or talk about WWII and as for going on coach outings, no thanks. I saw one of these outings returning yesterday, full of old ladies with gray hair and crimplene jumpers. One of the ladies told me they had a lovely sing song, but they hadn't liked the place where they went for tea.
But did they sing Beatles and Elvis songs, I think not.
Now don't get me wrong, I like old people, my neighbours who are in their late 80's are lovely and invited me out to the local old folk's club, but I'm not one of them. I tried the local W.I, but the youngest person there was about 75 and all they discussed was the old days before I was born!!
Well I'm 59 and in another 10 years time I may go on a coach trip, but it will be full of people with coloured hair, wearing jeans and we'll stop at a pub and sing Kylie songs.
And I'll be rich because I've always been a good money saver and wasted too much time on this site.
I'll take my tongue out of my cheek now.

elona · 20 May 2005 at 7:29PM

I enjoyed your post and it raised some very good points- people of 50 now are like 40 year olds of 30 years ago and do not see themselves as a different generation.

Maybe we could start a MSE coach trip - what do you think - where would we go?:j

jaybee · 20 May 2005 at 7:47PM

Hi MrsMW

I know exactly what you mean!!!! I turned 60 in March and am struggling with coming to terms with being classed as an OAP!!!! No offence to people who want to play bowles or go ballroom dancing (and I know some young people who do!) but I don't want to EVER - I'm quite sure of that!

I still wear jeans and trainers (although I read in the newspaper the other day that you shouldn't wear either if you are over 35:eek: ). Don't think I look like mutton dressed as lamb - I'm just ME.

It's quite interesting that the young people I work with are always asking me for computer tips and info on the latest technology ('cos I'm a bit of a gizmo freak!).

I do look at Silver Surfers and find some of the tips relevant but pick up far more from other sections of this site. Money Saving Old Time has taught me loads that I didn't know . . .

Coach trips . . . well, maybe. The only one I ever went on was when I was 17 because my parents wouldn't let me 'go abroad' on my own. It was good, and showed me other places I wanted to explore later on. Some of the SAGA holidays do look interesting - but I don't want to be with the 'blue rinse' brigade. Absolutely no offence meant!

I guess I've always been a bit of a loner and haven't really fitted in with the club and society sterotype, but I believe in doing my own thing and have come into contact with so many people with many varied interests and don't feel that I have to 'be an old sterortype person' at all.

ManAtHome · 20 May 2005 at 8:30PM

elona wrote:

I enjoyed your post and it raised some very good points- people of 50 now are like 40 year olds of 30 years ago and do not see themselves as a different generation.

More like the 30 year olds of 30 years ago....

Agreed on the coach trips - leave it another 20 years or so. For holidays, just go wherever - I wouldn't touch 'over 50' (or anything with age ranges) with a bp. For the getting out bit, have you looked at local education classes - quite a variety of daytime classes in my area (DON'T CHOOSE KNITTING FOR PLEASURE.!).

Of course I have a great advantage, we men never get much past 17 anyway (considered a sex-change.?).

Edinburghlass_2 · 20 May 2005 at 8:38PM

I volunteered to be BG for the Silver Savers as I didn't think many people would own up to being an over fifty

and I have to agree with you all, as for me I am still the slim 20 year old I have always been :rolleyes:

Worse still I have a 14 year daughter, can you imagine all those hormones!

So, how about a bit of brain storming and see what we can do to jig up the Silver Savers board for us Silver Savers who really don't feel we actually fit the catagory?

Edinburghlass_2 · 20 May 2005 at 8:51PM

Right, just been into Silver Savers and find Martin's welcome thread has been there since 2003

So tonight I am going to try and think up a catchier welcome and see if we can come up with some ideas to breathe a bit of life into the board. Obviously it will still be useful for offers only available to the over fifties but it would be nice to gain some insight into what people are looking for info on.

Once we get a bit of posting on this thread I can ask mini to move it over to the SS board but perhaps more people will look in here for now so thanks to
MrsMW for bringing up this subject

elvis_bloggs · 20 May 2005 at 8:51PM

elona wrote:

Maybe we could start a MSE coach trip - what do you think - where would we go?:j

A strip joint....I might be old but not dead yet. :j

Peter-Pan_5 · 20 May 2005 at 8:55PM

I agree with all these posts,Edinburghlass I still think young glad to know

that lots of us feel the same,no offence to anyone but in the silver surfers thread I

don`t want to hear about funeral plans,cheap vitamins etc,

by the way I am 60 in July[4th] and a man!!!!!!.

Peter-Pan_5 · 20 May 2005 at 8:59PM

Edinburghlass what about mentioning dates places for concerts,Rod Stewart

Elton John,Stones etc,lets get rockin` and rollin`

margaretclare · 20 May 2005 at 8:59PM

Hi all

I totally agree with all that has been said. B and I have just come back from a very enjoyable evening at our local Adult Community College. It was an evening planned to celebrate the achievements of specific people from each of the classes and groups that are on at the college, from patchwork to short-mat bowls via tap-dancing, languages, maths, various computer courses, you name it. I was nominated for an award from the Intro to GCSE Maths course I've been doing. I recently achieved Adult Numeracy Level 1 and in 2 weeks' time I'll be taking the Level 2 exam (almost equivalent to GCSE). The oldest man there who achieved an award was in his 80s - he was described as being 'passionate about learning'.

Both B and I are volunteers - he helps with a group that helps and encourages silver surfers. I go to CAB 2 afternoons a week answering the phone. We're both involved with church. A free TV licence won't be much - we spend more time on the computer (we have broadband) than we do watching TV. We don't like the stereotyping. A free bus pass will be useless - I can't walk to the top of the road to the bus-stop. We both still drive and hopefully will do so for as long as possible.

We have no interest in being nostalgic about WWII - what's there to be nostalgic about, anyway? Nor can B reminisce with older guys about National Service - he never did it, due to knee surgery.

I am getting very disillusioned about CAB - I'm only motivated to go because of loyalty to the other volunteers and staff there. I need something else if I decide to stop going there, and my real interest is in helping adult learners achieve literacy.

We are also passionate about the environment and although we don't do a lot of gardening, the wildlife garden and the pond at the back provide a constant source of interest, pleasure and enjoyment. There's always something happening. Next thing we know, the baby frogs will start emerging from the pond.

Bingo, coach trips and the other pursuits you mentioned do not interest us at all. We like going off on our own, doing our own thing, stopping whenever we see a nice-looking place to eat or stay the night. Coach trips are too regimented for us. We went on a Warners holiday in April 2004 and it was as disastrous as the Saga one I described. Fortunately we had the car and we were able to get out and about on our own. But that wasn't really the idea - there was meant to be everything you needed on site (Hayling Island). We'll never do anything like that again!!

I find that at 70, we're in between generations. Just too young to reminisce about when we joined the forces in WWII, and just a bit older than the baby-boomers.

Aunty Margaret

Edinburghlass_2 · 20 May 2005 at 9:01PM

scoobytwo wrote:

Edinburghlass what about mentioning dates places for concerts,Rod Stewart

Elton John,Stones etc,lets get rockin` and rollin`

Oh don't remind me they have cancelled Rod Stewart at Edinburgh Castle this July :mad:

amongst other concerts I must add.

Over 50's

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