Age Is Relative, and Old Relatives Aren't That Old

USA Today reported on a recent Pew Research Center report asking people, "What age is old?"

If they would have asked me, I would have answered, "Much older than me."

And, that's pretty much what many people said.

"No matter what their chronological age, most people say that they aren't 'old' - and that they feel younger than their birthday count," USA Today reported.

My favorite points in the story were the ages people thought were "old."

--More than half of those under 30 thought people are old before age 60.

--Middle-aged respondents said "old" is closer to age 70.

--People who are 65 and older reported that people aren't old until they reach 75.

It's not a surprising study, but it's an optimistic one for Baby Boomers (who may or may not be old, depending on if you ask us or younger people).

Only 21 percent of people between 65 and 74 in the study said they feel old. "And, among those 75 and older, just 35 percent said they feel old," the story reported. I think I know that other 65 percent.

Thirty-nine million Americans (about 13 percent) are currently age 65 and older, and the first of our 76 million Boomers will get there in a couple of years. I guess that means we'll keep getting more middle-aged the older we get -- as long as we're overseeing the surveys.

In my view, the old gray mare is better than she used to be. Gloria Swanson's faded star, Norma Desmond, was only 50 in Sunset Boulevard. Frances Bavier was in her late fifties when she made her debut as archaic Aunt Bee in the Andy Griffith Show.

They were old. We're not.

Comments

[prtynessy]

Great take on the USA Today article! I def feel younger than I actually I am!

[runmollyrun]

The other day I ran a 10k.

5 yrs ago I couldn't run 1 mile.

age doesn't mean a thing.

[stylesoo42]

I was walking down the street, and I heard a teenager(probably only 16) saying 'she felt old.' WHAT? I'm 42 and, like the article, I don't think I'm old. I think after I turned 30, I realized/ accepted that I will always reach that age I used to think was old. Now, I just try to live one day at a time. I look back to when I was 20 and try to remind that although I'm older than I was then, I am not 'old.' I just have a new point of view.

[LAbruins2]

We should all take Spelling’s perspective and see that age is indeed relative. I’m only 21, and I hope that I can continue to feel young all my life.

[Chip1222]

I remember how old my mother looked when she was younger than I am now. I wonder if my kids will say the same thing us. I think we look much younger than past generations, don't we?

[stevefromkelso]

Old is 15 years older than yourself.

[Freshcity]

Totally agree. I don’t want someone younger calling me old. If I don’t feel old, who cares.

[kaseybandit]

I wish I felt so young at 36 as those 70-somethings do.

[ThreeCentsWorth]

I'm a bummed boomer learning about Norma Desmond and Aunt Bee. How can I be older than the poster girls for old ladies? I was feeling younger before learning their ages.