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Is there a point when you realise you're too old for .......

(86 Posts)
Willow500 Sun 22-Apr-18 07:20:53

No not that! I've been idly looking through Right Move at properties way out of our league financially but suddenly realised if we miraculously won the lottery I no longer would want to buy a 6 bedroomed luxury house with vast acres of garden or dozens of rooms. Gone are the days when a huge house even appeals. All that cleaning, all that gardening - although I guess if you did win the lottery you'd be able to employ a little man grin

Are there things you once desired but now feel too old to want or need?

Witzend Sun 22-Apr-18 11:12:13

Must say it's donkeys' years since I've eyed up younger fit men! Would rather have a dog any day! Still plenty of exercise - with an adoring companion who doesn't give a toss about cellulite or unshaven legs!

GeminiJen Sun 22-Apr-18 11:04:56

There are activities I miss because I'm no longer physically capable, things like high level walking in the Alps, scuba diving in the Red Sea, cycling for miles without falling off in an unexpected gust of wind...I'm so glad though that I have the memories. Nowadays, I just enjoy the fact that, as I become increasingly decrepit, those younger fit men mentioned above are still around to help lift my carry-on luggage into the overhead locker and I can enjoy giving them a grandmotherly beam of thanks grin

Lilyflower Sun 22-Apr-18 11:02:32

We always wanted a period property, the Georgian rectory, with a view of the church. We could possibly swap our extended and nicely done up 1930's house for 'the dream' in somewhere like mid Devon where knockout property is still not overpriced. But now I want to be near the children, one of whom still lives at home as he works in the village and another of whom lives 20 minutes away.

paperbackbutterfly Sun 22-Apr-18 10:47:37

Not going to a music festival when I was younger. Now the thought of dirty loos and sleeping in a tent fill me with horror and I know I will never go but I would have loved the music and excitement

Teetime Sun 22-Apr-18 10:26:24

I'd still like to go on that very expensive Safari in Botswana. I have been fortunate enough to go on 2 Safari holidays (Kenya and South Africa) so I suppose anything more would be greedy.

Coconut Sun 22-Apr-18 10:23:59

Nannylovesshopping .... I share your pain !! ?Also, with clothes, have always loved fashion but you get to an age where you have to totally change your style and go for the sophisticated look ! Nothing worse than “ mutton dressed as lamb” ...????

merlotgran Sun 22-Apr-18 10:23:43

Hosting lively parties. We did our last one two weeks ago. Great fun but it took us nearly a week to recover.

MawBroon Sun 22-Apr-18 10:16:57

Eyeing up younger fit men grin
You can still look, but don’t expect it to be reciprocated ??sad

Jane43 Sun 22-Apr-18 10:10:54

Riding a bike - I ached for at least two weeks afterwards.

Road trips in America. Even though we have learnt all the rules of the road over the years the drivers over there last time we went are crazy. Not do they ignore speed limits and signs they expect other drivers to as well.

Linked to the previous we have no desire to go on long haul flights any more; home is much more attractive to us now.

grandtanteJE65 Sun 22-Apr-18 10:07:52

I never wanted a large garden, but we have one now, because we fell for the house! I feel far too old to take up gardening now! Make do with the basic minimum.

I too feel to old to balance on ladders cleaning gutters and the like!

Where, oh, where, is the nice young man who would do it for us?

LadyGracie Sun 22-Apr-18 10:01:15

I'd like a nice bungalow with 3/4 bedrooms, an easily kept manageable pretty garden and a nice view, not unlike our mountain view now, but in a much quieter location.

tonibolt Sun 22-Apr-18 10:00:08

I agree. I’d move house, but only because we are in the position of having to drive for everything, and we have no public transport nearer than 3.5 miles away. I wouldn’t want a bigger property (one spare bedroom does for all the stuff we don’t quite know where to keep!). The only thing I would like is a downstairs shower room as the OH struggles with the stairs sometimes

GabriellaG Sun 22-Apr-18 09:55:34

Skweek1

That sounds perfect. Not too much, just enough.

Overthehills Sun 22-Apr-18 09:53:21

I’m with Willow and MawBroon. In my case “been there, done that”!

ninathenana Sun 22-Apr-18 09:53:17

NLS I'll never be too old for that !!

I've never wanted the 6 bed house with 3 acres. I used to dream of a detached period house with an all round garden. Now it would be a 4 bed bungalow so no stairs to climb or clean and with enough garden to keep H happy. I would still like to be able to afford to go cruising at least once a year.

GabriellaG Sun 22-Apr-18 09:52:38

I once wanted to own a racehorse. I got as far as owning a fetlock (or maybe it was a hoof) but the ongoing expenses were cutting into my holiday treats.
I still love horses and content myself with exercising two of hers when she's on holiday.

NanaandGrampy Sun 22-Apr-18 09:49:58

I agree about the house and garden but more than that i WOULDN'T have a sports car !

For years I desperately wanted an Aston Martin but having been kindly been given a lift in one recently to a play I can categorically say , too low and too hard to get out of now !

I now want a huge SUV LOL , I don't mind stepping up but stepping down is too much of a challenge!!

Apricity Sun 22-Apr-18 09:41:42

It's those very basic day to day decisions about is this the last washing machine, house, car, dog/cat that I will buy? Will I buy the expensive model or brand that will last a while or the cheaper model that will only last a few years? Do I make that move, do that extension, the new kitchen.........????

Also the recognition of just how transient and how utterly meaningless so many of the things are that people think are soooo important. Eg. Expensive jewellery, clothes etc as others have noted. Love the no pockets in a shroud comment Jane10.

And the secret envy of youth, knowing that they have the luxury of time to change things in their lives - whether they do or not is another question.
Oh the pain of the intimations of mortality.

PS. This gloomy post is from someone who loves her life, her partner and family and (most of the time) is in pretty good health and is a big fan of sunsets, rainbows and the beauty of the world around us.

Nannylovesshopping Sun 22-Apr-18 09:25:12

Eyeing up younger fit mengrin

milkflake Sun 22-Apr-18 09:22:19

This is the 2nd thread today that has me thinking, yes that's me! My Dad used to say if he won the lottery he would give it to the family as he had no need for it ( he had very little money of his own) so I did think how strange. Now I feel the same, all I would do is buy a small bungalow in a lovely area , which I can't afford just now, and a new car. The children would get the rest.
I have no desire now to jet off to far flung places and have all the material things I need.
If I could buy something to help with arthritis that would be one of the few things on my list.
It's good to know others feel the same as I do.

Marthajolly1 Sun 22-Apr-18 09:21:07

Riding my bike. I always loved to be cycling but over the last couple of years I started to wobble a bit which worried me I've also moved and now live on a hill side so my lovely bike hasn't seen daylight for too long now.

Grannybags Sun 22-Apr-18 09:17:29

Low down two seater sports cars. Something comfortable and reliable to get me from A to B is fine now!

Skweek1 Sun 22-Apr-18 09:15:01

I would still love a small country cottage with a herb garden, a veg garden, fruit garden, a bit of lawn (maybe with a wild flower meadow also) and a few flower beds and an orchard, with space for a few goats and bee hives so I could be self-sufficient (my father's dream, also), ideally in an area like the Malvern Hills, where I grew up. But unless I win the Lottery (which I don't do!) I'm stuck in the place I live - I absolutely loathe it here and would live anywhere else - the only house I will ever own depends on inheriting from MIL. Don't want shoes, jewellery, clothes, sports cars, yachts or anything else luxury. Want a life of ease, not luxury.

Greyduster Sun 22-Apr-18 09:12:00

I know the feeling, tanith. I have trouble staying upright and moving around in rivers these days, added to which, having got in (which quite often involves just a rather undignified slide down the bank) I quite often struggle to get out! So I have decided this year that I will hang up my waders.

Jane10 Sun 22-Apr-18 08:58:48

I don't know if, for me, it's a matter of 'too old for' or rather 'grown out of' a wish for more things. I like to see fabulous jewellery but I don't want it. Similarly with houses, cars, smart clothes, designer shoes and bags etc.
I enjoy experiences rather than objects or items.
Is there not a Hindu thing where as you get older you give away everything? No pockets in a shroud.
Oops. Sorry. Bit of a downer.