I’m 55. feel too young for gransnet but too old for mumsnet.

Someone sent me a card on my 30th birthday which said "29 and holding"

Well I'm 63 but 82 in my head! Sick of all you young whippersnappers going on about retirement and the Archers. If you're going to be a gran be a Gran!

bee63, I was retired by the time I was your age (see the thread on Retirement as to why), I wasn't a grandmother until I was 64. I don't listen to the Archers and don't read the thread either.

I think the problem is that it is you who are getting set in your ways before your time. You have set up stereotypes of what a grandmother, or a retired person, or an Archers listener, or all three are and are comparing yourself with your stereotypes.

Being retired, or a Grandmother or listening to the Archers, actually tells you absolutely nothing about who the person is, how old they are, how they look, how they dress or what their political allegiances are.

Indeed a constant theme of many threads on GN is a determination not to be pigeon holed by people deciding what we are because of our age or place in the generations.

I do not feel any age, I never have. I am 'me', which is nothing to do with my age and I intend to continue to be 'me', no matter what age I reach.

Jane10....think I love you....

M0nica
You are completely right of course.
I feel very now for starting this thread.

There are things on each forum to avoid, so pick the bits that suit you and enjoy, just like the telly, watch what you fancy and ignore the rest

Bit presumptions there Bee, ? how to make friends eh Well I ve never listen to the archers and I hated retirement so did something about it and certainly dont want to talk about it or knitting or perms If only you could be a fly on the wall when I get together with my school friends you might have a blush or two
Don’t forget you could easily be a grandmother at 36
What the heck has age got to do with it my best friend is ten years older than me and my second best friend is ten years younger than my daughter
I think you need to stop being so judgemental and treat people as you find them

Aw don't be too harsh on Bee. I think it's quite hard at first to know how to join in and also to put into words exactly what your question is.
I found GN by chance when googling for answers and came across all these wise and wonderful people of indeterminate age but to whom I felt I could vent or ask questions of, in an atmosphere of support and (mostly) kindness and understanding.

I love MOnica and bluebell.

Do people still have perms?

Yes!

I probably would if my mum was still alive and had anything to do with it!

and blue rinses. I'm the toast of the OAP club ( in my ancient head)

Lol MissAdventure......Reminds me of an old family picture of me aged 4 with my Mum and Grandma. I used to look at it and think Grandma must have been about 80 at the time....she looked like Giles Grandma!
One day I did the maths.................she was barely out of her 40s!
The perm, the teeth, the coat and the zipped ankle boots....sheesh it was not a good look.

Well I had a look in my pants to see what age I am and it said "18" - so there you are

Hi Bee
I was in my 50s and a new grandmother when I first joined GN (still in my 50s til next year)

There are probably a few Gransnetters who are the result of the swinging 60s

Dip into both MN and GN.

Is there a name for first-time elderly grandmothers? I know that I was an 'elderly primigravada', but when I checked the spelling, I see that the rules have changed and a new mum has to be over 35 now to qualify.

Elderly primigrandgravada?

Bluebell I was knitting when I was 15 - in fact I started knitting a sweater for my then boyfriend, but he finished with me before I finished the sweater so I wore it myself.

So there, Robert, you missed out.

Do people still have perms?
I am forever trying to straighten my hair, it's naturally curly but not in a pretty way.

Did he go off to the trenches Jalima?

how old do you think I am Jane10!!
Anyway, that was socks

I don't know where he went, off to boarding school for VIth form I think

I am an out and proud Archers listener and have been since much younger than you bee63. Just snuck over to MN and The Archers is alive and kicking there too. Why not start your own thread on a suitably "youthful" topic, which appeals to you?

Before I get out of bed I'm still 19. When I get dressed I can be 16 or 18 depending on where I bought things.

Once I'm moving and not feeling my true 66 I settle between 30 and 45, old enough to know better, young enough not to care too much.

I agree that age is a number and most of us move between inside age, younger/older and real age so if MN and/or GN work move between them too.

Also we all have many roles in our lives, son, daughter, brother, sister, wife, husband, partner, friend,worker, mum, dad, grandparent or not grandparent etc.

I find GN embraces the experience, knowledge, support and reality checks in ways that value our lives and roles and I'm guessing MN is much the same so no need to pigeon hole anyone, especially not ourselves :-)

We don't swear as much

Ooohhh, I can!!!!