How old are you when you are old enough to....

I dislike "seniors" and "pensioners" Retired is ok because it implies you've had a life!
Old age comes on gradually and you're quite right it comes as a shock when people make too many assumptions and treat you as though you are very old.
Grandparents can be in their 30s for heaven's sake but also in their 90s. That's a broad age group. Please don't lump us together.

Maggiemaybe

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My comment was to the OP, K9KTK

I'm with you on that.
I avoid avoid avoid.
I 'joined' a second WI for a taster befire committing to the annual fee (£40) and quickly found that, although very well attended, they were all dressed much 'older' than I do and were 'ladies, y'know, gold watches, plenty of scarves and jewellery. Not me at all.
To top it all, the lady sitting in front of me kept farting throughout the talk on Women's roles in WW2.
I left during the coffee break.

I've just booked some theatre tickets and for the first time asked if there was a discount for pensioners (my DH not me), there wasn't but having asked once I'll ask for other things as well. Every little helps as they say.

Although having said that and although using senior cards for organisations I can't see me ever going to any event organised specifically for 'Seniors' (grin)

Isn't 'Seniors' a better expression? English Heritage, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, cinemas etc all use that expression I haven't heard 'Pensioners' used for a long time.

With you all the waywillow

I'm with stella1949 - I prefer the term "seniors", which is used in the USA. But being called a "pensioner" (which I am) doesn't bother me, and it wouldn't stop me from doing some nice! (For some years, I have emphasised that "elderly" means someone at least twenty years older than I am....)

But so many of the problems of older people is poor mobilty or a lack of transport etc.

Do you have good neighbours or such how near are your local shops?

How good are your local bus services?.
Going out at night as a single person?
Driving at night can become difficult.

As long as you can get out in your car things are manageble
I go to a choir about 16 miles round trip away quite a journey fortunately it is one long drive and not a complicated busy drive.

*NannyJan53 *"says
( I would have gone, I am 65 said NannyJan53 )wait until you are in your 70s, Things change. our health and mobilty changes.

I was a keen walker until my joints wore out. Partly down to a fall ) Too much walking bending etc.
The more I walk the more painful it gets.
There are so many things that disrupt ones plans.
(Feeling sorry for myself today)
(Sad)

I agree with some of what you say Willow10 It's annoying when residential homes, day centres etc all assume we want 40s music etc when we were brought up with Elvis and the Beatles. I am realistic enough to know that I am old now but this does not mean I cannot enjoy a lot of life's pleasures and thankfully be well enough to care for myself and sometimes for others.

I won't do bowls, bingo, sing songs from the forties or do any other organised activity for the elderly, pensioners, OAP or whatever. People seem to forget that our era was the swinging sixties and I for one will never consider myself as old!

Not really Sodapop. I belong to U3A and sometimes sign up on trips organised by them. I am happy to take up an invitation to a posh tea, but not just because I am an older person in the village. Much better to give the money to a charity for the homeless. I remember my mother moving to a village when about my age and the rather ludicrous thought that she might be given some of the produce from the Harvest Festival!

You could convince yourself that you would be doing a service chatting to all those old folk !

Is it free? What’s not to like?

“Pensioners” sounds very outdated, I haven’t heard the term for many years. I dislike all the euphemisms for “Old”, which is how I would describe myself.

I used to go to bingo with my DD when I was in my 30s. She still goes (she's in her 40s). Lots of young people go. The first time we went I won £300.

When my DM retired she signed up to U3A and started several activities when she wanted to do something not already covered.
Although I am well past the age for joining I don't feel quite ready to join my mum's club!
I have been to a couple of gransnet outings so maybe getting there.
I still work part time but enjoy my bus pass
I think like you OP I would avoid the posh tea unless you want to meet new people.

Old folk vary as much as young folk. Old folk are as interesting as young folk. Why do people, who evidently are on the old side of life, object to being old or being called old. Old is just a word. It means not young and past middle age. What's not to like? I think objecting as much as some people on here do is ageist.

Why not use the term "Seniors" - it still means much the same but sounds much more respectful.

K9KTK; I agree. Whilst the idea of a free afternoon tea in a posh place sounds attractive I wouldn't want to be considered an 'oldie' so I would decline. I'd probably be cutting of my nose to spite my face but I'm lucky that people think I'm younger than I am and I mix with a lot of young people which I do enjoy and appreciate.

yggdrasil: I joined U3A some while ago but every single session I wanted to take part in was full so I gave up. I was very disappointed

taken out to tea with a load of old folk.grin
Lemongrove: You could have couched that a bit better! Is your a friendly one or an evil one?
I would have expected a show of empathy for us matured members of society, as we sway to the beat of our communal sing-alongs! Friendly ! Live and let Live, as they say.

For me it would depend on who was going. I mean, if I just turned up and there was a bunch of old people I didn't know, all just going for the free afternoon tea, then I wouldn't want to be there. If, on the other hand, I went along with a group of friends, or at least people I knew well, that would be altogether different.
I don't in the least mind acknowledging I'm a pensioner. I'm in my late 60's, I draw my pension, I have grey hair and wrinkles. There is no way I could fool anyone into believing I don't belong in that category, and can't think of any reason why I should want to

I am part of the U3A here. We are often having discussions as to what stops people joining us, whether it the the idea it is for pensioners, or that it is very academic.
Neither is correct. You can join the U3A as long as you are retired or semi-retired. We would really like the younger ones to come and put their energy into helping keeping us going. And we have a wide variety of Groups, just see our website www.burnhamu3a.com
Some of those U3As in university towns have more possibility of having more academic subjects, but anyone can start a Group on anything if they want to.

wouldnt require a perm to make your hair curl!!! smile
Travelsafar; Spot on! Like reading some GN posts written by the "young at heart". I still have a lovely head of fair hair, some rotten people say it's grey, but it's also quite curly by bedtime after catching up with my mail!
I've had my OAP 30 years, my OBE 10 yrs and very proud to wear them wherever I'm invited. Our local Council describes our activities as "positive ageing", "social inclusion" and IMO non-participants are basically anti-social. Nothing wrong with that as long as they keep quiet about it.