I now know I'm old

So you've been asked or not asked?and do you want to?

I'm within 4years of retiring. I have to retire at 72. I'm 69 in December. The ministry of justice mandatory retiring age!

A Spring Chicken Galen.....don't let them persuade you otherwise! For those of you who haven't had the joy of meeting Galen you would never guess that she is within 4 years of the dreaded 72!

I know I'm old because I'm sitting here wearing a vest, a woollen polo-necked jumper and a thick cardi and I'm still chilly!

I also have white silver hair! And wrinkles! And the dreaded 'screws' as we called 'em in the Black Country! (Not the pleasurable kind with a gorgeous toy boy! The painful kind! )

Hang on there Galen we did the same English syllabus for O level so I'm four years off 72 and I have grey hair but I'm not old at all apart for my DD saying I really was a lovely old lady. Hmm.

When is old then? Stansgran. Because if nearing 70 isn't old when does being old begin? Old is not a term of abuse. When youth and middle age have passed then you are old. I don't know what else you can call it.

What's wrong with old? Surely it means experienced, knowledgeable, wise, tolerant, empathic, etc, etc ..........

Tell the Monistry of justice! Age discrimination is now illegal!apart from if you work for the MOJQ

I am pleased to be old. I am as old as you, GALEN, and to me, old means being free to do exactly as I please! although this may not be true for everyone.

I'm pleased to be old also.
I celebrate getting this far.
Not everyone does. I have friends & relatives who didn't. You must also have had loved people in your life who have died before reaching the age you are now.

It isn't the state that is so awful (apart from the dreadful aches and pains I could well do without) but that horrible word: 'old'. Old - past its best, going off. How about 'recycled' as suggested on FB this morning. That's more positive. Or maybe . . . . . .

My DW has to stand down as a Magistrate, in February as she is 70. She loves the work, but thats the MoJ rules.

At 70 I know I cannot be described as middle-aged and therefore assume the correct term is old which I am quite happy with.

However I don't feel the same as a 90 year old so maybe I should say 'young old'.

Why can't we be called "the elders" - sounds much more valued than plain "old" or even "elderly". Speaking of the latter, our local paper once referred to a 50-year old as elderly. I nearly choked with indignation. Obviously written by a wet-behind-the ears teenage reporter we decided!

"Elders" hmmmm sounds like something from a Star Trek movie. Good word though.

I don't want to be an 'elder' thanks!
It summons up images of bearded patriarchal churchmen, possibly the Amish in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Nothing wrong with being old. I'd rather be old than dead, anyway.
Galen commiserations

My mind knows I am old but my body does not seem to have realised it yet! (But I look my age - a bit scrawny and weather-beaten.)

I treat my age as just a number, isn't it down to how you feel and how you want to live your life? Some days I feel my age (64), some days I feel around 25 and others about 108 (not too many of those!). Yes I don't hear as well as I used to but I am, thankfully, free of many of the aches and pains others my age have. I don't spend my time knitting (nothing wrong with that if it is what you like) or watching daytime TV, I keep busy and make the most of my time.

My memory's not as sharp as it used to be.
Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be.

Very funny!

I might be older than lots of people but I am not an elder - they're trees!

G, can't you retire for a day or two, then start up again? I seem to think a Dr I am aware of did that.