The older I get.....

[PuffDaddie]

Don't worry be happy.

[...]

Statistically, most of us (unless it's done already) will live to be old, then die. One has to discipline oneself to try and enjoy the process. You wouldn't want to end up being and old tosser?

Living a good life implies a minimum of shared enjoyment, which means some people around you have to enjoy your presence at some point. Overly impatient and fussy people are no fun for anybody.

Takes discipline to let go without getting frustrated but in the end, it delivers better results...

Meditation time and cigar time can be the same time, you know

[nutcracker]

Meditation time and cigar time can be the same time, you know

Amen brother!

[gtejada]

Damn! You guys are depressing the life out of me..LOL Is this the man I have to look forward to becoming in the next few years? You are a connoisseur of aging commodities Prez, You know they only get betting with time. So are you. Enjoy the process Prez!

[mikek]

Yes I went through A part of my life where I went through all of the emotion's you are describeing. I'm 65 now and I'm starting to REALLY look at all the things I'm blessed with. Healthy,sucessful children (4 total) healthy grandchildren (7 total) and A great wife of 35 yrs. there will come A time when you wake up in the morning,and actually count your blessings, and yes A great cigar with A easy draw will always be one of them!

[Habanos2000]

I turned 51 this year and have to say that talking to yourself isn't a bad thing. Answering yourself is another story.

One thing about 'getting old' that kinda sorta bothers me is being carded (or not) when buying alcohol. I hated it when I had to pull out my license every time, but now I'd actually be flattered. Hasn't happened in a while though.

[Zigatoh]

What are you all talking about? Grumpy is awesome, it's a privilege of getting older! Another one is randomly letting rip and pretending you didn't even notice. Driving really slowly. Leaving your trolley sideways bloccking the whole aisle. Shaking your cane at the youth of today. Forgetting Everything. Making shakey shakey hands so everyone around you is nervous that you're seconds from dying and becoming their problem. Starting every other sentence with 'when I were young...'

Generally not giving a ****.

It's gonna be awesome! (37 and I'm working hard on grumpy!)

[LeafLover]

I cant see objects near. Had to get glasses this yer.

[Rushman]

i make polite signals. she completely ignores me.

Ken, just for future reference, polite signals are not the middle finger!

[Rushman]

In my professional life, I have mellowed. When I was young and an up and comer in my career, I thought every battle/obstacle was worth fighting over. Now, I don't bother with most of it.

In my personal life, I do tend to be a little less tolerating of wankers, slow people mindlessly addled in the supermarket, parking lots, streets, etc. Unfortunately this island is full of that.

[Drguano]

I cut my own hair, what I have, and now I have to spend more time on my ears than my head.

Ha! Andy, at least you don't get all the "Hi, Santa!" joviality that I undergo at this time of year. Sometimes, when I am feeling grumpy, I snarl "That's Satan, thank you!"

Geezeritis has me cranky in traffic when I get behind someone going only 65 in a 55 mph zone. My hearing is fading so I don't hear things that annoy others. That irritates others who are trying to speak to me. You can't win. Just remember that no one gets out of here alive.

[leftimatic]

I talk to myself because I am ensured of intelligent conversation that way.

Some other signs that you might be becoming a codger:

• Other peoples kids are all hideous monsters
• Older women become increasingly attractive
• Younger women even more so
• You can compute age/2 plus 7 easily - just to confirm you are not a complete pervert
• Wonder if you'll live long enough to age those 2004 Leoville Barton's enough - start calculating years left
• Don't want to drive anywhere without a really specific purpose
• Find Justin Beaber and Maroon 5 intolerable (my mother said that of "Hotel California" - so go figure)
• You start to hate Christmas music
• Start smoking a pipe because its too cold for cigars
• Unable to text with any great speed
• Own a typewriter
• Still like refer to music "albums"
• Need new glasses annually
• Have various lumps and bumps cut out on a regular basis
• Have your next colonscopy scheduled
• Check on your health insurance before travelling
• Detest travelling because your back hurts
• Know the physiotherapist closest to your office
• Know your pharmacists first name
• Move from your gigantic house into a condo (just did that) - mostly becuase you don't want to mow the lawn/shovel the snow anymore
• Own a cat
• Say to people: "when I was your age", or "when I trained.."
• You actually know who Che Guevarra was, and don't have a hat with his face on it
• Can remember the Berlin wall coming down
• Can remember the Berlin wall going up ?????? (Not me your honour!)
• Can name at least half of the cricket squad in the 69/70 test series between Oz and SA

Almost all of the above

-when you wonder why the young kids of today can't grow a beard to save their ass

-when you buy a car for the fuel economy and as long as it has AM radio your okay

-or buy the biggest most expensive vehicle made because really you may not live long enough to make the next payment and technically it's your kids money your spending anyway

- when you quit caring what other people think

- when you fart in public and pretend you have no idea what you've done, and people giggle because old guys are so cute you know you have hit your golden years (god I miss my Dad)

[Jeremy Festa]

I have noticed a few things about myself as I get closer to my 50th in Feb

1. I talk to myself more and more. Seriously, there are days I give myself a serious kick in the arse! Others where I allow myself a pat on the back. Unfortunately i am doing both out loud which draws some astonishing looks from those around me!

it was only a month or so ago that I was the behaviour of a woman in front of me peeved me no end. I had some nasty thoughts. Unfortunately I said them out loud .....not meaning to People...is this normal?

2. Tolerance is in decline.

I am generally a happy go lucky bloke. I could once let things slide and look at the big picture. Right now the big picture encompasses the next 2 seconds of what peeved me off. i have taken to counting to 10 when such occurrences hit. Unfortunately....I am counting out loud (see point 1) which is causing all and sundry around me to scurry for the nearest safe house.

3. I am liking easier drawing cigars.

For the love of god I am turning into Ken!

I use to love the Cuban draw where you need to "pull" on a cigar. Better flavour due to the cooler bur etal. These days it is increasingly distressing me. I am slowly cutting down the offending parts of the cigar until the cigar resembles a nub!

4. I don't take calls

OK....I take Di's and mums. I return all calls within a few hours if I know who is calling. I haven't checked my message bank for a year. I am not sure what the number is to check the message bank so I just change carriers every two years. Appalling.

5. I am a stickler for cleanliness. The slightest thing out of alignment is annoying me. I use to laugh at Smithy's anal retentive nature....now I am turning into him!

6. I can't stay still. My inability to wait for anything started about 5 years ago. It drives Di nuts....3 people in line is deemed a queue and I am out of there. 2 of those people were us! Traffic lights now annoy me. I talk to them (out loud).

There are ore but I am depressing myself!

Are these a sign of aging or am I just going bonkers! i look forward to the advice from Quinquagenarians +

Haha That was a great read. Cheers.

[Habana Mike]

From one quinquagenarian's standpoint I have to agree with much that's been said.

Some days I'm doing the morning ablutions and my wife asks me what I just said. Seems I'm talking to myself in the mirror, got to watch what I say!

Do tend to get cranky when annoyed, think that's recently been exhibited.......

Don't sleep as much as I used to, staying up way late many nights. That's also been observed recently!

Find more and more of this 'modern' music distasteful to me and I've always been very open-minded in that regard.

Some benefits as well though. Recently had a great steak dinner at an old-school Vegas casino restaurant and when I was settling the check they gave me half off for having reached 55!

Hang in there boys, beats the alternative!

[MIKA27]

I have noticed a few things about myself as I get closer to my 50th in Feb

1. I talk to myself more and more. Seriously, there are days I give myself a serious kick in the arse! Others where I allow myself a pat on the back. Unfortunately i am doing both out loud which draws some astonishing looks from those around me!

it was only a month or so ago that I was the behaviour of a woman in front of me peeved me no end. I had some nasty thoughts. Unfortunately I said them out loud .....not meaning to People...is this normal?

YES mate - This is normal, I do it myself and I'm 38!

2. Tolerance is in decline.

I am generally a happy go lucky bloke. I could once let things slide and look at the big picture. Right now the big picture encompasses the next 2 seconds of what peeved me off. i have taken to counting to 10 when such occurrences hit. Unfortunately....I am counting out loud (see point 1) which is causing all and sundry around me to scurry for the nearest safe house.

At least you're counting mate, I don't, I find myself getting peeved off at a lot of things. This has been a really full on year to almost anyone I speak with, so maybe you need another holiday!

3. I am liking easier drawing cigars.

For the love of god I am turning into Ken!

I use to love the Cuban draw where you need to "pull" on a cigar. Better flavour due to the cooler bur etal. These days it is increasingly distressing me. I am slowly cutting down the offending parts of the cigar until the cigar resembles a nub!

There can be only one Ken... Be worried when you start tasting stone fruits in every cigar

4. I don't take calls

OK....I take Di's and mums. I return all calls within a few hours if I know who is calling. I haven't checked my message bank for a year. I am not sure what the number is to check the message bank so I just change carriers every two years. Appalling.

I have no comment on this, that's pretty bad form mate

5. I am a stickler for cleanliness. The slightest thing out of alignment is annoying me. I use to laugh at Smithy's anal retentive nature....now I am turning into him!

Yep, sign of ageing, I find myself doing the same whereas a few years ago, I was quite happy with a little clutter

6. I can't stay still. My inability to wait for anything started about 5 years ago. It drives Di nuts....3 people in line is deemed a queue and I am out of there. 2 of those people were us! Traffic lights now annoy me. I talk to them (out loud).

Hmmm.... Seek medical attention

There are ore but I am depressing myself!

Are these a sign of aging or am I just going bonkers! i look forward to the advice from Quinquagenarians +

You ARE old, what the hell is a Quinquagenarians

[Habana Mike]

quinquagenarian (plural quinquagenarians)

One who is between the age of 50 and 59, inclusive.

[jazzboypro]

I have noticed a few things about myself as I get closer to my 50th in Feb

1. I talk to myself more and more. Seriously, there are days I give myself a serious kick in the arse! Others where I allow myself a pat on the back. Unfortunately i am doing both out loud which draws some astonishing looks from those around me!

it was only a month or so ago that I was the behaviour of a woman in front of me peeved me no end. I had some nasty thoughts. Unfortunately I said them out loud .....not meaning to People...is this normal?

2. Tolerance is in decline.

I am generally a happy go lucky bloke. I could once let things slide and look at the big picture. Right now the big picture encompasses the next 2 seconds of what peeved me off. i have taken to counting to 10 when such occurrences hit. Unfortunately....I am counting out loud (see point 1) which is causing all and sundry around me to scurry for the nearest safe house.

3. I am liking easier drawing cigars.

For the love of god I am turning into Ken!

I use to love the Cuban draw where you need to "pull" on a cigar. Better flavour due to the cooler bur etal. These days it is increasingly distressing me. I am slowly cutting down the offending parts of the cigar until the cigar resembles a nub!

4. I don't take calls

OK....I take Di's and mums. I return all calls within a few hours if I know who is calling. I haven't checked my message bank for a year. I am not sure what the number is to check the message bank so I just change carriers every two years. Appalling.

5. I am a stickler for cleanliness. The slightest thing out of alignment is annoying me. I use to laugh at Smithy's anal retentive nature....now I am turning into him!

6. I can't stay still. My inability to wait for anything started about 5 years ago. It drives Di nuts....3 people in line is deemed a queue and I am out of there. 2 of those people were us! Traffic lights now annoy me. I talk to them (out loud).

There are ore but I am depressing myself!

Are these a sign of aging or am I just going bonkers! i look forward to the advice from Quinquagenarians +

I will be 50 in january so i can surely relate to some of the points you have listed, specifically:

1

2

6

you can add

- Can't stand crying babies in restaurants anymore

- I find myself hating winter a bit more every year

- After five minutes in traffic i'm ready to hit someone

- People looking in every pocket/wallet/purse for the exact change when paying an item really pisses me off

[KRunch61]

I'm 53 and you are All missing the point! It's all a matter of...I mean, the truth of the matter is....that is, what's most important is...

I'm sorry, what were we talking about?!

[LeafLover]

I know I'm getting older because I called people on their twenties "kids."

[cigcars]

I've been fluctuating back and forth (at age 57 btw) with a long, LONG litany of stuff to say, and back down to remaining mute out of, "Mehhhh...!" So, I'll just quote Tyler Perry's words of wisdom: "You aren't who you are at age 40 that you were at age 20; and if you are THEN SOMETHING'S WRONG!!!" I'm sure, Rob, you can fit your brand new age of a very young 51 in there too!

[Hash]

are those symptoms , what is referred to as male menopause.?

[joeypots]

The older I get the harder it is to do anything I don't want to do. That sums it up entirely. Except for this. I like my dog more and most people less as time passes.

[JoeyGunz]

I'm only 27, the mrs and family would say I give you lot a run for your money when it comes to being the stereotypical grumpy old man, I'd disagree but mainly because I disagree about everything...

[Habana Mike]

are those symptoms , what is referred to as male menopause.?

You mean manopause?

[FLB03TT]

Reaching my late 50's I've learned to never expect people to do what you would think they should do, if you don't you will be perpetually disappointed. If you do, life runs much more smoothly.

No question that the love I feel for my Aussie dog surpasses that of every human I've known with the exception of my wife and son, for which I am blessed.

Ya, and I fart a lot more now!