Is 75 young or old?

75 old, no way! I am still riding my horse together with all the yard work that goes with it, biking 3 miles there and back to the yard as my eyesight has never allowed me to drive. Walk my dog, accompany my daughter and granddaughter on cross country course walks when they are competing, no way is 75 old.

My daughter laughed at me when I said that there was no way that I would join the local Pensioners’ club because it’s full of old people. I’m 81, and don’t feel at all old. Pre-Covid I was a member of two choirs, which I hope will soon re-start. I walk at least 2 miles a day, and often much more (I DO have a Fitbit) I join in lots of U3A activities, and enjoy reading and watching documentaries.
I live alone, and do all my own housework, cooking and gardening. I had a new hip last year, which has been very successful. I have no medical conditions and take no medication, except a few vitamin supplements, and rarely see my doctor. I fly to Australia alone, most years, to visit my family there.
I suppose that I will start to feel old when my quality of life starts to fall, or I get health problems, but at the moment I feel fine. My daughter calls me the Pocket Rocket!

I would like to add that mixing a lot with younger people helps a lot. I have just had a really good laugh and a chat with my daughter, and a bunch of her friends for several hours. The 30+ years difference just didn’t show at all.

My mother is 100 years old. Walked yesterday on path around a lake with my sisters assistance. She had a mastectomy 5 years ago never complained. Excellent playing dominoes beats us all the time. Has a great sense of humour and says age is just a number and loves life along with the occasional cocktail and still enjoys buying nice clothes.

Pleasantly mature is how I'd describe it. I'm well past that and do much of my own decorating. Finished creosoting the shed yesterday. Garage next. Hope I will have the good grace to accept help when I need it. Mind you, my children are willing but they lead such busy lives that I don't know they could. Think I would seek independent help to save them this extra pressure. Onwards........

When I look back at my parents in law's golden wedding anniversary and they were sooo much older looking than we are now and it is ours in about 6 weeks.

It’ll be that Palmolive soap kitty! Works wonders.
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I am 73 and reckon 75 is not old, people tend to live a lot longer in better health and thats what I am hoping for. I have a few chronic conditions that could make life difficult but I let it stop me. Mr B is also 73 and a fell runner, he has just been to the dentist to see about implants and when he had his pulse taken the nurse thought there was something wrong with the testing equipment as his pulse kept treading as 41. But as the dentist explained its because he is so fit thats its low. So really you are as young as you feel.

I do believe it’s a lot to do with mindset. I’m 64 but feel 45 I love socialising, I’m up for most things and take every opportunity that comes my way. My ex husband however is 68 and in bed at 8.30/9 every night, moans a lot, won’t do anything out of his comfort zone, he generally thinks he’s an old man so he has become one, even though he’s in good health so he doesn’t need to. Thank goodness we divorced years ago.

Bijou how wonderful to read your story . Well done you.

Bijou your comment brought back wonderful memories for me. My maternal grandmother lived to a ripe old age and she drank Guinness every day too!

For me the 70s are the new 50s - age is all in the mind.

75 can't be young or even middle aged or else we would be living to 150, so it must be old, just looking at the figures. I don't think age is just a number, parts of bodies do wear out and even if they are replaced and the brain is still agile you've only really got at best 25 years left, so yes, 75 is old whether we like to admit it or not.

GreenGran
I was having a conversation with my stepdaughter. She said you won't always be young ?

75 is clearly old, but obviously levels of fitness of body and mind vary enormously at that age. Much depends on luck, genes and lifestyle. I try and live and savour every day as if it’s my last - just in case
Styles of clothing have changed since our parent/grandparents era, so that helps maintain the youthful appearance. As long as you don’t strip off ?

Although I think age is just a number, many people at 75 are still full of go, and have lots of interests and energy, although there may be a lot of aches and pains,wear and tear due to aging.. but also many people aged 75 just want to sit, and watch TV etc. I think it's an individual thing. Although my teenage gc would say it's ancient?

My mum got married again at 81. He was 83 and they had 5 very happy years travelling all over the world before he died. (exhausted probably!)

How brilliant Nanny27.

Yes Greeneyed we were all so pleased for her. She died last week aged 95. We are heartbroken but are celebrating her wonderful life.

Nanny27 Your mother sounds like a wonderful person who lived life to the full. The memories she left will help you at this time. ?

I am 70 with Rheumatoid disease, I have lots of interests including wild crafting which gets me out walking with my dog, I grow many of my own fruit and veg......I always make a point of not sitting watching television during the day. I read,knit and crochet and visit my kids. I have to keep active or I get very stiff and sore.

Of course 75 is old ? Average life expectancy in the UK is 81 FFS. It doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life and learn new things but it does mean that the time you have left is a lot more limited than it used to be!

When I was young, retired people were much older than now; I have a lot of aches and pains, having osteopena but don't think of myself as old at 71' For all that I'm suddenly feeling frustrated that I can barely walk any more!

There is a great taboo about death in many western countries and we get by perhaps, by not thinking about, or denying, ageing. I think that is why we pretend that say, 60 is the new 40, when clearly it isn’t. it can be scary. I think that there is a certain freedom when we accept our lives are finite and live each day as fully as we can and are able. Life is so precious because it is transient.

MaggieTulliver

Of course 75 is old ? Average life expectancy in the UK is 81 FFS. It doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life and learn new things but it does mean that the time you have left is a lot more limited than it used to be!

True, that!

I`m 67 and hubby is 72.

We`re far to young to die, but we`re too old for clubbing?

Yes, there is a huuuuge gap twixt the 2 aforementioned things

BUT

this just shows how wide the space is for whoever one is talking about. Abilities, circumstances and enjoyment vary greatly, so there isn't really a one size fits all answer.