Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

What age do you think you were most happy? Or maybe you feel it’s not come yet?

(119 Posts)
DiscoDancer1975 Mon 30-Aug-21 12:03:35

Our son asked all of us this the other day. Apparently, a study has shown that 67 is the ‘ magical’ age where we are most happy.

I couldn’t really answer. There’s been good and bad times all through our ages. However, 67 is a few years off for me and hubby at the moment, but those of you who are 67...what do you think? Is it all rubbish, or could there be something in it?

Over to you....

HolySox Mon 30-Aug-21 14:50:16

Around 40 was a good time. Children were old enough to look after themselves but still young enough to enjoy being part of the family, whilst we were young enough to do things with them.
Perhaps 67 is when you've settled into retirement (few years off yet for me) but not too infirm to do things you want. However, whenever I ask a friend at swimming how he is, he simply smiles and says "still alive". He says he enjoys each day now and doesn't worry about tomorrow. Maybe he's found the best age. He is 87!

hollysteers Mon 30-Aug-21 15:07:55

Around 36, young children and enjoying part time work.
I think it was Bette Davies who said everything should stop at 36 for a woman.

User7777 Mon 30-Aug-21 15:28:35

17 to 27 for me

nanaK54 Mon 30-Aug-21 15:39:33

Whoop! Such good news, I will be 67 in October, not too long to wait for all the good stuff! grin

DiscoDancer1975 Mon 30-Aug-21 16:20:26

nanaK54

Whoop! Such good news, I will be 67 in October, not too long to wait for all the good stuff! grin

???

AGAA4 Mon 30-Aug-21 16:44:24

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 67 so maybe not the best year for me.
I am a contented person mostly and have found happiness in each stage of life so can't say one decade was happier than another.

DiscoDancer1975 Mon 30-Aug-21 16:47:06

AGAA4

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 67 so maybe not the best year for me.
I am a contented person mostly and have found happiness in each stage of life so can't say one decade was happier than another.

Aww, bless you. Are you all better now?

M0nica Mon 30-Aug-21 16:48:53

Once I left school and went to Uni, I have always been quietly content with my life, it has had its ups and downs, whose life hasn't? but I find it impossible to say any decade, let alone any year, was any happier than any other.

Happiness is an 'of the moment' emotion, for me, content is the norm.

AGAA4 Mon 30-Aug-21 16:53:48

Thank you DiscoDancer1975. I had 5 years of treatment and so far I am free of it.

maryrose54 Mon 30-Aug-21 16:55:36

Since I reached my 60s and am now 67.First grandchild was born just before my 60th birthday, followed by his sibling 2 years later. They are a joy.Retired at 64. The only drawback has been my anxiety, which has always been a problem but seems to have got worse since I retired.

DiscoDancer1975 Mon 30-Aug-21 16:55:52

AGAA4

Thank you DiscoDancer1975. I had 5 years of treatment and so far I am free of it.

???

Redhead56 Mon 30-Aug-21 19:01:11

I am 65 in September I have a lot of problems because of arthritis it can only get worse. I think my best years were my 40s remarried and my children young and happy and adored me. They still do of course and they are happy but I still miss them our house seems empty.

Jaxjacky Mon 30-Aug-21 20:02:08

The grand age of 62, a magical year, we lived in Françe from March to October, it truly was a summer of love, adventures, gorgeous weather and friends.

Franbern Tue 31-Aug-21 09:02:49

My twenties were okay - got married, set up my first home - but desperately wanted a baby - and the first one took five years to arrive. As friends, etc became pregnant during this time, I became more and more depressed.
My 30's when I was a stay-at-home Mum with lots of children and foster-children - but those years were marred with serious financial problems, and an increasingly disabled with MS, hubbie.
My forties were marred with my own increasingly debilitating illness.
Fifties were okay (operation to remove offending organ in my body gave me back my health), but had to cope with breakdown of my marriage.
Sixties, would have been excellent, I was happily employed in NHS, moved from family house to a much smaller one, which I loved - but the tragic death of my youngest child at the beginning of these cast a shadow throughout. But....G.chldren started to arrive, which was good.
Seventies - on the whole were pretty good, I was now retired, children all doing okay in the world and g.children increasing in number. However, my ex-husband caused many problems and heart-ache.
Moved to my flat two years before my 80th birthday. Can only say that I have never been so happy and deeply content as I am now.

MerylStreep Tue 31-Aug-21 09:18:07

Franbern
And you deserve every second of that contentment.

Nannylovesshopping Tue 31-Aug-21 09:29:16

Franbern ?????

nanna8 Tue 31-Aug-21 09:33:20

40 for me I think. Very busy, all the children still living at home but I can remember my wonderful 40 th birthday with close friends, lots of food, wine and music and went on for hours and hours. Those were the days my friend, as they sang.

glammanana Tue 31-Aug-21 09:33:28

I was happiest during my 30's when the children where young and all at school and I worked full time,a busy time but with the help of my amazing husband we enjoyed the time with them.
These past two years have been sad years but I can say I am feeling content and grateful for the memories I have since loosing my wonderful man nearly 2 years ago I can say at nearly 71 I am content with my life.

annodomini Tue 31-Aug-21 10:37:47

50s, I think. My first DGD was born when I was 51 and gave me great joy, as she always has since. I had a job which I loved. I was elected to the Council, a position which enabled me to be some use to the community I represented. Freed from my ex-H, I was able to take the kind of holidays that really satisfied me - Ramblers, in a number of different European countries. Yes, the 1990s was a very fulfilling decade.

DiscoDancer1975 Tue 31-Aug-21 10:49:40

Franbern ?

DiscoDancer1975 Tue 31-Aug-21 10:52:42

nanna8

40 for me I think. Very busy, all the children still living at home but I can remember my wonderful 40 th birthday with close friends, lots of food, wine and music and went on for hours and hours. Those were the days my friend, as they sang.

We remember our 40th birthday party, ( had a joint one ). It was awful! Hated every minute of it, and have never wanted one since. A party that is...not a 40th birthday! However...the 40’s that followed were good.

henetha Tue 31-Aug-21 10:56:24

I was happy when my children were young and needed me, in my 20's.
And I liked my 30's too as that what when I went back to work, learned to drive, started to stand up for myself in my difficult marriage. And my children still needed me.
I'm reasonably content now in my 80's, mostly, but sometimes it's difficult.

PernillaVanilla Tue 31-Aug-21 11:04:15

I'm 65 and very happy. I'm fit, have lost 4 stone in the last 8 months and started running again - very proud I can still do that! Adult children doing well, not bogged down with grandchildren yet and now the mortgage is paid off we feel better off than when we had a lot of responsibilities. Providing I can stay healthy - DH too - life is very good.

shysal Wed 01-Sept-21 10:37:18

My happiest years were in my 20s, bringing up my children.
Mid-sixties were a good age too, divorced, retired and fit enough to jog and attend main stream exercise classes. Alas, a decade later RA is a nuisance!

runnerbean Wed 01-Sept-21 10:42:47

At 50 when I realised the menopause had happened after years of miserable periods. Still pleased about that today!