Do you call yourself old?

Third Age, Nonu. to quote the web site:

"U3A membership is not related to a specific age but to a period in one’s life (the third age) after the second age of full-time employment and parental responsibility. Anybody in their third age can join U3A and this includes people who are working part time. There is no lower age for membership."

Ours is just a year old and has almost 400 members. We have all sorts of groups - books, writing, walking, card making, languages, photography, painting... and if you want to start another one, you can!

I like to think that I'm mature, and voluptuous, others may think I'm getting on a bit and a tad heavier than I used to be!

But not elderly! Awful word!
On paper I will be 66 in June but in my head I'm still a giddy 21.

So I'm middle-aged now, but next birthday will be OLD?

Let's removed all the value judgements from this debate and work on the facts. Average lifespan is moving towards 90, 0 - 30 is young, 30 - 60 is middle age and 60 + is old.

What we are, feel, look or compare ourselves with is irrelevant. I am looking forward to telling some thirty somethings that they are middle-aged.

Do you have to be a bit old for U3A or is it for all age groups ?

University of 3rd Age,groups of people who study a particular subject or topic that they are all interested in,from crafts to hill walking such a good idea and very popular.

u3a.org.uk/

What is U3A ?

Notso just love your post !!! but be a wee bit generious on the age bit please as I only have 3yrs to hit late middle age and don't feel ready for that just yet,still feel about 25 ?

I'm 65 and regard that as late middle age.

Anyway, old is the new black!

I'm not old. My mum is old, I'm her daughter therefore I can't be old!!

I agree, flowerfriend! I am 60 and certainly not 'elderly', in mind, attitude or, I hope, appearance

Glad you feel fitter Greatnan now than you did when you were 50 because its the same for me. I believe its the walking I do. I know you do a great deal yourself.

I am of the opinion that mixing with people of all ages helps. I would never go to something like U3A - I would rather be on my own. No I dont call myself old. The BBC seems to want to put people into age-groups. Adults are young if they are under 40. Then they are middle-aged if they are over 40. Then - cheeky sods - elderly for over 60.

I just dont like the sound of elderly. I am ME.

Does it matter what we are called - it is only words?
I heard a saying on Radio 4 today - you don't stop being young because you have grown old - you grow old when you stop being young.
I feel better at 71 than I did at 50 (admittedly I don't look as good but I don't care about that.)
The only thing that reminds me of my age is when my grandchildren seem to think I can't appreciate raunchy jokes - I haven't become less broad-minded with age.

I'm elderly. Not old though.

I think when we look at our children and realise they are getting middle-age spread and going bald, then we are brought up with the sudden thought that time is passing. I often say to my husband 'come on old man', and he just says 'not so much of the old please'. We are both past our best before date, but mix with some younger people which is good for us, and managing to get about helps of course. (We are both in our 80's)

I told my son that having a son who is middle aged was a sign of being old. He replied that I have a few years to go! I'm 71 and he is about to be 41.