When does middle age begin and end?

Because middle is middle.

But I dont care if you make new rules!

but why does it matter?

My 'baby' is 40 next week. Boo Hoo!!!

85 is much better Rose. 75 is getting closer by the day.

Right you are Nfk 85 it is.

On that basis soontobe, the middle can be any number of years centred on 45, assuming a life expectancy of 90.

But of course it doesn't matter. In the course of one day I can pass from feeling old to young to middle-aged to decrepit, and I usually do.

I am not prepared to hoodwink myself FlicketyB. I dont care a fig what others choose to do. I am answering kittylester's question.

Not really grumpa.
How can middle age realistically be 43 - 47!

Perhaps being 'old' or 'elderly' is a bit like death, as defined by Woody Allen
'I'm not afraid of dying, I just don't want to be there when it happens!'

I think there is an elemand of pedantishness coming out here. I am off!

Of course it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, but if we like discussing it, where's the harm?

My point exactly, soontobe. Middle age can realistically be anything vaguely in the middle. I refer you to Humpty Dumpty.

I'm still as active as I was 20 years ago (too active as some of you may have seen on another thread!) and my activities still involve working with chikdren and teens. After panto finished on Saturday we all went for a celebratory meal with ages ranging from 12 to 65 and had a fab time. We regularly have curry nights out as a group. I think that being involved with the teens definitely gives you a different perspective on life....just as long as you don't go down the trendy vicar route and embarrass all concerned by trying to 'get down with the kids'! My lot are 44, 39 and 33 so I shan't be old until my 'baby' reaches 40!

It all depends on health really I think. I have both parents just tuned 75 last month, my dad's starting with dementia but still very active and working out still, doing quizzes, exercises, getting about etc but my mum, mentally fine but bed bound due to bad circulation and needing a hip replacement. So I think, as someone who is facing heart surgery at 50 years old, to make the most of every day if you can and enjoy what you have.

I do have a younger sister who I want to poke some fun at since she turned 35 in October and going off the old saying of three score years and ten, has just turned into her middle age so deserves some ribbing. Her brother and I are in our 50's and it's about time she caught up a bit, lol.

How exercised we are about the number of years we've been around. Do we really think anyone else cares how old we are physically, mentally, psychologically?

Good luck with that surgeryif it happens, ruby, and good luck if it doesn't too. Your approach of living in the present and making the most of every day is the best.

I've always maintained that middle age is 5 years older than yourself, but that is wearing a bit thin now that I'm 63... You're right, thatbags, nobody else cares, particularly as we are invisible. tiggypiro, if you are short-sighted it is always more rewarding to look in the mirror with no glasses on or lenses in.

I'm about to reach my three score years and ten. I'll accept that I'm getting on but I intend living at least another 30 years. As I was young from 20 to 45, and middle-aged from 45 to now, then 30 years is as long as I want to be old and old age can't start before 70.