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What do you find yourself avoiding more as you get older?

(147 Posts)
randomgoogleimages Thu 23-Apr-26 18:14:18

People

CocoPops Thu 23-Apr-26 21:50:03

Lately I have realised I have started to avoid trivial converastions. If I meet someone by chance when out and they start rabbiting on about Trump or food prices for example, I make my excuses and leave. However, if I bump into an interesting bod or someone lonely, bereaved or sick I suggest hanging out over coffee. I really don't want to stand and chat on the sidewalk especially when it's raining. So I guess age has made me less tolerant.

MissChateline Thu 23-Apr-26 22:00:11

Catching sight of my naked body in the walk in wardrobe full length mirror!

merlotgran Thu 23-Apr-26 22:19:01

Night driving.
Walking on uneven ground without a stick. Better to be safe than sorry.
Decorating.
Tea and coffee unless decaffeinated.

JenniferEccles Thu 23-Apr-26 22:27:53

I certainly haven’t become antisocial but I think I am tending to be more unsociable, in that I am very selective in whom I spend time with.
Judging from other comments I’m not alone in this.

I really dislike noisy environments, and I have been known on more than one occasion to ask restaurants to turn the music down.

Flying, certainly long distance, doesn’t appeal at all now so I’m pleased we did that when we were younger.

Bellanonna Thu 23-Apr-26 22:47:20

Ironing

Plus many of the above

Romola Thu 23-Apr-26 22:47:50

The airport experience. Ot is a former of hell.

Romola Thu 23-Apr-26 22:48:36

Proofread, Granny! It is a form of hell.

MT62 Thu 23-Apr-26 23:27:04

Oh absolutely most things you grans have mentioned on here.

henetha Thu 23-Apr-26 23:32:56

Hills. Have to walk on the flat.
Crowds. Can't abide em.
Ironing. Rather have creases.
Noise. Peace and quiet please.

Allira Thu 23-Apr-26 23:38:02

Crowds
Walking downhill
Motorway driving (but that is because they are busier and because of the other idiots on the roads).
Vacuuming
Intrusive music when out in a restaurant and trying to chat

Wyllow3 Thu 23-Apr-26 23:49:06

We've learnt from experience?

barmcake Fri 24-Apr-26 00:00:19

People

nanna8 Fri 24-Apr-26 00:26:12

Extended coach trips. Boring and I always want to wee the minute I get on ! Plus, sadly, trips to Europe - can’t cope with long haul flights now. Limit 6-8 hours which just about takes me to the Pacific region and New Zealand.

mae13 Fri 24-Apr-26 02:08:30

People who talk about health matters - theirs only, of course - ad nauseam.

A conversation can start off on ANY topic but they rapidly steer it onto their health, first, second, last and all flipping stops in between.

Back in the pandemic I needed assorted amputations, which I've managed to camouflage to a degree. It's certainly not something to inspire invigorating conversation and social interaction with anyone and everyone. Or narcissism.

JamesandJon33 Fri 24-Apr-26 06:11:35

Noise
Crowds
Bad news

teabagwoman Fri 24-Apr-26 06:53:52

Many of the above. I still like meeting up with people but only for short periods and I’m selective.

NotSpaghetti Fri 24-Apr-26 07:29:36

So sorry to hear that mae13.
I hope you are managing OK and that you have support from family/friends.
flowers

karmalady Fri 24-Apr-26 08:05:45

People who are energy suckers or moaners or pedants or who latch on or have a wooden spoon for stirring trouble

Flippinheck Fri 24-Apr-26 08:09:44

Shopping, crowds, people other than my family and two close friends, doctors.

M0nica Fri 24-Apr-26 08:35:30

Surely we all avoid things all through life, at every age, so what is special about stopping doing things when we are older?

At 20 I decided to avoid getting drunk because it was not a pleasant experience. At 70 I began avoidng driving at night because it was getting more difficult.

AGAA4 Fri 24-Apr-26 08:48:37

I do avoid more things now I am approaching 80.
Driving.
Late meals.
Crowds
New places where I don't know where the toilets are.

foxie48 Fri 24-Apr-26 09:15:43

Eating later in the evening
wearing hearing aids in very noisy environments
moaners
eating food I don't much like except when I'm a visitor. If anything is going in my stomach I want it to taste good, do me good and give me pleasure and be in small portions!

Meandrogrog Fri 24-Apr-26 09:22:54

JenniferEccles

I certainly haven’t become antisocial but I think I am tending to be more unsociable, in that I am very selective in whom I spend time with.
Judging from other comments I’m not alone in this.

I really dislike noisy environments, and I have been known on more than one occasion to ask restaurants to turn the music down.

Flying, certainly long distance, doesn’t appeal at all now so I’m pleased we did that when we were younger.

I am with you on noisy environments. There is music everywhere now in restaurants, I like to have a peaceful setting and be able to talk to whoever I am with. If youngsters are working there the music is to their liking but not usually mine! I try to avoid eating anywhere with music if I can.

Esmay Fri 24-Apr-26 09:24:53

Some people really get on my nerves and I avoid them .

Here's what I've had last week -

Why don't I move into a retirement flat because her Aunt loves it . They play bingo in the community space.

Why don't my kids visit more often ?

Why don't I sell my father's house ?

What am I doing about my health-they have private health care .

I can understand how people become recluses.

Witzend Fri 24-Apr-26 09:54:01

Long haul flying, esp. if major jet lag is involved, though I will still cross the Atlantic to visit a sister on the east coast. But we’ve done plenty of that in the past, and I’m happy if dh still want to go major long haul without me, as he did last year.

Excessive summer heat. I’ve recently turned down the offer to join an extended family holiday in southern Spain in high summer.

Crowds!

Any holiday/trip accommodation where I can’t be guaranteed at least a king size bed (to share) - or two singles, and an ensuite bathroom! Too many nocturnal wees for having to share.