I Received My AARP Card in the Mail, Happy 50th Birthday

Is Turning 50 a Milestone and Does it Mean I Am Young or Old?

 

I turned the magical half century mark in January. I have been waiting for some cataclysmic sign of the event, but nothing so far. No asteroids, no flashes of light, no shooting stars, not even a drop of rain, but that last absence, I understand, it rarely rains in Las Vegas. My insurance company hasn’t made any adjustments in premiums. My utility companies didn’t surprise me with a “free month” in celebration. I did enjoy a free Grand Slam breakfast on my birthday at Denny’s and Dunkin Donuts gave me a free medium cup of coffee . Seems the only one who has noticed this milestone is me.

I lied

I said no one remembered, I lied, I got my AARP card. Now that was a giant kick in the ass, as it came just last week, not even close to my day of birth with this huge happy birthday wish and of course a letter describing all the benefits of memberships for only $16 annually. I would tell you the benefits but I really don’t recall them specifically or if I could even benefit from membership. I do remember my reaction. I believe the exact words had something to do with “kiss” and “sun doesn’t shine.” and their paperwork went into the garbage, but it got me thinking about milestones. Milestones are nothing but mile markers of life. We use them for everyday things and we use them to celebrate events. Life definitely has them scattered all over if we just look. Some are called checkups or intervals but they are milestones by definition.

 

We are surrounded by milestones.

• 3,000 mile oil changes.
• 6 month dentist and doctor visits.
• Annual mammography and testicular cancer checks.
• 24 month eye exam.
• DMV issuance of a learner’s permit to drive to a teen.
• Pass the road test.
• Selective Service registration.
• Can have a beer legally
• 100,000 mile of vehicle.
• 1 million page views for writers.
• Received my AARP card in the mail.
• Mile High Club.
• Annual wedding anniversary with decade markers.
• First social security check.

Life is a series of countdown milestones. Some are good and some are signs that something will be coming to an end. Think about a car’s 100,000 mile odometer milestone. The significance is value from investment. A barometer of whether the car was good to us or not. But, the other reminder is the car just isn’t young anymore and we know unexpected repair bills are around the corner. So, the milestone reminds us that things have changed and time to consider a replacement.

 

50^th Birthday Milestone Impact

So, 100k milestone for a vehicle, means start looking for a car. So, what does age 50 milestone mean to a person? Took me some time to figure that out but I think I know. I was talking to a friend I hadn’t seen in some time and remarked that I turned 50 years old. She said “Congrats” and then added, “It’s ok, you’re still young.” That hit a chord. I started thinking, Am I still young?

Life expectancy according to the U.S. Social Security Administration.

According to data compiled by the Social Security Administration:

• A man reaching age 65 today can expect to live, on average, until age 84.
• A woman turning age 65 today can expect to live, on average, until age 86.

And those are just averages. About one out of every four 65-year-old today will live past age 90, and one out of 10 will live past age 95.

 

Milestone Age 50, Am I still young or am I old?

The S.S.A. has given us some numbers to help us figure this out.. Some of will reach 85, some won’t, and a very select few will hit 90. 10% will make it to 95 making the century milestone very exclusive. According to Genealogy in time magazine, 1 in 6,000 people become a centenarian. That makes it simple to answer the question, Am I, at age 50, still young? The sad answer is, I am not.

 

My Golden Rule determining if a person is young or old.

If you can double your age, legitimately with the odds in your favor, you are young. When you can’t, you are old. Simple. A 42 year old man or woman can legitimately hit age 84, according to the Social Security Administration.. So, that person is young. A 50 year old male doubling his age, such as myself has a 1 in 6,000 chance of hitting age 100, not even close to good odds so that person is old. Sad but true, I am old. But, I still feel good, look good and enjoy my life. But sadly, I am no longer young.