At What Age Do You Change From Being "Middle Aged" to Being a "Senior"? (55, pension)

[Caladium]

Here's an interesting question that came up in another thread. At what age do you change from being "middle aged" to being "a senior"?

AARP seems to think the magic age is 50. Senior discounts at my local stores start at 55. The retirement villages near me call themselves "55+ communities". Others seem to think you can't be called a senior until you're at least in your 60s.

Looks like there's no established changeover point. Soooo..... what do you guys think?

[HappyTexan]

Used to be 65. Then 55 and now 50.
I think these places are just trying to get more membership.

Senior citizen used to imply the person was retired.

AARP starts their mass spamming of mail when you hit 50.
I still view 65 as the changeover point to when you become a senior citizen.

[Dollydo]

I lean towards age 62, when I could have taken a reduced SS.

[oldsoldier1976]

I agree with Dollydo. 62 is the change over. I would deem middle age began at 50.

Originally Posted by Dollydo

I lean towards age 62, when I could have taken a reduced SS.

[tasmtairy]

I never thought of it much in my 50's except for all the freakin mail from AARP. Yesterday I was asked at Pizza Hut if I was a senior and I said yes and got a discount, I'm 60! Many stores use 55 and some restaurants, so I don't know.

[mathjak107]

i think it is when he takes the mirror off the bedroom ceiling and puts it over the dinning room table as food has finally replaced sex....

i guess i am a senior now.. i watch the food channel like it is porn. i watch those rib masters and go these are things that will never happen to me.

i could only eat those ribs if i used lipitor as a dry rub.

heck the other day my wife came home and said what are you watching ?

i said the food network.

she said but you have your pants off! ha ha ha

i said i like food.... alot..........

[Backintheville2]

Originally Posted by mathjak107

i think it is when he takes the mirror off the bedroom ceiling and puts it over the dinning room table as food has finally replaced sex....

i guess i am a senior now.. i watch the food channel like it is porn. i watch those rib masters and go these are things that will never happen to me.

i could only eat those ribs if i used lipitor as a dry rub.

heck the other day my wife came home and said what are you watching ?

i said the food network.

she said but you have your pants off! ha ha ha

i said i like food.... alot..........

You made my day! Thanks, this is great.

[Escort Rider]

As for our personal attitude, I think it depends on our age. When I was a teenager, I remarked to one of our neighbors who was about 40 or 50 about some "middle-aged guy, about 30". Well, that drew a negative reaction! Personally, I think of a "senior" as being 70 or above (I am 68), but society has other ideas, such as senior discounts, Social Security eligibility, Medicare eligibility, and so on. The main art house cinema chain in Los Angeles (Laemmle) gives a senior discount for age 62 and up. At some local restaurants it's 60. The retirement system under which I am drawing a pension maxes out the multiplier (2.4% of salary times years of service) at age 63. So there are various different definitions.

I think it's absolutely ridiculous to even think of 50 as being a "senior" age. AARP just wants the maximum number of members and that shouldn't drive our thinking!

[choff5]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Here's an interesting question that came up in another thread. At what age do you change from being "middle aged" to being "a senior"?

AARP seems to think the magic age is 50. Senior discounts at my local stores start at 55. The retirement villages near me call themselves "55+ communities". Others seem to think you can't be called a senior until you're at least in your 60s.

Looks like there's no established changeover point. Soooo..... what do you guys think?

I guess now that I have hit 60, and may in some circumstances even admit to it, I need to start looking for those senior discounts at stores. As someone else said, it is all the matter of perspective. I think now of the profs I had in college that seemed so much older than me, but in some cases probably were only ten years older. I remember working a summer job in college as a 4-H. Youth intern and being shocked at a meeting when my boss, our youth agent held up his hand for being under 30. Some place along the way these people all became my contemporaries, just like the young teachers I work with who are younger than my own kids. In the meantime we didn't change, did we? Senior, maybe in my 70's I'll admit to it, maybe.

[mathjak107]

Originally Posted by Backintheville2

You made my day! Thanks, this is great.

DAMN , my son walked in the room dinner time . i quickly covered my main course with a napkin.