Does Age Quash Our Spirit of Adventure?

[€uroMeinke]

Call it what you will, but something does happen as we age. Music seems to be a familiar example, since advertisers know what music targets a certain demographic.

At my last concert at the Trubidor, I was the creepy old guy.

I have a MySpace Page, but most of the people my age that are there are only there to keep tabs on their children.

But, as a teen I loved Science Fiction, I read every book, saw every movie I could in that genre. But over time I realized what I really like was good writing and good stories. So reading-wise, I now only read science fiction when it comes recommended to me by someone I trust (LoT). On the contemporary fiction genre though, I subscribe to a quarterly literary mag that gives me short stories to explore new writers.

In music, I still love to sample and will pick up things on a whim. One of the things I love about My Space is the Music pages - I love to go to a favorite band or musician and see what bands they link to and click away for hours finding cool stuff, and passing quickly over the stuff that doesn't move me. The internet has made it easy to weed through a lot of crap and for that reason I think it's kept my love of new music alive.

I think it also interesting to note the demographics of this website, for while there are a number of us in the over 40 category, there are many more below it. There are many my age that still shun computers and the internet - I know becasue I have to work with them. I think they are missing out, but they are perfectly content and comfortable in their ways, so who am I to rock that boat?

Anyway, I think it interesting to see how our "tastes" change as we get older as well as our willingness to try out something new.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

I think it also interesting to note the demographics of this website, for while there are a number of us in the over 40 category, there are many more below it.

Thanks for reminding me that I remain in the latter category for a mere 12 more weeks. I had just brought myself to the point to where I was comfortable being in my 30's.

Anyway, I think it interesting to see how our "tastes" change as we get older as well as our willingness to try out something new.

Abolutely. But I also think it is interesting to see the different ways that people define "adventurous".

Myself, I'm not as adventurous as I wish I were. I have a very open mind to new music and new food, but you won't get me jumping out of a plane anytime soon.

[Capt Jack]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

I had just brought myself to the point to where I was comfortable being in my 30's.

heh. well if its any help, 39 was where I started my freakout. once I crossed 40, I was cool with it. now that Im rapidly closing the gap between where I am and 50 I think I'll handle that a lot better than I ever did "approaching 40".

hmmm....with that, I think Im due for a new 'midlife crisis' (as if I'll make it to 100 )...anyone have ideas for the next one?

[lizziebith]

Ahhhh, finally got to listen to the program. I took notes! [/nerd] I found the connection the neurobiologist made between success in ones (one's?) field and risk-taking to be a most interesting factor. I've hopped about between potential careers over and over...and now that I've finally got financial security I'm more interested than ever in play. The key element is that I don't have any emotion whatsoever invested in my current career. It's fun, I like my colleagues, and the pay is great -- and I don't care if I ever move "up." I didn't train for this job -- in fact I never would have imagined I'd end up as a glorified secretary after grad school and a lifetime of kinda hoping to end up as an artist. But the "being able to walk away" aspect appeals enormously, and bleeds over into a general feeling of freedom. I think that because I've never really "grown up" -- read: taken a permanent job that I truly care about -- I'm able to stay young (childish?) in other areas. The fun part about being older is that I have money now to spend on books, music, travel, new experiences. Maybe the lack of risk is found in the fact that I do things I can afford, whereas younger folks do those same things whether they can afford to or not.

As to the benchmarks?
1) Music -- still seek out new stuff ALL the time. Makes the kid pretty proud.
2) Sushi -- tried in my twenties, but due to my seafood aversion is still out. Isn't an age thing for me.
3) Piercings -- tongue, no. Nose -- did in 84. Still wear it sometimes. Friends have the tongue labret and make clicking noises when they talk...cute, but I can't do it. Navel...well I'd like to!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

At my last concert at the Trubidor, I was the creepy old guy.

That's exactly how I feel when I go to Rocky Horror! Not that I let that stop me.