Does Age Quash Our Spirit of Adventure?

[innerSpaceman]

Freak.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I haven't gotten into anything active like rollerblading or snorkeling since I broke up with my last girlfriend.

Pairing up with someone else (be it roommate, for me in the case of Audra, or spousal-type, in the case of Tom) has always proved to inspire me to do more. Solo I'm capable of venturing out now and then, or seeing movies... but having a partner in crime inspires one to expand their active horizon. Both Tom and I love travel, and museums, and art, and exploring the city. But when we are together we're far more likely to venture out and actually do those things when we're there to encourage each other and revv each other up for adventure. Plus, there's the blending of interests... heaven knows I'd never take up tennis without him, and he'd never have come to DL without me.

And I'll agree with Chris-- having a group like this, where the spearheading and planning is spread out among people-- makes ALL of the difference in the world. Have I told you lately that LA is a good city if you're on LoT? I told my friend who just moved here, at least.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

having a partner in crime inspires one to expand their active horizon.

Le Sigh - zapppop and I stopped sneaking backstage at Disneyland even long before he became a CM. It was our uniquely incommon brand of mischievous adventure (you might even say it was how we were introduced).


I wonder what adventure my next lover and I will share???

[katiesue]

"oh Mom you're stuck in the 80's"

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by katiesue

"oh Mom you're stuck in the 80's"

That's ok, the 80s are cool again.

I guess music and fashion doesn't seem adventurous to me because I often don't give a fvck what people think. I've recently shifted my wardrobe to be more professional, not because I feel pressured to, but because I feel more professional these days. Even while doing that I bought a rather short dress with a striking print that I would definitely label a "risk" but all I ended up with was complements. Being bold is more fun than stressful for me these days.

I realize I was hung up on the word "adventure" in this context, where I'd just call it "trying new things" or "leaving your comfort zone". To me these are vastly different concepts.

I agree that pairing or grouping pushes you to do more. GD and I help each other to get out of the house. I know that without you guys we wouldn't have done a quarter of the fun things we've done since the LoT came to be.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

The things I try and do in my life I wouldn't consider adventerous - until I travel and find people who think "spicy" is an evil thing and who eat meat and potatoes and listen to The Eagles like they were the latest and greatest.

Christ, you just described most of my relatives.

I'm not sure that something can only be adventurous if it involved climbing the highest mountain in the world. I might not find sushi adventurous because I eat it every chance I get. For a meat and potatoes kind of person though, a sushi bar would be one hell of an adventure. It's all perspective and to me, adventure is simply being open to exploring the unknown even if there is a perceived risk (even if no actual danger actually exists).

[Not Afraid]

I think what makes a differnce to me in describing one as "adventerous" is that they do these "risky", "different" or "adventerous" things regularly. Everyone takes a certain amount of risk at times, but if you are willing to have fun and play on a regular basis with clothes, music, places you visit, activities you participate in then I would define that person as being adventerous.

[€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?