Does Age Quash Our Spirit of Adventure?

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I've thought about a tattoo but my idea for a tattoo takes into account the 80 year old thing. I wanted a tattoo of a compass rose on my back. But I wanted it to look like it was from an antique map. So when my skin gets wrinkly, it'll look like it's on an old piece of parchment.

When they bury you they'll know to point you North to South. (All the disreputable people are buried East-West).

Edit: I think I was told wrong, East-West is preferred

[Alex]

I would love to get a tattoo. I thought of getting a small UPC one on my lower back so if I was ever found dead they could scan me....I thought 'who else would have one?' Well, that idea is outta here since I saw a guy at the swapmeet with one on the back of his neck.

Everybody thinks that is a unique idea. I know I did when I wanted one but then I ran into why you don't see them often. The artist talked me out of it. He said he had several people a week want one but usually succeeded in convincing them it was a bad idea. Since it is just a series of thin straight lines they tend to look like crap after a few years as your skin moves and stretches in sublte ways as you get older. Also uneven fading will be very obvious.

Several other artists I've talked to since all say they also try to talk people out of them.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Everybody thinks that is a unique idea. I know I did when I wanted one but then I ran into why you don't see them often. The artist talked me out of it. He said he had several people a week want one but usually succeeded in convincing them it was a bad idea. Since it is just a series of thin straight lines they tend to look like crap after a few years as your skin moves and stretches in sublte ways as you get older. Also uneven fading will be very obvious.

Several other artists I've talked to since all say they also try to talk people out of them.

I hadn't even thought of that aspect of it. Yuck. What turned me off when I saw it on this guy was that it reminded me of inmate numbers....that took the glory away.

So, the other one I am considering {and more in a serious way} is my last name surrounded by bramble bush {is that how you say it, or just bramble?}. I can't decide on the font for the lettering. Not that that is the only thing stopping me...

{I had also toyed with putting Chris Cornells caracature {sp} eyes peeping over my pantline but some people told me that would be hazardous to my sex life. ???}

[Gemini Cricket]

I don't like piercings. Not for me. I don't need extra holes. And I think those ear stretching earrings are creepy. They look fine when the ring is in but when you take it out it's flappy skin with a hole in it... Ewww!

[lizziebith]

I couldn't listen to the show here at work, but the summary seemed to indicate that we don't crave new experiences so much as we age. I'm not sure if I'd characterize that new experiences as "adventure," or "thrill-seeking," but here goes:

I've never been a thrill-seeker (as in sky-diving, bungee-jumping, etc.) so I can't say I'm less adventurous in that area.

As for music, I still seek out new music...in fact, new art of any kind still interests me. I don't go out as much as I used to due to work, so I "consume" new experiences differently -- I tend to study about things. Yes, that is a mediated experience but it is still exposure to new things and ideas. Whenever possible, I bring them into my home. Different arena, but still new.

I travel as much as possible, and have been to more new states in the last five years than in the previous 40. I also enjoy exploring my new city (moved to L.A. in 2001).

I have a wider variety of friends and acquaintances, so I get to experience more world-views than ever before. I think I've gotten much more open-minded as I've aged, so that has left me more receptive in general. I've jettisoned a truckload of old beliefs and I feel wonderfully unfettered.

I've already got piercings and tattoos, and am interested in more -- but not to the point of doing anything about it yet. I do think it's funny that these things matter! Why not haircuts and colors...other forms of fashion experimentation? I'm doing the fashion make-over of self thing these days.

Food? Well, that's difficult due to my major personal taboo: I hate seafood. Still, at least once a year I try out a seafood dish, to see if my tastes have changed. In fact, once a year I like to try my hand at a new skill, too: dressage, violin, kayaking, French -- these are some things I've tried in the past few. This year it will be fencing. I don't much care if I become proficient at these things...the fun for me is in the trying.

Anyway...I suspect that the LoT denizens will not support this gentleman's thesis.

[AllyOops!]

What a facsinating question!

I think of this often. I sometimes can't believe my actual age, because I feel like a kid most of the time! However, my boyfriend is 8 years younger then me, so the question of my actual age weighs on my mind often. However, we're an amazing match- he's a very mature guy with just the most sensitive, caring & wisest Soul, and I'm still.. a dork. Perfecto!

The only arena in which I EVER notice our age difference is music. He's pretty hip to today's hard rock & punk bands. I'm pretty unhip to anything new. Our office listens to K-Big, so I'm familiar with certain pop hits, but at home? I listen to First Wave on Sirius. Home to my "youthful" music. Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Bauhaus, P.I.L, the Sex Pistols. I feel that embarrassing sting when my younger girlfriends are like, "You've NEVER heard this song?" I am absolutely not familiar with rap, hip-hop, or even Top 20 at this point. I almost wanted to weep when my girlfriend was pumping rap (and it wasn't old skool good stuff- it was gangsta-ish) once and I actually tried covering my ears. I was like, "oh this is so much noise & too loud!" THAT SCARED ME. That & the fact that I still get excited when Adam & the Ants play on the radio.

I love trendy things, but I know at my age certain things just aren't going to work. I favor more classic styles as I get older, although I was that way even in my twenties. However, some things that I find darling I know are just not suited for a girl my age.

It may be trendy, but you won't see me in stillettos, a flouncy ruffled mini-skirt and a baby tee that says "Flirt" or "Sexy Angel" or the worst offender of all, "Dontcha Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me?"

But that's not an age dealie. That's just tacky.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I also wonder also if the original example wasn't based on an anomoly. That kid who was listening to a completely different kind of music every day. That certainly wasn't true of most of the kids I knew. They might go through a couple major phases but for the most part they were in genre ruts of incredible proportions.

I've always had a penchant for "adventerous" things. Musically, I'm all over the world - literally and have always been. I have always sought out a variety of experiences in all areas (some even got me in trouble ). It hasn't really changed much as I've gotten older other than I have less time and more discretionary income. There are many things I don't have time to do and I do choose carefully. I've given up TV and only listen to public radio because I don't have the time or desire to listen to commercials and I find most TV show unfulfilling, but there are ALWAYS exceptions.

I find that I, as I get older, I am an actually less likely to dismess concepts and ideas without at least some consideration. I will eat almost anything once. I will read almost any genre - although the time issue always factors into it. But, I do take into consideration what I've learned and try not to repeat the stupid things over again.

I have always love to be challenged artistically and love when an artist, musician, writer, etc makes me think. That desire has grown even stronger with age.

I still haven't gotten a tattoo after all of these years and I dress how I want to - usually influenced oi some way by fashions of yesteryear. I was never an outlandish dresser (compared to many of my friends) but I do dress to my own drummer.

I will probably never settle into the age rut talked about in the OP's link. If I suddenly started listening to Air Supply or even The Ramones over and over, I'd really start to worry about myself. Of course, I'd save a whole lot of money as well.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Ever curious, not always adventurous. I've dropped everything to move from one city to the next. I've taken risks with my employment in an attempt to try something new.

I'm a creature of habit, in some respects, but not exactly set in my ways. Open to new foods, new music, new cultures, new experiences, ideas, new books, new art, etc.

But, for a Romantic, I'm a coward and I always have been. Age has had no influence. I'm positively hiding in a cave.

And if doing what I really wanted meant giving up everything I had, I'd probably be too scared to do it. An adventurer wouldn't.

[blueerica]

I don't really know where I fit in all this. As I approach 30, I am more confident now and taking more risks than I ever have before, and I was always a risk-taker. I think, though, that taking risks must be done responsibly. I don't jump into much with my eyes closed. Some decisions are made quickly, but given some reflection, I can always see the trail and realize it had been a long time coming.

For myself, I want a tattoo. I know which one I'm going to get. I've wanted it for years. The only reason I didn't get it sooner was because I wanted to know it was something I would want to keep, and 8 years down the line, I still want it. Now it's just a financial question. I don't like to overspend my bank account.

Which reminds me of what I'm more cogniscent of, than when I was younger. Money. If I had a money tree, I'd do anything. Financial concerns tie me down. Given limitless funds, what would I do? I would travel the world, and soak it all in. I'd be a different person to suit each culture. I'd enrich myself in literature and music. I'd go skydiving, I'd go bungee jumping. I'd tattoo myself wholly up and down. OK, maybe not that - but - the idea crossed my mind.

No it didn't.

I'm mostly the same as I ever was - just maybe a little bit more sure of who I am.

[lashbear]

Well, as Rita Rudner put it:

"I think men who are pierced are better prepared for marriage...... that way, they've both experienced pain - and bought jewellery !"


I have three piercings, none of which you can see when I'm wearing clothes PM me and I will give all the gory details.

I have two tattooes - both Bears (what else?) One real and one cartoon.

I do want to get another tattoo - Cinderellas castle or sleeping beauty's castle, depending on location. I thought cinderella for leg (tall and skinny) or sleeping beauty across back - low & wide.

I still prefer the nostalgic music of my youth, though.