What''s your imaginary age?

[Elmorton]

This has been on my mind lately - I''m turning 25 in two weeks, and I don''t feel at all like I''m 25! One of my girlfriends who is 27 said that she feels like she''s 19 because she just returned to college for grad school, and her life closely remembles what it when she was an undergrad. Another close friend told me he felt like he''s 23 instead of 25 because he feels like he should be farther along in his job. DH (also 25) says that he feels like he''s 30, because no way did he expect to be married and at a job with regular hours at this point. I feel like I''m 22 also - I went right into grad school after undergrad, so this is my first year in the workplace and out of school, and now sometimes I don''t really know what to do with myself- I feel pretty clueless most of the time. This is an improvement, though - for the longest time, I felt like I never grew past 16-18.

Has anyone else ever thought about this? How far off is your real age from what you feel you are on the inside/in your head?

 

[Pandora II]

This year I will be 22.

I have been 22 for the last 14 years...

 

[bee*]

I feel about 21 (I''m 26 really though). Growing up I always thought I''d feel so mature at this age, but especially after going back to college, I think that I act younger!

 

[choro72]

I know exactly what you mean! I haven''t "grown up" past 15...And I''m 27 now

. Long story

 

[mimzy]

FI and i are both in major denial about getting old (i turned the big 2-3 yesterday, and he did a few months ago).i started grad school right after undergrad, so my life is pretty much the same as it was then, minus the wedding planning...so i would have to say i feel probably 20...and a half.

in the meantime, i am trying to do as many immature things that i can including, but not limited to, listening to bad pop-punk, eating string cheese, going weeks without doing laundry, eating lucky charms and leaving the bowl on the counter and wearing fleece jammie pants with sheep on them and shopping at forever 21....all things that are not in any way appropriate for an adult to do.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Date: 3/25/2008 5:25:38 PM
Author: Pandora II
This year I will be 22.

I have been 22 for the last 14 years...

Lol

I can't say that I feel like I am a different age than I am (35), but I will say that there are still days when I find it hard to believe that I have been with my DH for 16 1/2 years, married for almost 11 of them and am the mother of three children...that shocks the heck outta me! It seriously feels like I just graduated from high school!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Well I am turning 30 in a few weeks and I actually feel that age... for so long I felt "older" than I was and now I feel just about right. I have always liked telling people what to do so now that I am a researcher and professor I get to do that all day long! haha

That doesn''t mean I want to get older though! A few years ago I decided I was going to start taking a year off my age every few years, that way it wouldn''t be so obvious that I was lieing about my age... so my friend sent out an e-mail requesting everyone''s birthday''s so that she could enter them in their day planner. So I decided that was a great time to take a year off my age. I was really born in 1978, so when I sent her the message I said to myself, "OK, take a year OFF!" so I replied: My birthday is month, day, 1977.

Yes, I am a PhD and I do math for a living. Sighhhh

DD

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 3/25/2008 6:21:37 PM
Author: Diamond*Dana

Date: 3/25/2008 5:25:38 PM
Author: Pandora II
This year I will be 22.

I have been 22 for the last 14 years...

Lol

I can''t say that I feel like I am a different age than I am (35), but I will say that there are still days when I find it hard to believe that I have been with my DH for 16 1/2 years, married for almost 11 of them and am the mother of three children...that shocks the heck outta me! It seriously feels like I just graduated from high school!

At least you have managed to do this! I am always AMAZED by parents.

I learnt to cope with animals that eat and poop once a month or so - pythons

Now I have animals that eat and poop once a day - hedgehogs - and I can just about cope!

The really scary thing is that I was 13 when my mother was my age, and she had just had her 4th child. I don''t feel anyway ready to be grown-up at all. In fact the whole idea of being responsible for a child terrifies me!

 

[choro72]

Date: 3/25/2008 6:21:38 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
Well I am turning 30 in a few weeks and I actually feel that age... for so long I felt ''older'' than I was and now I feel just about right. I have always liked telling people what to do so now that I am a researcher and professor I get to do that all day long! haha


That doesn''t mean I want to get older though! A few years ago I decided I was going to start taking a year off my age every few years, that way it wouldn''t be so obvious that I was lieing about my age... so my friend sent out an e-mail requesting everyone''s birthday''s so that she could enter them in their day planner. So I decided that was a great time to take a year off my age. I was really born in 1978, so when I sent her the message I said to myself, ''OK, take a year OFF!'' so I replied: My birthday is month, day, 1977.


Yes, I am a PhD and I do math for a living. Sighhhh


DD

Hahaha, good chuckle.

I told my BF I have a friend one day younger than he is. He said "oh, he was born a day before me?"

 

[Haven]

I think about this all the time, El!

It really depends on where I am and what I'm doing.

I'll often find myself standing in front of a classroom of 32 high school sophomores thinking "Who the hell let me teach these kids? What am I doing here? Am I really old enough to be a teacher?! And I wonder where Sarah got those boots, because they're awesome." Those are the times I feel like I'm 16.

Then there are the times I'm out with my sisters in college and the guys are getting drunk off of whatever beer is on sale for the night, and the girls are acting silly and flirty in their mini-skirts in the middle of December, and I think "I am way too old for this." Those are the times I feel like I'm 45.

And then there are times like last night when I cry myself to sleep because I miss my kitty Mazi who we had to put to sleep this past Saturday, and those are the times I feel like I'm 5.

ETA: I'm 27 in real-life, by the way. Although I "held" at 21 for several years, so I'm sure there are many people who think I'm closer to 23.

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 3/25/2008 7:00:51 PM
Author: Haven
I think about this all the time, El!


It really depends on where I am and what I'm doing.


I'll often find myself standing in front of a classroom of 32 high school sophomores thinking 'Who the hell let me teach these kids? What am I doing here? Am I really old enough to be a teacher?! And I wonder where Sarah got those boots, because they're awesome.' Those are the times I feel like I'm 16.


Then there are the times I'm out with my sisters in college and the guys are getting drunk off of whatever beer is on sale for the night, and the girls are acting silly and flirty in their mini-skirts in the middle of December, and I think 'I am way too old for this.' Those are the times I feel like I'm 45.


And then there are times like last night when I cry myself to sleep because I miss my kitty Mazi who we had to put to sleep this past Saturday, and those are the times I feel like I'm 5.


ETA: I'm 27 in real-life, by the way. Although I 'held' at 21 for several years, so I'm sure there are many people who think I'm closer to 23.

I'm like that too, Haven. It's always changing for me depending on the situation.

I'm 32. My husband and I are in the "art world," and sometimes when I go to small "hip" gallery openings I feel older, because, in my experience in art, youth is ridiculously appreciated, much like it is in Hollywood etc.

I look very young, so when I go to openings, a lot of "kids" come up to me thinking I'm 24 or so, and I can't even understand their slang! I usually call them on it, and the banter can be great.

But then, sometimes I feel really young, as my husband is older than me (10 years), and I have a lot of "older" friends.

Oh, and I just wanted to say that I'm loving my thirties!

So sorry about your kitty, Haven.

 

[musey]

I'm 23. I feel on the same "page" life-wise as the 28-30 year-olds that I know.

Then again, I've been polling people lately, asking what age they'd guess I am (both people who would and wouldn't know). Average response I've gotten is 16-18, never any over 20.

Age is weird.

 

[Delster]

I am 21 plus a little tax...

I went back to college last year for my professional degree and I was the oldest girl in the class and sometimes I felt so old when I was sitting with those girls at coffee or whatever. But when I reflect on my age, I kind of do a double-take. It''s hard to wrap my head around how close I am to ages beginning with a 3! Specially with a BF who''s nearly three years younger...

 

[TravelingGal]

I''m 35. I feel about 32ish (er...what''s the difference, really...)

When I give birth to TTot in a few days, I reckon I will feel closer to 40 for some reason.

I LOVE my 30s. It''s just been fab.

 

[Delster]

Date: 3/25/2008 7:13:20 PM
Author: musey
I'm 23. I feel on the same 'page' as the 28-30 year-olds that I know. I've been polling people lately, asking what age they'd guess I am (both people who would and wouldn't know). Average response I've gotten is 16-18, never any over 20.

Age is weird.

Oh, Musey! I was in the bank last week, getting coins changed into notes for my Mam so she could put them in a Lenten charity box thingy, and I had such a strange interaction with the teller. She asked me were the coins "from a piggy bank" and as I was leaving she told me I was "a real good girl". It was clear from her tone and her manner that she thought I was about twelve! And she was only about ten years older than me at most.

But that kind of thing happens me every few months or so, if I go out without much make-up on... age is weird!

 

[Haven]

Date: 3/25/2008 7:21:17 PM
Author: Delster

Date: 3/25/2008 7:13:20 PM

Author: musey

I''m 23. I feel on the same ''page'' as the 28-30 year-olds that I know. I''ve been polling people lately, asking what age they''d guess I am (both people who would and wouldn''t know). Average response I''ve gotten is 16-18, never any over 20.

Age is weird.

Oh, Musey! I was in the bank last week, getting coins changed into notes for my Mam so she could put them in a Lenten charity box thingy, and I had such a strange interaction with the teller. She asked me were the coins ''from a piggy bank'' and as I was leaving she told me I was ''a real good girl''. It was clear from her tone and her manner that she thought I was about twelve! And she was only about ten years older than me at most.


But that kind of thing happens me every few months or so, if I go out without much make-up on... age is weird!

The same thing happens to me! I was pulled over by a lady cop last summer and my younger sister was in the passenger seat. The cop says to me "Now, young lady, don''t you think you shouldn''t be driving around in your parents'' car like that?" She apologized after she saw my DL, and said that it was a good thing that I don''t look my age. Yeah, such a good thing when it makes people feel entitled to talk down to me.

And this is really the best--last week I pulled a student out of health class to talk about something, so we sat down on the ground in the hallway. After about ten minutes another health teacher (whom I''ve MET multiple times) comes walking down the hall and says "Shouldn''t you two be somewhere?" so I said "Yes, we''re just talking about some issues we''re having in class," to which she said "Well, you two can''t just pop a squat and have a chat here in the middle of the hallway whenever you feel like it." Of course my student is rolling on the floor with laughter at this point because he figured out what was happening before I did. I honestly thought she was irked that I pulled a kid out of class. So, at this point he looks up and says "Mrs. Confusedteacher, this is Miss Haven, my English teacher." She apologized profuself and quickly retreated into her classroom.

It was pretty embarrassing, and it''s a good thing that particular student is a favorite of mine. He did make fun of me later that day by saying "Hey, where''s your hall pass?" when he saw me walking out of the caf. Lovely. Just lovely.

My best friend was carded two years ago when we bought tickets to a Rated R movie. I blurted out "How old do you have to be to see this movie?!" The poor girl muttered 17, and we both started laughing hysterically. We were 25 at the time, which was easily seven years older than the young lady working the ticket booth.

 

[Haven]

Date: 3/25/2008 7:10:15 PM
Author: coatimundi

Date: 3/25/2008 7:00:51 PM

So sorry about your kitty, Haven.

Thank you, Coati. It''s the worst part of having furbabies. I still see her everywhere.

 

[Haven]

You are such a breath of fresh air, SDL!

I''m actually very excited to be able to rock a silver bob haircut with my thick jet black eyebrows and bright red lipstick--that''s my FAVORITE look, I think it''s so sophisticated. I don''t want to go completely grey YET, but when I do that''s going to be my look for sure.

 

[choro72]

Date: 3/25/2008 7:35:42 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 3/25/2008 7:21:17 PM

Author: Delster

Date: 3/25/2008 7:13:20 PM


Author: musey


I''m 23. I feel on the same ''page'' as the 28-30 year-olds that I know. I''ve been polling people lately, asking what age they''d guess I am (both people who would and wouldn''t know). Average response I''ve gotten is 16-18, never any over 20.

Age is weird.

Oh, Musey! I was in the bank last week, getting coins changed into notes for my Mam so she could put them in a Lenten charity box thingy, and I had such a strange interaction with the teller. She asked me were the coins ''from a piggy bank'' and as I was leaving she told me I was ''a real good girl''. It was clear from her tone and her manner that she thought I was about twelve! And she was only about ten years older than me at most.

But that kind of thing happens me every few months or so, if I go out without much make-up on... age is weird!

The same thing happens to me! I was pulled over by a lady cop last summer and my younger sister was in the passenger seat. The cop says to me ''Now, young lady, don''t you think you shouldn''t be driving around in your parents'' car like that?'' She apologized after she saw my DL, and said that it was a good thing that I don''t look my age. Yeah, such a good thing when it makes people feel entitled to talk down to me.


And this is really the best--last week I pulled a student out of health class to talk about something, so we sat down on the ground in the hallway. After about ten minutes another health teacher (whom I''ve MET multiple times) comes walking down the hall and says ''Shouldn''t you two be somewhere?'' so I said ''Yes, we''re just talking about some issues we''re having in class,'' to which she said ''Well, you two can''t just pop a squat and have a chat here in the middle of the hallway whenever you feel like it.'' Of course my student is rolling on the floor with laughter at this point because he figured out what was happening before I did. I honestly thought she was irked that I pulled a kid out of class. So, at this point he looks up and says ''Mrs. Confusedteacher, this is Miss Haven, my English teacher.'' She apologized profuself and quickly retreated into her classroom.


It was pretty embarrassing, and it''s a good thing that particular student is a favorite of mine. He did make fun of me later that day by saying ''Hey, where''s your hall pass?'' when he saw me walking out of the caf. Lovely. Just lovely.


My best friend was carded two years ago when we bought tickets to a Rated R movie. I blurted out ''How old do you have to be to see this movie?!'' The poor girl muttered 17, and we both started laughing hysterically. We were 25 at the time, which was easily seven years older than the young lady working the ticket booth.

Haven and Musey! You and I should go out together, and goodness knows what they will think of us!

In 2004, I (23 at that time, Asian), my friend C(22, Caucasian), and her FI J(23, now her husband, Caucasian) went to Vegas for a wedding. We got in a taxi, and the cab driver started the small talk to J.

Cab Driver: "Oh, a family trip to Vegas! Is it the first time? I brought my daughter here when she was around her age too...12 or so? How old is your girl?"

I felt soooo bad for C...I wonder how old he thought SHE was!? I would be mortified if someone thought I was a mother of an almost-teen when I was 22!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Well, I do not think I''m as mature as my 35 years! People who are my age always seem so old to me (and it freaks me out when actress that seemed older in movies end up being my age) so I must be closer to 25!

I do shop at stores for women my age, but love to be "free spirited," not keep up with house responsibilities - I''m always behind on dishes and laundry, chat with my kids on a one-on-one level, and also choose to spend a day at the mall rather than be sure all the bills are paid on time. The only proof that I''m older is in that I do not say "like" every other word and have no idea how to work an iPod

 

[zoebartlett]

I think about this occasionally. I''m 34 but I feel younger than that (and I know I look younger). Being short doesn''t help either. For some reason, that''s always made me feel younger. I always joke around that by the end of the school year, my students will be taller than me, and the sad thing is, it DOES happen. Did I mention that my students are EIGHT? It sounds weird but it''s true.

I''m also what you''d probably call a late bloomer. I went back to school (grad school) four years, I think, after graduating college. I was in a different field and wanted a change. There were times that I was walking around campus feeling so much older than everyone else who was an undergrad at the time. My FI and I are getting married this summer. We''ll just start our new life together as a married couple, which is great, but it''s also funny to both of us. We realized that we have friends who have already been married for 11 years and many of our friends have kids. We''re not there yet.

 

[icekid]

I feel perpetually 22, I think. Of course, I am only 26 now. But still... being 26 is a world of difference from 22 now, as I am going to be an actual (still in training

) physician in 2 months. I mean really, I can''t be old enough for that. I''m only 22

hehe. Actually, one is my classmates really IS only 22, but that''s another story. I''m not sure why, but 22 has kind of stuck with me. I think I really liked that age because I graduated from a ridiculously tough university, and so it finally felt like I had accomplished something. And I was a semi-adult. At the same time, I was fresh out of college and young. Heading into intern year just makes me feel not so young, so I''ll continue to pretend that I am 22. I''m another that people still guess as much younger than my true age, but I have a bad feeling that will stop in the coming years. I hear residency and its lack of sleep helps you catch up on your aging

 

[Hera]

I''m 33 and my imaginary age is 23. I went back to finish my bachelor''s degree a few years ago and I''m just graduating. I''m friends with the girls in my class and I''m even taking a graduation cruise with them. When I was booking the cruise online, one of the reps misread the age policy and told me that I needed to be in the room with the girls. Considering there were four other girls going, I was going to have to be in a stateroom with four other people and one bathroom

. I told the girls that I was going to need to supervise them and they started laughing and one of them told me that they were going to have to supervise ME! Lucky for me, it got all worked out and we''re only two to a room. They still may need to supervise me though

 

[sumbride]

I''m 30, almost 31, but in my head I''m clearly 25! Unless I''m talking to some of the 25 year olds at my office and then I feel 40. Luckily I do still get carded almost every time I order a drink. That helps a bit.

 

[ladypirate]

I agree that it depends on the situation. Usually I feel older than I am (24). Not sure why, exactly, except that I look at a lot of people my age or even a couple of years older and they are still living at home, or living the college life style and partying all the time. Maybe I''m just boring for my age--I like to sit home and watch movies and knit (or quilt as of late)!

On the other hand, when I get together with friends from college, it always feels like no time has passed since I last saw them and we act like we''re 19-20 again.

 

[Sha]

I''m 31 but think I really should be 27. I look young though ...most people think I''m in my mid-twenties.

 

[Miranda]

I still feel 19. When I turned 30 a few years ago I told my then 84 year old grandma that I still felt 18. She said, "Honey...So do I!!!!"

On the other hand I feel 40ish sometimes. We had kids so young and most of the parents of our older kids'' friends and our neighbors are in their 40s or even older. I''ve always been mature (well, except for my love of what DH not-so-fondly calls ''middle school jokes'') so I find it easy to relate to people older than I am. The unfortunate part is that I look about 23 and I''m small so people just assume I''m my boys'' nanny...Or worse yet, their girlfriend!!!!! It''s a phenomenon I shouldn''t be complaining about, but, the older they get - the younger I look! I really don''t like it! I am looking forward to 40. I hope I get wrinkles soon!

Awww Haven! I''m so sorry about your kitty! I still get teary because I miss my Tigey...He was put to sleep 21 years ago.

 

[Octavia]

I''m not really sure how old I feel, it varies but it''s almost always younger than my real age, which is 26 as of right about *NOW.* I''m officially past the quarter-century mark!

 

[HeartingDiamonds]

I just turned 40, but I feel 30 (looking that is another matter altogether).

 

[Elmorton]

I just checked this thread on my way to bed - thank you everyone for writing such thoughtful responses! It''s nice to know that our real age and our imagined one doesn''t always match up - I''ve felt so foolish lately, like I should be more of a "grown up", and it was wonderful to read about the internally young (and old!) experiences you all have.

Haven - I laughed so hard when I read your response! My train of thought is so similar sometimes when I teach. Some days, I feel a million years older than my students, and other days (like when they tell me about their kids, war experiences, or other things that make them so much wiser beyond their years) I can''t fathom that someone actually hired me to teach them.

SDL - I grinned when you said you couldn''t wait to be 50. Love it.

Thanks so much to EVERYONE for the wonderful reading! I''m so inspired by you all