Men's Age In Their Minds

Older men see themselves as 31 as 32 in their heads theorizes Douglas Copeland in an MSN.com article, no matter what their actual (older) age. I checked with a few colleagues at a recent happy hour, and they nodded their heads. I also recall my father-in-law saying that it took him a minute to recognized the older guy, i.e. himself, in recent family pictures.

I guess 31 to 32 is even a little old for me. I used to tell friends that I'm don't feel much different from when I was 18 years old, with the main difference being much more responsibility, and a bit more money. Okay, and more maturity:-) Here are some of the areas that I see being the same:

Highly involved. I was very active in high school, with the major areas of interest being student council, sports, and academics. I continue to be actively involved in similar areas (politics, athletics and personal education) in adulthood.

Personal finance. Even back then I was a frugal spender and a big saver. The entire earnings from my first summer job was put into college savings. As a junior in college, I managed a student run business. As an adult, I continue to be just as frugal and as big a saver.

Spontaneity. At 18, I loved the ability to do things at the spur of the moment, and having unplanned time. While there aren't as many opportunities now, I still enjoy spontaneous moments, even if it occasionally distracts me from my work.

However, there are major changes from those youthful times. Physically, I am no longer an 18 year old. Although my mind wants to compete like I'm that young, my body is no longer capable. Even trying can lead to injury. And when a waitress flirts with me now, she probably sees someone who is her dad's generation :-)

For more on Crossing Generations, check back every Thursday for a new segment.

This is not financial or aging advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

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