# I'm 21! Hooray! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 19, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801 "2007-09-19T23:19:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/1 "2007-09-19T23:19:34Z")
Actually, I have been since about 3:00 this morning. I don’t feel any more responsible than I was yesterday, but I guess I am! I’m celebrating by…doing homework? The official First American Bar Hop is coming this weekend, though! ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/2 "2007-09-19T23:24:19Z")
Have you given any thought to changing your user name? I’m just sayin’… Happy birthday! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/3 "2007-09-19T23:27:26Z")
Wishing you a good day, a good year and a great life. Have a beer for me! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/4 "2007-09-20T00:21:03Z")
Happy birthday, when you get out to celebrate it, drink one for SSG Schwartz SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/5 "2007-09-20T00:40:48Z")
Never knew you were so young! Definitely meant as a compliment, btw. Happy Birthday! ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/6 "2007-09-20T00:47:48Z")
Have fun. Don’t ride home with a drunk driving. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/7 "2007-09-20T02:37:03Z")
Another trip around the sun, eh? Congrats! ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/8 "2007-09-20T04:28:27Z")
You didn’t get crunk? Awwww. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/9 "2007-09-20T05:04:17Z")
I will be soon, don’t you worry! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/10 "2007-09-20T05:16:25Z")
I turned 21 a few weeks ago. Even if people say “but it’s your birthday present” and look all sad while offering you tequila, DON’T DRINK IT. This is one time it’s OK to turn down birthday presents. The grease pit behind the bar and your friends who don’t have to deal with your stupid pantsless self will thank you. Don’t ask how I know this. Just trust me. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/11 "2007-09-20T06:35:00Z")
[Kevin Meaney] A fetus drinking? That’s not right![/KM] ---
**Author:** ![Li\_l\_Pluck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee59a6/32.png) [@Li\_l\_Pluck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Li_l_Pluck)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/12 "2007-09-20T07:50:32Z")
Yom Huledet Sameach, man! (Hebrew for “party till your balls fall off!” No, really, “Happy Birthday”.) You didn’t ask for words of [del]wisdom[/del] experience, but the hell with it–I’ll tell you what I wish someone had told \*me \* when I turned 21 lo those many years ago, and I didn’t ask for words of wisdom: 1. Never, EVER think that you’ll save enough money to go to school. Ever. Not gonna happen. Just sign on the dotted line for whatever loans you can get, and be done with it. Otherwise, you’ll dawdle around until your late 20’s (when you \*do \* figure this stuff out), then you’ll find yourself a 37-year-old sophomore with seven more long years to go on that 15-year plan (like me.) Oh, wait–you’re already in school. Good. No unnecessary breaks–just hurry and get your degree(s) and get the hell out of there. Life awaits you. 1. Live beneath your means. It’ll save you money. Oh, wait–you’re probably already living beneath your means. Good. Keep doing that, but still make a conscious effort to save whatever you can every. Single. Time. You. Get. Paid. (Sure as hell wish I had!) Even if what you’re able to save now doesn’t seem like much, it really adds up over the years (which, btw, will fly by faster than you think they will). Whatever you think you’re missing today can’t hold a candle to finding yourself more financially comfortable/prepared for emergencies than your peers by the time you reach your late 30’s. 1. Have fun (all the sex, drink, non-cracky/non-methy/non-cokey drugs that you can handle, but only if you’re so inclined), but be smart, i.e., moderate, about it. (I knew that “party till your balls fall off” bit would fit in here somewhere.) (Okay, no one had to tell me this one, but I thought I’d toss it in for good measure.) 2. Travel as much as possible, meet different people (if you’re not a complete misanthrope), expand your horizons, blah-blah-blah, you get the idea. (Actually, I knew this one, too, by the time I’d turned 21.) 3. Be who you really are–not who other people want you to be/who you \*think \* other people want you to be. Just whoever that person may be–unto others as to yourself, y’know? (Oh, yeah, had this one goin’ on, too, by my 21st. Good advice, nonetheless.) 4. Live and let live (reasonably). Your blood pressure will thank you. Wishing you many more happy birthdays! ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/13 "2007-09-20T08:22:19Z")
I turned 21 a few weeks ago and I have yet to be carded. I’m really starting to get pissed about that. When I was underage the moment I’d walk into a bar I’d get kicked out because I wasn’t old enough (nevermind I’ve been to combat…that’s another thread). The moment I turn 21 though, I’m allowed in without anyone checking. Where’s the justice in that? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/14 "2007-09-20T11:23:23Z")
Just a word of advice - don’t get all pissy when the cashier cards you for beer. 21 looks a lot like 19. Joe [edit]Ha! I hadn’t seen the above post when I posted…[/edit] ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/15 "2007-09-20T15:20:03Z")
[QUOTE=ForumBot] I turned 21 a few weeks ago. Even if people say “but it’s your birthday present” and look all sad while offering you tequila, DON’T DRINK IT. This is one time it’s OK to turn down birthday presents. The grease pit behind the bar and your friends who don’t have to deal with your stupid pantsless self will thank you. Don’t ask how I know this. Just trust me. [/QUOTE] A friend recently turned 21. I bought him a shot to celebrate…told him it was the best tequila in the bar, there’s nothing like great tequila for your 21st, he was going to love it… …I cackled evilly as I signed the bar tab of $2, and watched him down the cheapest tequila in the place… And I have pictures! So, yeah…watch out for tequila. And your friends. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/16 "2007-09-20T15:27:59Z")
What bars are you hopping to? You going downtown, or the beach? (I’m just idly curious, though I could make the joke of just wanting to know where to stay away from until you’re finished.:D) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/17 "2007-09-20T16:13:29Z")
Congratulations! 🙂 Nothing to add to the advice, except: _go places and meet people!_ There’s all kinds of deals and arrangements for people in their twenties, everything from cheap rail passes to Working Holidaymaker arrangements, and the social opportunities are vast. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/18 "2007-09-20T16:36:13Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > Just a word of advice - don’t get all pissy when the cashier cards you for beer. 21 looks a lot like 19. Like **RandMcnally** , I’d be a little irritated if I didn’t get carded anywhere. Everyone told me I looked like I was 25 when I was 19, but for some reason everyone who sold alcohol was on to me. I even got carded buying Korean plum wine\* at Ranch 99, the Japanese/Korean marketplace famous for not carding. \*Korean plum wine WILL. GET. YOU. LAID. If you see a girl drinking it at a party–or, better yet, bring some yourself–tell her “WAIT! I can make this even better.” Put about a shot’s worth of it in the microwave for 30 seconds and serve. Warm Korean plum wine is a perfect “going to bed” drink. I very nearly scored with the girl of my dreams this way at a party earlier this year…until her ex-girlfriend, who, um, happened to be my manager, cockblocked me. > [@scout1222](#): > > What bars are you hopping to? You going downtown, or the beach? No concrete plans as of yet, but we’ll probably mostly hit up PB. Sinbad’s is an obligatory stop for hookah and beer, but I have no idea where else we’re going. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/19 "2007-09-20T16:44:41Z")
_hands you a Tequila_ ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801/20 "2007-09-20T17:04:01Z")
Cheers! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-21-hooray/419801.md?page=2)