# The countdown to 50 has begun. What do I need to accomplish before it hits? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 31, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553 "2018-03-31T21:59:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/1 "2018-03-31T21:59:57Z")
I’ve got 30 days until I turn 50, dopers. What do I need to get done before then? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/2 "2018-03-31T23:35:44Z")
Have you changed a tire? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/3 "2018-04-01T00:49:27Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I’ve got 30 days until I turn 50, dopers. What do I need to get done before then? Plan your celebration, duh! When I turned 50: 1. Had a big party with family and friends 2. My wife and I went to NYC to see Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick in _The Producers_ 3. Then we went to Hawaii for a week and a half You’re probably running out of time to plan any celebrating that’s quite _that_ extensive, but make the best of the occasion! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/4 "2018-04-01T02:31:16Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Have you changed a tire? Oh yes, quite a few times. And I’ve milked a cow, and killed a chicken for dinner. In fact, I’d done all of those by age ten. “Shear a sheep” is still on my bucket list, but I don’t see that as a definite “before 50” item. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/5 "2018-04-01T02:48:53Z")
Ah, youth… Anyway I highly recomend bungie jumping. Also visit Zion National Park and do the Angel’s Landing trail. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jy6K0KoMrco/maxresdefault.jpg "Angel's Landing - Scariest Hike in America? Steep Drop off - Zion National Park, Utah") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy6K0KoMrco) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/6 "2018-04-01T03:16:10Z")
Your taxes. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/7 "2018-04-01T03:33:39Z")
Travel outside the United States and get your passport. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/8 "2018-04-01T05:32:37Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Travel outside the United States and get your passport. Absolutely. At age 50 I was legally blind, and since then, I’ve traveled to 48 countries Id never been to before, on six continents. In fact, 31 of them after the age of 75. TIP: Pay a few extra bucks and get the extended passport with the extra pages. You’ll need them… ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/9 "2018-04-01T08:15:03Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Your taxes. D’oh! :smack: You had to remind me,didn’t you? LOL! > [@dalej42](#): > > Travel outside the United States and get your passport. Done, several times. Although I’ve been meaning to check my passport expiry date. . . > [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Ah, youth… > > Anyway I highly recomend bungie jumping. Also visit Zion National Park and do the Angel’s Landing trail. > > [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jy6K0KoMrco](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jy6K0KoMrco) I’ve never done a full-on bungee dive, but I’ve ridden a 3-4 story high bungee swing, which was incredible. I’d do that again in a moment. In fact, [Royal Gorge swing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZXSTgLDY8Q) is on my bucket list. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/10 "2018-04-01T11:11:15Z")
Everybody has fun stuff, travel, skydiving, bungee jumping. I immediately think at the age of fifty you should have four times your annual salary in your 401k. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/11 "2018-04-01T12:24:51Z")
Run a 50K was on my list. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/12 "2018-04-01T13:28:47Z")
Save enough for retirement. However, if you haven’t been doing it, 30 days doesn’t leave much time. 🙂 Enjoy your knees. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/13 "2018-04-01T15:25:50Z")
Since someone mentioned celebrating a 50th, I’ll toss in that I celebrated mine by making a solo paddling trip to a fairly remote campsite at a State park at the shore. I spent a couple nights solo camping and the night sky on my birthday was glorious. I had run into a family who was also camping about 1/4 mile away and casually mentioned that this was how I was celebrating my birthday. They showed up mid-afternoon with a pastry that had an emergency candle stuck in it. Best rendition of “Happy Birthday” I’ve ever had. Never saw them again. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/14 "2018-04-01T15:31:48Z")
Buy a sports car. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/15 "2018-04-01T17:29:37Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Travel outside the United States and get your passport. I would reverse the order of those things… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/16 "2018-04-01T19:38:14Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Run a 50K was on my list. How did you get on? I had 50 miles in 24 hours (run/walk or combination) on mine. I have 6 months to go to achieve this. ---
**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/17 "2018-04-02T02:27:05Z")
I’m 63, soon to be 64. My response to your inquiry is: “If you need to accomplish something, you missed.” Age 50 is not the kiss of death, but it is 85% of the way to the end of a really physically active life, unless you are a top-class athlete. Like it or not, your body at 50 is saying “maybe not.” What should you do? Contemplate your bucket list, if you have one. If it is long, the physical things might be out. But the rest are there for the effort. I will say this too, mostly as someone who has witnessed the folly of not planning for the future in others. If your savings/retirement investments/pensions are not up to par, you should get them there _as fast as you can_. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/18 "2018-04-02T02:34:51Z")
Do you have enough potatoes? ---
**Author:** ![InsomniaMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ad7895/32.png) [@InsomniaMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InsomniaMama)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/19 "2018-04-02T12:01:56Z")
I’m about a week older than you. I had a big party for my 40th. Now I just want to go far off into nature and be alone. The trip is set for this summer. I’ve graciously allowed my husband to join me. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-countdown-to-50-has-begun-what-do-i-need-to-accomplish-before-it-hits/811553/20 "2018-04-02T12:48:40Z")
> [@ASGuy](#): > > I’m 63, soon to be 64. My response to your inquiry is: “If you need to accomplish something, you missed.” I’ve opened this thread before, not sure how to phrase what bothered me about the title. And this is it! My bucket list is now a “If I get to it, fine. If not, ehh, also fine.” Turning 60 taught me to take life more lightly, “mo’ chill”. And I’ve discovered it’s almost as much fun to read about a place than to visit (or better yet, read a fun novel set there – a really good description of Constantinople is better than all the time and hassle of travelling there and discovering you’re tired and sweaty in Istanbul… and all that’s open is a street vendor overcharging you for cold pizza).