# What Should I Do For My 40th Birthday? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 13, 2008, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776 "2008-06-13T05:21:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/1 "2008-06-13T05:21:35Z")
So my birthday is coming up- in fact, you only have 20 more shopping days. It’s July 5th, a Saturday and a holiday weekend. It’s my fortieth, which is kind of a big deal to me. I’m so hoping to get a digital camera and take that up as a new hobby in the new stage of my life (old), but we’ll see if that plan comes to fruition. I do know that I’d like to do something very fun. I thought about having a party, but I’m not really a party-thrower, being shy and reserved- a houseful of people and noise isn’t my idea of a good time. So that’s out. What I am thinking now is getting together with 4 or 5 of my good girlfriends, one of whom’s birthday is the same as mine, and doing stuff. Funds should be decent at that time, but definitely not unlimited. Maybe 300-400 dollars not including food and drinks. The thought of going out to a club and drinking too much and becoming depressed and maudlin about getting old does not appeal. What do you think? What should we do? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2008, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/2 "2008-06-13T05:30:56Z")
I will pledge to turn 40 before you and test the waters. I turn 40 on June 14th. I have no plans and **babygirl** is laid up in bed. I would appreciate any suggestions. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/3 "2008-06-13T05:38:35Z")
Well happy birthday, **SSG**. Let me know how it feels to be ancient so I can prepare. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/4 "2008-06-13T15:03:47Z")
A friend turned 40 last year. She had two parties back to back. A “happy 20th BD” Friday night, followed by another the next night. Instead of the typical “over the hill” cards and gifts, people had to get creative. I attended both parties, and they were a blast. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/5 "2008-06-13T15:20:53Z")
Possible NSFW: [This](http://www.randomimage.us/index.php?img_id=18595) is how all 40th birthday parties should end. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/6 "2008-06-13T15:46:50Z")
On the blessed day, wake up and tell some kid to get off your lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/7 "2008-06-13T16:43:59Z")
Wow, **Alice** , you’re two days older than I am! ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/8 "2008-06-13T17:27:55Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] A friend turned 40 last year. She had two parties back to back. A “happy 20th BD” Friday night, followed by another the next night. Instead of the typical “over the hill” cards and gifts, people had to get creative. I attended both parties, and they were a blast. [/QUOTE] This was going to be my suggestion. Throw yourself two happy 20th parties. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/9 "2008-06-13T17:33:19Z")
You and your girlfriends could go to a spa together and pamper yourselves, either overnight or a day spa. Or stay overnight at a small resort…? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/10 "2008-06-13T18:21:54Z")
Celebrate having found romance. Take up a new art form. Cherish children. Look disdainfully upon young idiots. Break stereotypes. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/11 "2008-06-13T19:04:09Z")
My birthday is next Saturday and I still haven’t decided what I am doing yet. If I come up with a good idea I will let you know about it (though I am turning 26 I also prefer not to spend my birthday drunk in a bar so anything I come up with might be of interest to someone of your years and wisdom.) ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/12 "2008-06-13T19:10:02Z")
I recommend having a midlife crisis. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/13 "2008-06-13T19:23:44Z")
I threw myself a party. I invited all my friends/coworkers/family over for “BYOB and bring a dish to share” kind of party, with a bonfire in the back yard. It was GREAT! (I’ll be ignoring 42 in two weeks, thanks.) ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/14 "2008-06-13T19:40:47Z")
Next year when I turn 40 I plan to get together with a few friends and bicycle from Pittsburgh to Washington DC on the [Greater Allegheny Passage](http://www.atatrail.org/) and [C&O Canal trails.](http://www.bikewashington.org/canal/) Of course since my birthday’s in January there will have to be a delay. We’ll probably also have a party in the spring, a nice outdoor party. > [@Antinor01](#): > > This was going to be my suggestion. Throw yourself two happy 20th parties. My grandma just celbrated the 52nd anniversary of her 40th birthday party, refusing to admit she’s 92. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/15 "2008-06-13T22:39:21Z")
[QUOTE=Shirley Ujest] Possible NSFW: [This](http://www.randomimage.us/index.php?img_id=18595) is how all 40th birthday parties should end. [/QUOTE] Streak first! Everyone knows streaking is the traditional way to celebrate a 40th birthday. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/16 "2008-06-13T22:41:23Z")
[QUOTE=Shirley Ujest] Possible NSFW: [This](http://www.randomimage.us/index.php?img_id=18595) is how all 40th birthday parties should end. [/QUOTE] Don’t be silly. Do you know what the insurance for that costs these days? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/17 "2008-06-13T23:38:04Z")
alice the goon! you just turn 40! what are you going to do?! i’m going to disneyworld!!! it is the stock answer. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/18 "2008-06-13T23:43:37Z")
[QUOTE=SSG Schwartz] I will pledge to turn 40 before you and test the waters. I turn 40 on June 14th. I have no plans and **babygirl** is laid up in bed. I would appreciate any suggestions. SSG Schwartz [/QUOTE] Nice! You and the Army have the same birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/19 "2008-06-14T00:59:02Z")
Thanks for all the suggestions! And early happy birthday to **Thudlow Boink**! I wish that I could be comfortable having a party, but I’m just not. Streaking… now there’s an idea. Not a _good_ idea, but an idea nonetheless. Midlife crisis? No, that comes after. Disneyworld? Too hot. Passing out naked in the park? But I just did that last weekend… not really. I’ll probably just do what \*\*Emily Litella \*\* suggests and do something special with my friends. But I am going to do some more research and try to come up with something grand. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776/20 "2008-06-14T01:51:55Z")
[QUOTE=Gala Matrix Fire] Nice! You and the Army have the same birthday. [/QUOTE] Yeah, there was no way I could join the Air Force. 😃 SSG Schwartz [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-for-my-40th-birthday/452776.md?page=2)