# What time period do you consider to be the "good old days" of your life? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 22, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585 "2011-01-22T18:08:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/1 "2011-01-22T18:08:14Z")
Title says it all. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/2 "2011-01-22T18:30:54Z")
18-22… in particular, the summer of 1978, when I was 18 and fresh out of high school. I had just gotten my first horse, had my first car, and for the first tiem in my life, friends with common interests that I could run around with. We spent hours riding in the woods and our nights cruising in the cars. It was my first real taste of freedom and was truly the most blissful period of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/3 "2011-01-22T18:33:07Z")
Before I was born. Not a care in the world for 9 months, then…lookout! ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/4 "2011-01-22T18:56:59Z")
If I _have_ to choose, I’ll choose the time when I was a single mom and my children were small (my age: 25 through 30). The three of us moved to Jackson and I started my first “real” job. We had the best times together in our little house trailer. I really cherish those days. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/5 "2011-01-22T18:59:05Z")
I’m having my 'good old day’s right now, at age 53. I consider my ‘good old days’ to have started at about age 37, when I finally came to accept myself. I’m having more fun each year. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/6 "2011-01-22T19:05:20Z")
Honestly, the periods of my life when I haven’t been just as happy as I am now (which is quite happy), were brief. I’ve enjoyed most of it, but I’m as happy now as I’ve ever been. I can pick the worst period of my life, but not the best. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/7 "2011-01-22T19:12:16Z")
I’ve had two “good old” periods . . . 18-26 and 45-50. If it weren’t for health problems I’d say “right now.” ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/8 "2011-01-22T19:24:07Z")
I was a bit of a late bloomer - age 23-30 were my good-old-days in the sense of begin very active doing things I enjoyed, dating guys who were less screwed up, shedding some of the baggage my upbringin saddled me with, and culminating with marrying someone I didn’t deserve but snagged anyway. At 48, I am having a second go at a golden age, with a big recent career restart, getting a number of finacial issues finally resolved, getting the time to get back into activities I enjoy for the first time in years, and my marriage is still great after 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/9 "2011-01-22T19:41:16Z")
Well, you know, life is a roller coaster. Currently I’m in an upswing. Having said that. My 20’s were a hell of a decade. That was a decade filled with dating strippers almost exclusively, threesomes , partying, and lots of traveling. And the spontaneity in my life was unmatched back then too. I have no interest in reliving those day but I’m glad for the experience. They way I see it, my 20’s were payback for all those awkward teenage years. When my friends were all getting GFs, playing spin the bottle and what not; I was at home beat’n off to my dad’s Playboys. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/10 "2011-01-22T20:30:52Z")
Things are going pretty much the best they ever have right about now. I’m 26. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/11 "2011-01-22T21:03:42Z")
Definitely from 40 to 50. I was living in Europe, traveling all over the place, and living a bit on the wild side between 40 and 45. I met my present wife at 45 and life has been terrific ever since (and without the booze and women). ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/12 "2011-01-22T21:10:43Z")
The best days of my life so far are right this moment. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to answer the poll. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/13 "2011-01-22T21:12:40Z")
I had my best hair years in the 80s, but even that wasn’t enough to make my late teens/early twenties my good old days. I’d say the last few years to current. Five years ago I embarked on a major change in career, that included my first try at college courses, met a wonderful man and married him. Our lives aren’t perfect, but I can’t think of a better time of my life than right now. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/14 "2011-01-22T21:23:33Z")
“There were never any ‘good old days’ They are today, they are tomorrow! It’s a stupid thing we say Cursing tomorrow with sorrow!” –Gogol Bordello, “Ultimate” ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/15 "2011-01-22T22:42:45Z")
when I was in elementary school because I got to watch TV all day and I had less homework ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/16 "2011-01-22T23:40:06Z")
I’m 31. I’m sure that my memory of being 13-17 is rosier than _actually_ being 13-17 was, but of the available choices I think it just wins out. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/17 "2011-01-22T23:55:27Z")
To me, “The Good Old Days” has to do with freedom and not having a care in the world. There were summers when I was growing up that qualify, but they were brief respites from classes and schoolwork. I think when I look back, I’ll recall 2002-2006 as the best years of my life; I took an early retirement package and went on vacation for 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/18 "2011-01-23T00:52:29Z")
There has been no period in my life that could be refered to as the good old days. There were a few good times. I’m almost 50. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/19 "2011-01-23T00:56:15Z")
I’m 24. I haven’t had any truly good old days yet, but at the risk of sounding too optimistic, that may change in another year or two. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585/20 "2011-01-23T14:06:13Z")
What **Foggy** said. I believe my best years are yet to come. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-period-do-you-consider-to-be-the-good-old-days-of-your-life/568585.md?page=2)