# When you were 26 years old you were... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 29, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084 "2008-12-29T17:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/101 "2009-01-01T00:53:44Z")
Here’s my contribution: Job: Secrtetarial Jill of All Trades for the State Significant Relationship: Married 2 years Income: I have no clue Social Life: Rather quiet, small circle of friends. Health: I was all right till mid-year, then my job literally drove me batshit. I had to take most of the year on sick leave, but the falling apart made me re-evaluate how important my family and friends vs. the job. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/102 "2009-01-01T01:21:09Z")
When I was 26, it was 2000–I was a newly minted librarian, moved to a new town, bought a first house (well, only house so far), and had my first daughter. We’d been married 4 years. It was a busy year. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/103 "2009-01-01T02:45:30Z")
I turned 26 in February of 1986. Job: College Student Significant Relationship: Married Income: $6,000 (I think) Social Life: Taking care of a baby, working and going to school Health: Great Car: a 1977 Chevrolet that we had bought for $300 I had gotten married in December of 1984 and had a child in 1985. I was still in undergrad school so I was living the life of a poor student. I was just figuring out that marrying that guy might have been a mistake … I went on to have another child in 1988 while finishing my master’s degree. I don’t remember much about that last semester (fall 1988); my kids were six weeks old and 3 years old, and I was finishing up my thesis project. I think the only reason I pulled it all off was because I didn’t really know that I _couldn’t_. Stepping up to a “real” job after graduation was a surreal experience. I thought that my salary of $24,000/yr was a fortune. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/104 "2009-01-01T04:45:05Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Is the “prime time for adventure and excitement” getting drunk every weekend with a bunch of 19 year olds? You seriously asked that question? 😃 More on topic, I am two years out, so while I feel cheated by the topic, I am definitely enjoying reading all of the (very different) replies. Some good stuff to keep in mind! ---
**Author:** ![Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gam_Zeh_Yaavor)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/105 "2009-01-01T07:13:56Z")
Job: Contract Researcher for a federally-funded Arctic ethnographic study. Significant Relationship: recently entered into perhaps my first committed relationship and already having misgivings. Intimacy/commitment issues. Income: theoretically 30K/yr, but in practice 0/yr thus far, due to bureaucratic paperwork issues compounded with various acts of God that have prevented me from really starting my job for the past few months. Social Life: Next to none, as I moved here in October after finishing my MS oversees. Hanging out with my older sister a lot. Health: Very out of shape, otherwise physically healthy. Ongoing (and perhaps worsening) treatment-resistant depression. Can you tell? ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/106 "2009-01-01T07:33:37Z")
Aged 26 on New Year’s Day of 1997 (I assume the reference date is Jan 1st): Rel: Long-Term girlfriend (would get engaged in May of 1997) Job: Working in computer programming for major Wall St. bank Inc: Salary was 68K + very sizable bonus (not a “banker/analyst” level of bonus, but more than 50% of base) Soc: Seeing close friends and family regularly, played a lot of bridge Hlth: Prime of my life (gym 3x/week, full-court basketball 2x/week) Car: None (lived and worked in NYC, no need for a car, or a place to park it) I have to say I’m rather surprised, even shocked at how many Dopers were seriously inpecunious at age 26. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/107 "2009-01-01T07:42:21Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > I have to say I’m rather surprised, even shocked at how many Dopers were seriously inpecunious at age 26. Welcome to how the other half lives. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/108 "2009-01-01T15:24:45Z")
**Job:** I flopped from job to job at that period of my life; usually temp clerical jobs. **Significant Relationship:** I got married to Mrs. Homie a few months shy of my 27th birthday. **Income:** A pittance; we were flat broke. **Social Life:** We socialized with friends here and there. **Health:** Other than being overweight, not bad. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/109 "2009-01-01T15:49:10Z")
… 25 years younger than today… Occupation: Doing my PhD Chemistry, next to last year Significant Relationship: None Income: PhD grant, about 25000 USD I guess Social Life: Fun, chess and bridge clubs, good friends, good music Health: Great Worries: can I get a job in a year (turned out I could) ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/110 "2009-01-01T19:44:03Z")
On my birthday: Job: On maternity leave from my job as an office manager for a property management company Significant Relationship: married; brand-new baby boy (2 days before my birthday) Income: None - and I didn’t go back to work Social Life: Just the way I like it - a few close friend and some acquaintences, plus good family members Health: Great Other: Owned our own home, two cars paid off, battling post-partum depression, trying to figure out if staying at home with a baby was really what I wanted to do ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/111 "2009-01-01T20:39:10Z")
My first day, age 26 (July, 2001): Job: Sales Engineer Income: Around $90,000/year when you include commissions and bonuses Relationship: Occasional relations, but no relationship Social Life: mostly revolved around alcohol Health: Worked 10-12 hour days with an hour commute on each side of that, spent far too much time drunk, got far too little exercise, put on a lot of weight Other: Owned my own home, drove a brand new company truck, not at all happy My last day, age 26 (July, 2002): I sold my house and bought an old truck in January, 2002. Since then, I’d been driving around aimlessly, living (for the most part) in the truck, and just going wherever I felt like going. In early July, I was in South America, hitchhiking towards Cotopaxi National Park in Ecuador, and I was still a few months shy of running out of money. Job: None Relationship: None Income: None Social Life: Talking to the locals and other travelers Health: Great Other: Happier than a pig in shit. 😃 Probably smelled like one, too. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/112 "2009-01-01T21:00:43Z")
I’m only 23. Can I post the answers for where I _want_ to be when I’m 26? Sure, I will. Job: Screenwriter Relationship: Polyamorous Income: $1 million+ Social Life: I’m a private person but occasionally mingle with the humans. Health: Pristine ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/113 "2009-01-01T21:07:04Z")
Your sig, I think, is particularly significant there.😉 ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/114 "2009-01-01T21:24:17Z")
At 26 I had my first child. (he’s now almost 17) Was unemployed that year…stayed home with him for 18 mths, then went back to work as a preschool teacher. Was in a long-term relationship with the father (since I was 19, until this past year when he died) All in all was an eventful, good, but somewhat stressful year. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/115 "2009-01-02T02:37:02Z")
I turned 26 in February of 1993. Job: Contract Gopher, essentially. Then grad school at Iowa. Significant Relationship: Engage, then married in July. Income: 21K, then nothing at all. Social Life: Happy. College and work friends around, then just Lady Chance and I after the move. Health: Great, no worries at all. It was a changing year for me. I went to grad school because I knew I didn’t want to shuffle papers for the government on contract my whole life…then I hated being back in school. The learning was good but the students drove me nuts. I came back and wham! publishing found me. ---
**Author:** ![CAT\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@CAT\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CAT_1)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/116 "2009-01-02T05:19:21Z")
That was 1991 for me. I started they year off by going to the Rose Bowl Parade. That was fun, for a gal from Wisconsin. But at the time I was: Job: Nanny in Pasadena, CA Significant Relationship: Dating 2 men. One in the first part of the year(CA) and one at the end of the year(WI). But the middle 9 months or so, I was single. Income: 15K, with all living expenses paid. I also had a car to drive, and only had to buy my own gas. Social Life: Frustrating Health: Pretty healthy. Other: I was a bit depressed, and it only got worse over the next few years. But all in all 26 was a good year. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/117 "2009-01-02T05:25:17Z")
I love all these replys, it’s really giving me a better view of my life. I guess living in an oil town has made me believe I was financially worse than many other people. Of course though I am very much behind others in the socializing department. I am lonely but comfortable because I make decent money, but my time is monopolized from my teaching and secondary jobs. I would trade half my salary right now for a relationship. Maybe I’m living my life backwards? Who knows, anyways just thought I’d chime in again. ---
**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/118 "2009-01-02T06:10:30Z")
Me: Job: Programmer Significant Relationship: Dating now-husband Income: \>100K$ Social Life: In the “into each other and only each other” relationship phase Health: Great ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/119 "2009-01-02T08:24:31Z")
I turned 26 in November, 2001: Job: Stay-at-home mom of a 5-year-old Significant relationship: married (still am!) Income: $0…I really can’t remember what my husband was making. $50K? Social Life: Well, there was the SDMB…We also regularly played Dungeons and Dragons with friends from college. Had more time and energy to keep the place picked up and invite people over. Not a lot of extra money, but times had been worse. Health: Can’t remember anything other than more colds once my daughter started kindergarten. I belonged to the Y and worked out regularly. Being 2001, Sept. 11 affected that year to a certain extent. We were motivated to buy a house–that’s when those interest rates started dropping, IIRC. I spent a lot of time wandering neighborhoods and house-hunting. We bought our current residence in March, 2002. I think I was very much on the lookout for what to do next–after all, my daughter was starting school and didn’t need me so much anymore. I ultimately ended up getting a full-time job, but that wasn’t until I was 27. I miss being 26 to a certain extent. I miss having that extra time to live my life in better balance. Perhaps, at 33, I am again on the lookout for what to do next… ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084/120 "2009-01-02T11:54:09Z")
Currently 26 … Job: ESL instructor in Seoul Income: I get paid hourly so it really depends, but somewhere around $40K Significant relationship: Just got out of a messy 2-year affair and am now casually dating someone Social life: Pretty active. My social circle is small but we hang out a lot. Health: Not the best I’ve been, but decent I suppose. When I was little 26 seemed like an obscenely old age. 😛 Now I feel like I still have a lot of growing up to do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-were-26-years-old-you-were/479084.md?page=7)