# Wherein I ponder the nature of time and expound my thoughts on turning 40 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 21, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713 "2009-07-21T03:23:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/1 "2009-07-21T03:23:06Z")
. . * * * Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck! Fuckity Fuck fuck Shit. ---
**Author:** ![SunSandSuffering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@SunSandSuffering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunSandSuffering)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/2 "2009-07-21T19:25:43Z")
Arse, I’m 10 months away myself, not looking forward to it. Especially how pitifully low paid my job is and career prospects are. ---
**Author:** ![truthbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@truthbot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthbot)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/3 "2009-07-21T19:52:58Z")
You young whippersnappers! Boo Hoo, I’m turning 40.\* \*OK, I did the same angst-rant 12 years ago when I turned 40. I found that my forties were some of my best years; now I’m trying to convince myself that the fifties are actually the best years. And you have to admit; turning 40/50/60 is better than the alternative… ---
**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:** [July 21, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/4 "2009-07-21T20:03:29Z")
It’s a pretty big adjustment. Somehow you go from being seen as young to being seen as old, just with the flip of a calendar page, 39 to 40. I’m still not over it, and it happened to me a year and 16 days ago. Happy birthday, though! ---
**Author:** ![ashenRiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/65b543/32.png) [@ashenRiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashenRiot)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/5 "2009-07-21T20:05:15Z")
Right there with ya Isamu… I hate that I’ve realized that I statistically have less time ahead than behind. ☹ On the other hand, each decade has been far superior to the previous one so at least there’s that! ---
**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:** [July 21, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/6 "2009-07-21T20:39:32Z")
Yup. 40’s the age when you become Undesireable Dating Material. I spent a year depressed after I turned 40, and essentially gave up on dating. Only lately have I tried to come back from that. Gone to the gym, and so on. I’m even going to try dating again. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/7 "2009-07-21T20:55:42Z")
I too am mere days from turning 40. This one is different that turning 30 was… I console myself with the fact that everyone says “you’re turning 40! No way!” Insert your “photographic proof of this is required” comment here. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/8 "2009-07-21T20:58:53Z")
I think it’s \*hilarious \*that I’m 40. I mean, the thought of someone like me, who has passed no significant adult rite of passage except graduating college… I am in many ways the most immature person I know… Plus I’m a dork, and yet I’m a supposed grown up pushing middle aged 40. Ridunkulous! ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/9 "2009-07-21T22:01:22Z")
I’m hitting that same wall in September. Of course, I’m planning to parkour the hell out of that one. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/10 "2009-07-21T22:03:35Z")
Hey! You forty year olds get off my lawn! Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/11 "2009-07-22T00:50:00Z")
The turnover day is Saturday for me. Maybe I’ll start getting treated like an adult by my co-workers. Nah. PS We’re having butter to celebrate. With lobster on the side. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/12 "2009-07-22T06:09:04Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > Happy birthday, though! Thanks Alice! > [@ashenRiot](#): > > Right there with ya Isamu… I hate that I’ve realized that I statistically have less time ahead than behind. ☹ That’s depressing. Thanks a lot:D > [@Sunspace](#): > > Yup. 40’s the age when you become Undesireable Dating Material. Fortunately I snagged an unsuspecting bride just a few years ago (back when I was still nubile. :p) > [@Dr.Righteous](#): > > I too am mere days from turning 40. This one is different that turning 30 was… I console myself with the fact that everyone says “you’re turning 40! No way!” Don’t fool yourself - you’re toast. 😉 > [@niblet\_head](#): > > I think it’s \*hilarious \*that I’m 40. I mean, the thought of someone like me, who has passed no significant adult rite of passage except graduating college… I am in many ways the most immature person I know… Plus I’m a dork, and yet I’m a supposed grown up pushing middle aged 40. Ridunkulous! See above. 🆒 > [@FallenAngel](#): > > I’m hitting that same wall in September. Of course, I’m planning to parkour the hell out of that one. Good luck with that! And remember - the 40s wall doesn’t just stand there waiting for you. It sneaks up on you as you’re leaving the bar after closing time. It follows you out to the deserted car park and sandbags you in the bushes with a crowbar. > [@Shodan](#): > > Hey! You forty year olds get off my lawn! _throws snowballs at the old man on the porch_ > [@Alpine](#): > > The turnover day is Saturday for me. Maybe I’ll start getting treated like an adult by my co-workers. > > Nah. > > PS We’re having butter to celebrate. With lobster on the side. Buttah? Happy 40th to you and happy 50th to your arteries! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sigmundex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Sigmundex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmundex)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/13 "2009-07-22T16:41:55Z")
I’m reminded of a line from a recent movie (can anyone back me up, here?), two older guys having a conversation, one of them wants them both to go to a concert, and the other guy says, “Hey, you remember how when we were kids and we’d go to a show, there’d always be this one old guy sitting there, not realling hanging out with anybody, just an old guy there, looking like he didn’t belong?”. The first guy says, “Yeah, I remember”. The other guys says, “Well, you’d be ‘that guy’”. I always think of that exchange because in my own head I still feel like I’m in high school, and that I could just walk into a high school dance and throw down on the dance floor with the girls, and it’s just not that way. I’m 42 now… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sealemon2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon2.0)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/14 "2009-07-22T22:52:37Z")
Well, the calender says I have less than a month before I turn 40. I don’t FEEL 40…maybe I need to new calender… ---
**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:** [July 22, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/15 "2009-07-22T23:50:44Z")
Believe me, 40 is nothing. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-ponder-the-nature-of-time-and-expound-my-thoughts-on-turning-40/503713/16 "2009-07-22T23:59:07Z")
On the other hand… I signed up for a couple of dating sites this week and already got two ‘winks’, much to my surprise. It must be the new shirt. 🙂