# You Know You're Old When... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 4, 2000, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035 "2000-12-04T23:08:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/1 "2000-12-04T23:08:15Z")
…you don’t want anything for your birthday. I am _not_ old; not even thirty. But I _feel_ old. Tomorrow is my birthday, and my wife, friends and parents all asked me what I wanted them to buy. I can’t think of _a thing_. I have a steady job and when I am not at work I play with my children. I don’t really have any hobbies anymore. I mean, I screw around on my computers and I like golf, but I don’t really have any interest in computer games and who has 4 free hours anymore to golf? A few weeks ago, our TV broke and I bought a new one, cancelling the sure-thing present my mother had lined up. You know what I would like? Three months’ mortgage. Or some new windows for the house. Maybe a tune-up for my Saturn. ☹ This malaise I am feeling is no joke… Can someone please tell me that there is something that I want for my birthday?!? ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/2 "2000-12-04T23:31:14Z")
I wish I could help you, but I suffer from the same malady. My 20th birthday is coming up in January, and my mom called the other night to ask what I wanted for gifts for both that event and christmas. I couldn’t think of a thing. Honestly, I can’t think of anything that I want that is purchasable (assume for the sake of argument that that’s a word). ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/3 "2000-12-04T23:33:20Z")
I know the feeling. I’m not interested in clothes, I really don’t want any more doodads. I have enough jewelry. How about a bottle of really good Scotch (or fill in your favorite vice). You know, something so expensive you would never buy it for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/4 "2000-12-04T23:34:23Z")
A Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. [sup]ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES![/sup] The Victorinox Pocket Tool [sup]PUTS THE OTHERS TO SHAME[/sup] Automobile Emergency Tool Kit [sup]USE ONCE AND IT PAYS FOR ITSELF[/sup] Maglite Flashlights Of Any Size [sup]CAN’T HAVE TOO MANY MAGLITES[/sup] Framed Picture Of Your Wife Or Children [sup]DO I NEED TO SAY WHY?[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/5 "2000-12-04T23:35:28Z")
Ah, wouldn’t you really, really like a few hours of peace and quiet all by yourself at home so that you can do whatever you want. Or if you can’t get that maybe a new set of wooden teeth. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tevya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tevya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tevya)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/6 "2000-12-04T23:42:55Z")
Some good gift ideas you may have over looked: Tickets (to a concert, the theater, the movies) and a free babysitter for that evening. A weekend away at a resort with your wife (also with a free baby sitter for that weekend). Gift Certificate for a massage. Pre-payemnt for a class related to your interests (yoga, tai-chi, art, writing, music, boxing, etc.) Board games. Great gifts that encourage you to invite friends and loved ones over. Beer / wine / chocolate / flowers / book / cigar of the month club. ---
**Author:** ![el\_mono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea666f/32.png) [@el\_mono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/el_mono)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/7 "2000-12-04T23:52:15Z")
How’s about a set of Roberto Giobii’s Card College series? Nothing like rediscovering an old hobby to clear the cobwebs and regain perspective. Worked for me as I approached 40 and continues to work today. At any rate, good luck and hang in there! BTW, Happy Birthday!!! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/8 "2000-12-05T01:53:33Z")
How about a fresh copy of your favorite childhood book to read to your kids? _The Pushcart War_ by Jean Merrill _Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day_ by Judith Viorst sounds like just what you need. Find something, or you’ll get duct tape. ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/9 "2000-12-05T02:16:33Z")
I know I’m old when the snotty nosed kid at the wine store asks me for I.D. then snickers. ---
**Author:** ![User\_10K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@User\_10K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/User_10K)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/10 "2000-12-05T03:00:15Z")
When my second dog died, and I was philosophical about it, that made me feel really old. ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/11 "2000-12-05T04:31:23Z")
hmm im 16 and i didn’t want anything for my birthday. ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/12 "2000-12-05T04:51:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xtal \* > **How about a fresh copy of your favorite childhood book to read to your kids?** Interesting aside… when I got home tonight, someone had dropped off a copy of one of my childhood books that they had bought at a “flea market” at the school. They bought it for their kids years ago and were now done with it. They were going to take it to a used book store when they saw my name in it and brought it over. My son (now 3) loves it. So, I am smiling now, but I still feel old. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/13 "2000-12-05T05:33:25Z")
A radio station starts an 80’s format, and calls it “nostalgia”. :eek: Robin ---
**Author:** ![Broken\_Doll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@Broken\_Doll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broken_Doll)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-youre-old-when/44035/14 "2000-12-05T05:52:12Z")
I hate birthdays. My 18th is coming up soon and I’m dreading every moment. It’s going to be highly depressing. Oh, but I want stuff! Send me stuff!