Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Thirty and Fabulous

It is official, today. I am 30. Wow, no more twenties. But then again, they say that 30 is the new 20 and I believe it. I still have the rest of my life to do the things I have not yet done. I found this top ten list of things to do before you turn 30, so lets see how I measure up:
1. Drive a wickedly cool car, even if you have to rent it. - check.

""Wickedly cool" is defined as any car that turns heads on the streets. They say life is a journey and you should enjoy the ride. Well, if that's the case, you might as well ride in style at least once. The best I ever did was a 6-year-old convertible, but hey, I was riding in style in Miami Beach."

2. Date against type. - check.

"Better yet, date somebody "dangerous." Waking up tied to a bed with a person who has more tattoos than brains will give you stories to regale other members of the old-age home in your dotage. Also, dating "dangerous" types will make you realize what jerks they are -- and make you less likely to pass up a lifelong love affair with someone you're really compatible with.

Or if you already tend to date dangerous, then date someone your mother would like. What the heck, she might be right.

Similarly, I recommend dating someone much older than you. My age limit was no one older than my dad. Since he was 19 when I was born, I actually came pretty close twice. I learned a bit about mature relationships, appreciated someone with life experience ... and got to go to more-expensive restaurants!"

3. See the world. - no go. Havent done this yet. It is on my list of things to do before I turn 100.

"It's much easier to do when you're 22 and footloose than 35 with two bawling babies in your backpack. Even if you never leave the United States, you'll see a good portion of the planet. Go cheap and travel light. This leaves you open to more adventures. Youth hostels are inexpensive and, even better, you'll meet tons of other adventurers there.

Seeing the world will broaden your horizons and make you a more interesting person. Plus interesting and funny things happen when you travel -- and remember, your 20s are your time to live the stories that you'll be telling for the rest of your life.

I still talk about the three months I spent after college driving through the Southwest United States. I worked as a volunteer at a National Park, visited the Grand Canyon twice and saw Muhammad Ali in Las Vegas, slept in my car at a highway rest area. I have more memories from that short time than from the next five years of work."

4. Live in a cool place. - somewhat check.

"Maybe a loft in a trendy neighborhood "in transition," maybe just camped out on the beach in your van. I'm fond of the six months I lived on a sailboat when I was 25. Just think: no air conditioning, a lousy bathroom, mildew and lack of privacy. Yet everyone thought I was living some glamorous life. Later I lived in a one-bedroom apartment, and really appreciated the space. I still didn't have air conditioning but I was a 20-minute walk from the beach. Comfort isn't quite as important in your 20s as later –- take advantage of that fact."

5. If you're going to drink a lot, do it when you're young. - double check.

"Getting sick on cheap white wine after 30 is pretty pathetic. Young drunks sometimes get away with being "cute," though you may still have a lot of apologizing to do. Get this experimentation out of your system and you'll appreciate finer spirits when you get older."

6. Take risks with your job. - check.

"I've noticed that most people end up changing direction in their careers after their 20s anyway, so, take the time to figure out what you want to do. There will be time enough to be a cubicle drone later.

Aim for the career you've dreamed of doing. If you have a chance to be a model or a dancer, go for it. Get the job in the big city. Volunteer to work on the big project that could make or break the company. Start up a smoothie business with your college buddy.

Or just have fun for now. You might want to be a bartender at the hottest club in town and pick up a lot of dates. Or take a low-paying job at the zoo just because you like animals. Later, when you've got the mortgage and 2.3 kids and a time share in Cocoa Beach, fun will be the last thing on your mind at the office. My husband still talks about having worked on a railroad on Mount Washington because it was a lot more fun than sitting at a desk every day as he does now."

7. Do something physically adventurous. -Does traveling to Alaska and staying in a hotel count? :)

"And do it OUTSIDE! No one will ever be remembered for playing Nintendo or watching every single episode of "Friends." Enjoy your body while you're young, push it to its limits -– soon enough, you'll watch your muscles turn to flab and your rear end inflate like a rubber raft."

8. Take your parents to dinner. -check. I did this when I got my first salary paying job.

"You'll probably have to struggle with your dad about paying the check, but this is one of those grown-up things to do. It gives you a chance to show your parents that you are an equal and that you are responsible. It's also a chance to show your appreciation for all those dinners they bought over the years."

9. Do volunteer work. - check.

"You may be broke, but you can give your sweat and earnestness to a cause in which you believe. In addition to improving your world, you can allow yourself to be exposed to others in the world. Work in a soup kitchen and you'll appreciate your un-air-conditioned, one-bedroom apartment."

10. Use this decade to go to extremes. - see below

"Climb the tallest mountain you can find. Picnic at midnight. Learn to sail. Talk to strangers. Road trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Take a midnight drive to the beach -– then stick around for dawn."

- got me on this one... never done any of these things. I did take a ski lift and go skiing a few times, and Ive attended many midnight outings to IHOP and I've been canoeing. I have chatted it up with strangers on the internet and have road tripped down to the Hills of Texas and back, and even far West to California. I have been to the beach, many moons ago but I have been. It was one of my favorite school trips.

I guess I havent missed out on too much, although I have lead a somewhat sheltered existence. One of my friends recently told me that her thirties were the best time of her life so I know that I must have something fabulous to look forward to.

3 comments:

Knitterista said...

they say 40 is the new 30 too huh?

Ms. M said...

absolutely!!!

Anonymous said...

positive...!!