I need 11 reasons why turning 65 is a good thing

March 20, 2017 3:44 PM

My dad is turning 65 in a few weeks and my mom has asked all of us to come up with 11 reasons that turning 65 is a good thing. I am drawing a blank beyond "Seniors discounts". Can mefites with more perspective help me out? They can be silly or serious.
posted by torisaur to Grab Bag (30 answers total)

Medicare!
posted by JimN2TAW at 3:48 PM on March 20, 2017 [7 favorites]

When the Beatles ask "Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?" you can rest confident that you've had a year's worth of evidence that, yes, they will.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 3:48 PM on March 20, 2017 [18 favorites]

It gets easier and easier to win your age group in anything athletic.
posted by JimN2TAW at 3:49 PM on March 20, 2017 [5 favorites]

How about a listing a few inspirational late bloomers? Grandma Moses started painting at 78, and here's a previous question with other examples.

Also, there are some great senior athlete stories out there. One example is that the NYC Marathon includes 65+ (and even 75+) categories.
posted by veery at 3:52 PM on March 20, 2017 [2 favorites]

Medicare!

When undertaking a difficult challenge at work, his "plan B" can always be "Retire".

Free driver's licenses (in some states).

A freeze on property tax increases (in some communities).

"I'm old and don't feel like it" is a suitable excuse for just about anything he doesn't want to do.
posted by DrGail at 3:53 PM on March 20, 2017 [4 favorites]

It beats the alternative.
posted by adamrice at 3:53 PM on March 20, 2017 [18 favorites]

Not 66.
posted by sammyo at 3:54 PM on March 20, 2017 [3 favorites]

And technically a senior discount, but 65+ Americans can get a lifetime National Parks Pass for $10.
posted by veery at 3:55 PM on March 20, 2017 [6 favorites]

Many people's great accomplishments were accomplished at age 65 or after: Colonel Sanders started KFC when he was 65, Sir Ranulph Fiennes climbed Everest, Laura Ingalls Wilder started publishing at 64.

You could also look at some of the accomplishments of people in their 70s or older and point out "you still have X years before you start painting like Grandma Moses, or get elected like Nelson Mandela." This would only work if humorous answers are acceptable.

Sources: Ranker, Express, How Stuff Works.
posted by bunderful at 3:56 PM on March 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

hella lot better'n NOT
posted by sammyo at 3:57 PM on March 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

It beats the alternative.

always the number one reason
posted by bunderful at 3:57 PM on March 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

The first 64 years can be rough, but he'll never have to do them again.
posted by bricksNmortar at 3:58 PM on March 20, 2017 [5 favorites]

He can now officially be considered a silver fox.
posted by bunderful at 3:58 PM on March 20, 2017 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: I should mention that I am in Canada :) No Medicare

These are all awesome
posted by torisaur at 4:10 PM on March 20, 2017

A 65th anniversary is also know as a sapphire jubilee.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 4:11 PM on March 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

You know you get at least 65 years of life.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:13 PM on March 20, 2017

Oh, if you're in Canada, then Old Age Security and Canada Pension.
posted by jacquilynne at 4:14 PM on March 20, 2017

If your dad was a dog he'd only be 9 years old.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 4:15 PM on March 20, 2017 [11 favorites]

It is now socially permissible (and perhaps even "cute") to fall asleep during boring conversations.

When you get carded now, it's so you can save money, not to deny you a purchase.

You can freely tell your doctors (and anyone else) that you have dress slacks (underwear, grandchildren, whatever) older than they are.

You're obviously doing something right.
posted by peakcomm at 4:18 PM on March 20, 2017 [6 favorites]

People aged 65 to 79 'happiest of all', study suggests (via BBC)

Also: Two-thirds of Americans aged 65 and older said they always feel good about their looks
posted by argonauta at 4:21 PM on March 20, 2017 [9 favorites]

I asked this question a while ago. You might find some useful stuff there.
posted by rpfields at 4:53 PM on March 20, 2017

A number of airlines offer senior discounts for people aged 65 and older. I suppose its to encourage seniors to travel and vacation more.
posted by cazoo at 5:13 PM on March 20, 2017

You get to call fifty year olds young whippersnappers, and tell them to get off of your lawn.
posted by MexicanYenta at 6:16 PM on March 20, 2017 [2 favorites]

Canada Pension?
posted by angiep at 6:30 PM on March 20, 2017

This Carl Jung quote: "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are"
posted by selfmedicating at 6:35 PM on March 20, 2017 [5 favorites]

If you were a whiskey, you'd be worth $35,000!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:09 PM on March 20, 2017 [7 favorites]

You have a great excuse to share this maths factoid with others all year: 65 = 1 to the power of 5 + 2 to the power of 4 + 3 to the power of 3 + 4 to the power of 2 + 5 to the power of 1.
posted by yesbut at 10:53 PM on March 20, 2017 [1 favorite]

I think lists of quotations about old age might help with this - even sentiments that aren't particularly original can be given a fresh spin by great writers. Here's a list of hundreds on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/old-age?page=3, among which I found this one:

“Parker, I'm old," She said matter-of-factly. "I get away with these things." She continued to wave and smile wildly. "People treat me like an idiot so I'm allowed to act like one from time to time. It's one of the perks.”
― Abby Slovin, Letters In Cardboard Boxes
posted by matthew.alexander at 12:45 AM on March 21, 2017

In some cities (or at least in Pittsburgh), if you're 65+, you can sign up for a free public transit pass!
posted by helloimjennsco at 11:00 AM on March 21, 2017

That you're glad he's still around to see you get a year older.
posted by stray thoughts at 7:08 PM on March 23, 2017