3x Thursday

The Age Difference

1. In general, are your friends your age, or are they older/younger? If they're not your age, why go with the younger/older crowd?

I have friends of various ages, from around 15 up to one in her 90s. OK, granted, most are between 30 and 50, just because that's who I have the most in common with right now at my stage of life.

2. Do you believe that age makes a difference in certain situations? Why/why not?

Very occasionally. Sometimes I can see younger people doing the same sorts of things I did when I was there age and it gives me perspective on my journey. Sometimes I'm afraid I just don't 'get' what being 70 (or whatever) means.

3. What about in relationships? Does age matter? Why?

Are we talking about dating here, and marriage? I think it matters only to the extent that it bothers the people involved. If you know your S.O. is, in all likelihood, going to die 40 years before you, and that bothers you, then it's going to matter. Then again, my grandmother married someone about 12 years older than her and was a widow for over 35 years, so marrying someone closer to your age doesn't guarantee anything.

In practicality, age only matters from the standpoint of caretaking and medical issues and 'quality of life.' And even then, you never know. My sister is being cared for by her older husband, who will outlive her by at least a decade most likely.

Bonus Question: Do you think that how you resolve conflict changes with age? Why/why not?

I sure as hell hope so. I hope I've gotten less likely to fly off the handle, and more prone to thinking things through from the other perspective! I think when you've seen more of life, one of two things happen: you either become more patient and aware of the largeness of the universe, or you become more easily-irritated because you've fought this same battle so many times before. I hope I can be the former, not the latter.