OMG, am mortified/horrified and shocked...........

I can relate to this. Our flight was cancelled on the way home from holiday recently and there was general confusion and chaos. In my head I was a not-very-well-travelled youngster terrified of missing an important announcement and being stranded miles from home. For some inexplicable reason several groups of women in their 20s seemed determined to follow me and consult me on what they should do/where they should go. I started to wonder if perhaps I was inadvertently wearing similar clothing to the holiday reps, or if perhaps they thought I was with their group. Then it slowly dawned on me that no, they thought I was a sensible older woman that they could rely on to advise them on what to do.

I had a similar 'shit, they think I'm old' moment when I turned 50. The other helpers at a youth group I help with organised a cake and card etc. As parents came to collect their children they wished me happy birthday and almost all asked if I was going to enjoy a nice relaxing weekend for my birthday. Not a big night out, or an exciting adventure, no- they clearly assumed I had reached the age where I'd rather put my feet up with a good book. (not saying they were wrong, but...)

At least they said you were nice! 😂

When my mum was in her late 40s, she phoned up her bank to complain about something. The person she spoke with wasn't sure, so needed to confer with a manager... but forgot to mute mum.
"There's a lovely old lady on the phone, she's very pleasant but a bit cross about..."

Mum didn't have the heart to tell them.

No, most 69 years old are not surfing or cycling. But neither are most younger people, so it alll depends on the individual.

Unlike it was in olden times, people at 60 are in a much better shape than they were in the past, they are old compared to young people but the fact that the fucking Tory government is convinced we are now all fit to work until we are 67, and probably up to 70 in a few years more, may mean that the term “old” is more relative than “time”.

@NotAgainWilson confirmation bias. Most 60 plus people are not wind surfing or similar.
The median age to die for women in the UK is 82. How is 19 years younger not old?

Rubbish, 63 is not even retirement age.

I used to think that as an ignorant youngster but now that I am trying to avoid cyclists in challenging rural routes on weekdays or trying to hide from the weather when there are lots of surfers trying to make the best of the waves caused by inclement wintry weather, I mostly of them are retired people.

Meanwhile, us younger people just want to chill with a glass of wine/gin or a cappuccino…

63 IS old in anyone's book! And 63's ancient for "young" & foolish neighbours!! They don't know how much they are going to miss out with that attitude!! Youth is wasted on the young. 😀

You sound perfectly young n able to me! And as me Nan always told me, you're only as old as the fella you feel!
I do feel older of late though, I had my 6th and final baby at 42, I thought it would make me feel younger, but I find myself swearing a lot more at Peppa Pig! She was only mildly annoying in my 20s. in my 40s I want to fry her up and eat her in a nice sarnie!
And lastly, while I feel young in my mid 40s, In fact I don't feel my mind-brain ever moved on from 17, but a few weeks ago I asked my 25 year old son to get me some tampons, he looked surprised and told me his sisters could buy their own. I said they were for me and he grinned and said 'Blimey, would have thought your insides were nothing but dust by now!'
He has since been written out of the will!

I was a police officer. When I left there were fully functioning police officers there who hadn’t been born when I joined.

Some kids in the park said 'Well done, Grandpa!' at my DP as he was finishing a 5K run and checking his time on his phone last year.

He's 54 😂

DH is always telling me off for referring to DC's coaches and scout leaders as "nice boys", he says it makes me sound ancient. Seems unfair when "the girls at nursery" was perfectly acceptable! I've covertly switched to "lovely lads" which seems to bring my age back down a few decades...

I'm not sure that it has to be an either/or.

You'll be surprised to find a lot of people enjoy doing their garden, crocheting and also going to gigs and parties.

Not quite sure how you think doing drugs keeps you young though 🙄. And in appearance those who regularly use drugs, smoke or drink too much are likely to look older .

I'm almost 67, so yes I'm old. I'm physically fit and active. I still have the same friends I had when I was in my teens which I think helps. I go on solo holidays abroad which I wouldn't have had the confidence to do when young. But it would be nice to be young again.

It makes me wonder about your DH!

OP, to use the vernacular, you’re super, you’re smashing, you’re great! A sharp wit and sense of humour like yours will keep you forever young I reckon…. I’m aiming to emulate you as I turn 60 this week!

I'm 35 and talk to my cat! I get more sense out of the cat than my DH. Does that mean I'm old 😂😂.

Fair enough, it was the assumption that annoyed me.

My daughter says some of her teachers are old…. Then says ‘about 50’

I’m 25 years younger than the op and I have geraniums and wool stocks and hydrangeas. I’d love to crochet a bed jacket 😂

I’m 48 and have three grandchildren 🙂

When we moved into this house we were both 49. Our new neighbour, probably about 30, asked if we had grandchildren. I was so taken aback I said our children weren't grown up yet. I'm still annoyed!

Sort of joking but they always have a challenge-do not challenge thing on the till when you buy certain age restriction stuff. Oh and I dont look or feel nearly 70, everyone in my family looks a lot younger than they are, must be in our genes. Never seen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but I know some of the songs.

I would have loved to stay 40 for ever.

I'm your age, OP. I suppose we are, objectively speaking, getting on a bit, but I agree with pp that 'old' is a term we reserve for those who are at least 10 years older than us.

I've long since got used to the fact that police officers, doctors - and, indeed, all sorts of people in senior positions - are younger than I am. But it did give me a jolt when I realised I'm old enough to be the current prime minister's mother!

I remember my lovely MIL, when she was around 80, saying that when she looked in the mirror she was always amazed to see an old lady looking back at her ...

I don't mind being the age I am. I certainly wouldn't want to go back to being an angst-ridden teenager again! I'd settle for being permanently 40 years old.

And I can't crochet and don't have cats, but I love geraniums.

@KindaBinding81 you think taking illegal drugs and going to see bands makes you young? I think you are the one who has a very stereotyped view of what being young and old means.
Although I admit anyone who has not grown out of taking illegal drugs by that age is pretty sad.