What have you become more cautious about as you have got older?

[HuulTown]

people

Holiday-related stuff. In my twenties I was going around South America arriving in a town I had no idea about alone and finding accommodation on arrival.

Then I started booking all hotels and transport in advance. Now (40s) we book in advance after scrupulous research and don’t do anything costly without atol protection. It’s great for travel agents. I’ve also used google street map to check out routes I was going to have to walk alone early morning in an unfamiliar city, something my younger self would never have thought of even if streetmap had been around.

I'm actually less cautious as I get older. I get a lot of "MUM-you can't do that!!!! Oh, yes you can..."

Processed foods/ inflammatory foods.
I eat very simple now and I feel about 10 years younger than I did four years ago.

@FrostieBoabby Huw’s personal carry on hasn’t got anything to do with news quality. That is irrational.

Agree with this 100%. People's intentions aren't always as pure as they may seem.

Also, a lot of people's issues with you are more to do with them and their own insecurities than anything about you or you've done. Learning that has made me view a lot of people in a different light

I work as a software developer, and on the interview panel for new hires in our area. I've become very picky with respect assessing both technical ability and fit for the team. I've learned that challenges of working with people who not a good fit.

I'm living back home on my father's farm when he is going through some medical issues. We've had some timber/pallets/construction equipment stolen recently, and it's made me very wary of people who arrive here (we have a lot of people due to some temp help, regular diary farm activities and some maintenance projects). I'm inclined to speak to the people, note the make and model of vehicle and so on. In fact I keep a log of visitors, and now have camera system in the main yard.

Getting a bungalow results in you getting what’s called “bungalow legs”. Basically you aren’t climbing stairs any more so your leg muscles deteriorate. Then you struggle with basic things like standing up from a chair. Loss of leg muscle is one of the major reasons people end up in care homes.

If we get more cautious as we get older, why are the elderly generally trusting of strangers? Just a thought in my head reading these replies. Do we then revert back to being less cautious in our twilight years?

God yes, bungalow legs are definitely a thing. So many old people I know who moved to bungalows and then had falls and couldn't get themselves up as their leg muscles had basically disappeared. It happened to my own mum who used to be as fit as a fiddle. My mother in law refuses to move out of her house with stairs and is one of the few nearly 90 years olds who can still walk with ease.

Driving, roads are too busy now. Used to love it but now it’s just too stressful.
Flying and holidays abroad, after a disastrous holiday nearly 20 years ago.
Can’t booze anymore, the hangovers are horrendous.
Walking icy pavements on winter mornings before the gritters are out - not such a problem now I’m retired.
Going downstairs wearing glasses, had a couple of falls, luckily our stairs have a middle landing.
Walking through long grass and heather, anything over ankles, and especially through bracken which can be near shoulder height, since I discovered ticks seem immensely attracted to me, having to pick several off once I got home and finding another days later.