Would you join the over 50's club?

[Patchworkted]

I'm 55, young (I think) fit and active. According to my Garmin I have the fitness age of a 20yo. I'm definitely fitter than I was at 20!

My local community centre hosts a council run over 50's club, where for a very small annual membership you can attend dozens of weekly activity sessions.

They do things like "exercise with arthritis" and chair yoga, which wouldn't interest me, but also various arts and craft sessions, and things like cribbage, bowls and croquet.

I've never been creative, but I'd like to have a go, and some of the games might be fun, but it's probably mostly attened by people older than me, despite the name.

I've retired early and have some time to spend on new projects and new skills, but will doing it this way make me old before my time?!

Only if you let it!!

I’m 55 and I’d give it a go for the social aspect-you never know!

You could pop along and see. If you don’t like it don’t go back

I would try it. What have you got to lose bar a few hours of your time?
Very youthful 57 year old here.

I would give it a go, I did the same with my local ramblers group, hoping for the social aspect. They were all lovely but the majority were all in their 70s and whilst for the odd walk was fine, I knew that my membership would be wasted.

I've joined waking groups too. They're all lovely, and just as fit as I am, but 20 years older, and whilst conversation can be interesting, now and again, we don't really have anything in common.

There is a Ramblers group in my county specifically for working age people (note working age, not working people) but they don't meet in the week 🤔

I am in my late thirties and prefer socialising with the older generations (my two closest friends at uni were both retired), so this would be a dream come true for me. I don't think it made me "old before my time" but I did have some brilliant conversations and heard so many stories about things I never would have known about if I'd only stuck to being friends with people my own age. I say go for it, you might meet some great people!

I don't consider the membership is wasted though, it's only a few pounds, and I like supporting the footpath work they do.

I would join. You’ve got nothing to lose my trying it. If it doesn’t suit you then try something else. There may well be older people there, but only you can let yourself become old, no one forces you to become old in mindset. I’m mid fifties going on fourteen most days!!

I would join. You’ve got nothing to lose my trying it. If it doesn’t suit you then try something else. There may well be older people there, but only you can let yourself become old, no one forces you to become old in mindset. I’m mid fifties going on fourteen most days!!

I believe that Age Uk set their starting age in the 50s rather than older because it’s easier to start using the services before they’re needed rather than just wanted.

I assume the club works on the same basis, so I would say go for it - get used to going now and you’ll find it easier to keep going as more of the activities become useful to you over the coming decades. I bet they’ll also appreciate having someone younger there to offer a practical helping hand (e.g making cups of tea for the members who are a bit unsteady of their feet).

I (accidentally) booked onto an over 55s Zumba group when I was 35 and trying to get fitter again after having DDs. It wasn't prescriptively over 55s, just aimed at, and I went for a few months as it was less high impact than many classes, and with the state of my pelvic floor then that seemed a good idea. Really enjoyed it and they were a lovely friendly crowd. Most of them a good deal older than 55 too, I might say.

Go
Several of my friends have retired at 55/56. Their new friends are mainly 70ish. You can find your people in any crowd.

Why on earth would anyone want to socialise with anyone over 50? They’ll just want to sing “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” watch Songs of Praise and plan how best to inconvenience younger people in shops…..
Oh and wander round touching babies…

I’m about to turn 50 and can’t imagine turning up to play cribbage and bowls at an over 55s club in a few years. It just wouldn’t appeal.

I don’t think it will turn you old before your time in itself lol! So if those activities appeal then it’s worth trying out, but I suspect you’re right that the huge majority of people attending will be significantly older than you. Which doesn’t stop it being fun or you making friends but I know what you mean in that I generally tend to relate best to people roughly my own age. It’s a shame there aren’t more social clubs genuinely and squarely aimed at people in their 40s/50s/60s, and then others aimed at 60s/70s and above!

Well I’m 59 , retired for 10 yrs and I wouldn’t join , I’m more than capable of filling my days .

Go for it, plus as a young ‘un you may find you can help unofficially at least a bit eg dh gives a lift to his club to 3 older men who can’t drive any more, his good deed

I can fill my days 😆 Doing the kinds of things these people do, only paying more for it!

What are you doing if it's not "activities"?

I thought one or two sessions a week, meeting people from a different walk of life and learning new things might be fun.

I joined a similar club and went along to an event. I was the only female without grey hair and people did not make me feel welcome. I think they thought I was someone’s carer. I am 52 and guess I dress quite young compared to the 70> ladies who all wore cropped chinos and Sketchers. It was a shame and I haven’t been back. Ps the organiser also gave everyone a lanyard to wear with her phone number on in case of falls or sudden death

I'm 60 and most people I meet are in their 70s. There is often a generational difference but now and again I find someone more likeminded (particularly sense of humour, growing up in the 70s etc). And most people have something in common, are good to chat with. This is in a small town community.

Join...but be a little less 'superior' OP.

I guess you don't know until you try and there's no harm giving it a go. But I expect you will find that most people at the club are MUCH older than 50, because people in their 50s are put off for the same reason as you. There may be other clubs around that are a better match.

I'm also in my 50s and wouldn't join an over 50s club that offered the sort of activities you describe.

I’m in my 70s and TBH I’d run a mile. But then I’m a bit of a curmudgeonly old bag - I do find too many people irritating.