to wonder if I'm alone in my boring youth

[otter2954]

It was, for me, boring.

No festivals, no 'girlie' holidays, no illicit drugs, barely any alcohol (don't like it)no one night stands, no concerts, no travels.

I'm perfectly happy but AIBU to wonder if I missed out on a rite of passage? Or are there other boring sods like me out there?

[KatieScarlett]

Oh Mango you poor thing.
Have something nice to reward yourself when you get home and thank the deity of your choice that it'll be aaaages before you need to do it again.
(That's how I survive)

[otter2954]

The thing is, I actually do have nice memories of being young, just not those memories! :)

I went to a Coldplay concert recently

[fudgefeet]

I live a very tame and boring life now but grew up in a chaotic household so the things I got up to when I was young did not seem as shocking then as they do now. I don't look back with pride and in my ciurcumstances as well as the people I was around it was a case of having no real role models or boundaries. Thankfully I met my husband at 16 and he inspired me to make better choices and we moved to New York for a fresh start.

[MangoMoon]

Katie

Otter, you've missed nothing, honest!

I loved my life before, and I love it now just as much - I crave peace & tranquility nowadays, it's nice.

[ForalltheSaints]

Well the alcohol yes, some of the travels, but none of the others.

[Birdsgottafly]

I married and had my first child young and it was the 80's, Liverpool was poverty stricken and cheap travel wasn't available, so until I was Widowed in my 30's, I didn't do any 'wild living', but was very happy.

I've made up for it since, though.

I'm now in a different phase, at just turning 50, we don't all have to follow the same path.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I worked with someone who decided she was going to make up for her lack of a wild and mis-spent youth in her late 40s. There is nothing sadder or more desperate than someone on the look out for a one night stand or trying cocaine at this age.

[Munstermonchgirl]

I didn't do many of those things either as a teenager OP. Travelled a bit bit couldn't be bothered with clubbing, casual sex or, god forbid, a girlie holiday to Ibiza. I drank a little, but couldn't stand the stink of smoking.

Don't forget though, some of those teenagers living the 'wild' life wouldn't have necessarily found it fulfilling... In fact some of my friends tell me now that they only did the Ibiza thing because their mates were and they didn't want to feel left out

The good news is that It's far more fun to do a lot of stuff when you're older and can appreciate it more. Dh and I regularly do festivals now, and have been known to hit the dance floor if we feel like popping into a club after a meal out. And once in a while I'll overindulge on the vino (though usually regret the hangover )
I think it's all far more fun to do it after you've lived a little, rather than getting sucked into it as a constant lifestyle in your teens. There are so many pressures at that stage - passing exams, uni, establishing yourself in a career- much easier to do all that properly and then let your hair down later

[yeOldeTrout]

I stopped using drugs when I was 13/14... already figured out by then I didn't enjoy them.

Otherwise I had a boring youth too. Which I think was great. Feck all No Regrets. Lots of travels & adventures, just not ones involving being drunk, careless spending of stupid amounts of money, screaming laughter, ear deafening music, sex with randoms, dodgy motorbikes, criminal records & only hazy memories what happened. Escapes me why all that appeals.

[TheNaze73]

The late 80's for me were a blur. Never wanted a relationship, lived for dance & indie music in my early 20's, loved Ibiza for seriously clubbing & Majorca for drunken shenanigans & probably had half of Colombia up my nose.
My children are absolutely nothing like me & im so pleased OP. Think what happens is down to circumstances & who you're with & when. Don't regret a single minute of it & I'm so dull now & love it & most importantly, I'm delighted by children are nothing like me

[Munstermonchgirl]

Also OP when you're older you have greater self confidence and perspective, so you're probably better placed to know how to have a good time without being a part of really shitty stuff. Knowing what I know about the drugs trade, barons, dealers etc I'm glad to have never had any part in such a shitty thing. I also don't feel any regret about sleeping around all over the place with randoms (just some very lovely guys ... Just enjoy being true to yourself and having fun without feeling you need to follow the herd

[StillDrSethHazlittMD]

I would have liked a much more exciting youth but lived in a rural area so opportunity wasn't really there. I do often feel I missed out

[lolarosea]

I feel like this now and im only just 21, definitely done some of the stuff but I was very ill for a while and in a rubbish relationship and feel like i missed out

I lack the friends to do a lot of it though which is pretty rubbish, if only I could go back and tell younger me to grow some balls