To have a hobby usually shared by much much younger people?

[InsomniacVampire]

I have recently got into a hobby. I have kids and not much free time so wanted something easy I could get into, and it's something I was doing at uni as well (think something along the lines of film club, but the target audience is pretty narrow)... Turns out most people who are into it are at uni (still), and I am probably 10/15 years older than most people I chatted to, everyone is younger and single so lots of chat I do not participate in.

I have not been really self conscious about it, I don't ask anyone their age nor do I reveal mine, but someone is organising a meet-up during another bigger event and a lot of people from this particular forum will be attending. I was chatting to two people and one asked me if I would be coming and I mentioned that I was not sure as the big event runs over 3 days and I would need to sort out childcare for that particular day the meet up is. A super awkward silence followed and then they left the chat 🤣🤣🤣, like they suddenly realised we were not in early 20s.
I am in my mid 30s and never felt really old, until now.
Not sure what the point of this is except that I should probably buying myself a coffin as I'm so old?
Do I need something different to do with my time?(Probably yes!). What do people in their 30s/40s do for fun?

It'll be good for you to meet up with potential hobby friends, and also good for them to meet someone who isn't their own age. There's too much age segregation around as it is, which just perpetuates ageism.

I’m dying to know what hobby could be considered ‘only’ for young people. Surely all hobbies can be for anyone?

Are you writing fan fiction?

Is it Warhammer?

Anime? Going to MCM or similar?

Surely you could join the group on a single day?

Whatever it is. If you still enjoy the group and subject matter then keep attending. The occasional awkward moment doesn't really change things?

@JADS I had a go at it, but again felt super self conscious and even more so now when I think that most people who indulge are students with lots of free time, if my coworkers ever found out, Id have to wear a paper bag over my head forever haha.

@ExplodingElephants yes but also, no I guess? I think it's perceived as a thing for younger people, and you don't see many older people around on the forum?
I used to be in quite a few anime groups at uni and I remember an older dude used to turn up, and at the time I wodnered by a 40 something year old would want to hang around people in their early 20s talking about animated teenagers etc, I sort of wonder now if I am, well, that dude :) Although it's not anime Im into.

There is a young adult theatre group as part of the same theatre school my children attend (and I chaperone for) and I've appeared with them in a few shows as the middle aged woman! I get on well with them and go for a drink after shows etc but don't join in on a lot of their socialising outside of shows. Partly because I don't have time, partly because I don't want to cramp their style and partly because the things they do don't really appeal a lot of a the time!

A couple of them babysit for us and have become good family friends.

[quote InsomniacVampire]@Florenz Not to bee to specific, it centres around films, cosplay, conventions sort of thing.[/quote]
Fandom! I'm over 60 and active in one. Take no notice of some silly folk, there are sensible non-ageist people to be found.

I play netball for a fairly big club locally. In my squad this year the next oldest was late 20's, I'm 44. They had a night out a few weeks ago and I couldn't go but looking at the photos I would've looked like someone's mum who'd tagged along. But when I said that to one of them they thought it was ridiculous and said they wished I'd gone.
Just go for it!