In eight weeks from now I will be turning 50.
I know I know… you’re aghast. I look so youthful. And I behave like a young sprightly thing. Well, not physically, but still…
Thankfully I’m more zen than I expected about turning 50.
It wasn’t always the case. I felt there was so much I hadn’t done. Hadn’t accomplished. Time and life had passed me by.
And then in mid-late 2016 I met a group of women of a similar age and realised that I didn’t think of them as ‘old’. I thought of them as fabulous and realised they still had a heap of things they wanted to achieve – personally and professionally.
Sure, I do look at some people my age (or sometimes younger) and think they look bloody old and decrepit. And I feel that way myself quite often.
But in some ways my lack of partner and kids means my mindset is a bit like someone much younger. I still remember declaring (in my mid 30s) that I was finally ready to date. About 15yrs after everyone else my age.
So, perhaps I’m just a late bloomer. Or emotionally stunted. 😉
Anyhoo, all of that aside, it appears my milestone birthday is looming, and I’m sorry to say I’m doing poorly on my #5before50 bucket list.
Interestingly I’ve actually added my 5th goal to the list. At last. And I’ve kinda cheated cos it’s ‘doing something for my 50th’.
You might remember I was forced to start thinking about celebrations at the request of some friends back in June.
Well… I’m getting closer to a plan. I’ve tossed around A LOT of ideas – some of which I mention in that old post – as well as the limitations (friends vs families; expensive and busy time of year etc).
Initially (on securing a full-time job and no longer being as financially-challenged) I thought I might take a few friends away to some gorgeous house by the beach somewhere. And then I realised I already live in a quite-nice house by the beach. The cost of exclusive retreats and B & Bs (etc) is a bit prohibitive and I don’t want to ask my friends to pay their own way… though I know a couple of my closest friends have indicated they’re willing to do so.
Of course, my new plans to go to Italy next year mean that I have something MAJOR to look forward to in my future. But… I still want to mark this milestone somehow.
So my latest thinking involves a small local celebration. Perhaps stealing a friend’s idea of a champagne and sunset cruise for a smallish group of devotees (ahem) friends. Although my biggest fear (of course) is that it’s a terrible time of year (not just because others have a myriad of commitments and are often away) but also because we’re more than likely to be bombarded with buckets of rain or – worse still – a cyclone.
I know however, I want to do SOMETHING. The Italy trip means it’ll probably be more low-key than originally planned, but I need to plan something cos that way at least I’ll have achieved TWO of my #5before50 birthday goals!
What do you think of the sunset cruise idea? Anyone know what the weather’s going to be like between Christmas and New Year? Oh… and are you at all surprised I’m failing in my #50before50 goals?
The Lovin’ Life team includes:
November 2, 2017
A sunset cruise with friends sounds like the perfect way to celebrate!
Ingrid
http://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
November 2, 2017
Yes… am just a little worried about pre-booking and then stressing about the weather. Keen to make it a stress-free thing. But a ‘dinner’ seems a bit boring and not very celebratory.
November 2, 2017
A sunset cruise sounds pretty spectacular. I love being on the water and sunset. Just fabulous!
November 2, 2017
Yes, the one I went on was in winter and was lovely. I’m just a tad worried about the heat and storms etc… It wouldn’t be much fun if it was raining. And I’m not sure if I’d be locked into it or able to cancel at the last minute!
November 2, 2017
Have fun planning your party, Deborah! You can even have your #3 goal achieved for your 50th birthday.
November 2, 2017
Some friends and I are actually having a makeup party of sorts in a couple of weeks but I doubt photos are a possibility after (cos there will be champagne and we’ll be doing it ourselves)… but yes. I was going to try to get something professional but perhaps I need to ditch that idea!
November 2, 2017
The sunset cruise is an brilliant idea! And enough time to make it happen,
SSG xxx
November 2, 2017
Very true. Sadly also enough time to stress endlessly about the weather, which will be out of my control, but something I’ll obsess about nonetheless (as if it would be a failing on my part!). *sigh*
November 2, 2017
Well I missed the last sunset cruise because of my tonsils so I think it’s awesome that you’d have another just for me haha 🙂 If I could align some greyhound times to get there I’d come! I don’t like driving enough to drive…
November 3, 2017
The last cruise was great Vanessa. A lovely night… though winter so a bit cooler.
November 2, 2017
Any celebration is a fabulous celebration, because like it or not…age is a blessing!!! Although being 50 may seem old to some—I think we can be considered only half way there!!!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
November 3, 2017
Ha, true. I think at some point I realised that ‘celebrating’ it helps me accept it… if that makes sense.
November 2, 2017
Stop stressing about the weather and book that cruise! Make sure there is an undercover space on the boat and all will be well.
November 3, 2017
Ah yes, that’s the problematic part is that you wouldn’t really see anything from the inside parts of the boats. They’re used for whale watching and then in the off-season for sunset cruises etc…
November 2, 2017
I love the sound of a sunset cruise with friends to celebrate! Turning 5O isn’t so bad! #TeamLovinLife
November 3, 2017
Yes, I think turning 40 was probably worse. Biological clock ticking, still hoping I’d meet the man of my dreams etc… I’ve kinda given up on that stuff by now.
November 2, 2017
Like many have already said, the sunset cruise sounds like a great idea. However, before then maybe could you add to your list “Stop worrying about things out of my control” and then, party on dude!! Say the weather is crap..they come back to your place. YOU are why they want to celebrate and I think no matter where it is YOU will be that (hard as it is) centre of attention. Glad you have plans. Yes I am. Denyse xx
November 3, 2017
That’s true Denyse, though I’d want people to have a good time so would worry about anything I organise being successful!
November 2, 2017
Ok, I reckon the sunset cruise sounds like a good idea. But what do I know? I spent my 50th birthday on a Jetstar flight…so surreal.
November 3, 2017
Ha… true. x
November 2, 2017
The sunset cruise sounds like the perfect way to celebrate your 50th Deb. I love doing these type of things with friends. I I had a big party for my 50th and loved being the centre of attention for one night. However when I turned 60 this year I didn’t want to have a bar of a party so just had a small lunch with friends then a dinner out with family. My Med cruise and trip to Italy was the main celebration of my 60th year and it was incredible. You will love Italy! #TeamLovinLife
November 3, 2017
I hope so Kathy but I think I’ll find it hard to think of the Italy trip as being part of bday celebrations given the 10mth gap. I remember for my 40th I had fantasies about the whole centre of attention thing as I’d never gotten to have that with a wedding!
November 2, 2017
What about a a late afternoon drinks & nibbles cruise and then dinner & party on land and that way, if the weather isn’t so good its not the whole event in question.
November 3, 2017
True Jenni. One of the cruises is only short and would allow dinner as well….
November 2, 2017
I remember the pus and pain of trying to come up with something for my 50th that didn’t involve me stepping too far out of my comfort zone. I think your cruise sounds lovely, but so would having something small (and maybe catered) at your own place? Good luck and I’m sure we’ll all enjoy seeing the pics of your big day.
November 3, 2017
Oh yes, I didn’t want to have to do anything… which is why I was initially thinking about booking a holiday with just a couple of friends or hanging out at some nice house / resort or something (though we’d then have to cook!).
November 3, 2017
This is why I never do parties but always go away for my birthday – so much planning and thinking to do. I would say a river cruise sounds lovely though – as does anything (in my world at least) with alcohol 🙂
November 3, 2017
Ah yes… wine will make everything enjoyable! 🙂
November 3, 2017
Thumbs up to the sunset cruise idea. My 50th is 2019 and my husband is trying to pin me down with plans already! The idea is book ahead and chill! Have a great time whatever you end up doing xx #Lovin’LifeLinky
November 3, 2017
I was a bit surprised when friends asked me in June about my birthday. I think two of my closest friends are coming here at that time of year no matter what, it’s more a matter of what I do…
November 3, 2017
Maybe you could include a road trip into your bday celebrations… you get to tick off two then!!!! What ever you do I’m sure it will be fabulous!! #teamlovinlife
November 3, 2017
True. I’d sort of thought about heading inland for the road trip – to country towns and old pubs. But given my lack of planning it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. (I guess it’s my list so I could make it a half-hour trip away if I wanted!) 😉
November 3, 2017
A sunset cruise sound fabulous. I love getting towards 50 too and do the novel thing.
November 3, 2017
Ah yes… the novel thing isn’t going too well, though I’ve decided I’m doing NaNoWriMo, which involves writing 50,000 words in November. In reality I should ‘finish’ something I’ve started rather than starting from scratch. I’m trying to work out if I should finish something dodgy I started on and very half-heartedly self-publish (rather than doing so more professionally) just to be able to tick it off my list.
November 3, 2017
The sunset cruise sounds brilliant – do it. So jelly you are off to Italy next year! I’m curious, that bunch of awesome women wouldn’t have been the gang at PBEvent now would it?!!!
November 3, 2017
Yes indeed it was!!!!
November 5, 2017
A sunset cruise sounds lovely. As long as it’s not rough of course!
November 6, 2017
Ah yes… it wasn’t the last time we went, though the subsequent whale watch cruise we were on was pretty rough, but fun nonetheless.