If you could go back to any age and live for the rest of eternity at that age what age would it be?

[The Hallucinating Goose]

This is a question I asked someone the other day and we had a good long debate about it. I'm interested to know what others would say. 

I went for 15. This was probably the most relaxed period of my life. I wasn't getting bullied anymore in school, I had a really good core of friends, I didn't have a medical condition that I've been diagnosed with for life since, I didn't have any household management stuff to worry about, I didn't work obviously so didn't have the stress of a job. 15 was just so relaxed. 

What about you lot? 

[graveyard johnny]

depends if you know at the chosen age .what you know now

Edited August 20, 2023 by graveyard johnny

[The Hallucinating Goose]

21 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

depends if you know at the chosen age .what you know now

No you don't, you know what you knew at the age chosen. 

For me choosing 15, I think this is actually a positive because I would prefer that innocence of youth I had then than all the knowledge of a failing world that I have now. 

[graveyard johnny]

50 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

No you don't, you know what you knew at the age chosen. 

For me choosing 15, I think this is actually a positive because I would prefer that innocence of youth I had then than all the knowledge of a failing world that I have now. 

then I will stick without going back and leave it as it is

Edited August 20, 2023 by graveyard johnny

[glossop saint]

Interesting question. Not got an immediate answer but it can't be before 22 as I didn't watch/follow rugby league properly till then! 

[DavidM]

12 . I was at my fittest and healthiest , loved school and everyone who meant something to me in my family was around 

[Vambo]

I turned 56 in July and in all honesty I'm living my best life now.

The past can be a nice place to visit occasionally but I sure wouldn't want to go back permanently.

[Dunbar]

It's a very interesting question and one that I have pondered in various forms over the years.

When I look back on my life, I always break it down into 10 year intervals and as I was born in 1970, they also correspond to the decades which makes it more relevant.

My youngest years (1970's) were happy but obviously not clear memories for much of it. I would go back there to be part of a loving family and parents who were so special.

Between 10 and 20 (the 80's) I didn't have a care in the world, thought I was indestructible and discovered Rugby League.

Between 20 and 30 (the 90's) I had my University years and early years at work.  I loved the friendships but I was socially awkward, at least the first half. But so many good memories from my playing days and on the terraces.  This was when my entire life revolved around Rugby League. 

Between 30 and 40 (00's) I found confidence. I had a good job and was earning decent money and met a lot of girls.

Between 40 and 50 (10's) I had met my wife and settled down and had my daughter.  We are financially stable so no real worries and I have a nice place (and my Aston Martin!*)

They all had something special.  Obviously the last 13 years have been fantastic but so were my 30's, I have a lot of good memories from that time and those girls.

I am going to plump for now.

*it is the family that makes me happy, not the car.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

34 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

It's a very interesting question and one that I have pondered in various forms over the years.

When I look back on my life, I always break it down into 10 year intervals and as I was born in 1970, they also correspond to the decades which makes it more relevant.

My youngest years (1970's) were happy but obviously not clear memories for much of it. I would go back there to be part of a loving family and parents who were so special.

Between 10 and 20 (the 80's) I didn't have a care in the world, thought I was indestructible and discovered Rugby League.

Between 20 and 30 (the 90's) I had my University years and early years at work.  I loved the friendships but I was socially awkward, at least the first half. But so many good memories from my playing days and on the terraces.  This was when my entire life revolved around Rugby League. 

Between 30 and 40 (00's) I found confidence. I had a good job and was earning decent money and met a lot of girls.

Between 40 and 50 (10's) I had met my wife and settled down and had my daughter.  We are financially stable so no real worries and I have a nice place (and my Aston Martin!*)

They all had something special.  Obviously the last 13 years have been fantastic but so were my 30's, I have a lot of good memories from that time and those girls.

I am going to plump for now.

*it is the family that makes me happy, not the car.

Thanks, I really enjoyed reading that! 

[Gerrumonside ref]

“She said to me,

You’re not nineteen forever,

Pull yourselves together,

I know it sounds strange,

But things they change”

 

-The Courteeners

 

On the question itself I would say my prime ‘rock’ years were 1994 until 1996.

Everything still seemed possible back then and many great memories were made in a short period of time with people from every walk of life.

There were students from everywhere, tree protesters, filmmakers, premier league footballers and other minor celebs.

And more importantly when you went out clubbing the smoking ban hadn’t come in so you didn’t have to smell beer farts all night on the dance floor!

Edited August 21, 2023 by Gerrumonside ref

[ivans82]

!977 when i was 23  . As Music and Rugby League are my main interests  . Workington Town had their best Team for about 20 years , and where music was concerned had been through the flower power years , prog rock and heavy metal when they peaked and Punk and Ska were just hitting the shops along with the offshoots like XTC,Magazine , Elvis Costello , Ian Dury, Graham Parker ,Television , Talking Heads etc......think i reached around the 2,000 mark in albums by the late 70`s .

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

On 20/08/2023 at 08:58, The Hallucinating Goose said:

This is a question I asked someone the other day and we had a good long debate about it. I'm interested to know what others would say. 

I went for 15. This was probably the most relaxed period of my life. I wasn't getting bullied anymore in school, I had a really good core of friends, I didn't have a medical condition that I've been diagnosed with for life since, I didn't have any household management stuff to worry about, I didn't work obviously so didn't have the stress of a job. 15 was just so relaxed. 

What about you lot? 

My early life/teens were rubbish. Neglectful and violent parents who seemed to dislike me (they still do hence the limited contact). The council estate I grew up in was not a nice place and never felt safe and we never had any money. Luckily a good mates dad helped me get into and play sport

Late teens to 33 were much better..university freed me from the rubbish and distanced myself from it in all ways. Got a really good stable job, played sport constantly (rugby/cricket) and met lots of women. Travelled the world and lived abroad a bit. Not having found the right women though meant it felt unstable and was too up and down to be very happy and want to choose that as my forever time 

In terms of personal life I'd choose now (mid forties) as I have fantastic children, a caring wife who is still sexy,a small number of good mates and a nice place to live and money. I am really fit/healthy and eat well/gym etc.. .... however.....

Work stress means now is not as good as it should be ......it negates a lot of the top stuff as anxiety takes hold.....if I can can get work anxiety sorted in some way this would probably be my best time. I'm hoping this will happen before Xmas as it has come to a head recently 

I guess the answer is there might never be an age / time to want to be all the time. Unless there is some magic way to make anxiety about everything disappear ....

Actually wait there is.....going to call my dealer 

 

 

Edited August 25, 2023 by Bedfordshire Bronco

[EggFace]

On 22/08/2023 at 13:00, ivans82 said:

!977 when i was 23  . As Music and Rugby League are my main interests  . Workington Town had their best Team for about 20 years , and where music was concerned had been through the flower power years , prog rock and heavy metal when they peaked and Punk and Ska were just hitting the shops along with the offshoots like XTC,Magazine , Elvis Costello , Ian Dury, Graham Parker ,Television , Talking Heads etc......think i reached around the 2,000 mark in albums by the late 70`s .

I was 6 in 1977 but would of loved to been anything from 17-22 between the years of 1976 to 1984 as it was a exciting era for music be it Pub Rock, Punk, Post Punk, New Wave , Rock'n'Roll Revival, Disco, Jazz-Funk, Reggae, Rock, Heavy Metal and Synth Disco, Pop and New Romantic etc

[tim2]

On 20/08/2023 at 15:06, Vambo said:

I turned 56 in July and in all honesty I'm living my best life now.

The past can be a nice place to visit occasionally but I sure wouldn't want to go back permanently.

Under 12 - possibly, my parents were brilliant
School - exam stress and bullying
University - not bad but the lectures, studying and exams were a pain. I guess I would do well with infinite time.
20s, 30s, 40s - all OK but work and kids dominated
50s - I got really fit and the kids had gone. Definite option.
Now - Retired, healthy-ish. Yeah, I'd stay with now.

[Phil]

Good thread up till 11 really good and happy, took the 11 plus and went from a school with 60 pupils where I was the brightest to a grammar school with 120 pupils in the first year, all of whom were at least as bright and in many cases brighter. 

The school had a problem with bullying which was never addressed, my Catholicism and irish background were held against me by staff and pupils. I was sexually abused by one teacher which blighted my life for years.

My late teens and early twenties coincided with punk, I made lots of friends and found a social “home” went to college and began working as an accounts assistant.

Thirties were still around the same social circle, qualified as an accountant. Met my wife who’s been my rock, had a beautiful daughter.

I’d have to say twenties onwards, I’m 66 now, semiretired and loving life