Reverse aging ala Benjamin Button?
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That would actually be a pretty good alternative, if it was available. I wouldn’t mind switching directions in another 5-6 years to start de-aging! 
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Off topic, but totally more interesting than the topic at hand:
If you could pick any age of your own life to stay at for the rest of your life, and you had to take all the things that come with it (not just muscularity but financial stability, social status, family situation, etc), what would you pick?
For me, I think I’d actually have to pick right now. My last few years have been such a great combination of life things, including personal relationships, finances, I’m the strongest I’ve ever been, I look better than ever, and I have an awesome son. The only downside to me now is the injuries, general fatigue and soreness. I suppose work stress too.
The only other time I could consider picking would be around 24-25, shortly after I bought my first house. I had just started making a little more money, I wasn’t financially stressed, I was happy at the time with my physical fitness, and I was mostly enjoying life as a single dude. I think the deciding factor between these 2 ages is my son. That brings another level of personal fulfillment in my life I didn’t have then. I was enjoying life, but it was relatively empty. I have so much more purpose now.
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That’s a pretty interesting thought exercise. I’d have to go with now too (28, nearly 29) but thinking back to other potential choices makes me realize how drastically life changes in small amounts of time.
26 was probably the height of my hedonist lifestyle and it seems like much longer than 2-3 years ago, drugs, women, making and spending lots of money. Two years prior to that was getting my first well paying job after college, and remember when the first paycheck hit my account I’d never felt so rich and I had all the time in the world to travel and party. 20-22 was just college fun, playing in a rock band and dreaming of making it big, being broke and not caring because I had almost 0 responsibilities.
I think now though I’ve got the best mix for appreciation of my life, financial security, and a really great GF to spend time with.
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That’s a really good topic. I have to agree with you about the right now answer. Even though I’m 54, I’m living my happiest, most fulfilled life right now, and I’m as healthy and physically capable as I’ve ever been. I have all my kids living here in Kansas with me, as well as my 2 granddaughters.
Not that everything is perfect, by any means. It’s pretty damn good, though!
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For me, I’m thinking early 30’s. Physically I was in a great place, commitments weren’t even close to the responsibilities of being older, BUT, still old enough to feel you’ve got your sh-t together. Making enough money to get by, but not stressing about it too much.
S
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- Was newly married, had just started a new job after graduating college. Having a real steady paycheck for the first time, we felt like we were kings. Great age of learning each other, very few obligations, looking forward to what the future holds, the excitement of starting out, etc. I remember us buying a 37" flatscreen TV and feeling like we had made it, haha. Or my wife snagging a Nintendo Wii while they were still getting sold out and us playing bowling or smash bros for long nights while making quesadillas in our little plug-in quesadilla maker we got as a wedding gift. Also when we got our puppy, that’s now a very grumpy old man.
However, the kiddo throws a wrench into living out the fantasy too, because I’d never want to be without them. If anything, I’d love to go back to those first few nights. Once again, no idea what we’re doing, figuring it out as we go, learning each other. Getting up for those light night feedings and just boding.
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Nostalgia says18-20. I was offered a scholarship for rugby in the UK, I turn it down to go to a better school… I flunked out of school and got a job at a bank and was earning more than my dad. I had cash to burn. I bought a suit worth more then his car one month.
Saying that I stopped playing rugby got fat asi lived in the pub.
But honestly now’s good. I’m 34, I’m steaming in my career, I have an ongoing mental health concern that’s only in the last 12 months been controlled. So I’m happier that way. Money is never a worry, my kids are BEAUTIFUL. And truly special. My wife loves me (no idea how or why).
Life might not be as care free as when I was young but its better than I deserve. I’m just fat…
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Now that I’m thinking about it a little more, I had a couple years in college where things were pretty good. The summer after my 3rd year was when I developed a real alcohol problem, that turned into a drug problem. And the highs and lows were unmanageable from that point on. But before shit got bad that summer, I kinda managed things ok. Particularly year 2 in college. That was the first full year I was really dedicated to working out consistently over a long period of time, it’s the year I discovered TNation (2003 or 2004, can’t remember for sure which year it was), I was drinking and partying a lot but still going to class, I had a great group of friends, and the freedom of college still felt new and exhilarating. Things went very dark for me very soon after that, so sometimes I forget that I didn’t spend all of college hating myself and dying, lol. In some senses, it resembled what I have now, in that I was pursuing things I really enjoyed, but maintaining the responsibilities and discipline that were necessary to keep my life basically in order.
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31, so three years ago. The only things that’s changed for us is that our kids are older and we both make a little more money.
But, and it’s a big but, I’m beat all to hell suddenly and I screwed up our financial peace by buying a rental house that ended up costing way more than it’s worth. Instead of having $20k in the bank we have closed the savings account and have about $50k in debt.
The only direction to go from here is forward though.
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This is fun. It’s a tie between right now (26) and about 4 years ago.
Right now, I’m financially stable, and burning a little bit of money. Stable relationship, with virtually no home stress, currently working out the mortgage on my first house (that I’ve been renting, what a waste, oh well), just bought a new (used) truck. I’ve learned a lot through the flood we just had, as much as it sucked I learned a lot about keeping a level head and being pillar for others around you. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been, albeit with a bit more fat than I care for… career is showing a positive trend. Also have a fully functional home gym, so that kicks ass.
At 22 ish, I was in an awesome position at my company, and was unaware how fucking garbage they were paying me for what I did, but it did loads for my self esteem and taught me how to really work and excel at a job. As terrible as the money was for the work load, I was in a 2 bedroom apartment with my girlfriend making metric shitloads of money compared to our monetary output. Anything we wanted we could buy. But I didnt have much time to lift, I was pretty out of shape, and the living space was small.
Fuck 18. I was fully convinced I was going to die without a car living with my dad by the time i was 25. Boy, if I could slap the shit out of myself now.
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