Have traveled to Italy (first trip to Europe), then solo(ish) to Portugal.
(Continued) racing motorcycles, finally getting not-embarrasing-slow on my current bike, being one of only a small handful of women racing that class in the entire country....
Started my (side) business, having a couple really good years in there (not so much the past year and a half, but that just kind of went with the general economy).
Worked through (the first part of) perimenopause and figuring out WTAF was wrong with me and got that sorted out and feel like a human being again after getting completely taken out by the freight train I never saw coming...
All kinds of fun.
Stopped drinking, changed jobs (huge move for me), done some fun traveling like a road trip to with the family, lots of mountain biking (my primary hobby) and racing (did a 40 mile race last year and did well in it). Kid is about to start driving, she'll be done with high school before I'm 50 (well before). We are rolling.
I went to Japan for my 40th birthday. I'd been wanting to go since high school and managed to find a reasonably priced flight. It was a very intense trip, but I'm glad I went when I did.
Team front right, reporting in! That’s my go-to, left front is my backup if I’m in full chef mode heating two things at the same time (it’s pretty rare, if I’m being honest). Back left is my tea kettle’s permanent station, because I like tea a LOT. I assume the back right works… probably.
Back right is the kettle (it lives there),
Front right is large skillet and medium+ saucepans (so most family meals),
Front left is small skillet and saucepans,
Back left is an extra burner for low maintenance foods like steaming vegetables, boiling rice or whatever.
That's my go to for heating up Alfredo sauce. The cooking is front right, and the boiling is front left. I don't really ever use back right. I also have a plastic melting option for the left side. It's for a skillet, but it basically heats up the area between the 2 left burners. I only use that option by accident.
I have found something called being content where I don’t need constant chaos or spending tons of money to be happy. Amazing stuff! Contentment is a real game changer.
Accidentally rediscovered my love for mosh pits last summer during Green Day at RiotFest. Moshed hard during Dropkick Murphys back in March and I have pit tix for Jimmy Eat World in a few weeks. Key take aways: The young kids in the Green Day mosh pit were softies compared to the middle aged GenXers and Millennials in the Dropkick Murphys pit. GenXers and Millennials go fucking hard. The dopamine highs I rode afterwards lasted 3-4 days and I only needed 4hrs of sleep each night.
You have no idea how correct you are about the bone density. When the Murphys started playing all the drinks flew into the air and that venue had a concrete floor. At one point, I slipped in the pit, landed on my hip and bruised the bone badly. I'm 6'3" and 210lbs. I cannot believe I didn't break anything with how hard I hit that floor. Did you know it can take up to 6 months for a bruised bone to heal completely? Neither did I! Damn hip still hurts 4 months later, but it's almost better, just in time for the Jimmy Eat World pit next week🤣
We took our kid to a local show a month or so ago and a couple of other friends and their kids joined us. We all skanked in the pit together - it was hella fun. I’m so glad we decided to go because there were a couple of other families with kids and it’s so hard to make friends with similar interests in the routine these days. We are looking forward to going to more.
I got to go to Hungary at 41, to meet my grandfather's family. He escaped from communist Hungary and never managed to find his family before he passed. 23 and me for rhe win.
Not in any particular order:
Got my masters degree.
Went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for diagnosis and treatment for a rare disease.
Moved out of the state I was born and raised in for the first time in my life.
Started sewing monster dolls.
Went to my first concert! (Weird Al)
Got cats, my first fur children since my rats passed away in 2007.
Got my first tattoo.
Got a bachelor's and a master's. Went to the Grand Canyon (for the third time), Zion National Park, Cape Cod, and Disney (all of those for the first time).
I wanted my kids to see more places than I got a chance to when I was a kid. Niagara Falls is this summer.
I just received my second patent (it’s really an extension of the first to better protect it). Problem is, I don’t have the money to fund on my own, the talent to change the design from 3d printed to injection molding, etc. So if anyone has any advice, I am all ears.
Congrats! Many people don't understand how big of a deal it is to even file an application. A company must have a lot of confidence in an invention/idea to throw the resources behind filing. Just be careful though...It gets kind of addictive after you get the first one. Before you know it you'll have 3 or 4.
I get that, but at the same time my divorce at 38 has turned my 40s into the party and ho-phase of my life that I never had when I was 20. When I was younger, I was a nerdy kid and I was too busy working on college and my army career.
I’ve built up my glove compartment napkin supply to the point where I can clean up two major spills before replenishing. And I submitted my research proposal for a PhD.
I went to home sense. I bought fancy olives and crackers, the kind you buy and gift to a party host, or you put out for guests.
I took them home and ate them. I only bought them so I could eat them myself. Without sharing. Which is what I did. They cost like $20 or something. (I am not wealthy)
Worth it.
Since turning 40: got my bachelor's, lost 70 lbs., started grad school, traveled around Europe... put on about 60 lbs., wife almost died... yeah, ok, not perfect, but...
I grow weed, record music, sing in a choir, go on bike tours on the weekends... lot's of excitement in my life. When I was young older people seemed different though...
Finalized the divorce that started in my 30's. 9 year battle + several more years of alimony and child support. all done.
Looking like I'll be an empty nester in the next couple of years.
I’ve spent the first couple years into my 40s so far:
-Invisalign
-Diagnosed with ADHD
-Laid off from my last job, resulting in almost 3 years of unemployment
-Going through a divorce (but because of the unemployment thing, we’re still living together)
-Recently, being told I need a new transmission for my 8 year old car
-Began perimenopause
-Diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and scheduling surgery for that soon
I hit my 40s and my life decided it needed a factory reset, I guess. I have a therapist and many prescriptions for anxiety and I’m working on setting boundaries, caring for myself, not being a people pleaser, etc. And when all this shit subsides, I’m hoping to move out to a mountain town and become a feral crone in the woods with my dogs.
Oh! I’ve been going to concerts a lot more! Like the cheap, intimate venue ones for bands I love that aren’t super famous (yet)!
-
Travelled for 6 months in Latin America
Started a new branch in my work
Returned to Angkor Wat with my oldest kid (was my first OS trip a long time ago)
Developed my skiing and MTB riding
I'm not dead yet. Have more plans.
Since turning 40 I've gone on safari in Tanzania, visited Belize, Portugal, Sicily, Iceland, Spain and most recently Egypt. With my usual trips to the Caribbean every winter for my wife's b'day and summer for mine.
I picked up and moved my life from Florida all the way to California when I was 42. Since then, I’ve been to Hawaii twice, also visit the Pacific Northwest, as another poster commented, did a 2000 mile road trip through California and checked off a bucket list item of seeing the Redwoods and Bixby Canyon Bridge in Monterrey, and I’m currently living through the fallout of a nervous breakdown, so I’ve got that going for me, which is nice. 😂
But seriously, all in all, life after 40 has definitely not been boring.
Went to Zion NP and hiked the arch in a thunderstorm at night to smoke a joint, then ate acid and wandered off into the desert to shoot guns and get laid.
Went snowboarding on various Hokkaido volcanoes.
Learned how to snowmobile.
Saw Iron Maiden on a whim, floor tickets, while dressed in tie-dye and cords because I was on my way home from a hippy festival in northern Washington, accidentally stopping in faux-Bavaria for Oktoberfest the night before.
Broke every rule at a highway side boondock spot on the Oregon coast. (No overnight parking, No camping, No fires, No drugs/alcohol, No building of structures, No fireworks)
Since turning 40- lost 100 pounds, started traveling, attend 5-6 concerts a year, became a certified yoga instructor, and learned how to keep houseplants alive!
I broke 5 thoracic vertebrae in 2022 and then my hand in 2023. I have osteopenia from chemotherapy. I figured it wont stop so I started lifting. after doing stronglifts 5x5 for a year I thought hypertrophy would be better since more muscle is more padding. been going strong since the first of the year so about 23 weeks now. I feel strong, I feel good, and it is probably a lie but I feel safe. For the first time in my 43 years, I have visible abs. Keep evolving!
Hit the reset button on my life, and the family's lives. Quit my career of 13 years. Sold the family home. Bought a home in VA, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, basically sight unseen. Took what we could fit in a 26' box truck and a van, got rid of the rest. Moved and started over.
Got a hysterectomy (HUGE quality of life improvement, and no chance of an unwanted pregnancy), left my toxic job for one that isn't destroying my mental health. Most recently went to a big convention and met 5 LOTR cast members including my favorite of all time 😭
My 40s have been freaking amazing so far.
Would love that, but I was dismissed from an MA program forever ago (technically grades, but one of the faculty gave me a bad a grade as personal vendetta and worked with one of her friends to make sure I couldn't appeal my dismissal) and probably anyone who could write me a good letter is no longer around.
Thank you! I am a 76 baby so I just turned 50. My 40s had challenges, but they were the decade where I also made so much happen for myself. I pushed through anxiety and fear and just went for it.
Sometimes, I like to party with all 4 burners going. Sautéing in 2 pans at once, boiling in another, and steaming in the fourth while roasting vegetables in the oven. I’m a mother fucking mad man!
Visited the Pacific Northwest. Twice. Always thought my heart and soul are here in my beautiful home state of Minnesota. Nope, it resides in the cascades and the Oregon coastline. Will be back there again this summer. Cannot wait.
I spent the first 35 years of my life knowing that I needed to go spend time in the PNW, but never did… then I “accidentally” married a girl from Vancouver, BC - now I regularly drive from LA to Vancouver for weeks long visits with family and friends. It’s wonderful!
For as long as I can recall, I’ve been obsessed with the area. Kid me thought it was fascinating that my mom was pregnant with me, when Mt St Helen blew. Been mountain obsessed since. Finally went for an anniversary trip, and we are hooked. Definitely wonderful!!
I have an aunt that lives in Longview, she’s been in Wa my whole life, she saw Helen blow. I have yet to make it to Puget Sound. Seeing whales and orcas I have yet to do! It is one thing I want to do that I haven’t yet.
I have lived a LOT of different places, though not a military family. Interestingly, until I moved to the West Coast, everywhere I had lived was entirely flat. Now I split my time between LA and Vancouver and I’ll never give up the mountains.
What’s funny is I grew up in an area that was called gateway to the pines. Called this due to all the tall red pines. Kid me thought trees here are huge. I no longer feel this way. No tree here even comes close, even when Itasca State Park held record sized trees lol. It’s so flat and plain here now. And we are losing all our big trees due to bugs and climate change.
This is SO good to know. Nor do you get the nasty humid summers. Which, with climate change, is leading to more and more severe weather here(survived a derecho with winds as strong as a cat 3 hurricane last summer, scary as hell). Really the only thing stopping us from moving that way, is my youngest being in school still. Once he’s high school age, we are gone from here.
Where would you suggest visiting and what activities would you recommend there? I've been considering it but apart from hiking I'm kind of at a loss of what to do, and even with hiking it seems like there are too many options to even know where to start.
One of the activities I've considered is driving up to the Timberline Lodge in Oregon and buying a drone so I can recreate a humorous version of the opening to "The Shining". I'd probably want to visit Washington before Oregon though to mix it up between Seattle and some national or state parks.
Spirit Lake Highway is one of my favorites. Must stop at the Mt St Helens visitor center, the Forest Learning Center, and the Science and Learning center. All offer different amazing views of Helen. The forest learning center, we sat for over twenty minutes watching her puff smoke, as she likes to do. Further on is the Johnston Ridge observatory, but it is unable to visit, as road is closed due to a landslide. As long as plans go as they should, next summer is when it’s supposed to reopen.
In Oregon, cannon beach was worth the drive. Haystack Rock is neat. This was an unplanned drive, that made us realize we do like beaches if they’re rocky and cold haha! But Mt Hood Scenic Byway has been my most favorite drive yet. So many views of Hood. But Jonsrud Viewpoint Park and Panorama Point Co Park offered the best views. Pictures I took at these places look straight from a nature magazine. This drive takes you into part of the Columbia River Gorge, which offers its own beautiful views. But also important to note, if you loved anything to do with Oregon trail(game or history) the Dalles are located in the area too.
We did more driving than anything, as from my own research before we went, it seemed to be the best way for the best mountain views. And driving has not disappointed us. We have seen so many mountains and gorgeous views this way. Some peaks I saw I have yet to identify. But I have seen Mt Ranier, Mt Adam’s, Mt St Helen, Mt Hood and Mt Jefferson.
Timberline is very cool, but just know that only the outside was used for filming. The inside looks nothing like the film. Astoria is just a couple hour drive from portland and is where The Goonies was filmed. There are also some historical sites in the area (Lewis and Clark ended up in the same area, for example). The coastline is absolutely gorgeous all the way up and down. I would not recommend Multnomah Falls. It is moderately cool but enormously busy and crowded. Any other hiking will probably be cool no matter where you decide. My wife likes to hike Saddle Mountain but its a bit scary for me as I dont like heights and some parts of the trail are steep. Fishing is great if you like that sort of thing.
Those are some great suggestions, I'll bookmark the locations and take a look. Thank you!
As far as the recreation of The Shining opening scene, it would be more of a side thing I do as a prank. I have this idea of making a video of a vacation with beautiful forests, mountains, and the sun glistening off of a river with me playing a relaxing song on guitar in the foreground. I would transition to a drone flyby of an island on a lake, and then to my car driving on a windy mountain road, and my guitar playing would transition into the opening theme of The Shining. The drone would then pan up and it would be a shot of the hotel. After that, the screen would go blank the text "THE VACATION" would appear. Clearly I've put way too much thought into that part and not enough into an actual fun vacation.
Well my fiance said all they wanted for their most recent birthday was a new kitchen light fixture... that was a new level of feeling old. And I realized take more days off of work just to get some yardwork done than to play my video games. Ugh...I guess I have to admit I'm not a youngin anymore.
Took my kids to the beach. Got a tattoo and a couple of piercings. Got solar panels on the roof. Got hired (part-time) at my dream job. Bought a car (I haven't had one I didn't need to share since my 20s). I've taken my daughter to Boston and NYC a couple of times for K-Pop concerts with her girlfriend (they are adults, but neither want to drive in cities that big). I've started dying my hair purple, consistently. I'm getting regular manicures. I'm volunteering for more stuff. I'm taking reasonable chances and becoming who I've always told myself I was.
I'm 48, almost 49. The last 8+ yrs.... A blur, a fucking blur. So much yet it all runs together.
Major career change, kids going from 'children' to teens, deaths, edging towards early retirement, weight gain, new dog.
Fuck. It feels like it's own lifetime yet all blurred into a giant out of focus collage of emotions.
I lost 100lbs, played guitar live at a coffee shop and ran a marathon (under 4 hrs) at the wonderful age of 47. My blood results are awesome. I quit my stupid job for one I hate significantly less.
Things are great for me!
Well, my marriage ended, which kinda sucked. But it wasn't long after that I began taking all those trips I'd been meaning to go on for all those years, and since I can go by myself, they're amazing. In December of last year, I spent a week in London, which I've always wanted to visit since I was a kid. I'm going to Nashville to see one of my favorite bands in about two weeks, and next year, I'm going to learn to scuba dive so I can go see all the underwater places I've read about.
After the oldest kiddo went to college I bought a horse. Started camping and trail riding all over my home state. This July, we are going to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore by horseback.
I spent my 40th at NASA so that was a great way to start. Definitely cried seeing the Atlantis.
Other than that I took a solo trip to Montreal and absolutely loved it. That has inspired me to do more large crowd things by myself which has been liberating! Except when it’s the Minnesota State Fair and I have no one to share food with🤔
Came out as trans, moved to the PNW, started a band and wrote/recorded/released an album, joined two other bands, got to play solo at the local Pride festival last year, learned to play more instruments.
Well... I have a very good job, while not exactly the 'worcaholic job' I wanted it really does provide well.
My ex wife is still my bff. We both have our own home and share responsability for raising our kid.
I live a polyamorous lifestyle, and have multiple wonderfull partners in the kink scene. Poly/ENM is different from monogamy, not better per sé. But the freedom to experience different things is for me/us.
I travel Europe whenever I can and have visited many cool cities in our little bastion of democracy & freedom and love every bit of it.
I did start getting injuries more often and that really hampered my ability to keep as fit as I used too.
Can't have it all I guess. ^^
Survived a pandemic, got cancer, beat cancer, had two major surgeries, did a bike tour from Surrey, Canada to Port Townsend, WA and back, met a cat and fell in love with him (cat distribution system), worked less, celebrated 10 years living in my van full time, made quite a few new friends, went to Europe for the first time and went back to Australia to visit friends from 25 years ago.
Two trips to Vegas. May not seem like much, but I just really wanted to go and hadn’t had a vacation in years. I also promised my mom before she died that I would take trips and Vegas was one she wanted to do so badly.
I trained for and competed in two powerlifting events, I started when I was 40, quit a couple years ago, I’m 45 now. It was cool not having competition in my specific age/weight class, haha
A couple of times I did. It was a beginner class so we all came in not knowing anything. However the way you score a point is very interesting and most of the time I forgot to do certain moves first before tagging my oppenent so a lot of my hit didn’t count. Had a blast though. Thought about doing the next level but I just wanted to try it, not do a new hobby.
When I’m in my 90s and thinking back on my 40s, and hopefully my 50s and 60s and 70s, I’m going to have this smile that only I understand. That’s what I’m doing.
Nothing particularly exciting, but that's more me being stoic than leading a boring life. I'd say the same about my 30s and my 20s... which again, has more to do with me not getting excited about accomplishments than it is due to my leading a boring life. I'm confident that overall, my life has been more interesting and exciting than at least 90% of people who grew up within the same culture and region, and even that figure is likely downplaying just how crazy my life has been. I don't think my 40s are boring compared to my 20s.
But if I have slowed down in my 40s? It's not due to age, it's due to the post-pandemic world and really not getting my bearings back after that.
Helped create a small human who is now old enough to bring me beverages from the fridge so I don’t have to get up and listen to my joints pop. It is an expensive means to an end but enjoyable.
My front 2 burners (the big ones) don't work right anymore so I'm stuck using the 2 small back ones. I make it work to cook for us, but.... I miss using my fav one.
Fav one completely stopped working and the other can only cook on high which is no bueno for nonstick stuff.
Personally I enjoy anything that allows me to see Mt St Helens lol. We love driving, so we did a lot of sightseeing this way, stopping to walk or hike to views or noteworthy places. Spirit Lake Highway is our favorite. Stop at the Mt St Helens visitor center, and walk the boardwalk. Some great views of Helen and just nature in general. Continue on further to the Mt St Helens forest learning center. Much to see and do here. Last summer we sat for over twenty minutes, just watching Helen puff smoke as she loves to do. So far we haven’t ventured farther, which we’re doing later this summer, barring no plan changes haha! But, further on is the Mt St Helens Science and Learning Center, which also will have views to impress. You can’t drive much further, as a landslide took out a large portion of road that would take you up to the Johnston Ridge observatory. As long as things continue as planned, it will reopen next year, I do plan to go then.
In Oregon, Cannon beach was well worth the drive. Walking the beach and needing a hoodie in August was not something I expected though haha! Haystack Rock is pretty neat. A trip to depoe bay is next on my Oregon coast list. But one of the best drives I took in Oregon was the Mt Hood Scenic Byway. There are so many great places to get beautiful views of Mt Hood. Jonsrud Viewpoint Park and Panorama Point Co Park are two must stops for absolutely stunning views of Hood. Pics I took there, look straight from a travel ad. But this drive also gives you great views of the Columbia River Gorge. Which has the Dalles, very well known to us that grew up obsessed with the Oregon trail!
My husband and I preferred to do a lot of driving to see mountains that interest us. From research I did before our first trip there, sometimes lots of driving is required for the best views lol. But by doing so, we have seen Mt Ranier, Mt Adams, Mt St Helen, Mt Hood and Mt Jefferson. Some places we visited, there are still peaks we saw I have yet to identify lol. Regardless to what you plan to do, I hope you have a wonderful trip. It is definitely well worth it.
Got my Bachelor's, got my M.A., am starting my doctorate in the Fall, rode my motorcycle cross-country from Niagara Falls to L.A., on a different motorcycle ride, I was hit by a bear, and most recently my first academic article is a first-author, so it's listed as "Me et al., (in press)."
Yep, 40s are boring.
I made it into the improv troupe I've been a fan of for 15+ years and I'm soing improv professionally and thriving in my hobby. It feels so good to make people laugh. I also lost 75 lbs over the past 3 years, gotten into the best shape of my life, and have found the love of my life. It feels weird because the whole world is going to shit, but honestly each morning I wake up is the next best day of my life.
My life is way more exciting now, dual income, no kids, baby.
Going to St. Barts in two weeks,
Going to San Fran for a festival in August,
Going to 30A in September,
Probably doing a cruise with friends in October,
See live music and comedy a few times a month,
Eat at James Beard or Michelin restaurants at least once a month.
Got plenty going on.
Personal growth, and a lot of it at that. I became more confident, developed a social circle, and got involved with a hobby community I enjoy.
I wish I'd done this in my 30s.
Went to an all-inclusive 5-star resort in the Caribbean.
Doesn't sound all *that* exciting, but when I grew up, vacations were extended camping trips where we just sat around in the woods by a lake for a week, reading books or playing cards, while slowly being devoured by mosquitos. Even the one time my parents took us to DisneyLand, we camped the whole way there, and then stayed at my great uncle's house because he lived like 10 mins away from DisneyLand (we actually got to watch the fireworks from his patio every evening).
So for me, the idea of going somewhere fancy where I could do whatever the fuck I want, eat whatever I want, drink however much I want, sleep in an air-conditioned room, and have someone cleaning up after me... it was almost a religious experience.
I threw myself a weekend long birthday bash for myself and 30 of my friends at a swank hotel. Rented out the restaurant and a winery, whole nine yards. I did shrooms on Friday the 13th at the site of a former cult. I had a European situationship a couple years ago and we had a fabulous time meeting up in random countries and fucking and eating and drinking. The whole "my body is falling apart faster than I can out it back together" bit sucks but so far I've done some fun things since I turned 40
Started my business/private clinical practice. I get to decide terms on how to provide treatment to my clients and it’s having a dramatic positive effect on the quality of care I’m able to provide. It’s so fucking bomb to see such amazing results from the kids and families I work with.
It’s been a fuckton of work and kinda stressful but exciting and invigorating.
The one I won was '25 Words or Less' - my friend and I had a long run on the show (the winning team keeps coming back until they lose). It was a crazy experience and a lot of fun.
Retired, volunteered as a wildlife rehabber, wrangled an injured goose (fishing line wrapped around leg, hook embedded in his wing) and ultimately released him post rehab.
I named him Goose Willis.
I never get to nap, so it was definitely a treat so I totally feel you! My lady always naps to the point I'm totally jealous of her napability... Running on fumes, but the sun and the Avalanches might do me in.
It is funny at this point, thinking of 40 too many years ago when being forced to take a nap, and now I just wanna *build a time machine and go back with a copy of* ***Go The Fuck to Sleep*** *and read it meancingly to my former self... Afterwards talk shit to Sarah Conner, but that's a different timeline*
I just woke up from one. But I needed it because we went camping in Wyoming, drove home for hours only to get home at midnight and not be able to find the house key. Had a bonus night of camping - at our house lol
Started meditating and doing yoga/qi-gong daily. Started journaling, I go through a 180 page (360 front back) about every 4-6 months, did stand up comedy twice, written poetry, and im almost done with my first book... 40s fucking rule!
Bought a house (well, condo, but still). And finally got back on an airplane for the first time since 9/11. Turns out 40’s are some pretty good years after all.
* Got diagnosed with MS.
* Went to Disneyland.
* Saw a play on Broadway.
* After never seeing more than 3-5 concerts/shows in a year went to 25 last year and on track for probably 50 this year.
* Made a whole new group of mostly older friends that my wife and I hang out with twice a week.
Finally accepted that I'm bi after suspecting it in my early 20s, and realized I'm trans just before I turned 42 (leaning femme and currently fairly sure I'm nonbinary/genderfluid) and started HRT just before I turned 43. Not super exciting, since I'm not out IRL, but... 🤷♀️
Started taking short solo vacations. Just a 3 day weekend, by myself. Sporting event or a theme park (y'all can hate on the latter if you want, it's cool). I'm always ready to be back with my family by the end, but being truly by yourself and just doing whatever you want is nice. That's probably more of a parent thing than a 40s thing, but being in my 40s allowed me to afford to do it without feeling guilty about spending the money. My wife did a Germany/Austria trip for her 40th, so it isn't just me. I'm kind of itching to do an international trip myself too, but I'll state stateside for now.
Hey man, my forties have been pretty good!
Bought my first house (on my own), traveled to Asia, and all over Europe; lived in both Amsterdam and Dubai!
This hasn’t been a boring decade if you look at it as a whole. My day to day isn’t exactly exciting but I don’t think average people’s days are, usually.
Went back to school to study dolphins and got a masters! Presented some of my findings at a conference in Australia, which was awesome because after the conference I did a short Australian road trip. Just published my first article to a scientific journal- for a long time I gave up on that goal and I'm so stoked that I did it. Had an interview the other day for a job that I never thought I would be qualified for. Got a new cat, he's young and wild and fun. Excited to see what is next in life.
Bought a bookstore. Moved in with my partner. Made plans to expand the bookstore to include a bar and cafe. Drove to Colorado to learn traditional bookbinding. Climbed 9/46 of the Adirondack High Peaks (shooting for 46 on my 50th birthday). My 40’s have been my best decade yet.
Honestly, I got really lucky and had the family support at 30 and bought a house that was worth more than twice what I paid for it by the time I had the opportunity to refinance it to buy the store at 40. That, and being part of the fabled dual-income-no-kid household. My 30’s were pretty tough, but I know there are people who worked harder than I did for less.
Since I turned 40: Well I guess I was 39 when I bought my first house and had to learn how to diy pretty much everything to renovate to modern standards. I already knew how to do roofing so there is that. Sold it at 42 and took my family back to my wife's home country, France at 43. Now I have to learn everything over again. Turning 45 this summer and still have half the new house left to renovate. Profits from my work on the last house are run out but no mortgage so that's great
Had my second child, went to a few festivals, participated in a battle vest contest (hadn't had a battle vest until idk 38?), cosplayed as a family, published articles in few scientific journals, went to a few conferences...etc etc oh oh oh PILATES my younger self would cringe so hard about it but I lovr it now.
For literal years I've wanted to consolidate everything into one command center. TV, Gaming, Library, Comics, Work, everything all in one place on my desk.
I just got a 50 inch TV that not just replaces two dual monitors I was using for work it is the equivalent of four monitors of the same size.
The screen is the first thing big enough for me to read an entire comic page without having to use guided view when reading comics on my computer.
It also runs a home server for all my movies/tv shows.
All my video games. With a couple more touches I'll be able to use a remote control for my media player and connect a GameCube controller to replay my old GameCube Games.
On the work side I have multiple windows I need to keep an eye on for my work and now I can see them all at once if I want without having to jump around.
Amusingly to me the more friendly I've made my home to being a homebody the more I've been able to get myself to go to the gym.
Lost 100 lbs
Went to two concerts for the first time since my 20s
Achieved the FI part of FIRE. The RE comes in about 7 years
Healthier, more confident, and probably objectively more attractive now than at any point over the last 15-20 years.
3 certificates, was accepted into a PhD program but postponing until I'm older and it's free. Saw my bucket list musician. I'm childfree, my life is one ongoing party. I've done all the things and have sooooo many left
Bought a house
Traveled to dream destinations including places in Asia and South America
Hiked Seqoia national park
Had a few threesomes
Tried shrooms for the first time
I’ve traveled quite a bit (considering I turned 40 in 2020)- checked off 7 countries. Moved into the next phase of my career. Moved to a new part of the state and bought a house. Got a second dog.
https://preview.redd.it/f4g5s3kta45h1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=edec9039f5cce4f20b56431e2e0bb854f09dad53
I know this is supposed to be a joke thread, but we’re in our 40’s not DEAD or dying!
Since I hit 40, I:
- backpacked through Greece/Croatia with my wife and toddler (in the backpack)
- took my motorcycle to the track several times (I’m NOT fast)
- road tripped all over the US and British Columbia.
- read 2-3 books to my kid almost every night
As far as I’m concerned, my life is as exciting as I need it to be, and then some.
Since turning 40 I've spent 3 of the last 5 summers in physical therapy. Torn labrum, torn achilles and currently have a broken thumb and 4 more weeks until I can use my right hand. I've also been laid off twice. 40s suck so far.
Did some travelling through France, Germany and the Netherlands. Had two MVA’s that totalled both vehicles. Broke my right wrist. Moved twice. 🤔 Think that’s about it…for now…
The only action that left side of the cooktop gets from me is when I have to, so I guess I do occasionally spice things up unintentionally.
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