Hanging out with Young People? Am I sad or smart?

A few years ago a friends dad said to me "so you are still hanging out with all these young people?" There was a vibration of judgement there, I could feel it.
It sort of took me aback because I was not expecting it, was right out the blue. Not that it was a problem for me but that other "adults" were having that conversation about me was a revelatiion plus if I'm honest, it was annoying.



I was thinking about it later and realised it was true I was often hanging out with younger people. Although I have a lot of friends my age and a few older, a good bit older, I started to analyse it because that's what we do. Let me figure this out.

So why would I do that? Hang out with young people I mean.
Firstly it was not a deliberate strategy that I cooked up like some saddo, let me hang out with young people. 
I never think about peoples age, I think about the fun and life factor. 
When you grow up in a small community you basically hang out with everyone that is in the pub and that is everyone between 18 and 90. There will be a few my age at first but it ends up being the young ones, because the older ones have to go home to their partners.
My sister took a friend home from Canada one Xmas and he was amazed to see my kids, me and my dad all partying together. This has always been normal for us.
By default you can end up with a crowd of young friends plus I have always worked with young people. And let's be honest here, they are usually a lot more fun and alive.
If you are a fun and alive who gives a shit how long you have been here. 
Age is a funny thing, some people really see it and are obsessed by it, others judge you and dismiss you for it, assuming that you are in the old, boring and no fun or life bracket. 
People ask my age daily. 
No birthday has ever fazed me but I have to admit, admitting you are over 50 has taken a wee bit of getting used to. 
Because peoples faces change when you say it. Physically.
Now I  find it funny, and sometimes add 5-20 years on just to play with them, but it took me time to be fine with it.
There are certain things you do/have/be at certain ages and that is the way it goes. This is more of the concepts and labels that you spend your entire time with The Sedona Method breaking down and letting go of. 
But just because I am letting it go does not mean others are. This is where approval comes in. Should I worry about what others think of my age, about being the oldest in the Sub Club, about telling guys my age, about that face in the mirror that has changed a fair bit and not for the better, about acting my age?
Well I could....
But I'm not going to.
Let me be whatever I want to be/have/see and do. Why Not? Because others say I shouldn't?
Stopping being yourself because of others judgement is easier than breaking the mould. 
But it will never make you happy.
Break free from wanting approval from yourself and others. If people judge you then the cells in their bodies contract...not yours.
Set yourcells free and just let go....
For my 50th we had a pirate party on board Fernandes 2.
Childish? One of the most fun days of my life?
Have fun always, love life till it ends.
And never grow up, you will lose your sense of humour.

---