middle age crisis

[q-school]

it seems to me that more people are having existential questions at younger and younger ages.  at least around me.

it used to be that early 50s we would see people start to wonder about the meaning of life, yes I'm pointing right at you vagabond. 

however, I find several precocious partners having these same questions in their early 40s.

is that just local?  you guys see this too?

[VagabondMD]

q-school wrote:

it seems to me that more people are having existential questions at younger and younger ages.  at least around me.

it used to be that early 50s we would see people start to wonder about the meaning of life, yes I’m pointing right at you vagabond.  ????

however, I find several precocious partners having these same questions in their early 40s.

is that just local?  you guys see this too?

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Oy vey!  It’s too early on Monday morning for this!  

[The White Coat Investor]

I find it bizarre that so many people never think about the most important questions until after they've been on the planet for 4-5 decades. Maybe it's a function of the decreasing religiousity (religiousness?) of the population.

[Hatton]

Define middle age.  Define senior.  Define young.  I find these are moving targets.  My advise at 60 is avoid the giant mistake of having an affair because you are having some sort of crisis!

[q-school]

Vagabond MD wrote:

q-school wrote:

it seems to me that more people are having existential questions at younger and younger ages.  at least around me.

it used to be that early 50s we would see people start to wonder about the meaning of life, yes I’m pointing right at you vagabond.  ????

however, I find several precocious partners having these same questions in their early 40s.

is that just local?  you guys see this too?

Click to expand…

Oy vey!  It’s too early on Monday morning for this!  

Click to expand...

that was just a joke vagabond.

please don't take it the wrong way, sorry.

 

[q-school]

hatton1 wrote:

Define middle age.  Define senior.  Define young.  I find these are moving targets.  My advise at 60 is avoid the giant mistake of having an affair because you are having some sort of crisis!

Click to expand...

I was just thinking red sports car, but affairs works too.

 

[Hatton]

q-school wrote:

I was just thinking red sports car, but affairs works too.

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I did buy a white porsche convertible when I was 48.

[q-school]

hatton1 wrote:

q-school wrote:

I was just thinking red sports car, but affairs works too. 

Click to expand…

I did buy a white porsche convertible when I was 48.

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I must know more about this.  I thought you didn't care about cars at all.

please share with the class.

 

[Hatton]

I really do not care about cars.  It was a fun side track for 3-4 years.  The engine had a nice roar.  I now drive a ford escape SUV.  I need a practical vehicle to carry 2 large dogs.  If you go to Costco in a boxster it is challenging to get all your stuff stowed away.  Like I said a sportscar is much cheaper than an affair.

[VagabondMD]

hatton1 wrote:

I really do not care about cars.  It was a fun side track for 3-4 years.  The engine had a nice roar.  I now drive a ford escape SUV.  I need a practical vehicle to carry 2 large dogs.  If you go to Costco in a boxster it is challenging to get all your stuff stowed away.  Like I said a sportscar is much cheaper than an affair.

Click to expand...

I don’t want no sports cars and don’t want no affairs.

What I want most of all is not to have to take crap from other people or institutions. My midlife crisis, in a nutshell, was recognizing this, understanding that EVERYONE has to take crap from others, and restructuring my life to minimize the number and magnitude of those who are in a position to give me crap.

In my updated world view, the richest man or woman is he or she that answers to the fewest. Keep your fancy cars and your sultry affairs, this middle age dude (52) just wants to be left alone.

(@q-school, I hope I delivered! )

[KPInvestor]

q-school wrote:

it seems to me that more people are having existential questions at younger and younger ages.  at least around me.

it used to be that early 50s we would see people start to wonder about the meaning of life, yes I’m pointing right at you vagabond. 

however, I find several precocious partners having these same questions in their early 40s.

is that just local?  you guys see this too?

Click to expand...

Perhaps its a sign of the changing climate in the health care system.  Many young physicians find that their practice is not actually "their" practice.  Physicians keep getting marginalized and disrespected.  Kevinmd.com is a popular website that actually voices some of these opinions.  Im sure many of you have seen this already.

[q-school]

KPInvestor wrote:

q-school wrote:

it seems to me that more people are having existential questions at younger and younger ages.  at least around me.

it used to be that early 50s we would see people start to wonder about the meaning of life, yes I’m pointing right at you vagabond. 

however, I find several precocious partners having these same questions in their early 40s.

is that just local?  you guys see this too?

Click to expand…

Perhaps its a sign of the changing climate in the health care system.  Many young physicians find that their practice is not actually “their” practice.  Physicians keep getting marginalized and disrespected.  Kevinmd.com is a popular website that actually voices some of these opinions.  Im sure many of you have seen this already.

Click to expand...

I'm sure that is a contributing factor.  There are probably many stressors among young graduates.  debt seems to be an obvious one here.  I think a lot of people go into medicine to help others.  then we beat that out of them.    how much is stress from older physicians optimizing systems for their own benefits, and how much is mandated changes from CMS/payors/hospitals?  how muc h is personal inflexibility on issues that cannot be changed versus sense of disrespect?

 

 

[Hatton]

Vagabond MD wrote:

I don’t want no sports cars and don’t want no affairs.

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I agree.  I think my porsche was a middle age crazy moment.  I have never wanted to be told what to do.  When talking to hospital admin types I always say just let me do my job and leave me alone.

[Craigy]

I've been pondering the meaning of life since the second grade.

I also made it a point to buy my first sportscar in my 20s so as to avoid the whole "mid life crisis" accusation when I finally bought something again in my 30s.   :lol:

[q-school]

Craigy wrote:

I’ve been pondering the meaning of life since the second grade.

I also made it a point to buy my first sportscar in my 20s so as to avoid the whole “mid life crisis” accusation when I finally bought something again in my 30s.   

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my partner has a 911 with 3 baby seats in the back.  I did not even know you could put three baby seats in the back.  I took a picture and from time to time I laugh.  I push the button on the fob to get the minivan doors to slide open and 1 minute later I'm ready to go.  it takes him a while to buckle every one in.  different strokes.