Approaching 65, I find little in common with my peers, gravitating instead towards those in their 30s to 50s. It seems to me that once people hit their early 40s, they begin to change, adopting the notion of “age appropriateness” for everything from speech to dress to hobbies, and even the company they keep, often judging others by these standards.

I find this concept amusing, with Social Security being the only age-appropriate aspect in my view. Changes with age are inevitable, but at 64, I resonate more with the 30s crowd than those in their 60s. Why? Because of the pervasive belief among many that one’s lifestyle changes with each passing decade to match one’s age.

I reject that notion! If you feel young, think young, and relate better to the younger generation, embrace it. I’m not advocating for extreme mismatches, like a 70-year-old at the beach in a thong hanging out with a 20-year-old chick, but rather for authenticity regardless of age. There’s no rulebook mandating age-appropriate behavior. I will always be true to myself and not conform to societal expectations of age.

This mindset isn’t universal but for this sexagenarian it feels just right.