Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

two-five

Today I’m on the road, driving back from Mike and Megan’s wedding. Amid the road-tripping, it’s also my birthday, although I doubt there will be opportunity for much, if any, celebrating of that fact today. (I don’t mean that in a “poor me” way; more just a statement of fact.) It can wait until we get back to DC.

So … 25. Five years to 30. Four years to 29, that “magic” age that some women seem to reach and never claim to pass.

The most notable result of reaching this age is that my car insurance rates supposedly will go down a good deal, and it’ll be a lot easier (and cheaper) for me to rent a car, should the need arise.

There are other, less tangible, effects as well. Today, I’ve passed out of the 18-24 age group that I’ve been checking off for years on market research surveys. I’m still in the overall, “highly desirable” 18-34 demographic, but I’m no longer on the “young” end of it, which I find both startling and oddly satisfying, as it’s hard for me to relate to the “millenial” 18-year-olds at the far end of the demographic, both in terms of interests and general life experience. I’ve been told before that differences in the 18-34 demographic are marked more by whether or not one has children (and therefore time, disposable income, etc.) than by specific age or marital status. I agree with that to some degree, although I’d qualify that by putting the low end of the demographic at 21 rather than 18. And there are so many specific life changes compressed within that magic demographic, from one’s first apartment to home ownership to marriage … and more.

The year ahead should be an interesting one, from relationships (romantic, platonic, familial and otherwise) to travel to work opportunities to figuring out what to do with myself now that I’ve finished grad school. It’s a weird in-between time, and I’m caught somewhere between enjoying my youth (although who says that “youth” and “fun” end with adulthood?) and anticipating more “adult” responsibilities and rites of passage ahead.

I think I’m finally getting closer to being able to answer the question, “Where do I want to be in five years?”