Life at age 30, how do you compare?

[Deja Q]

(From compuserve, no link available)

The new age of adulthood: 30. Our extended adolescence has really, well, extended. But according to Josh Albertson, Lockhart Steele, and Jonathan Van Gieson, authors of the new "Book of Ages 30," life begins at 30. Thirty is cool. Party on, dude! That should be good news to the 3,789,800 Americans who will turn 30 this year. Unlike their parents, today's thirtysomethings think of this milestone as a new beginning and not an end. Priorities shift. New things become important. Uh oh. You're adulthood is showing.

If you were born before 1985, you are...

So who are America's thirtysomethings and what do they have to look forward to? "Book of Ages 30" has an interesting take on it:
How Old IS 30?
If you're 30, you're old--specifically, you're older than 42 percent of all Americans. But you're not alone. Fifteen percent of Americans are also in their 30s.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Being 30
If you're 30, you've already lost 10 percent of your muscle mass. You're likely to be in debt to the tune of $20,000. But the good news is that you're also likely to be having sex 2.24 times a week.
Sex
While 81 percent of women and 71 percent of men have been married by their early 30s, there are plenty who are still virgins after their 30th birthday: 1 in 33 men and 1 in 25 women.

Think your personality is set in stone? Think again. Find out how five key personality traits may change as we age.

Your Good Looks
Men at 30 are on average 5' 10.2" tall and weigh 174 pounds, while 30-year-old women are 5' 4.6" tall and weigh 130 pounds.
Let's Talk Money
The median income for 30-year-old men is $30,510, while the median income for 30-year-old women is $21,473. On average, 30 year olds have held 7.5 jobs. They have a 24 percent chance of being promoted in the next year.
No More Naps
You're less likely to fall asleep at your desk than those young twentysomething whippersnappers down the hallway. Just over half of 18- to 29-year-olds report substantial daytime sleepiness, compared with 33 percent of the over-30 crowd.
Don't Shoot!
Nearly half, 45 percent, of all thirtysomethings own a firearm. In fact, more people in their 30s own firearms than do people in any other decade of their lives.

Interesting stuff. I'm about that much in debt. I've lost that much muscle mass. I'm also 40 pounds heavier than what they claim. I also sleep quite a bit, it can be a struggle. No firearms though. Have held 7 jobs. No sex though... :-)

So how do you compare?

[xultar]

1. Thirty was hard, I kept waiting for something to happen a bolt

of lightening something.

But nothing happened. I had to realize that there was a high possiblility that I wouldn't have any children or get married. I'm not sad about that, but I will say the thought of being alone all the way to 80yrs old does scare me alot.

I didn't get a house until I was 33, so I've got the yard, basement, 4 bedrooms, furniture, that scares me cuz I wanna keep it I don't wanna lose it if I lose my job, or get sick.

I've gotta think about my parents, they are loaded, they vowed however to spend all the $$$$ before they die so my brother and I don't get any money. But, what if one of them gets a serious illness, they could drain through their retirement like that.

I've gotta think about my retirement, will I live through another terrorist attack on US soil. 9/11 was a ass kicker for me because I was in DC on that day. It affected me so deeply that is why I want a Democrat in office. How will another attack change my life?

It sux getting old. I don't look forward to 40. But it is just around the corner. :cry:

[Demobrat]

2. 30 was great.

I finally had money and was still young enough to enjoy it.

[populistmom]

3. I changed a lot at 30

My life, however, didn't follow all the usual demographics. I married young (at 19), and I went to college in my early 20's like everyone else (but zero of the party stuff), but I had one or two kittle kiddos when I did. I owned a home by 23. My life was very serious and very responsible in my 20's (it still is really).
At 29, I had a rather life-altering type of experience (actually a few of them in my late 20's) that made me sink into a depression for awhile, then come out of it a stronger, determined, more confident, more understanding of what I want in life, and happier person that I had ever been in my 20's. I don't know how much of it was the age and how much of it was the experience however.
So far (I'm still 31 for a couple more months), my 30's have given me the greater level of confidence back that I had as a girl, with a greater wisdom to go with it. I expect a lot more positive changes to come in the next few years of my life.
Funny too, I'm the average height for women, but I weigh a little more, but least I weigh less than the average man's weight.

[Nikia]

4. I'm only 25

For some reason, I am much stronger than when I was younger even when I lifted weights regularly as part of track training. I lift occaisionally with work, but only because I can. I can lift 60 pounds easily and 80 pounds alright now. This really amazes me, even though it probably isn't significant, but I had been weak in arm strength much of my life and only weigh 120. If I lose muscle by 30, the decline should be coming soon because I don't think that I've lost any yet.

[camero]

6. I've heard the peak is 27

For muscle strength. I found it to be true in my case. I was my strongest between 27-30.

The first couple of weeks being 30 was hard. Bought house at 32. Illness set in at 33. The 30-39 age group is the fastest growing group of newly diagnosed diabetics. So watch your diet. I wish I knew I had the gene for it.

Sex life after 30 was alot better. I actually got bored with it.
I also realized I may never get married so it doesn't much bother me anymore. If it happens, great. If not, well, I've had a good, full life so far.

[KayLaw]

5. I hated 30

I turn 50 tomorrow and feel much better. I moaned and groaned at turning thirty, but feel only a pleased opportunistic glee about the great presents and massage I'll get tomorrow night - heh, heh! I was at thirty, a steak-eating, chain-smoking, hard-drinking couch potato of a woman, and now I'm a heath food and vegetable-eating, weight-lifting, non-smoking, only-drink-on-the-weekends kind of woman.
I made a lot less than the article's example but I had no debt at all.
Thanks for the interesting article!

[mdmc]

7. I'm 32

In debt, lonely, not elected. Overweight, but not too ugly.

[Intelsucks]

8. I Started Gaining Weight At 31 And It Hasn't Stopped

I've seen both extremes in my life. I was quite a bit overweight in my teens, then I became very thin in my mid 20's. Now I'm getting fat again. I think I like beer too much, because I really don't eat a lot.:beer: