Things I Should Do Before I'm 30

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I turn 30 in a couple of months. What should I have done by now?

(Yes yes I know the concept of "Things you have done before you're x" is a piece of evil psychology designed to reinforce inadequacy, stimulate consumption and exaggerate ageist stereotypes - on the other hand I'm looking for something interesting to do for my birthday party so any suggestions will indeed be welcome.)

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:29 (twenty-three years ago)

Be 29 to the MAX.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:33 (twenty-three years ago)

realise that things done after you turn thirty might still have some validity.

as for your birthday: PAINTBALL!!!!!11 [I've never done paintball and don't think I'd enjoy it that much, actually]

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:36 (twenty-three years ago)

To the IMAX?

RJG I am well aware of the validity or not of anything I do. The truth is though that I'm a lazy man who responds quite well to arbitrary deadlines, so on this occasion I'm going with the myth!

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Paintball is urgent and key, really.

― Mark C (Mark C), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:38 (twenty-three years ago)

haha, PAINTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Paintball is great!

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:41 (twenty-three years ago)

No it isn't...

― Duane Benzie (daveb), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:47 (twenty-three years ago)

Well if we’re going with the myth/cliché then - parachute jump/bungee jump/some other extreme sport madness, get thrown out of a hotel, get arrested (for something minor, obv), streak, kiss a random stranger etc etc…..

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Run away with Jenny Agutter?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:52 (twenty-three years ago)

I like N's suggestion! Ooooh, Am. Werewolf...

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Go on a Club 18-30 holiday, just because you can.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 12:55 (twenty-three years ago)

be in the audience for Top Of The Pops (not sure they allow over 25s tho...or men for that matter :(

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 13:16 (twenty-three years ago)

This thread is depressing, make it stop!

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 13:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Lost weight. Or get buttfucked.

(sorry)

we went iceskating for my birthday and it was fantastic, much to my surprise (i'd never been before). so that (although i guess it's the wrong time of year).

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 13:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Go-karting!

― MarkH (MarkH), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 13:40 (twenty-three years ago)

I think a tour of European capitals is in order.

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 13:42 (twenty-three years ago)

What about a wine tasting course?

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Or you could learn to fly-fish?

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:02 (twenty-three years ago)

I hear golf is a hobby which only improves the older you get.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:11 (twenty-three years ago)

the fly-fishing idea is genius.

I'm going to start fishing again now I've hit thirty. It's nice and sedentary.

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:12 (twenty-three years ago)

my serious answer is obvious

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Visit America! (Seriously. At least NYC or something.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Ronan, yr serious answer = learn to feel the vibe?

― RickyT (RickyT), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:20 (twenty-three years ago)

'course!

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:23 (twenty-three years ago)

There was a guy that looked like Tom at Mint Royale a few weeks ago.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:24 (twenty-three years ago)

If you want to go fly fishing, be sure to buy my book on the subject.

― J. R. Hartley (daveb), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:29 (twenty-three years ago)

I want to slay some vampires. Or at least slap around a demon.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Hasn't Tom already participated in some serious vibe feeling already?

― RickyT (RickyT), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:46 (twenty-three years ago)

The vibe tried to feel me up but I wouldn't let it. I usually avoid feeling the vibe.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:46 (twenty-three years ago)

You vibe hata!

― RickyT (RickyT), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:50 (twenty-three years ago)

I sometimes wish I could avoid it. for about 72-96 hours usually beginning on Monday and ending circa Thursday or Friday.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:52 (twenty-three years ago)

30 is my deadline to stop smoking and wearing things like pink fishnet tights (positive slant, become healthy and chic), but you don't do either of those things Tom (unless you do in private ...) so my advice is not so useful.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:11 (twenty-three years ago)

Maybe Tom should start wearing pink fisnet tights, it's the dignified way to approach 30.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:12 (twenty-three years ago)

exactly, pink fishnets = urgent & key

― geeta, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Pink fishnet tights = very unflattering.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:14 (twenty-three years ago)

And then he can stop when he hits 30 => instant ego boost.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:20 (twenty-three years ago)

pink fisnet tights

How I wanted this to read 'pink fistnet tights.'

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:24 (twenty-three years ago)

i think orange fishnet tights are pretty underrated, too (though poss trickier to pull off, as it were).

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Better answer - eat something you've never eaten before, go to a place you've always wanted to see, read a different newspaper for a week, do anything that breaks your routine.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:54 (twenty-three years ago)

discover a new musical youth movement and bring it to the people

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:57 (twenty-three years ago)

("klezmer-core")

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:57 (twenty-three years ago)

Invent a new musical youth movement and bring it to the people

(um groke-core?)

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:58 (twenty-three years ago)

Pass the Dutchie, at least once.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:59 (twenty-three years ago)

(grokecore = ardkore + finnish folk music = surefire hit!)

― RickyT (RickyT), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Pass the Dutchie....

Dammit Nicole types faster than me!!

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:01 (twenty-three years ago)

("klezmer-core")

*yawns* The band Firewater already has three albums out (because Tod A., formerly of Cop Shoot Cop, didn't want to be 35 and still playing in an industrial rock band).

― j.lu (j.lu), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Y'know, I was just reading in Music Week that Musical Youth have won some royalties battle and are going on a 21st Anniversary tour.

You could go and see that Tom.

― Graham (graham), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:18 (twenty-three years ago)

I want to see Tom playing a support DJ set for Firewater in an NYC appearance, because he will play various pop-happy things that Alex in NYC, who will attend the show, will end up loving by accident. Yes, that is my wish.

(Firewater = good band indeed. Haven't heard that third album yet, though, is it worthy?)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Eat monkey brains!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:22 (twenty-three years ago)

Buy me a slap up dinner.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Combine the two above activities and I think Tom has a winner.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:37 (twenty-three years ago)

climb a great big mountain. alternately you could kill yourself because good romantics are supposed to die before they hit 30 but that wouldn't make for a great party.

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:46 (twenty-three years ago)

an ordinary guy at work said he was seeing his 30th year coming
so he decided to "do something" =
*buy a car
*buy a house
*get married
*get his girl pregnant

being realist, it's all there is to it.
except for the car of course, and the house could be a coop thing.
I mean, what are the odds that humanity reach the omega point during my lifetime?
http://www.math.tulane.edu/~tipler/

― thehegemon, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:16 (twenty-three years ago)

The things I want to do by the age of 30:

1. Go to the Moominland themepark
2. Go to Legoland in Denmark
3. Get a credit card
4. Sell something I created

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:22 (twenty-three years ago)

i'm pretty sure i need to turn 29 first. everything else is up in the air.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:32 (twenty-three years ago)

things i want to do by the age of 30:

- visit several parts of the U.S. inc. NYC, Chicago and various parts of California
- visit Paris, Barca, Prague, Munich and Rome properly (haven't yet!)
earn over £25,000 a year (being realistic at last)
- ditto Australia (i'm sure i'll appreciate places like Egypt, Japan and India more when i'm over 30 so will wait to go to those places)
- overcome claustrophobia to a more manageable level
- sell something i created (nice way to put it jel)
- more women (i'm not sure what the best way to put that is so i'll just say MORE WOMEN)
- pay off student loan / clear all debts
- be on the way to building up a decent retirement fund
- compete individually and/or in a team in some kind of competetive skill event
- survive

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:50 (twenty-three years ago)

How long do you have to finish that list, stevem?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:51 (twenty-three years ago)

by then i want to be happy, and i can't think farther than that. and climb big mountains, really. Oh and be very wise.

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:53 (twenty-three years ago)

and climb big mountains, really while singing, "The hills are alive with the sound of music!"

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:55 (twenty-three years ago)

*gasp* you have tapped into my secret dreams! i wasn't planning on that but now i am.

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Edelweiss would be more classy. But only if you're sticking to the Alps.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I want to buy a house before I'm 30.
Go on tour.

I think that's it. Wouldn't wanna overextend myself - too much preasure!

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:05 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree. This thread makes me want to cry. It smacks of midlife crises.

― M, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Thirty isn't midlife. Forty is. But still, forty isn't that old...

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:12 (twenty-three years ago)

I used to want to have a book published by age 13. At that point "teenager" looked really old, now I'm like "maybe I'll write something good by the time I'm 40"

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Having a book published is a lifetime goal for me, but since I don't know when I'm gonna die, I guess I should get on that...

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Should I start a thread looking for things to do before I hit 50?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Create a wonderful internet board bringing people from all over the world together? Oh wait, you already did that. Create another one? Damn, did that too.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Tom- finish Joyce's Ulysses and buy a turntable so you can listen to albert ayler.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Get someone sacked from their job for looking at a 'What do you think about when you masturbate?' and 'How does it feel to have your buthole fucked?' intenet site?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:20 (twenty-three years ago)

How long do you have to finish that list, stevem?

5 and a half of the quickes years of my life...

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Spot ten (and these are rare) spelling mistakes in Nick's posts.

No.1: 'intenet'

― Lara (Lara), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:10 (twenty-three years ago)

there's nothing i can think of i want to do before i turn 30. there's still some dr*gs i want to try and i would rather like to indulge some of my more outré sexual fantasies but i'd be as happy with those happening now as i would them happening when i'm 45..

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Moominland!! Yes blimey I must do that before I am 25! Most urgent and key of course is NEW JOB but I'm still allowed to be shit at this at 21, right... right? I had a panic attack yesterday thinking that I've already passed the ages where it's best to be thin and I have MISSED IT so long life farewell, then I ate some START CEREAL and wanted to cry :(

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 10:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Moominland = about as urgent and key as it is possible to get methinks.

― RickyT (RickyT), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 13:22 (twenty-three years ago)

So is everyone going to watch this tonight? We can have a TV club tomorrow.

http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/0-9/20_things_before_30/

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 6 February 2003 21:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, I'll watch it, though the previews aren't very promising. Obviously I'll just mentally replace every instance of '30' with '50'...

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 6 February 2003 21:35 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't get HBO, but last night I checked out the first 6 Feet Under video and have been enjoying it.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 6 February 2003 21:38 (twenty-three years ago)

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 6 February 2003 21:42 (twenty-three years ago)

When I clicked on your Ch. 4 link, it broght me to a page that also had a link to info on the show 6 FEET under. It comes (used to come on?) HBO. I don't get HBO. But they just released the program on video/dvd. I'm watching the first tape.

Eh, voila.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 6 February 2003 21:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 6 February 2003 21:45 (twenty-three years ago)

So, uh, Ch.4 does not equal HBO, eh?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 6 February 2003 21:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Isn't HBO some US cable channel? No - C4 is a terrestrial free to air channel. We can have naughty programmes on network TV ho ho.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 6 February 2003 21:47 (twenty-three years ago)

Muy interesante.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 6 February 2003 21:48 (twenty-three years ago)

HBO is a kind of classy US channel, showing things like 6 Feet Under and The Sopranos and Oz, for instance - all on C4 in Britain. I believe there has been trade the other way too.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 6 February 2003 21:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes, C4 and HBO are boob buddies - the US network version of HBO's 'Dream On' cut out the nudity, for example. That strip poker episode haunts my dreams still. It got esp. good when DLT denounced the series as filth on his weekend breakfast show.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 6 February 2003 22:22 (twenty-three years ago)

[Quack Quack BOOPS]

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 6 February 2003 22:22 (twenty-three years ago)

Hmm.. most forgettable TV programme ever?

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 6 February 2003 23:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah. That's why I liked it.

― Graham (graham), Friday, 7 February 2003 09:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh God. Deeply terrible. I watched it with 3 other twenty-somethings and it made us all want to start claiming that we're 31... or possibly 19.

DOES THIS MEAN there will be TWENTY episodes, one 'thing to do before you're 30' per episode??????? Surely not.

― Archel (Archel), Friday, 7 February 2003 09:59 (twenty-three years ago)

there was also a 'things to do before you're 30' piece in The Times earlier this week. most of it was very similar to the above (travel, sex etc) but two different people suggested the same thing which hasn't been covered and which struck me as good advice:

talk to your parents to learn your family history

andy

― koogs, Friday, 7 February 2003 10:02 (twenty-three years ago)

It was dull as hell, wasn't it?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 7 February 2003 18:17 (twenty-three years ago)

It was kinda boring I guess, I like the woman with the short dark hair, so it's not all bad.

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 7 February 2003 18:23 (twenty-three years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.