Modern Vespa

Many people have a mid life crisis and get a motorcycle, sports car etc. to compensate for the loss of their youth.

Yesterday I saw one of these people, he was riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle. (Not that there is anything wrong or unusual about that.) That is not what gave him away was his vanity plate that said "MACHO."

For my midlife crisis I did a two week trip by myself from Chicago to LA on Route 66. It was a gift from my wife.

Just before I left she took me aside and whispered softly in my ear, "You know... things could happen while you're out there on the road. You could meet someone... maybe a young pretty girl, and want to have a fling. I just want you to know you have my permission. Go ahead and get it out of your system."

I was stunned. I asked, "Are you serious?!"

She responded, "Oh yes, absolutely. Of course, if you do... don't ever come home...".

With my 40th approaching, I found myself in an Audi showroom looking at a very shiny A5 cabrio.

Not bought anything yet, but I do plan to treat myself to some sort of shiny new metal.

A grill??

just so ya know .... we ladies can spot a mid-life-crisis-mobile a mile off. it doesn't usually make a stellar impression. at least not on the right kind of lady

Hehehe, it's actually not a mid life crisis thing at all. I'm pretty well adjusted and secure about my age and grey hairs.

A couple of years ago I've moved house to the place I hope to be living for a good long time, I'll have sold the old house next week, and am in a decent financial position where I can afford to buy a nicer car or bike if there's anything that tempts me. It just happens to coincide with my 40th

Most guys who go the flashy car route during a midlife crisis aren't looking for Miss Right. They're looking for Miss Right Now.

Ooooh, tempting.
Can you get it in gold?

If buying a GTS250 counts as a mid-life crisis purchase, then, as I did it at age 61, I must be going to live until I am 122.

I guess I had better down grade to a 150 when I turn 107.

Sure you can!!

I guess I haven't gone through the mid-life itch at 40, must be distracted with a new baby coming in August

Around here, a lot of the mid life crisis guys go in for really big firearms. I was in a sporting goods/gun store recently and there was this very slightly built fellow (think Don Knots), 40ish, holding a double barrel side-by-side rifle, in what looked to be .500 Nitro Express caliber.

The gentleman appeared to have no familiarity with firearms. He had a glazed look in his eyes and had the rifle mounted to his shoulder as if he were aiming at something about ten feet off the ground. He had a ridiculous smile on his face as the salesman was intoning "Okay, see...picture yourself standing there....and this bull elephant suddenly charges out from the bush, see...!!"

If that guy ever touched off a round from that rifle it would knock him all the way to Cincinnati. They were ringing up the sale as I left the store.

Hopefully, Andy will give Barney only one bullet and nip THAT in the bud

Let me see...

For mine,

1985 Toyota Supra

Muscle shirt

Pimp chain

Tail (haircut)

Hung out with my kids' friends


All long gone

The broken shoulder would probably help that, as well.

I'm now picturing Barney Fife in a sling.

My midlife crisis was an ultralight aircraft, and my wife reluctantly agreed that it was time for a new toy for me. I was so surprised when she first saw it when she said "Oh that's a beautiful shade of yellow its painted, I REALLY like that!"

I said, I didn't know you like yellow...to which she replied," I dont !"

So I asked, "so why do you like THIS yellow?"

And in her inimitable , logical, forthright way she replied: " Because when you crash it into the trees or a lake, it will be easier to find your body so I can get the life insurance money!"

Always thinking she is !!

Plane is gone, LX 150 is here

Don't mean to thread-jack but congratulations on the your new arrival!

I'm 44 and have not hit my mid life crisis yet. Guess I have a lot of living left!

That is great! Your wife sounds a lot like mine!

Enjoy your LX150!!

When I was about to turn 50 I told Bocette that I wanted a 30 year old blond or a new bike...her response

"You better go buy a bike...you're not mature enough for a 30 year old."

She's a keeper!

My wife told me I am not allowed to have a midlife crisis so I have no idea how old I am.

60 year old guy tells his long suffering wife he has taken a lover, only 20 years old. she snaps back :"so have I, and 20 goes in to 60 more than than 60 in to 20!".........

LOL, yup, yup

My Vespa was my midlife crisis... I guess that says a lot about my life.

It's only a crises if you can't afford it.

On the other hand, I always wanted a Pantera. (Not the rock band. The car.) The problem is, I don't want it to put in the garage*, wax it every week, and only drive it on sunny summer days.

I want to drive it everyday.

So, my clearer-thinking half (OK, I'm being generous...quarter...maybe eighth ) says I'll be driving a car that gets few miles per gallon, will probably break down regularly and require constant maintenance, and I'll be running my dream car into the ground when I can get a brandy-new car for less money.

Most of me doesn't see the down side. 8)

I don't think it's gonna happen, though.



*I don't have a garage.

Chances of me making it to 100 are pretty slim, so I am late to my own mid-life crisis.
Mabey I will get some flames and a oversized rear wing applied to my Accord.

Feeling older? Feel like something is missing? Sometimes all you need is a little moonlight.

Pretty much that. I tell people that my Vespa is the biggest PTW my wife will let me have for my mid-life crisis.

Probably getting remarried in my '40's helped offset any impending craziness that might be otherwise anticipated.

Why is it men who always have a mid life crisis? Women seem to handle things just fine.

One word...... menopause.

We get a little grumpy but that;s about it, right?

Many people talk about a mid-life crisis and fail to recognize the later-life challenge which occurs when the crisis is over.

I look back on my "crisis," almost 30 years ago, and can remember the constant stress I was under, dealing with raising 4 kids, two mortgages, my own business and all the other stuff I was carrying on my back. There was never enough time or money to catch a breather. The sports car was my escape vehicle, the pimp chain and the tail were my way of striking back at the establishment that expected certain behavior of an adult man. They probably laughed behind my back. I know my kids did.

Eventually, the crisis subsides and one realizes the pages are turning and one by one, the seeds of turmoil evolve or die off. The kids grow up and leave, the mortgages get paid off and life gets a bit simpler. It is no longer necessary to be the leading rat in the race. It is no longer necessary to rebel against conformity and it is no longer necessary to visit the doctor every couple of months because of stress related symptoms.

Now, almost 30 years later, the seas have calmed, the family is on its own, the business is a memory and my doctor sees me once a year for a Hello Kitty physical. I work as much as I want to, even though full retirement is tugging at my pant leg like a puppy.

I'm not sure what I want to do today. If it stops raining, I might take my Vespa for a ride. If not today, then tomorrow.

Just a couple of months before 40, I married a 22-y-o Valkyrie. 36" inseam.
Just a couple of months before 40, she bought her first new car, a bright blue New Beetle.

p.s. we both still have both

Nightwing - I envy your freedom and look forward to enjoying that myself someday.

I use my parents as a great example for my later years...they retired and then did none of the things they wanted to do. After several years of retirement my dad passed away (3 years ago last monday) and my mom is essentially housebound. If my midlife crisis extends beyond my scooter (and it probably will), I'll use that as the motivation.

Do what you want while you can!

At 66 it occurs to me that a midlife crisis is just a post adolescent phase. I celebrated my 45th anniversary by buying myself a BMW C600. My wife is not thrilled with my two-wheeled hobby at this stage of life -- but she more or less has come to accept that it makes me happy -- which is a better mental state than me being not happy.

We got kids moving home this week so she made me get a storage locker. Prolly be on an upcoming "Storage Wars" episode.



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She let me keep "those 2" which is fine by me.

8)

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This is the beginning of a full on mid life crisis. I need a bit of help.

SDG

I'll help you out if you need to dispose of a couple David.

You have a V7.

Bill X

Yes I could "store" a few for you. I could squeeze them into my workshop.

For my mid-life crisis (many years ago) I bought myself a bright red Miata. For my 3/4-life crisis (more recently) I bought a bright red Fiat Abarth.

Not sure of the significance of small, hot and red... but it works for me.

I refuse to have a mid life crisis.