A golden year question.

Golden years are the final stage of our life when normally we can sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labors. However, nowadays we seem to be working into those years and retirements are not what they used to be and Social Security is always a big question. We end up frayed around the edges and perhaps we could then be viewed as tarnished. Interesting thing to think about M&M!

I guess it's all on how you look at it. Why would it be called tarnished? I think most people would call it golden due to retiring...and such no?

As far as I know it´s referred to as golden years, because in conventional terms you´re retiring from work. Less stress, no kids in the house to look after, more free time, in short: finally liberty. If you´ve lived that sort of life, I guess that some people might call these years "golden". (I know a couple who does). I agree more with "tarnished", lol.

Absolutely not. To me they are wonderful.

No way. Stop that thinking right now..lol I think of my older years as the best ever. Every moment is golden. Rub off that tarnish and polish those years up with happiness, health and unlimited joy.

Oh wow that made me laugh. Golden years what is that. I never understood why they called them the GOLDEN years. For me I am living life with a chronic illness, I need to take medication that only treats it does not cure it and it makes me sick. Also no job, no money, minimal health insurance. What is gold about any of that. I here the golden year thing a lot so from now on I am going to start telling people about the tarnished years. I bet anyone who hears that will laugh just like I did. Thanks for making my day and making me smile.

Hahahahahahaa that's funny! Did you have a nice Birthday? You only as old as you feel.

I have heard so many older people curse the words golden years. People that came into the store I worked at would tell me to live it up while I can because the golden years suck.

I really don't know Margie It could be because we become wiser, we have seen the World Change, we have experience in a lot of things I really don't know

If you see sunshine of the world,you will realize that age is golden years!If you see cloudiness of the world,you will realize that age is tarnished years! 10314 discussion!you are king!

I agree that you are funny! Some people seem to live tarnished years when they are quite young, while some older people are quite elegant and refined in these years. I think that's the meaning behind 'golden' years.

I don't really know why they call it the golden years but I like the term the tarnished years. I find personally as I get older and I think of all that I wanted to accomplish when I was young I and I haven't done it, how can I be even getting close to my golden years. What was it the girls in that TV show the Golden Girls had that made them living in the golden years. Maybe it was they where so care free.

That is funny. I got a good chuckle out of that one. Maybe they call it that because they are comparing it to the end of a day. The sunsets are golden, hence, golden years. I have no idea,,,,I am still laughing.

It should be golden years... Since we are wiser as we are oldier. I can also say this can be named the best years.. :)

Well, today is my birthday, I'm 53, so my response it that it is the golden years because we, like gold, do not loose value with age.

You know I have often wondered that myself.I guess if you're in good health and have money,then they might be.Most older people I know don't have either and it's a struggle for them to live day to day.Nothing golden about that.Tarnished is in fact a better word for it.Where did that stupid saying come from anyway?

I think they refer to it as that because gold is very old or something like that and I think they say that because you are getting as old as the gold or something along those lines.

You are too funny! I've never heard this before!! I like to think that all of the stuff we have to go through getting us to retirement, such as working like dogs, getting up early every day, keeping up with our careers and our other responsibilities, worrying about paying bills and student loans, worrying about job security and surviving layoffs...and all of the other crap that goes along with working for a living should entitle us to a period in life where we should be able to relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Thus, the GOLDEN YEARS. It is so unfortunate that oftentimes the lines between golden and tarnished are blurred by health or financial problems. It just isn't fair or right. I'm trying to keep the right attitude, because I don't want to get there and find that there is no "prize" waiting for me. I want to be able to enjoy some time during my retirement.