Are We Too Old for the Club?
“Now, I’m the old b—– at the club.”
—Kerry Washington, I Think I Love My Wife.
I never thought people would perceive me as the old b—- at the club; that is until recently . . . I mean I still look very young for my thirty-something years. People often mistake me for much younger — mid to low twenties, even. My body is not as perky as it used to be, but I work out often, so I still have my curves.
I love to dance, and I love music. I don’t hit the clubs often, but every now and then I like to shake things up. One night a while back, I went out with some of my girlfriends to celebrate a birthday. We had a good time and were about to leave when I heard someone call my name. I look up and see my barely legal cousin out with some of her girlfriends. When she saw it was me, the look on her face morphed from surprise to pity. Suddenly embarrassed, I found myself explaining why I was there. It was a pretty uncomfortable experience. It was then that I realized that I need to revisit the type of venues I patronize.
Now, that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop hanging out. Nowhere is it written that once you reach a certain age, you can’t go out and enjoy yourself anymore. You just have to be more selective about where you go and maybe not go out every weekend! Since I like music and dancing, now I look for more mature venues like jazz and neo-soul clubs. I’ve found that you have to be of a certain age to appreciate house music, and I find these venues to have an older, but still lively crowd. 
Old school hip-hop concerts and clubs also attract older crowds, so you’re safe there too. Salsa and reggae clubs and places that offer ballroom/hustle lessons are fun alternatives, and they’re a great form of exercise.
One huge advantage of being older is now you have more disposable income to travel. If you’re a music fanatic like me, there are several must-see music festivals, such as the Soul Beach Music Festival in Aruba, Macy’s Cincinnati Jazz Festival, Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, and one of my personal favorites, the Reggae Sunfest in Jamaica.
Moral of the story: you’re never too old to do what you love, but do all things in moderation.
