Older than I’ve ever been.
I recently turned 24. When my dad asked me how it felt, my response was “not much different”. I can bet that between 24 and 25 will feel worlds different than 23 to 24 did. And I even did quite a bit during my 23rd year. I graduated from college. I moved into my own, non-school-owned place. I got a real adult job, and subsequently, started paying real adult bills. I got a car, then once that one tried to kill me one too many times, got another car. (life goal achieved: bought a Beetle. It’s a 2012, and looks much less cute than the New Beetle model, but it’s so nice~) I started being that friend you have that goes to bed at 10 pm because of her work schedule. And yet… I still don’t feel that different.
I do of course feel different that I did when I turned 14. Or 16. Or 18. Or 21 even. For the first time since I started kindergarten, I don’t have school. I haven’t had a curfew in years. I don’t have homework, I get regular sleep, I have money! (And bills, which eat up most of that money, but there’s still totally money there!) High school, best years of my life? Not even close. College was better probably because I traveled quite a bit. But even then, I’d take the life I have right now over either of those time periods again. Freedom from curfews, from homework that takes away ‘me time’, from the rules of living under such and such roof. Sure, I’ve got a load of responsibilities for work and paying bills on time and following road rules, but there’s so much I can do now because I want to. Every day is no pants Tuesday if I want it to be. I can have ice cream for breakfast. I don’t have to make my bed if I don’t wanna. Honestly, being a young adult with a stable job and the ability to pay bills is way better than compulsory education or watching thousands of dollars go into a piece of paper. I guess the misery I went through with school paid off, which makes right now that much more awesome.
I’m really looking forward to being 25. Not to be older, but because CAR INSURANCE RATES DROP AND I CAN RENT A CAR FOR CHEAP. Never again do I ever want to have to rent a car again until I’m 25.
