Getting older does have some benefits...
I turned 62 this year and where did all the fucking time go. I qualify for Social Security, but haven't claimed it just yet. Some argue you should claim it as soon as possible - "you get more money that way!" while others argue to wait until "full" retirement (66 or beyond) or age 70 where it maxes out. I will think about this some more.
But as I noted before, you can start collecting elderly swag pretty early on. By age 40 the "AARP" will be badgering you with promotions. And many places offer discounts for people over age 55 or 60. Senior coffee, discounted stays, all sorts of things. And there are "early bird specials" of course!
If you like to go to parks and go camping, though, the "Geezer Pass" - the lifetime "America the Beautiful" pass - is a great deal. If you are not yet 62, fret not - you can still buy an annual pass or get a military pass or whatnot.
But the lifetime pass is the best deal. People grouse that it costs $80 now, but we were given free admittance to skyline drive ($30 normally) and half-price on campgrounds there ($15 instead of $30). So in one trip, we recouped more than half the cost. Making reservations for this summer, we recouped more than the balance. Some places we are staying at are as little as $11 a night (!!).
And the pass is good at most Federal properties - Army Corps parks, National Forests, National Parks, and so on and so forth. When you make a reservation online, there is a box to check off if you have a pass. You enter the pass number and it can knock 50% off the price - or more. Of course, you have to show the pass once you get there, so don't forget to bring it!
Of course, this sort of thing can backfire. Giving discounts to people based on age alone really isn't fair. Does Warren Buffet need a discount on a hotel room, or free coffee? I noted before we went to a State Park and they offered me a "Senior Discount" and I said, "You know, that young couple behind us, camping in an old tent, living out of a ratted old Camry with a baby - they really need the discount more than I do!" And of course, such discounts distort markets. Prior to getting the pass, we could not afford to spend night after night at a campground - now we can afford to park there for weeks, as many old people actually do, which is one reason so many campgrounds are "full" all the time - they have become de facto retirement homes, which national parks were never intended to be.
So yes, I have mixed feelings about the "Geezer Pass" as we call it. But of course, now that we qualify for it, we take advantage of it. And we make sure all the reservations are in my name!
