You turn on the radio and you hear them talking about polling and interviewing young voters and you realize that they aren’t talking about you. You’re at the point of being 20 years beyond your 21st birthday and first legal drink, 23 years since high school graduation – more than half a lifetime ago.

It’s both werid and kind of odd to be getting old so quickly. To be director of a major unit in your company, to realize your only a few years away from having two decades of experience there. Finally being able to look back and see that you’ve accomplished some big things in your life. But also looking ahead at the big hill left to climb. Retirement is still at least a decade and a half away, although I doubt if I’d retire at that age I’d hardly be idle but more focused on my homestead.

One year of Mission Fifty has come and gone – only less nine years left until I turn fifty. It’s been a good year in the markets – I can be gleeful about how quickly my investments have grown. Yet I’ll also give myself some credit as I’ve kept to my investment and retirement plans, aggressively saving and investing wherever possible by keeping expenses low. I’m realistic though and realize it’s unlikely we’ll see yet another year of 24% S&P 500 growth. Feels good while it lasted.

This was the year I identified and took action on my health, loosing a lot of weight last summer though regaining a bit this past winter. But still I’ve made nutrition a top priority in my life, eating healthy food, giving up processed food, fatty cheeses and meats, and refined grains except in exceptional circumstances. I’ve made learning to cook a priority, embracing cooking delicious healthy meals the fuel my body with vitamins, protein and fiber. I measure the fruits and vegetables in the number of pounds I can eat each day. I’ve made visiting my doctor a regular priority for check ups, learning about various medical conditions, and worrying more about my health. I do piss and crap a lot more with all that water and fiber in my diet since I’ve been eating healthier.

I bought a mountain bike and ride a lot to get around town – somewhat displacing walking but also burning more calories in less time – and seeing more of the country side. I’ve gotten in the habit of going to bed by nine each night and rising by five am each morning, to cook and embrace the day. I’ve tried to build on my old walking habit in the morning and evening, though bike riding has replaced a lot of it. But I do think I’ve slid somewhat backwards lately, with the cold weather and my tendency to have always cold hands and toes, especially in the cold weather. It’s not like when I was younger, maybe I’m crazier now, maybe my gloves are more worn, or maybe I don’t have the circulation in my hands I once did due to pinched nerves due to bike riding.