Ask Lemmy

We spent our Saturday night bidding on a coral auction.

Having the opportunity to buy cake whenever you want, having enough money to buy cake whenever you want, and choosing to not buy cake whenever you want.

You start saving boxes. You think, this looks like a good box.

I was in my late 20s and two of my uncle was having a heated argument over politics. Everyone else was quiet, afraid to say anything. I spoke out in a normal tone, not raising my voice, "that's enough". They stopped immediately. It was fairly surreal.

You find yourself in a hardware or furniture store and everything looks cool.

When I truly internalized that I don't have to prove my worth to anyone, even if I don't always know what I'm doing.

Looking back, that sense of self-worth and confidence is what I probably saw in all of the adults around me that made them seem so incredible as a child.

So when I felt that, I thought "huh, so this is what being an adult feels like."

I got towels, cast iron pans, and a new knife for Christmas and couldn't have been happier.

I'm still a bed by the wall person though. when me and my partner get a house that will probably change, but for now I like having a corner to sit up against.

Too many adults are absolutely clueless https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/04/10/too-many-adults-are-absolutely-clueless From The Economist

You find yourself compulsively drawn to woodworking.

Being jealous of other people's wooden floors

Finding joy in having a clean kitchen

You pass by a business with an "Established X" sign; where X is any year past your high-school graduation year.

The #1 sign of adulting has to be paying for your own stuff.

Your body starts betraying you.

More specific to becoming a middle aged man, I started finding any sport enjoyable regardless of what it was. Additionally I started listening to history podcasts. Not sure these are gendered activities but there is definitely a stereotype that men start getting more involved in sport and history.

When throwing away a perfectly good box is a well thought out decision after the box has been in a staging area for some time while you think about it.

"Its a great day to hang out clothes"

You are done with the wonders and joys of life, and just want to work the rest away until you are dead.

When people offer you opportunities, you reject them, knowing full well you can't afford such attempts.

Safety is all that matters.

Being around kids and being seen just like I remember seeing adults when I was little. Assumed authority and decision making power and the answer to every problem or wish.

I still have mine against the side because of space issues. I like my open space, especially since I have lived in a couple of rooms where having the bed against the wall gave me extra floor space to move around.

But to answer the question, various things have definitely made me feel it. Though I'm definitely gonna say the stereotypical "All Kids Are Annoying" as my answer. Definitely how I've felt for years, despite not even being that old.

I was recently on a public bus that ended up stopping at a stop by the local museum and because of a youth ride free program, what looked like a whole class of elementary school kids got on the bus. They were loud and annoying and wouldn't shut up. Thankfully I had my headphones so I could listen to music to try and ignore them to the best of my abilities. 0/10, would not recommend.

Similar things happen when I get in around the time highschool gets out, but at least the teens have the ability to shut up and use their inside voices on a public bus. So they at least get a pass for not being super loud and obnoxious.

I'm choosing a light fixture right now and I'm trying to decide which one looks best with all the natural fibers I plan to place in the same room, and the fact that I'm choosing to spend real hours on this self-created homework when I could instead be playing video games should tell you all you need to know.

Celebrities (especially politicians) younger than me existing.

You get excited about a pillow

When your empathy extends to people you don't even like.

One big sign is when you stop demanding to be treated like an adult and just start being one.

Being an adult is just a decision you make one day.

Years ago my older brother was on the phone complaining to me because our mom found out he bought a motorcycle and was mad at him and my dad (who helped him pick it out).

He wanted to know why my mom thought she could treat him like a child.

I pointed out that when he decided to get a motorcycle and kept it secret from our mom, he was acting like a child and enabling her to treat him like one.

I have no interest in ever owning a motorcycle. However, if I ever did, it would never occur to me to keep it secret from anybody, because I'm an adult in charge of my own life. Everyone else can have opinions, but I get to decide whose opinions matter to me.

When you stop caring if something is a childish thing or not. Some people never get there.

Eating a meal that is mostly vegetables.

You empty the dishwasher immediately, as it is the only time during the day you have the time to do it.

You wash your sheets, because of the calendar notification popping up.

you vacuum the flat on saturday at 8 AM, as that is the time to vacuum the flat in your planner.

Waking up at 7 on a Saturday for no fucking reason

Taking responsibility for your own actions.

Not just mistakes, but being proactive about positive things without needing to be prompted.

Getting a new kitchen appliance is exciting. I was so amazed when I first got an air fryer. Also, getting socks as a gift is pretty good.