Barbara Lawlor and Lynn Hirshman, Nederland.  Nederland’s newest social group brought about 70 mountain residents out of their summer lethargy, drawing them to a catered dinner at the Nederland Community Center on Friday night, July 17. From the high level of chatter and laughter and the animated dining activity, it was apparently a welcome event as summer edges past the equinox.

The Mountain MidLife Dinner, organized by Serene Karplus, was subsidized by a grant she wrote and was planned for residents who weren’t quite senior citizens but who also had been around the block a few times. Most of these people are still active and want to spend time getting to know their neighbors.

The NCC multi-purpose room was filled as folks enjoyed the meal prepared by local caterer Kim Culver: salmon, vegan quinoa pilaf, broccoli, whole wheat roll, and vegan chocolate cake with strawberries, $9 for under 60 and $5 for over 60. It was a great deal.

As the evening progressed, some of the guests discussed what the term “midlife”  meant to them. Often, “midlife” is associated with crisis, the angst at the beginning of the aging process. There is a battle that takes place as we approach our fifties. For most of us, it kicks into gear during our forties, while for some it may begin during our thirties.

When this battle begins, we tend to evaluate life more frequently than in the past.

We also notice that our bodies do not respond or recover like they used to. People become more sensitive, need more attention and also pay more attention to others. Our mountain people seemed to have an optimistic philosophical view of their own midlives:

Local poet Christine Weeber said, “Midlife is a delight to me and quiet fellow travelers on this midlife journey. It is spicy, weathered, and vital, and just the beginning.” Those she sat with agreed that there a few categories of midlife: seasoned, well-seasoned, and thoroughly seasoned.

Nederland resident Hughes Moir said he thought midlife was around 45 years. “What does that feel like? I don’t remember. That was 30 years ago.”

The hero of the evening, Kim Culver, said, “Midlife means not regretting not being young anymore. We’re old enough to make good choices and young enough to carry them out.”

Long-time Nederland resident, recently retired Barbara Siebold said, “Midlife means you are ready to slow down, but not ready to stop. Having children has a lot to do with that.”

Gold Hill resident Pam Sherman said that midlife is different than when she was a kid. “It used to be 45-50, but now it is in the 60s and will go into the 70s. But it is all about how you feel, and what you do with it.”

Not satisfied with the enormous success of her first Mountain MidLife event, Karplus has great plans for the group. Two more group meals are scheduled: a “Social Breakfast” to be followed by a hike (for those with the desire or energy) on Saturday, August 8; and another dinner on Friday, August 21. After that, dinners are planned for the third Friday of every month and breakfasts for the second Saturday.

A website has been launched at www.meetup.com/Mountain-MidLife-Social-Group to provide ongoing information about the group’s activities.