In poll, upbeat baby boomers say they're not old

The generation that once powered a youth movement isn't ready to symbolize the aging of America, even as its first members are becoming eligible for Medicare.

A new poll finds three-quarters of all baby boomers still consider themselves middle-aged or younger, and that includes most of the boomers who are ages 57-65.

Younger adults call 60 the start of old age, but baby boomers are pushing that number back, according to The Associated Press-LifeGoesStrong.com poll. The median age they cite is 70. And a quarter of boomers insist you're not old until you're 80.

“In my 20s, I would have thought the 60s were bad, but they're not so bad at all,” says Lynn Brown, 64, a retired legal assistant and grandmother of 11 living near Phoenix in Apache Junction, Ariz.

The 77 million boomers are celebrating their 47th through 65th birthdays this year.

Overall, they're upbeat about their futures.

Americans born in the population explosion after World War II are more likely to be excited about the positive aspects of aging, such as retirement, than worried about the negatives, like declining health.

A third of those polled feel confident about growing older, almost twice as many as find it frustrating or sad.

Sixteen percent report they're happy about aging, about equal to the number who say they're afraid. Most expect to live longer than their parents.

“I still think I've got years to go to do things,” says Robert Bechtel, 64, of Virginia Beach, Va.

He retired last year after nearly four decades as a retail manager.

Now Bechtel has less stress and more time to do what he pleases, including designing a bunk bed for his grandchildren, remodeling a bathroom and teaching Sunday school.

A strong majority of baby boomers are enthusiastic about some perks of aging — watching their children or grandchildren grow up, doing more with friends and family, and getting time for favorite activities. About half say they're highly excited about retirement. Boomers most frequently offered the wisdom accumulated over their lives as the best thing about aging.

“The older you get, the smarter you get,” says Glenn Farrand, 62, of Ankeny, Iowa. But, he adds, “The physical part of it is the pits.”