Weighing the pros and cons of turning 65.(THE LAST LAUGH)

Some might say the most important argument in favor of turning 65 years old is the alternative: Not turning 65.

Others would argue that in addition to a Medicare card, it brings greater peace, understanding and tranquility.

I SAY HORSEFEATHERS!

My birthday is June 6, so I've reflected on whether or not to reach this milestone. What it means to me is that numerically I'm probably on the south side of the slippery slope to decrepitude, yet I still feel like a little kid with a lot to learn. In New Age speak, I'm a young soul.

Having arrived at the stage of life when "Old age and treachery will defeat youth and skill," I'm disclosing what I consider to be some lesser-known advantages:

* Creating a balance between doing-it-yourself and writing the check. I've concluded that writing the check is often perfectly satisfactory, especially if it's a matter of safety (like washing the outside of upper level windows or cutting down an Xmas tree) or if you really and truly hate doing it, or if you never knew or have for gotten how to do something.

I relearned this lesson recently when bids for adding a shower to my bathroom came in so far over the moon that the project got shelved. Then a young condo neighbor who'd achieved the same goal in his identical bathroom offered to perform the same magic on mine; that evening I started stripping off the flowered dark blue wallpaper.