THE Federal Government sent me a lovely birthday gift - a bag to poo in, then post.
Malcolm Turnbull and Co must love this particular gift because it is the second time they have sent it, and the second time I've sent it back full.
I should not poke fun at the excellent National Bowel Cancer Screening Program which saves lives with minimum fuss but the poo in the post alert is a blunt reminder I am not as young as I used to be. 
Certainly not as young as when I took a year off to surf my way around the world with a mate going to places like Uluwatu, Balangan, Grajagan, Hikkaduwa, Aragum Bay, Mundaka, Baja, Hawaii and more. I was invincible then and still am. However, seeing I can now access superannuation it might be time to take stock.
The good news is the greatest demographic shift in history has come at the perfect time for people like me. When our forefathers wrote the Australian Constitution life expectancy for men was 47 years.
Now it is over 80.
A major conference opened by Premier Jay Weatherill (age 51) this week is looking at this life bonus and at ways to change perceptions of ageing, to turn it from being seen as a burden to an opportunity.
The subtitle is Boomers Riding the Long Wave which has cool appeal to greying waxheads. The formal title of the University of Adelaide event is the Ageing and Living Well Think Tank and Innovation Collaborative.
I initially thought it was for old people. But this is about redefining what "old" actually means. Would you call John Ellice-Flint old at 64? He's trying to take over Santos so he's hardly ready for pasture. What about 74? I doubt Harrison Ford will curl up with a crochet blanky on his knees after his next birthday party.
And 84? Depends - my mum and mum-in-law are both approaching that mark and each lives independently with an active social life and remains as sharp as a tack. I think of them as young oldies.
What about 94? Bodies wear out but we have more people than ever living beyond 100, and the conference will be told the first person to live to 150 is probably among us now.
We've got a demographic seismic shift on our hands and it is time to grasp the opportunity instead of moaning about health care and pension costs.
Loads of people take a well-earned trip and some R & R on retirement. Then they get bored pottering around the garden. Retiring after physically demanding jobs can be tough - backs hurt - but this is also the century when labour-saving devices sidelined shovels.
Smart, cashed up, savvy retirees in reasonable health have no intention of fading away. They are experienced, knowledgeable, often mentally agile even if the body is creaking. Many have dough. They also have higher expectations than a generation ago.
This is the era of active ageing and the boomer bulge is blowing stereotypes of "the elderly" out of the water.
Grey is the new black.
The keynote speaker, University of Indiana entrepreneur expert Professor Trish Mc-Dougall-Covin, says it's time to view ageing as an opportunity for growth and prosperity. "Just as the youth of today turned the meaning of the word 'wicked' on its head . . . to refer to something that is awesome or extremely positive, it is time for boomers and the whole of society to view the ageing of boomers through an entrepreneurial lens and see the tremendous infusion of talent that is becoming available to make the world a better place," she says.
Workshops will discuss topics such as "encore careers", eating well to age well, "seniorpreneurs", technology and retirement villages.
I sat on a "hypothetical" panel for the event - I guess they needed a youngster.
Grommets call me "old 55" - if living when the Constitution was drawn up, I would be eight years past my use-by date. Instead, I'm planning a surf trip to the Solomons . . .See website http://ecic.adelaide.edu.au/connect/ageing-well-think-tank/