Just find a group of friends roughly around your age (millennials) and stick with them. Yeah, I have barely anything in common with zoomer furries.

I don't really have any issue with people being younger than me, but I don't participate in the dating/relationship scene at all so that avoids some potential awkwardness I guess.

i'm 43! We're out here, you just have to go looking for us a bit. A lot of people kind of outgrow it or just dont have time for it at our age, but if you look around you can find us :D

yeah i've noticed the older people get the less energy they have for online stuff and socializing. too busy trying to pay bills and stuff which is understandable especially with how things have been for awhile now.

i'm literally going to add all the older furries from this post to my watch list i think XD it really IS nice to see them commenting :D

Feel free. 55 years old, been in the fandom since 1984. Glad to see someone even close to my age.

Right? it's nice seeing some of us older greymuzzles still around :) <3

Good gods yes indeed, hon.

I'm 25 but I feel older because I don't exactly like interacting with younger furries for a variety of reasons. There are older ones out there though! I just think they're harder to find because a lot of them don't use social media like most people do now days. I have noticed they I have better luck finding older furries on Facebook or at a convention. I tend to hang around them because to put it lightly the younger generation is "sensitive " to a lot of things that have been normal in the fandom since it was first created.
Tldr: im sure theres plently of furries your age if you look around close enough.

oh no not facebook X3
i'm sure i'm just in the wrong spaces.

Im 32 and can definitely empathize, but there's a whole group of 30+ furries out there! Worst comes to worst, maybe make your own discord/group? Id gladly join to be closer to people my own age. And honestly, age is a need to know basis! I usually just tell people im over 18, and most groups dont pry. But it's also just a number!

i have my art discord. i think most in there are more my age but it's small, pretty quiet and i don't promote it. i'm terrible at being social though i'm trying to do better.

38? hmmm, I think I was 38....at end of last century.
We are out there. maybe FA should have a search function for age or special badges for every 10 years. Except in my case the badges would be longer than my name

the badges could be interesting!

I am 35 and there are plenty of old furs like us out there. The number only means something if you think it does. Otherwise it doesnt mean much.

May be a shameless little plug for myself here
But I run a pretty small/decent (like 200 members) little art community discord server.
Age groups from users range from 18+ to I think our oldest member being in their 40s
Its predominately furries there, but its not just limited to that, there's anime discussion, games, memes, its basically just a community for art enjoyers.
IF you would like to pop in and just say hi, talk a bit and see the community maybe it'll make you feel a bit more "welcoming" to those around.
Of course there is no hassle to do so, but you're 38, me and my partner are in our 30s, this hasnt hindered us at all.~

i could try popping in i'm just terrible being social with strangers, even in my own tiny server X3

I feel that, being old enough to be the mother of far too much of the fandom at this point. In my case I've completely dissociated from any part of the fandom except for online, and have been like that since my late 20s. However I've kept every friend in the fandom since that point, including much of my close friends' circle, with a mild overlap with my kink play/BDSM circle. All of them 30+ are likewise online only for the fandom basically, except for long-term friends.

i've kept many friends too in my time here. though i can't say i've made much new friends as time has passed. kinda sad.

also i think you nailed one of the big points of "i could be your father..."

There are a -lot- of furs in your age range. For many of us, we're not as active in social circles any more just due to real life priorities at the forefront. But we certainly exist and en masse!

37, and I'm feeling like this too...

Welcome to being 38, it sucks because you feel too old but aren't because you're too young.

Find a group you like, and well- stick with it.

Or don't stress about it. Either way my dude.

I'm 39 here. I don't mind the younger furs. Just like with most people if they turn toxic I turn them on mute. Mainly I look for folks to game with and have fun.

I'm turning 42 in a couple of weeks and I know how you feel, but the majority of my circle of friends are within 5-10 years of my age. It hasn't really been an issue... though dating... yeah, I feel that. I don't even know where to LOOK for that sort of thing. Online dating has become a cesspool of scam sites.

dating is such a nightmare i don't know how anyone is able to do it regardless of age.

Right?

I am older than you. I am not aware of this being a problem.

i dunno could be my anxiety just actin up.

I was a furry when I was 12
I was a furry when I was 22
I was a furry when I was 32
I will be a furry when I'm 42, 52, 62, 72, and if I make it? 82 and 92 and 102 and....

Age doesn't matter after you're 18 in terms of being in a fandom, hun. If you're an adult, you're an adult, you can be interested in whatever you want at whatever age you want. Only assholes and people in denial would ever discredit or dismiss you based solely on 'You're too old'. What, are they saying after they turn that age they'll be leaving the fandom cause they think they're too old? I don't fucking think so. It's just younger pricks thinking they get a monopoly on something cause their experience puts them in the age bracket they're in, making them think anyone significantly older than them don't belong.

Trust me hun, there are just as many 30-40-50+ year old furries. In fact, I'd be quite surprised if there weren't more 30+ furries than 20+ furries at this stage, given we're essentially the first generation of modern furries which began in the 90s.

So, no, never be ashamed of who you are and what you enjoy. If you're a furry? Be a furry. What other people think about it is literally none of their fucking business. You think if you told them you disagree with them being a furry cause they're too young, they'd agree and stop being furries? No, they'd laugh in your face. You should laugh in theirs too.

Be proud, fuzzball. Fuck the haters and fuck the manchildren who think they get to pass judgement on others based on age. Those diaper pricks can fuck right off.

i was thinking about how when i first entered there weren't too many older folks and that's probably cause the fandom itself was still considerably young.

Precisely. When FA started and indeed, the fandom in general? We were the young ones.
The ones trying to tell people they don't belong here because of their age? Those selfsame people were either toddlers or not even born yet when you and I were first beginning to draw our fursonas on a lined paperbook in school.
No one has a right to kick you out of the fandom you helped found in your own right. They joined a fandom we pioneered. There will be no exiling of people older than the newcomers. The OG should be respected, not mocked. This fandom exists because we helped support it.

I've been around since I was like 11 or 12-ish. I'm 32 now. I know of folks that are in their upper fifties that are still around. I don't think age is really a issue.
I've never been hassled by those younger than me for still being involved with things anyway.
If you're finding it uncomfortable to be in spaces with folks younger than you I'd suggest looking around for where other furries in your age group linger about.
There's plenty of us around!

i think all the furries in my age group are constantly tired and in their beds X3

Would you keep it down I'm trying to sleep...

sorry my queen...

Good boy~ Now come join me! *Yanks into bed and cuddles*

*hops in and cuddles*

And sore. Getting old sucks.

I'm 42... I can understand the age difference concern. However, I've never been fortunate enough to find friends who are also interested in the furry community. I also work in an industry that I joined late in my life so almost all of my coworkers are younger than me. I feel that if you get along well and have common interests, the age doesn't really matter (within reason of course). I also feel that finding people around your age with similar interests/experiences is a little difficult and you're lucky to find them and hold on to them.

Man if this is not how ive felt for a while lol 37 myself, and my account is older than some in the fandom, I wish i had a better answer for you but hey we'll all be "greymuzzles" eventually

I'm in my 40s, I am a fur, and I always will be, I know myself, and live by to thine own self be true.

So yeah I wouldn't think you'd need to up and abandon who and what you are just because of some arbitrary number, and yes Age is both a unfortified Fact of life, and utterly arbitrary. We cannot yet slay the demon that is chronological aging, but we can and often do choose how we act and see ourselves.

I've known grandma's more active then their age would have them be, and I've known young people far more world weary then they have right to be. Don't let your age define you. Don't let the expectations of others confine you. Be you. You'll find the right people, that's all I can say.

I know how you feel, I'll be 40 next year and over the last few years I've been distancing myself from the fandom.

naturally cause too busy or cause of age?

Just felt too old, like you said I don't want to be the "creeper old dude". It's the same reason I stopped getting on Second Life. The older friends I had on there started disappearing. And it just felt weird when you're surrounded by 20 something year olds. Not to mention the cap, bet, etc gen Z talk. XD

I'm 27 but I still feel like most of the furries I know are older than me lol

27 is a pretty medium age

Honestly I wouldn't worry too much about the age thing.. A lot of people worry too much about it from what I've seen. Admittedly I think my youngest online friend is like 26 (I'm 36) but like we met talking about ocs and stuff and just have similar vibes. I think its more just trying to find people who you vibe with in general (which can be difficult if you're kinda socially awkward like I am sdufhsdf). I do have a small server but I've been like semi afk with it as of late (just between med stuff and being busy dsuhsdf). Idk how you'd feel about joining a server but you're more than welcome into any I own (I consider you a friend but like I'm just terrible about reaching out sometimes sorry dufhsdf). I also need to work on streaming a bit more in my server when I get the chance (mostly to be more engaging with people since it makes it easier to do it in a way?). But yeah honestly don't worry too much on the age thing, I find it doesn't matter too much as long as you're chill sduhfsdf.

why do you stream in server as opposed to public places? the social awkwardness?

Honestly I have no idea how to setup the streaming stuff (I asked a friend when they were here but they kinda ignored me asking and wouldn't set me up so I kinda gave up) and its pretty user friendly on discord compared to like actually setting it up dsufdhsf. I'd be down to do it if someone walked me through it live tho. I'd wanna do a png tuber type setup (I have ocs I can use for it) but like its a whole thing to figure out and my brain is soggy most of the time with headaches sudhfsdf

ooooh i see, makes sense yeah, that's one reason i've not tried to stream. no clue.

If I ever figure it out I'll help you setup dsufhsdf

I'm 34, I haven't been active too much online ad of late, plus it's hard sometimes finding those around my ages who enjoy similar hobbies with myself and my husband. Plus the fact with like having the energy to go out and socialize.

yeahhhh i hear that... too little energy and no one (especially no one local) with my hobbies.

Yeah, like where myself and my husband live, it's a bit of a drive to shops with our hobbies (D&D, MTG) so we mostly do it online or with roommates

What you do is keep doing what you love, following who you like, and looking at the artwork you enjoy. There are a lot of furs much older than you. I recently turned 50 (yes, frickin' 50), and so did one of my best friends who also turned 50 a few weeks before that. Many furry cons have graymuzzle breakfasts and other get-togethers, and they're filled with people much older than you. There is room for everyone here in the fandom regardless of age. Age really is just a number and should not dictate what you're allowed to enjoy. Shit, my dad was in his 70s when he died and he still loved Looney Tunes.

Getting old sucks bad enough without having to give up the things you love. Just find friends in the fandom who you relate to comfortably.

i really should try to hit up a con once.

I guarantee you'll have a blast, especially if you go with a friend who's just as enthusiastic to be there.

While I won't say my exact age, I'm getting older every damn day.

I'm not going to let anyone tell me I'm too old or too young to do anything I choose to. Its my hobby, I'll cry if I want to while doing it, or be crazy and frenetic while doing it.

Nobody has a right to tell any of us that we're not a right fit for the fandom.

Theres a lot more of us middle aged Furries than expected. It does feel creepy being around a lot of younger people, innit? I'd like to chalk it up to us older folks keeping more to the background since were not as full of piss and vinegar. But were still here. god forbid Millennials have hobies

the youngins, they have so much energy...

Its okay to hang with people younger than you, its only weird when it comes to sex and relationships so just ask before doing that stuff you know? Lotta oldies out here, so you're not alone. Im in my early 30s and just starting to realize i should probably start confirming peoples age before engaging with them in certain ways.

yeah i really feel i need to be more aware of someone's age in certain situations.

I just went to my first furry con a few weeks ago. 38 here - saw plenty of older furs there. But yeah, definitely saw people there that were young enough to be my kid. Definitely a weird feeling

Honestly, I'm in the exact same boat only for a longer period of time; I'm 58 ... early Gen-X ... and haven't felt really welcome in a long while. If you find answers, please share them!

I guess I'll at least out myself as far as being older than you are. Sometimes I do feel the age difference with younger fans, but not that often. All of my interaction is online though since I'm not the sort to go to a con. What I've found is that you can always connect with people if you're into the same interests. Plus, post internet it's less about shared generational culture blocks of time and more about community culture. Don't buy into the whole old way of thinking that you HAVE to age out of a space. Some people naturally do for whatever reason and that's fine if they choose to prioritize different things or simply lose interest.

In the end though, I think it's mostly a good thing to have people across age ranges regardless of the hobby/interest? Furries aren't as niche as they used to be, but it's still pretty niche from the normie standard. Where I'm going with that is that people tend to trust those with similar interests. I've found myself getting asked all sorts of random life questions when people think I'll understand them or at least relate to them a bit better than the other older people in their life.

When it comes to adult content stuff, well an adult is an adult? I think it's more your behavior and actions than just the simple fact you're older. Online I don't think anyone cares at all. In person? I don't think people care that much so long as you're not being 'weird' and being around while old isn't being weird.

a very good assessment. i might be worrying for naught.

55 years old here, got into this fandom at 14 way back in 1984. Not planning on leaving it, but by all the gods, I am most assuredly fringe these days. Socializing with the younger crowd is difficult due to difference in perspective and level of extremism, plus of course the mindset that anyone more than 2 years older then them is out to perform some sort of highly illegal act on those younger and call it something viciously nasty (I won't use words for it here lest it spark issues and/or trigger folks).

I get your feeling, but all one can do is, if one likes the art, style, subject, etc., is stick it out and find others in your similar interest and age range whom aren't likely to go and freak out that someone older than early 20s is still in the fandom.

Yours,
your oft-silent watcher,
Mika Kyubi
Kitsune-at-Large
(oft-times very large)

the fandom had to be tiny and hard to find way back then.

Present at sci-fi cons, mostly, and in a few early indie comics like Albedo and Fusion.

I learned of a wider fandom through the long-gone United Front BBS, operated and owned by a high-school buddy Daryl Benvenuto.

38 here myself. I know quite a few furries in or around the same range as me, some younger and some older.

One thing I can say is: Be true to yourself. Being a furry isn't something to be ashamed of. While a lot of the community is younger than us, it doesn't mean we don't belong. The furry community, if nothing else, is about having fun. Laughter and smiles don't expire as we get older.

If it helps, learning to lower your guard is something I'm still learning to do. We tend to put it up higher and higher as we get older. It's ok to just be yourself and not have it up, especially in a community of like-minded people.

i have to be true to myself?! cause i'm a mess....

Every person is a mess. Some people are better at hiding it than others but we're all a mess. That doesn't mean you don't have qualities others that people enjoy

Pushing 51 here. Personally, age is just one more nail in the coffin for me, but zoomers as a generation sure give the impression that they have a fixation on unilaterally permissible ageism. It's also possible that external influences are intentionally driving artificial wedges into western society via social media though, so who knows how real that is? That said, I've found the furry fandom to be rife with inhospitable and sometimes hostile cliquishness for over a quarter century.

You might find the fet community has a wider age range and acceptance, but it has its own issues, such as a massively toxic case of the gender cooties, platforming of racist trash heaps, and people who mistake exploitation and abuse for dominance.

35 year old here. It's hard at first, but it's possible to find a group of furries our age. I found a few communities on VRChat and they meet up and hang out

i tried VRC for like a day but had no idea where to go or what to do on top of my anxiety talking to strangers @@

it starts with one friend showing you around. that's what worked for me!

i did get a tour but it felt so overwhelming X3

You see those feelings? Kick them in the arse. Nothing wrong with what you like (so long as its legal)

Few of the OG furries have left the fandom, I'm 51 myself and I'm not remotely the oldest. x3

Take from it what you want, I suppose. Some people lose interest or just aren't able to keep up with things as they get older, as experience and maturity change priorities and 'real life' sets in. Especially now with as crazy as things have gotten to earn basic ends-meet.

Have fun until you think there isn't any more to be had ^_^

yeah true. but i'm sad some people disappear and no idea what happened to them.

Oh my gosh, yeah. A couple of people I'd like to know if they're OK at all. No idea how to contact them. Too much gray fog between then and now to remember real names even.

I had some similar worries about growing up with this community and art and that I might be too old to be here.

But the more I focused on my art and just having fun in this community the more I stopped worrying about it. Finding a group of friends to be around helps a lot. I found that on my Discord and have built up art for years with it. It's great still!

And I found no matter much I assumed I was the oldest person around, I was wrong. People of all ages are here! We are, like, the middle, haha

I do hear you on dating. I am still single too. So that's a harder one to navigate in a space where so many people are all over the place in age.

35 here. I've had similar thoughts about being old for the fandom, but the drop off is not as bad as it used to be. I've found that age has come with the wisdom of stepping back out of the flashy high school dramas and just doing my own thing. Any hobby is what you make of it personally, if you still enjoy what you do then carve out a space for yourself and those that like it will follow. I know the recovery timer on those con parties gets longer and longer.