Clinton celebrated his birthday on Saturday

New York, Aug. 20 (Reuters): Former United States President Bill Clinton, who turned 60 yesterday, hates being so old — and it’s no consolation that 60 is being touted as the new 40 as the first of the baby boomer generation hits the big 6-0 this year.

An archetypal baby boomer who lived through the swinging 60s and disco era, Clinton plays the saxophone and admits he smoked marijuana (although he did not inhale).

But although a recent survey found almost 80 per cent of Americans born in 1946 were satisfied with their lot, Clinton said being 60 was no dream.

“I hate it, it’s true,” Clinton told the XVI International AIDS Conference in Canada this week. “For most of my working life, I was the youngest person doing whatever I was doing, then one day I woke up and I was the oldest person in the room.

“Now that I have more days behind me than ahead of me, I try to wake up with a discipline of gratitude every day”, he said.

Clinton was born at the start of the baby boomer generation, which began as birth rates starting climbing along with economic prosperity after World War II and ended in 1964.

There are about 78 million baby boomers in the United States out of a population of about 298 million. The US census bureau estimates that about 8,000 Americans a day will turn 60 this year.

Others to join the 60 club this year include current US President George W. Bush, who celebrated his birthday in July, singers Cher and Dolly Parton, property tycoon Donald Trump and actress Diane Keaton.

AARP, an association for Americans over the age of 50, conducted a telephone survey of 800 Americans turning 60 this year. According to the findings, about 77 per cent were satisfied with their lives. Eighty per cent have no plans to stop working and are focused on staying fit to defy the average life expectancy of about 82.

“Sixty is the new 40. You see baby boomers buying Harley-Davidsons and taking off on a trip,” said AARP executive Shereen Remez.

“But baby boomers are also continuing to work because they didn't save like their parents. They used credit cards.”

In a book slated to be released next month, Sixty Things To Do When You Turn Sixty, a group of doctors, comedians, entrepreneurs and authors offer tips for turning 60. They cover a wide range, from taking up meditation and running a marathon to being a grouch.

“There’s a new survey out saying that people who take a positive view of aging actually live longer than those who grouse and grumble, which is hogwash and I am paying no attention to it,” writes US comedian Garrison Keillor.

“I turned 60 last week and it’s no picnic and anybody who says so is whistling in the dark.”

How was Clinton celebrating his birthday? Quietly.

“He’ll just be with his family,” said a spokeswoman.