Jaqueline, 1938 – “People who don’t put on their blinkers. You don’t even need to know hand signals anymore because all the new cars have blinkers. These people have new cars…I know they have blinkers.”

Gladys, 1941 – “At my age I have learned not to have pet peeves, I’ve learned to be patient.”

Claudia, 1935 – “the way people park…taking up two spaces and such.”

Gene, 1945 – “Bad Drivers.”

Alicia, Not Telling – “People who receive gifts and expect to get more and more.”

Douglas, 1925 – “Relatively speaking, I don’t have anything to complain about…because if you hold grudges it takes away from your life.”

Joy, 1923 – “Too much company; I’m loaded with company. When you’re from Canada, people always want to come and visit you for the weather. Then they want to use your house and your car. Is that bad to say? I mean, I like having company, but there is such a thing as too much.”

Peter, 1927 – “Ive got a gillion (laugh). I don’t like picky people, ya know, complainers.”

Irene, 1928 – “People that interrupt and don’t let you finish a sentence.”

Joanne, 1933 – “People that are late. Sometimes I tell people to be somewhere as much as an hour earlier than they need to be, just so I don’t have to worry about them being late.”

Carol, 1948 – “People who drive and talk on their cell phones, or eat, or are putting on their make up…oh and bad manners…parents are not teaching them [children] anymore, (gasp). Rude people.”

Albert, 1924 – “People are kind of discourteous; they cut in line…I hate that.”

Cookie, 1940 – “People who come to this country and don’t want to speak English. Both of my parents came from Italy and Russia and learned English.”

Phyllis, 1929 – “People talking on their cell phone when they’re driving.”

Mary, 1938 – “People who tell other people what to do.”

Sandy, 1935 – “Parents who don’t teach their children tolerance and patience…”

Mercedes, 1933 – “When people don’t take care of themselves emotionally and physically.”

Libby, 1923 – “Always having to watch my younger siblings. My mom worked. (Laugh) I’m still taking care of them…we’re very close.”

Sam, 1942 – “It has to do with crossing the streets…Cars that block the sidewalks because they don’t pull in all the way…Or people that drive in the crosswalks when I’m trying to cross the street.” 

Irene, 1928 – “Working with animals, like a veterinarian or work at the zoo with baby animals…I wouldn’t want to work at a shelter though.”

Peter, 1927 – “I had the perfect job. I did exactly what I wanted to do…maybe I would have traded it for working in a manufacturing firm.”

Joy, 1923 – “I would love to work with people with Alzheimer’s. I know I’m good at it.  My husband had Alzheimer’s and I had him up and working around the house up until the end.”

Douglas, 1925 – “Probably a diplomat or ambassadorship…or even an interpreter, I always found that fascinating.”

Alicia, Not Telling – “The same thing. I would be a teacher and a councilor.”

Gene, 1945 – “Well, if I wasn’t married, I would have liked to be a famous pool player, playing on TV.”

Claudia, 1935 – “I think maybe an airline hostess.”

Barbara, Not Telling – “I would be writing scripts for radio or movies with some constructive ideas, no murder.”

Gladys, 1941 – “If money were not an issue I would have actually been a dentist, and had the time to pursue it.”

Jacqueline, 1938 – “I’d like to have a job helping people. I would have started an organization to feed the poor.”

Carol, 1941 – “Singer and Dancer.”

Joanne, 1933 – “I would have worked in the medical profession as a doctor or nurse. My Aunt and my daughter were both nurses and have enjoyed it.”

Joan, 1932 – “Psychologist, that would be it…I think psychology is wonderful.”

Varad, 1936 – “I liked what I did.”

Cookie, 1940 – “Something that would help children…they are the future of our country.”

Phyllis, 1929 – “Well, if I had training, I think I would have liked to be a chef (if the hours were better)…or, I’d be a comedy writer.

Mary, 1938 – “I would like to be missionary and go to other lands.”

Sandy, 1935 – “If I had the talent, I would choose to be a musician with a symphony orchestra.”

Mercedes, 1933 – “I think I would have loved to be a yoga guru.”

Libby, 1923 – “Teaching.”

Irene, 1928 – “Around 38: you’ve been somewhere, you can still have fun and kick up your heels.”

Peter, 1927 – “55-60…Your children are probably out of college, and you’re in good health…and you are probably no longer in desperate need for money which means you can start doing whatever you want.”

Joy, 1923 – “In your 50’s. I had the best time of my life: kids were grown up and I was working, it was great.”

Douglas, 1925 – “For me, it’s right now, or ever since I started coming here [Joslyn Center]. In general, it’s probably when you’re about 40 you are pretty secure in your job and your children are in good health.”

Alicia, Not Telling – “I think from 30-50. You feel like you’re going to fly…wait…I felt that way from 20-50.”

Gene, 1945 – “Whatever age you are.”

Claudia, 1935 – “Where I am now.”

Barbara, Not Telling – “Every age has a purpose.”

Gladys, 1941 – “50’s. In your 20’s you have too many choices. In your 30’s you’re very confused. Your 40’s you’re starting to figure it out. In your 50’s you’re starting to realize what counts. In your 60’s you enjoy it all.”

Jacqueline, 1938 – “30…it was terrible to become 30 when you were in your 20’s, but at 30 you have your head on your shoulders.”

Carol, 1941 – “Now.”

Joanne, 1933 – “The 1980’s were good; my husband had good jobs and the kids were in college…so my 50’s.”

Joan, 1932 – “That’s funny, so much depends on attitude…I’m going to say 55.”

Varad, 1936 – “What ever age you happen to be at: from a health point of view, the younger the better; from a wisdom point of view, the older the better.”

Albert, 1924 – “32-35…I learned from my brother, who was a metropolitan type, told me that at age 32 you are grown up, you have a job, you are mature, and starting a family…those were my best years, so my brother was right.”

Cookie, 1940 – “None really, its just a number it doesn’t matter…I was never ashamed at my age (like my sister).”

Phyllis, 1929 – “Probably 40 because you are done with most of your youth, your children are grown…and I was really happy at 40.”

Mary, 1938 – “40. Your kids are grown and I was in good health…to me it is the ideal age.”

Sandy, 1935 – “I would say 50. By that time I had gained the maturity that I needed, to make many decisions about things…and, I would hate to be out there, young and dating.”

Mercedes, 1933 – “For me, my age right now: the golden years. I’m wise enough, smart enough, and healthy enough to know how to be happy.”

Libby, 1923 – “Middle aged, or the 50’s and 60’s. Children were grown and my husband and I grew closer because we did more things together.”

Fatima, 1948 – “This is an amazing question…I never wanted my youth back. My background is what has given me wisdom, I’m in the best age now. I would never switch ages. Love becomes deeper and I understand everything.”

Irene, 1928:

“Deep sea diving; I love to snorkel. In Hawaii, I wore a tasseled bikini and the fish were all trying to nibble on it! So when they asked if the fish were biting, I said ‘Yes, me!’.”

Joy, 1923:

“Go up in a balloon. I’ve been in a helicopter but never in one of those balloons yet.”

Alicia

“Go to the moon.”

Gene, 1945:

“Probably work for the CIA.”

Claudia, 1935:

“I think taking the rapids.”

Barbara

“I’ve gotten on a plane several times and I thought that was dangerous.”

Gladys, 1941:

“That wouldn’t be fun if there is no risk. I’ve done most of it: bungee jump (when I was 61-62), sky dive (when I was 54), skiing. Experience war, not any one in particular but the experience of it.”

Jacqueline, 1938:

“Swim in the sea. Great Barrier Reef.”

Carol, 1941:

“Did it. Done it. Had it all.”

Joanne, 1933:

“We had a light airplane. My husband always flew. I was just about ready to learn when he decided to sell. I was going to take the FAA “pinch-hitter” course.”

Misako, 1948:

“Driving and cell phones are dangerous. That is the only thing that scares me.”

Albert, 1924:

“I’m not a very athletic man. Maybe I’d try flying an airplane.”

Cookie, 1940:

“Hot air balloon ride. I’m afraid of heights.”

Phyllis, 1929:

“I just think that living day to day can be dangerous. I don’t need to go look for it. Driving on the freeway.”

Mary, 1938:

“Skydive. I’d like to pop out of a plane.”

Sandy, 1935:

“Go to the moon.”

Libby, 1923:

“Jump out of a plane. My husband was a paratrooper.”

Sam, 1942:

“I do something dangerous every day by crossing the street.”

When we asked this question we got a lot of raised eyebrows, but even more laughs…this was by far one of the questions that helped us break the ice to get people to give us honest answers.

Shockingly, less than 30% of people who answered this question said that they would absolutely never get a tatoo…the other 70% came up with answers better than anything I could possibly make up:

Irene, 1928 – “It would be ‘Bill’, my husbands name, and I would put it on my wrist under my watch. My husband had my name tattooed on his wrist…and other ladies names too.”

Peter, 1927 – “It would be on my arm…I’ll just say a flower…no, maybe a geometrical design.”

Joy, 1923 – “A little mouse on the back of my neck. I saw a girl in line at the grocery store, with her hair pulled up like mine, and she had a little mouse on the back of her neck. When I asked her why she had it there she said, that by putting it on her neck, she could hide it from her mother by wearing her hair down…I thought that was clever.”

Douglas, 1925 – “It would be on the arm, and it would be some kind of happy face probably.”

Alicia, Not Telling – “I suppose I would put it on the bottom of my foot…probably a little star.”

Gene, 1945 – “A lip print of Kat Von D on my arm…it would be light pink and have her autograph in light pink under the lips.”

Claudia, 1935 – “A dot where no one could see.”

Jacqueline, 1938 – “I’d like a little cross right over my heart.”

Joan, 1932 – “God, I hate tattoos…If I had to, I’d get one on the inside of my hand of either a flower or a rose.”

Mary, 1938 – “Right here on my arm and it would say ‘Jesus’.”

Sandy, 1935 – (giggle) “I would put a bat…no a dragon…on my ankle where everyone could see it. I love bats and dragons.”

Mercedes, 1933 – “hmm, I think I like tattoos. It would be a poem on my arm I think.”

Libby, 1923 – “On my shoulder, and it would be a butterfly.”

Out of all the people we interviewed, 57% said Housekeeper, 7% Cook, 7% Gardener, and 29% Personal Secretary. Here are some of the more interesting answers we received:

Joan, 1932:

“I would go with a housekeeper. I have one so I’m special.”

Phyllis, 1929:

“Probably a gardener. I get out there but not that much. I’m the cook, and the housekeeper, don’t need a bodyguard.” (we think she heard “personal secretary” as “personal security”)

Sandy, 1935:

“A personal secretary. Well because I stack things…and I always say ‘I need to get to this.” Someone could keep track of taxes, investment property, things of that nature.”

Mercedes, 1933:

“A housekeeper – it was so nice to have someone to take care of all the stuff that you don’t like.”

Libby, 1923:

“Housekeeper. I hate housework! I do it grudgingly.

Sam, 1942:

“Between a cook and housekeeper with my eyesight. I need someone to clean up.”

Fatima, 1948:

“Now I need a personal secretary for typing…maybe later I’ll want a servant.”

Carol P. - My father; he was a national sales manager and we moved all over until he got transferred to Burbank. Once we got here we stayed and I have lived here for 40 years.

Joan – I had a roommate and we were just looking for a place to live when we decided on Burbank. I’m guessing that I’ve lived here for a good 20 years…probably more than that.

Carol M. – My husband was raised here. I’ve been here for 33 years this June.

Varad – A job in the computer industry brought me here in 1969.

Cookie – My mom and dad bought a house here 12/14/1951, we moved from South Gate.

Phyllis – My husband got a teaching job in Burbank. I’ve been in Burbank for 56 years.

Mary – My husband and I first moved to Texas, then out here. He worked at Lockheed and we came to Burbank in 1962.

Sandy – My husband accepted a job with Disney, so I’ve been here since 1980.

Libby – Winters were bad where we lived before, and Burbank’s weather was better for my husbands health. He had some WWII injuries. We moved here in 1954.

Sam – My family moved out to CA and I came with them when I was 15. As of last October, I’ve been in Burbank for one year.

Fatima – When I moved from New York,  I chose California because we didn’t like the cold. We moved to Santa Monica. Then I saw Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena and loved sunny Burbank. Santa Monica was too cold, and I just loved sunny Burbank with its proximity to other cities and the sunshine and the diversity. We moved to Burbank and I love it here.

Joy – Oh, the weather! It was cold in Canada. (laugh) I’ve been in this great weather for 36 years now.

Douglas – I had an older brother who lived here and he talked me into it…and Lockheed was hiring so I decided to move to Burbank in 1955.

Irene – My husband and I moved out here (CA) from Chicago because we liked the weather. Snow was fine when I was a kid, I liked it then…when we were ready to move out of the snow, my husband wanted to go to San Francisco, but then he changed his mind because there were better jobs in Southern California. In 1967 we moved to Glendale, then in the 70’s we moved to Los Feliz. I started volunteering at the Joslyn Center, and recently (2004) I moved to Burbank.

Barbara – My father wanted to come to California way back when…I always knew that we would end up out here. I’ve lived in Burbank for 33 years.

Gladys – I moved to Hollywood in 1959 because my husband and I had a contact there. In 1980 I moved to Burbank because its close to downtown…its close to everything, and I enjoy the arts here. I love it here. I travel all over the world and I kiss Burbank when I return.

Jacqueline – My two Jewish friends insisted that I come out here (Burbank) and I’ve been here for 10 years.