50th birthdays can be difficult and for a number of reasons. When many people turn 50 they feel fairly self conscious about the transition. They think they are becoming old and moving into a period of inactivity. They become more and more aware that their health and well being are starting to fail. Turning 50 can thus be a time of real depression and remorse; many men and women experience a midlife crisis. People also joke about the 50 year old’s age, which although well meant can start to bother someone. In the midst of all this difficulty people want to celebrate the event that seems to be the source of the trouble. So how can you make someone’s 50th birthday party tolerable for them? Won’t the party just remind them of depressing things they would rather forget?
Although there may be no party that does not bring up some of these feelings for the new 50 year old, there are some parties that will help them to weather the storm better than others. These parties could also help the birthday person to actually enjoy themselves. The party I am describing is a vacation party–meaning that the birthday person is taken on a short vacation with a few good friends or family members.
Vacation parties are not cheap but they really mark the occasion as special. You obviously don’t want to go on a special trip and appear to be cheap. If you can afford it, spend some money on the 50th birthday party. The destination need not be exotic and the hotels don’t have to be five star, but they should be nice enough to suggest a special occasion. Choose a location that the birthday person will enjoy. Make all travel arrangements long in advance so there are no surprises–the longer in advance the better your rates. The more detailed and thorough your plans the more it will appear like someone really cares and is trying to do something special.
Obviously you want your vacation party to be more than just a regular vacation. Plan a normal birthday party with a cake for one of the days. During the rest of the time you should take advantage of the activities of interest in the area. See historical sites, take tours, and play in the outdoors. If the location offers particularly choice outdoor recreation opportunities take advantage of them.
Choose a few friends who you assume can afford to come with you and invite them long in advance. In most cases it would be better to have a small group of friends so the vacation is more intimate. Choose friends that you trust and have an established relationship with. You do not want to select people who might argue or cause problems. Just look for some easy-going adventurous people you trust. While on the vacation celebrate the 50th birthday but spend most of your time just enjoying yourselves. The party will be the vacation and the rest it provides for everyone.
Although throwing a holiday party for a 50th birthday is not easy or cheap it will leave a lasting impression on the birthday person. They will have time to relax and enjoy socializing with friends. They will also do all of this in a location of their choice. You can certainly give someone material gifts for their 50th birthday, but what about a lasting memory? A vacation will also help them feel more relaxed as they move into the next phase of their life.
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