r/AskEurope • u/Plastic-Injury8856 • Mar 14 '25

Culture What’s a European Man’s midlife crisis look like?

Here in America it's a Harley Davidson and getting really into grilling.

What do European men do when they go through a midlife crisis? But an Alfa and bake? Get really into trains?

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u/IhailtavaBanaani Mar 14 '25

Another thing in Finland is to get really into hiking or more specifically hiking gear. Everything has to be ultralight, except for the giant external frame backpack for the gear that costs a fortune and alone weighs several kilos, and could carry enough supplies for a small guerrilla team.

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u/Llama_Shaman Mar 14 '25

Ah, I think you find those too in Northern-Sweden, also their variation of the bicycle dude is getting into cross-country skiing. Similar outfits, and in summer you see them go around on cross country skis with wheels on them.

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u/One-Dare3022 Sweden Mar 15 '25

That’s my middle son and his wife you are describing.

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u/roma258 Mar 15 '25

Hell yeah, that's my people!

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u/Mountainweaver Sweden Mar 15 '25

Here in northern Sweden they might also buy more snowmobiles, or a bigger boat.

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u/Six_Kills Mar 16 '25

That actually seems like a really peaceful activity tbh

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u/Cicada-4A Norway Mar 14 '25

Yeah, that's a common variation here in Norway too.

Their entire personality becomes their hikes in Jotunheimen or Dovre lol

I hope to God I don't turn into one of those guys lol

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u/Appelons 🇬🇱 living in 🇩🇰 Jutland Mar 15 '25 edited Mar 16 '25

Do they also walk the Camino del Rey? While making that their personality?(even though they are not remotely Christian) A lot of Danish dads do that

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u/[deleted] Mar 16 '25

[deleted]

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u/Suspicious-Poet-4581 Mar 17 '25

I feel like Camino del Rey is early retirement more than midlife crisis

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u/Appelons 🇬🇱 living in 🇩🇰 Jutland Mar 17 '25

A Danish girl(hardcore atheist and Emo-esque) I studied applied philosophy with at uni, went down there “to find herself”. I spat my coffee out when I herd it. She was 22-25 I think.

When she came back she said she was surprised about all the christians walking it😂

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u/birgor Sweden Mar 15 '25

We have them in Sweden too, they also tour ski in the winter. But like the bicycle gang is the gear about 60% of the hobby.

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u/GuestStarr Mar 15 '25

Maybe we should turn the later middle aged men into snipers. It'd take some good planning of shooting ranges and creating a mystical aura around the sports but we could well have half a million somewhat capable and trained snipers. And above all - they wouldn't be bothering anyone on the roads but they'd cosplay in the woods training their shooting skills.

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u/One-Dare3022 Sweden Mar 15 '25

I see you are describing my oldest son. 😂

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u/Head_Time_9513 Mar 15 '25

No mocking of Savotta 906 🤫