Seeing as I might have a midlife crisis any time now, let’s talk about: Tattoos!

@Nickiquote I got one when I was 31, nearly 25 years ago. Not a single regret, would get another if I thought of something else I really wanted to have.

@Nickiquote You didn't ask for details, buuuuut: I got my first tattoo at 16 with my mom's approval (she had to come to the studio and sign a form). I'm 43 now and have 5 total tattoos, and only one I regret. I follow this formula (that works for me but might not for anyone else): have/find an idea I'm totally in love with? Great! Wait a year. Am I still utterly in love with it and want it on my skin forever? Great! Time to find an artist. No? Also great! Money saved.

@Nickiquote I have more tattoos than teeth.

@jamesb Um, either congratulations or I’m sorry that happened to your teeth.

@Nickiquote@mstdn.social currently working on my sleeve. i don't love all my tattoos but they all are a snapshot of a time in my life (and no, most of them also don't mean anything!). some of them are awesome though and i like myself more with them.

@Nickiquote@mstdn.social (i do also have other tattoos besides the sleeve)

@Nickiquote The latter unfortunately

I’ve just remembered this:

https://mstdn.social/@Nickiquote/114296818890985997

@Nickiquote I wanted one when I was younger, and still would get one, but my problem is I could never justify the cost and also never had a great idea of what I wanted to get.

@Nickiquote
There was a time I considered getting one or more, but couldn’t decide on just one. Tattoos are like potato chips. You can’t stop at one, and I didn’t want to end up like The Illustrated Woman covered in tattoos. I collected silver charms instead for symbols of things important to me. My charm bracelet got heavy!

@Nickiquote Got one in my 40s. Love it. I want one more, but I know a lot more now about tattoo ink and how it ends up in the lymphatic system which gives me pause.

Also, my husband and kids don't particularly approve. I managed to hide the first one from my kids for a few months, and when I got busted my eldest said "It just hurts that you *hid* it from us, Mom!"

@Nickiquote got my first tattoo at 46, during the First Covid Summer when everything seemed pretty fucked anyway

@Nickiquote I got two at 20, covered those two with other ones in my early 30s, and got a third one in my mid-30s.

then I turned 40 and have gotten 15 since (less than three years).

I highly recommend this kind of midlife crisis.

@Nickiquote I got my fourth and largest at the age of 48. The only thing I regret about earlier ones is not being bolder and getting bigger ones.

@pikesley @Nickiquote Got my first at 47, last year. Definitely planning more.

@Nickiquote I have four now and will be getting at least one more this year. Would recommend

@Nickiquote I have one, will most likely get another. Both Jen-related.

@Nickiquote Never had the tiniest interest in having one. Not that I'm in any way one of those anti-tattoo people. It just feels to me like running a marathon: I accept and understand that some people really want that, and it's in no way a bad thing, but I would never be even slightly that way inclined.

@Nickiquote if you can get to East London, I can recommend A Guy