I remember the lovely review you gave the book! I think it was under Honey Due :D

What I want is the freedom to NOT spend time and money (and a carbon footprint) on hair dye, salons, makeup, botox, the latest fashion, nail polish (and remover), cologne -
I am turning into a troll. The old hag of the forest.

Not at all! It's your right to do or not do these things, as you like. It's just as much BS to feel obligated to do these things, and I know people like that as well. Couple years ago, I was visiting a friend's family, and the girl's mother (who's otherwise wonderful) commented why her daughter couldn't be more "ladylike", pointing out my own tiny "ladylike" markers, like some make-up and a bracelet I think. I was mortified. No one should feel obligated to wear/paint themselves or do anything to fit into a stereotype.

I is OLD, and I am grateful to have lived long enough to let it show.

100%. When I was out with this friend, I was noticing a woman in her 50s at the next table, and thinking how damn hard she was obviously trying to appear younger. It was in the clothes she wore, the perfectly styled hair and the layers of make-up she had on (discreet make-up to seem like that was her natural face). I thought how sad, really, not to be comfortable in your own skin. When we left, my friend told me that was a local media personality (I don't follow such..), so that made more sense.

Still, if you can't look like you when you're enjoying a cup of coffee with friends, what's the point?