ELMIRA HEIGHTS, NY (WENY) -- Not many of us will live to see the century mark; but for one Chemung County man, 100 years old is now a few years in the rear view.

Oliver Lindblad turned 103 on December 8th, and celebrated with a few family and close friends on Thursday at one of his favorite places, the Chemung Valley Senior Center in Elmira Heights for an afternoon of dancing.

Each Thursday, you'll find people twirling and two-stepping their way across the dance floor inside the center. Among them is Oliver Lindblad, who has been dancing at the center for the past 52 years -- 1972, according to him. 

Thursday afternoon, surrounded by family and friends, he celebrated his 103rd birthday with dancing, music, food and cake.

"People ask me how old I feel; I tell them I'm 23 with 80 years of experience," Lindblad laughed.

Oliver said he's been dancing at the senior center for decades, loving to polka and square dance. Now, he walks slowly to the music around the center, flanked on each side by a dance partner, and with the assistance of a walker. But to look at his feet, you can see his love of dance as he keeps time to the beat. He says at 103, he's still not quite ready to retire his dancing shoes. 

It's the friendships he's made at the senior center that help keep him going. 

"It it wasn’t for this place I'd probably be long gone," he quipped.

"He loves it, he really looks forward to Thursday, it’s really the only day he gets out for fun, everybody out here is always so nice," said Oliver's daughter, Sandra Cook.

Oliver's secret to a long life isn't some mystery to be unlocked. He never drank or smoked, and said growing his own vegetables and eating locally produced meat likely contributed to his longevity. His own father, a butcher, lived until the age of 95. 

"Every place we went, we always raised our gardens, so we pretty much lived off what you raised yourself, and when my wife was alive she would can and freeze lots of things, and I think when you raise your own food it’s more healthy for you," Lindblad said. 

At his birthday celebration, Lindblad received special recognition Thursday, including a certificate from the Chemung County Department of Aging and Long Term Care. Director Beth Stranges said Oliver is an example of what it is to be a community-minded citizen. 

"I mean 103 years, what a journey! You know? And he just exemplifies what we want people to do in our community. We want them to have activities to go to, senior centers are a wonderful way for people to connect and build friendships, and keep people active, right?" said Stranges.

While his body might be a little slower than it used to be at 103 years old, Oliver's sense of humor remains intact. He joked that with the crowd at the senior center what it was on Thursday, he said he ought to have a birthday more often.

"Maybe I should have a birthday more than once a year, and have a big crowd. Did somebody say once a week?" he joked.