We have plenty of hills here, I live in the texas hill country, and I have also taken my bike to the spanish pyrenes. I am 50, so only a little bit younger. Perhaps I am more of a masher than you, but what is important is that the gearing we each choose fits our riding styles. I am surprised that with a wide range casette like a 12/34 you are doing double shifts. In fact, I miss the tightness of my 12/27 but prefer the range of my 12/34 paired with my compact double (50/34). Do you climb out of your saddle? Do you take advantage of descents to gain momentum on ascents (on rollers). If not, that may explain why you prefer lower gears than me. I like climbing out of my saddle, not just to get more power, but as one more position variation, especially when cresting a hill.