Does "long" life appeal to you?

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#1
Thanks to modern medicine and general advances in society our life expectancies are at a all time high. Now a long life doesn't always mean a good one - especially in the later years. My family is extremely long lived - my grandfather is approaching his 91st year quickly - his younger siblings are well into their 80's and show no signs of keeling over anytime soon and his older ones passed away at very very ripe old ages (his oldest brother lived till 96).

But really...does a long life appeal to you?

My motto is "quality over quantity" - if I can maintain independence, health, good spirits, an intact mind and cognitive skills and still do have friends, things to enjoy etc - then sure, I'd totally be up for living as long as I could. But I don't know...living just for the sake of living or ending up in a care home or something isn't something that I'm really willing to accept; Realistically if I pass away at 65 or even sooner - I'd feel it a life well lived and an acceptable age to say farewell.

Coming from a Asian (Chinese) background there's so much cultural significance and focus on longevity - health and other things too but a great great focus on longevity in general. There's a thing where at birthday parties noodles are served and the noodles shouldn't be cut or mashed up with a fork when served to the birthday person as to not "cut" the long life wished apon said person signified by the noodles. So....for me saying openly that I don't want to be around till my 80's/90's is abit of a taboo and has earned me many hairy eyeballs from my relatives/extended family - well, that and my Hungarian Kuvasz too...
 
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SevenSins

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#2
But really...does a long life appeal to you?
No, not at all. If I was absolutely guaranteed to live a relatively healthy and independent life into my old age, free of dementia? Possibly, but unfortunately that's unrealistic at best. I would like to think that if I were to live long enough to develop typically age-associated issues (unlikely to begin with, but I digress), and began to lose the ability to control my own body and mind, physician assisted euthanasia will be more broadly legalized by then and I would be able to take advantage of that option before I completely lose my dignity and quality of life. But, maybe that topic is for another thread...
 

sillysally

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#3
Yes, it does.

There are all kind of age related illnesses that can happen in your 80's or 90's, but they can also happen in younger decades--you just have to practice healthy habits and cross your fingers I suppose. There are many older people who are able to remain active into their later years.
 

sparks19

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#4
Based on my grandparents and assuming that my old age will be like theirs... absolutely :) My grandfather passed away at 94 years of age and had no issues. he was sharp as a tack, didn't really have many health issues, they lived on their own in their own apartment doing their own errands and everything up to the day he died.

My grandmother just celebrated her 90th birthday and other than a recent hip replacement (which she healed incredibly well from) she is fit as a fiddle and sharp as a tack and still living on her own (not truly alone now that my grandfather passed away). she's lived through some amazing times and has incredible stories to tell. she has 3 sons, 9 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren (and counting lol). She's lived an incredible life and it's still going strong
 

Lyzelle

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#6
Not particularly. I'd like to do what I want to do, have some rest, and then move on. And at this rate, that probably won't be past 40.

My family isn't healthy at all, I don't plan on having kids, I don't feel any reason to stick around after I've played my part. DH feels the same way I do.
 

ACooper

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#9
Yep, I'll take whatever is given to me and be happy for it :)

My husband's paternal grandparents are 87 respectively. They still drive themselves around town, go to church on Sundays, go out to eat, meet their friends at Arby's for coffee nearly every morning, etc etc. I would love to think that will be me and Kevin at that age, sadly I doubt it..........but I can aim high if I want to! LOL
 

Toller_08

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#10
As long as my mind is still with me and I'm healthy, for sure. Why not? I definitely believe in quality over quantity, but I certainly wouldn't complain about a long quality life at all. And I hope the same for my family members.
 

~Jessie~

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#12
I'd love to live a long life, as long as I didn't have dementia or Alzheimer's. I love being alive... so as long as I'm relatively healthy, pain free, and with a sane mind, I'd love to stay around past the average life expectancy! I want to see the 2100s, lol, and talk about "kids these days!" :p

My grandmother (my dad's mom) is in her 90's. She started having kids when she was in her mid 30s! She's quite kooky (always has been), but she's doing well and is independent!

Ian's family are all very long lived. Hopefully we'll be old and living some place awesome with lots of dogs in our old age together!
 

Laurelin

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#13
I would love to live a long life but both sides of my family seem to die young. :( My grandmas are both alive, although one is doing poorly. They're in their 70s now.

If I could be like my stepmom's father, I'd love it. He's in his 80s and is just now retiring from farming and is going to travel with his wife. They're planning a month long yellowstone trip right now.
 

Xandra

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#14
Yes!! Assuming I am in good shape. Both my grandfathers were independent into their 90's.

One grandfather died at 94 due to the hospital overdosing him on morphine after a minor surgery. He was independent and doing fine until his death.

My living grandfather is 91 and still lives with my grandma, has a full veggie garden and flower garden, still builds rock walls and has carpentry projects and whatnot.

I don't know how old my one grandma made it but she was mentally ill and had been hospitalized for years.

My other grandma got macular degeneration so is mostly blind, but in otherwise not bad shape, she's in her late 80's.


Part of my feeling toward it is that I believe there is nothing after death... your brain dies, you no longer exist, it feels like it did in 400 BC lol. So given that, I would love to make it to 2100 in good mental and physical health. I would be an oracle LOL.
 
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#15
Well I don't know. To be fair, my family started taking bets when I was nine on how old I'd be when I did something stupid and got myself killed. My mother was not amused, but I've outlived all but one guess! =P

I think I could enjoy life at any age, and I certainly am not eager to die, but on the other hand I certainly would not want to endure a long deterioration at the expense of my happiness and that of my family. I'd certainly rather die than lose my independence (although of course it's easy to say that now when I'm pushing 21 and relatively healthy).
 

JessLough

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#16
There are many older people who are able to remain active into their later years.
Yep. My grandfather passed away a few months before his 100th birthday. He was healthy and active up until the day he died. Thoughts are he literally died of a broken heart, as his 2nd wife passed away after a long battle with a horrible disease that forced him to watch her go downhill just a few months prior, and he death pretty much destroyed him.

To be fair, my family started taking bets when I was nine on how old I'd be when I did something stupid and got myself killed. My mother was not amused, but I've outlived all but one guess! =P
People were legitimately surprised I lived to 5, let alone 9, or 21 now. I'm stupid and accident prone :rofl1:
 

yoko

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#17
As long as I can take care of myself I'm good. If it even looks like I'm going to start going down hill I'll definitely be looking into someone putting me down. I don't want to be senile and unable to do anything for myself.
 
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Kaydee

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#18
Let's see I'm fifty now. High risk of osetoporosis? Check High risk of melanoma? Check Smoking history? Check Alcoholic beverages beyond moderation? Check Heart disease and heart attack in immediate family? Check...
My Mom lived to 66, longer than any woman on that side of the family...I'd say I'm #@%&%#...don't want to outlive my hubby and want to know daughter and dog are taken care of...then peace out
 
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#19
Hmm with my relatives in older age it's not a seemingly gradual decline - they're fine up till a certain point then BOOM; their functions collapse, memory goes, mobility is shot, and things head steadily downward from there.

My grandfather was driving up till this past xmas - when he arrived home one night at 2 AM in a shocked state claiming he "forgot how to drive" - his immediate family decided it was time for him to stop getting behind the wheel.
The next monday a caretaker was hired to care for him and he has been in a not so great state since then.

It's not just the health issues though - I don't see the point personally in being around for so long. I don't plan on kids or a big family; traveling, leisuring, gardening etc would be great if I can afford it throughout my later years but honestly...I feel I have, am, and continuing to contribute the best that I can to the world, exploring and enjoying life, and just...yeah. If that seems shallow to anyone then sorry but that's how I see things for myself. Even if I was gone by 50 or my late 40's - I'd not have many qualms about leaving.
 

Saeleofu

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#20
Long natural life? Yes. I'd be thrilled if I made it to/past 100.

Immortality? **** that ****. No way.
 

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