This mortality thing.

[numbnuts]

Friday, December 09, 2050 Bloody hell I'll be 99

 

[vernon]

I spent several weeks socialising with Americans whose ages ranged from 65 -79. Many of them were aeromodellers and all of them attend the annual South West Regional aeromodelling competition in Arizona most of them drive the 1400-1500 miles in two to three days fly their planes for three days have a ball while they are they and then drive back. I had a ball dining with them and there was very little evidence that amongst the four of them there were: four hip replacements, two knee replacements, a shoulder reconstruction, a pacemaker, and one pending spinal straightening. Without exception they were bon viveurs and all lived for the next session of communal mischief, the next breakfast meeting and the completion of the next project be it the building of a new model aircraft, the refurbishment of an antique blackpowder rifle, a motorcycle rebuild or holiday with their partners. I was reassured that retirement held the promise of a lot of fun and that health issues were naught but a an impediment that could be overcome.

My UK friends of a similar age are also bon viveurs evidenced by some of them frolicking on the Leeds Liverpool canal posted on another thread here. I was miffed that they didn't let me know that they were going to play on the canal on that particular day and they felt guilty as I'd been promised a go on the pedal kayak. They had the perfect excuse though. It was a spontaneous activity. Several of them were together and the phrase 'I dare you' was uttered to the owner of the watercraft and things took off from there.

I'm looking forward to the unemployed phase of my life. I have lots of role models on how to have fun and I have a mindset far removed from that which used to prevail as being 'the norm' of someone my age. Many of my pupils refuse to believe my age and just before summer I was accused by one pupil of being the most immature fifty-seven year old that he knows. I took it as a compliment. I've had a few near death experiences cause by my own recklessness and a couple of quite serious ailments but I've bounced back always hanging onto the maxim, 'carpe diem'.

I'm not in denial of the inevitability of death but I have no intention of abandoning spontaneity, frivolity and fun as it encroaches.

 

[vernon]

Friday, December 09, 2050 Bloody hell I'll be 99

Lots of time to pack some fun in then.

 

[derrick]

Don't worry about it, there is nothing you can do about it, I love life and will keep living till i die.

 

[PeteXXX]

At least my tax bill will be lower....

 

[cyberknight]

I would say badly is how i deal with it , mother was dead by the time i was 10 from the big C and my dad died a few years back from it too ,

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Why 15-20 years? Is there any reason you should go on over 100? Life expectancy is on the rise, I'm expecting to see at least 100 (I'm 44 now), if in shape and living reasonably healthily, I think seeing 100 is a reasonable expectation. My grandfather made it into his 80's, my fathers going strong (pedalling away), in his 70's.

60 is the new 40! Enjoy it.

Average life expectancy for someone my age. I can't imagine getting to a hundred tbh - not many do.

 

[Andrew_P]

Doctors surgeries are full of people with mortality problems, I started calculating how long I had left at 10 or 11 I used 65 as my cut off, so I have less than 15 left now which is a bummer

 

[400bhp]

I'll live until my expected 80% SAPS light male, CMI2014 LT1.5% age.

 

[400bhp]

Doctors surgeries are full of people with mortality problems

Wow, they turn up alive and leave dead? Impressive.

 

[wheresthetorch]

The only certainties in life are death and taxes - Mark Twain.

 

[slowmotion]

When you realise that your remaining days are numbered, I don't see the point in worrying about it. Just try and enjoy yourself as much as you can and maybe, if you're a bit saintly, try and put a little back.
And have a few beers.

 

[vernon]

When you realise that your remaining days are numbered, I don't see the point in worrying abour it. Just try and enjoy yourself as much as you can and maybe, if you're a bit saintly, try and put a little back.
And have a few beers.

Only a few beers?

 

[slowmotion]

Only a few beers?

Sorry Vernon, I had a bit of a Senior Moment there....

 

[rich p]

Blimey, what a maudlin bunch, with exceptions natch.
The only time I recall thinking about death is halfway up the Tourmalet when it would have been a blessed relief.
Oh, and when I woke up with a hangover after 3BM and Aperitif got me bladdered.