What Age Would You Like To Live To:

[LadyCG]

I've asked myself this question loads of times and all I can decide is that I would like to keep going as long as I can remain mobile and independent of self-care.

Is there a specific age you would like to live to? Is there an upper limit that you wouldn't want to exceed?

[Hopkirk]

Surely it's not about a number, it's about quality of life.

[Gill1941]

I agree with Hopkirk.
I am disabled, elderly and live alone but I cope. Quality of life could be much better. I then see a young man in a wheelchair with no legs and wonder why I am complaining.
On the other hand see people moaning about minor things on here and think they need to be less self-centred.

[Peter Pedant]

agree it is all about quality of life

one of my relations: what age do you want to live to?
they dont know, as dementia has taken hold AND hale and hearty unfortunately - - -- bUT there are few unhappy dements......

[LadyCG]

This question was probably prompted by the passing of my husband's grandfather last week. He was 90 and spent his last weeks and days lying in bed refusing food or TV until he just expired.

Conversely, my own great grandfather who died in 1983 at the age of 103 was a hypochondriac who worked in the mines in Abercanaid, quit smoking at 97, got a job as a Janitor at the age of 94 and died suddenly on his way to the bathroom. I'm not sure I would want to live until over the age of 100, despite being reasonably independent.

[ToraToraTora]

There's a fascinating short story by Robert Heinlein, called "Timeline" about a guy who invents a machine that will tell you the date of your death. It's part Sci Fi and part philosophy really, ie would you even want to know?

[LadyCG]

Oh thanks for that, TTT, I'll look that up.

[roopower]

Agree, quality of life. My mum died in a care home, at 93. She was well cared for but had been riddled with osteoarthritis for decades, was hard of hearing, had entropian and dementia to a degree. She couldn't do anything towards the end, apart from lie in bed and smile - she had a wonderful smile. I wouldn't want to live like that. I have to say that the last year or so was the worst, she used to go and join in activities with the other residents.

[THECORBYLOON]

The story mentioned by TORATORATORA is called, "Life-Line" and can be read online here, https://archive.org/stream/Astounding_British_Ed._v01n01_1939-08#page/n59/mode/2up

[ToraToraTora]

Apologies it's LifeLine it's in several books, this one is only £2...
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[Barsel]

I would like to live long enough to see my youngest granddaughter reach perhaps 20 yrs old, but I would have to live to be 96!
My brother has said many times, that he will live to be 112yrs old, goodness knows why!
My quality of life is nowhere near as good as his, so I think perhaps my target would be perhaps 80.
One thing I know for sure, I don't want any of my children, grandchildren and brother to go before me.

[Patsy33]

All depends on health. If I could still be reasonably well and still get around, then I'll go as far as I can. :-)

[Arksided]

Hi LadyC, 52 would be nice, ask again then.

Joking aside I don't know why but I've always felt my clock would stop ticking at 78 if natural causes, anything beyond that would be added time so long as I wasn't a burden and still had most of my faculties I'd be happy with that.

[lankeela]

For as long as I can still make it to the loo unaided. Having looked after a close friend till the end that was what she said was the most undignified part of all her health problems.

[Khandro]

As Woody Allen said, " I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens."

[LadyCG]

I remember in 1986, at the tender age of 9, I wanted to live until 2061 to see Halley's comet come back round. I will be 84 then, so feasibly I'll live long enough to see it once more.

[Barsel]

Fingers crossed lady CG.
What a great thing to remember.

[Arksided]

Me Too! LadyC :-)

[Arksided]

Except I was fourteen.

[Barsel]

.....and I was 40! :-(

[LadyCG]

Really, Arky? I somehow imagined you were perhaps 5 years younger than me, rather than older.

Obviously I would like, more than anything, to see my son have a child of his own, however if he waits until the age I was when I had him, I'll be 82 and not much cop when it comes to babysitting :-(