How Old Would You Like to Live to Be?

[Moondance]

None of that "as long as I'm healthy" business, please -- we all understand that -- but what's the NUMBER you'd pick based on a best guess-timate of how long you think you'll be reasonably healthy and able to enjoy life.

 

Lots of prompts for this question -- among them: (a) the unexpected death of David Bowie, (b) a former colleague. age 70, who left her husband of 47 years figuring she still has 10 good years left to be happy, © another friend who, just yesterday, told me that his goal is 85, and that anything beyond that is "old old,"and (d) aging relatives (definitely "old old") who seem to be well past any logical expiration date -- oh, and also: (e) one Forum poster telling another earlier today to stop saying "I'm old."

[AdamSmith]

250, assuming life science will one day permit. Gives time for effectively three acts:

 

I. Live a long full life, make the typical screwups, learn from them.

 

II. Do it again, with the wisdom of hindsight.

 

III. Coda to draw the threads together, reflect, write the final synthesis.

[+ Truereview]

According to my financial advisor, I'm never saving enough... So....as long as the money lasts

[Moondance]

I knew the notion of asking for a NUMBER -- a number in the realm of possibility, Adam ; any number, TR -- was going to be an exercise in folly.

[AdamSmith]

Well, then, 103. A relative lived that long, and was grateful for every minute.

[bigvalboy]

101...That's how old my neighbor is, and she is doing smashingly fabulous. I should be so lucky.

[Moondance]

Well, then, 103. A relative lived that long, and was grateful for every minute.

 

That sounds like a combo of great genetics and a great attitude. If you've inherited both, Adam, well then ... why not?!

 

As an adoptee, I know almost nothing about my own genetics and my attitude is only great some of the time, so I suspect 103 is too big an aspiration for me. Middle 80s is about as ambitious as I'm inclined to be.

[+ Truereview]

The Price is right rules? 1

 

Ok, @Moondance, I will be serious for a minute. Since I won't know the pain or joy of being a certain age until I achieve (?) that age, I can't tell you. But I do know that for whatever number it is, I need two things: the ability to laugh heartily and the opportunity to contribute to the world around me. If either of those variables are gone, for me, it is time for the curtain call and final adieu.

[+ honcho]

If I have to pick a number I'll say 90.

 

The real condition is "still able to enjoy making music without it being painful for others to hear".

 

I play regularly with a group of union musicians, a few of whom are in their 80's and are a joy to be around.

 

There's one member who is 92, who sadly, ought to consider resigning.

 

I believe Casals (the cellist) was playing concerts up to the age of 95,

and I heard of a pianist who teaches at the conservatory in Philadelphia (Curtis Institute) who gave a recital

at age 100, but folks like that are outliers and I'm clearly not in that class.

 

A clarinetist friend in an amateur group passed a way a couple of days ago - he was mid 70's and died

apparently after falling asleep sitting up reading, and was in otherwise good health. That's an exit to

be wished for. (Passing in one's sleep in good health, but not at such a relatively early age).

[Epigonos]

My mother died at 91 in her sleep. She was still happy, healthy, active, and loads of fun. My dad's parents lived to be 94 and 96 although my dad died at 82. Dad drank two six-packs of beer a day and a pint of bourbon and smoked three packs of cigarettes. His grandparents both lived to be 104 and his grandfather was still working in the fields.

 

Given the choice and knowing the longevity in my family I'll say 95 if I, like my mother, can remain happy, healthy, active and loads of fun.

[Rudynate]

That sounds like a combo of great genetics and a great attitude. If you've inherited both, Adam, well then ... why not?!

 

As an adoptee, I know almost nothing about my own genetics and my attitude is only great some of the time, so I suspect 103 is too big an aspiration for me. Middle 80s sounds about right.

 

Nobody has a great attitude all the time.

[Rudynate]

I wouldn't mind breaking 100. The incidence of centenarians keeps increasing. Why shouldn't I be one of them?

[AdamSmith]

My attitude is going to take a dive once this guy gets his hands on me.

 

http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=6323&stc=1&d=1301359673

[+ Charlie]

My father died at 72--too soon. My mother died at 102--too long. I'll split the difference and say 87.

[+ Charlie]

If I have to pick a number I'll say 90.

 

I heard of a pianist who teaches at the conservatory in Philadelphia (Curtis Institute) who gave a recital

at age 100, but folks like that are outliers and I'm clearly not in that class.

 

Could that have been Nicolas Slonimsky? My own piano teacher was trained at Curtis by his aunt, Isabelle Vengerova, who was taught by Brahms (how's that for name dropping?)

[bigvalboy]

A good reminder of a life well lived...

https://gma.yahoo.com/meet-99-old-woman-leads-louisiana-bowling-team-184901187--abc-news-wellness.html#

 

"Life is really an adventure," she added

[+ honcho]

Could that have been Nicolas Slonimsky? My own piano teacher was trained at Curtis by his aunt, Isabelle Vengerova, who was taught by Brahms (how's that for name dropping?)

 

I honestly don't remember the guy's name; it was related to me by my ex, and he played me part of a recording of the recital. Once again, you totally outclassed me in the name-dropping department.

 

I had two lessons with an oboist who had studied with Tabuteau, and studied regularly for many, many years - and currently - with other teachers who were grand-students of Tabuteau (via John DeLancie, Marc Lifshey, Ralph Gomberg and Radames Angelucci). Tabuteau - who revolutionized American oboe playing - studied with Georges Gillet , who studied with A.M.R. Barrett, who was contemporaneous with Brahms, but not nearly as famous.

[+ friendofsheila]

Since you're all-itchy for a number, Moondance, I will say

 

at least 97, so I can outdistance The Great Jack Lalanne,

 

but I want at least whatever Olivia deHaviland gets" (she's now 99, and not going anywhere)

 

 

All assuming I have good health, finances, support, etc.

[geminibear]

Till I can no longer take my dogs for a hike in the mountains, when I can no longer rely on myself to take care of myself , when I can't remember all the things and times that made my life on this planet worth being on this planet. Sadly I come from a staunch line of sturdy Sicilian peasants who lived much longer than they wanted too or should have.

 

So I'm shooting from the hip and say 85.

 

Colorado lawmakers revisit right-to-die bill

[+ azdr0710]

a well-liked older guy in an outdoors club I'm in recently committed suicide at around age 73 or so.....he'd started getting forgetful and couldn't do the outdoors stuff he really liked....

 

I do know many older people who are sick and dying secretly do themselves in rather than linger on....cause of death is suicide, but is publicly listed as whatever they were dying of....

 

gee, sorry to be morbid, but this thread made me think of the guy I mentioned above

 

if I get to be chronically sick and unable to care for myself by myself, hard to decide what's best.....I sure don't want to live off the government.....maybe just do what the Eskimos did and put me on an iceberg and shove me out to sea??

[Moondance]

...if I get to be chronically sick and unable to care for myself by myself, hard to decide what's best.....I sure don't want to live off the government.....maybe just do what the Eskimos did and put me on an iceberg and shove me out to sea??

 

When my dad was getting on, he started saying that we were to "put him in a boat and push him off from shore."

 

My mother, a more practical person, always asked, "Whose boat?"

[+ WilliamM]

Nine more years, so age 81. My mother lived to be 91, and started having major health problems in her early 80s.

[+ nycman]

50

[+ quoththeraven]

Mid-80s, which is how long my father lived (86) and is about when the longest lived of his sisters (poor man only had sisters) died.

 

I was relieved to outlive my mother, who died about ten days short of her 48th birthday. Her siblings lived into their 70s and 80s, respectively.

 

Speaking of David Bowie, I feel particularly bad for his daughter Lexi, who is the same age I was when my mother died.

[+ bashful]

How Old Would You Like to Live to Be?

 

Until I can no longer be me.