How Old Would You Like to Live to Be?

[AdamSmith]

id like to live to see man settle colonies throughout the solar system and beyond. I want to walk on a planet and feel the warmth of an alien sun on my skin. I want to live long enough for humanity to meet an alien civilization and embrace them as friends....

 

who am I kidding. we will all be dead in 30 years anyways

It does irritate me extremely that we went to the moon (hugely emotional & moving to me, 9 years old during Apollo 11), then pissed away the next 50 years fiddle-farting around in low earth orbit with that flying Ming vase the shuttle, and the white-elephant Space Station. We should have lunar colonies by now. Thank goodness for all the extraordinarily successful unmanned exploration.

[curiousnomore]

Live For Today!!!!!!!

 

47. I'm planning on a great year.

 

I'll worry about 48 later.

[+ stevenkesslar]

My Mom and Dad are 92 and 93 and still alive. So I might live to be 100, and if so I can't say I dread it.

 

My Mom has vascular dementia, lives in a nursing home, and on a good day can name all her children. My Dad, who can still drive and lives at home alone, 5 miles from her, goes and visits every day. She has a lifetime history of what probably was untreated mental illness and she is finally on lots of mind altering drugs that have calmed her and brought to the surface a level of sweetness and affection between her and my Dad that was rarely as obvious before. So there is something redeeming in old age, especially when I see it through the eyes of my Mom and Dad having these quiet little sweet moments together, both living on borrowed time.

 

I had a pity party that conincided with turning 50 but was mostly caused by the real estate crisis and the feeling that, like others, I was going to lose everything I'd spent decades building. As it turned out, happily, I was worrying about it too much, but I still harbor a bit of what could be called survivor's guilt. During this period The Economist came out with a cover story called The U Bend of Life that claimed to have empirical data proving there is really what can be called a mid-life crisis. Their data shows that all over the world, perceived hapiness (as rated by people on a scale of 1 to 10) goes gradually down from early adulthood to about the age of 50, then goes up again, to look like a U with the age of 50 as the trough. The data is global and suggests this is a real thing, but beyond that they can only theorize as to why this might be so. It's counterintuitive because I'd have guessed people are less happy as they get into old age. But the main theory is that people spend their first adult decades trying to be perfect at whatever, and then around the time they are 50 hit bottom, wake up, and just start enjoying life.

 

http://www.economist.com/node/17722567

 

Since reading that and experiencing some of it myself, I've talked to people who have told anecdotes that seem to confirm the theory is true, at least for some people. The line that I heard during a dinner with a friend at the time that came closest to fitting the theory and was kind of a Eureka! moment for me was this. We were talking about aging, and he said, "I used to worry whether I was a good father, a good husband, a good lawyer. And then I realized...." and I expected him to say, "...and then I realized I was. I was good at what I did!" Instead, he said, " ... and then I realized, " I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!" Which is, in crude terms, what the Economist is saying. We get over our delusions of grandeur and just decide not to give a fuck and enjoy life.

 

As much as I hate the idea of not being as perfect as some of the muscular youngsters on this site, if this is in fact a portent of what is to come, and I can look forward to the kind of imperfect life my Mom and Dad have had, I'll consider myself lucky. So yes, I'll take 100. Just don't try to hire me at that age. There are certain indignities even a whore like me can't tolerate.

[+ honcho]

I can't bring myself to like everything in Steven's heartfelt preceeding post, but I'm totally grateful he wrote it.

[jawjateck]

Their data shows that all over the world, perceived hapiness (as rated by people on a scale of 1 to 10) goes gradually down from early adulthood to about the age of 50, then goes up again, to look like a U with the age of 50 as the trough. The data is global and suggests this is a real thing, but beyond that they can only theorize as to why this might be so. It's counterintuitive because I'd have guessed people are less happy as they get into old age. But the main theory is that people spend their first adult decades trying to be perfect at whatever, and then around the time they are 50 hit bottom, wake up, and just start enjoying life.

 

I will hit that number this year. My 40s have been good to me, so I'm looking forward to the next decade of fun. Rock on til I'm done.

[+ stevenkesslar]

I will hit that number this year. My 40s have been good to me, so I'm looking forward to the next decade of fun. Rock on til I'm done.

 

Duh! You're a young pup, barely reaching middle age, and you've had salacious relationships with 67,9 % of the hot muscular young bucks in the United States. What the fuck is not to like about that?

[+ Charlie]

Having moved well through the U Bend, I think it is probably accurate. When I retired, I felt an enormous sense of relief, and it was not just because I didn't have to work for a living any longer. I realized that the pressure to perform, to meet the levels of my own goals, was over. I had completed my career without fucking up! I could keep on working at something, or not, as I saw fit. After 60, I no longer had to work at being sexually attractive, either. I didn't care what I looked like, only how I felt, because it didn't matter whether anyone wanted to have sex with me. I didn't have to compete with anyone over images--my house, my car, my job, my clothes, my possessions, my experiences, my tastes, my relationships--anything! Because when you are old, none of it really matters. (Actually none of it ever did, but even if you know that intellectually, you don't believe it sincerely until you get old.) All your illusions about the future possibilities are gone. There is nothing left to do but enjoy whatever you have.

 

None of this is true of career politicians, of course.

[+ stevenkesslar]

Having moved well through the U Bend, I think it is probably accurate. When I retired, I felt an enormous sense of relief, and it was not just because I didn't have to work for a living any longer. I realized that the pressure to perform, to meet the levels of my own goals, was over. I had completed my career without fucking up! I could keep on working at something, or not, as I saw fit. After 60, I no longer had to work at being sexually attractive, either. I didn't care what I looked like, only how I felt, because it didn't matter whether anyone wanted to have sex with me. I didn't have to compete with anyone over images--my house, my car, my job, my clothes, my possessions, my experiences, my tastes, my relationships--anything! Because when you are old, none of it really matters. (Actually none of it ever did, but even if you know that intellectually, you don't believe it sincerely until you get old.) All your illusions about the future possibilities are gone. There is nothing left to do but enjoy whatever you have.

 

None of this is true of career politicians, of course.

 

Touché!

[bigvalboy]

After 60, I no longer had to work at being sexually attractive, either. I didn't care what I looked like, only how I felt, because it didn't matter whether anyone wanted to have sex with me. I didn't have to compete with anyone over images--my house, my car, my job, my clothes, my possessions, my experiences, my tastes, my relationships--anything! Because when you are old, none of it really matters. (Actually none of it ever did, but even if you know that intellectually, you don't believe it sincerely until you get old.) All your illusions about the future possibilities are gone. There is nothing left to do but enjoy whatever you have.

 

None of this is true of career politicians, of course.

 

So very well said. Thank you for this post Charlie...I was feeling a little, well sorry for myself today, and this was the slap across the face I needed.

[+ stevenkesslar]

So very well said. Thank you for this post Charlie...I was feeling a little, well sorry for myself today, and this was the slap across the face I needed.

 

Dr. Steven says what you need is a good slap across the face with a hard juicy cock.

 

Unfortunately, while I am in Florida, I am attending to other responsibilities in Sanibel. JD, Alec, Dane? Can one of you guys give BVB a hand with your award winning cocks?

[JDXXX]

Dr. Steven says what you need is a good slap across the face with a hard juicy cock.

 

Unfortunately, while I am in Florida, I am attending to other responsibilities in Sanibel. JD, Alec, Dane? Can one of you guys give BVB a hand with your award winning cocks?

 

The slapping has already been done with the comments and responses I think my dear. LOL.

 

Any further slapping would be pure torture at this point for poor BVB. :p:rolleyes:.

 

Hope your having a wonderful time in Florida, Steven.

[bigvalboy]

Dr. Steven says what you need is a good slap across the face with a hard juicy cock. JD, Alec, Dane? Can one of you guys give BVB a hand with your award winning cocks?

 

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view5/2546184/rapture-guy-door-close-o.gif

[+ stevenkesslar]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view5/2546184/rapture-guy-door-close-o.gif

 

Yeah, I'm with ya BVB. Too much!

 

Truth to be told, any one of the 3 was enough to drive me to the grave, both with jealousy and ecstasy. Not that I am speaking from experience.

[+ Rickee]

My Mom and Dad are 92 and 93 and still alive. So I might live to be 100, and if so I can't say I dread it.

 

My Mom has vascular dementia, lives in a nursing home, and on a good day can name all her children. My Dad, who can still drive and lives at home alone, 5 miles from her, goes and visits every day. She has a lifetime history of what probably was untreated mental illness and she is finally on lots of mind altering drugs that have calmed her and brought to the surface a level of sweetness and affection between her and my Dad that was rarely as obvious before. So there is something redeeming in old age, especially when I see it through the eyes of my Mom and Dad having these quiet little sweet moments together, both living on borrowed time.

 

I had a pity party that conincided with turning 50 but was mostly caused by the real estate crisis and the feeling that, like others, I was going to lose everything I'd spent decades building. As it turned out, happily, I was worrying about it too much, but I still harbor a bit of what could be called survivor's guilt. During this period The Economist came out with a cover story called The U Bend of Life that claimed to have empirical data proving there is really what can be called a mid-life crisis. Their data shows that all over the world, perceived hapiness (as rated by people on a scale of 1 to 10) goes gradually down from early adulthood to about the age of 50, then goes up again, to look like a U with the age of 50 as the trough. The data is global and suggests this is a real thing, but beyond that they can only theorize as to why this might be so. It's counterintuitive because I'd have guessed people are less happy as they get into old age. But the main theory is that people spend their first adult decades trying to be perfect at whatever, and then around the time they are 50 hit bottom, wake up, and just start enjoying life.

 

http://www.economist.com/node/17722567

 

Since reading that and experiencing some of it myself, I've talked to people who have told anecdotes that seem to confirm the theory is true, at least for some people. The line that I heard during a dinner with a friend at the time that came closest to fitting the theory and was kind of a Eureka! moment for me was this. We were talking about aging, and he said, "I used to worry whether I was a good father, a good husband, a good lawyer. And then I realized...." and I expected him to say, "...and then I realized I was. I was good at what I did!" Instead, he said, " ... and then I realized, " I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!" Which is, in crude terms, what the Economist is saying. We get over our delusions of grandeur and just decide not to give a fuck and enjoy life.

 

As much as I hate the idea of not being as perfect as some of the muscular youngsters on this site, if this is in fact a portent of what is to come, and I can look forward to the kind of imperfect life my Mom and Dad have had, I'll consider myself lucky. So yes, I'll take 100. Just don't try to hire me at that age. There are certain indignities even a whore like me can't tolerate.

That was a fascinating and insightful read, Steven. Thank you for sharing.

[+ stevenkesslar]

That was a fascinating and insightful read, Steven. Thank you for sharing.

 

You're welcome. I love sharing my Mom with my clients, and they love her.

 

Have to share this, since you didn't ask. It's my favorite "Mom, meet my client" story. (Not that she knows the truth. There was the time a client invited me to a dinner at Isabel Allende's house and my Mom came with. There were about a dozen guests, and my Mom was the only one who did not know her son was a whore. I loved it.)

 

Anyhoo, another client invited me to dinner, during my Mom's last trip to California to visit me a few years ago, right before she was diagnosed with dementia. She spent most of the dinner carefully explaining to my client how rotten her husband of 70 years had been, and how useless her children were.

 

At one point, my client took her hand, smiled warmly in her eyes, and said, "Sweetie, let's just forget about the kids and start all over." My Mom was swept off her feet, and so was I.

 

What a life! Can't wait to be a 90-something demented whore. :eek::rolleyes: