Would you be disappointed if you don't live to a certain age?

In his current thread, "Update after several years," reachout makes an interesting observation. He says:

"... now I'm up to 9 years total which puts me at 84. I'm not sure I want to hang around much after that anyway."

So, have you ever asked yourself the question, "I hope I live to age x, and if that's it, that's fine?" Or "I sure hope I live at to least age x, and I'll be royally ticked off if I don't?"

Maybe we've thought about it at one time or another, or maybe we haven't. Sure, it's out of our control. Of course maybe we actually can do a little something about it, by really embracing a good diet and getting lots of regular exercise, etc., or maybe it's the case that our personal hereditary situation is dooming us to a particular lifespan.

Or do a lot of us really care about exactly how long we live, hoping for quality of life over quantity? And there may well be members of our family circles who are much more concerned about how long we live than we are.

The questions in the above survey would seem to cover most attitude possibilities. Feel free to vote for the one that you think best describes you. In the survey, "age x" is what you want it to be.

Personally, I'm in the "it's out of my hands" group. Whether I go tomorrow or ten years from now, it's not something I spend a lot of time worrying about, and it will happen when it happens.

But if you feel you would be really disappointed if you don't make it to 90 or beyond, now's your chance to say so, and maybe post why you feel that way.

I will be disappointed if I don't make it to my next birthday, and so on... 😉

You cannot be disappointed if you are dead, anyway.

When I started the financial planning for retirement many decades ago, I had to pick an age that my resources would last to and chose 92. I've done well and am financially prepared to go way beyond that.

What I do know is that there is a downward slide that we all get on. I had a friend tell to divide retirement into 3rds: first 3rd, things are great, go out and do stuff; 2nd 3rd, stuff can inconvenience your plans; 3rd 3rd, don't save your bucket list for this part.

As I become unable to do some things I love (distance running, cross country motorcycling, etc.) I'll just replace those with things that I can do. I have a very long list of hobbies, interests, and passions, so I'll never be bored.

jmadrid said...
You cannot be disappointed if you are dead, anyway.

When I first read it I had your reading in mind and was gong to post it's like asking would I be disappointed now if I don't win next weeks lottery. Disappointment can come only after the fact. But I took the question as asking about disappointment in the period in which you're in the future knowing you're dying from some illness

Djin

This question really hits home. 52 at diagnosis (and thankful my primary dr began checking psa at like age 45) but trying to make plans for retirement now seems more complicated. I mean i always imagined a solid 20 years of “play” after official work ended, but it all seems uncertain now.

Really depends on what shape I am as I age. My 94 year old Dad is still pretty sharp, looks good, but can't physically do much any more. No more music playing for him since 88 and his working an iPhone with arthritic fingers and hands is not a pretty sight. Had almost every old man malady one could have over his life including PCa and nothing stops him for long. Getting married to a younger woman after my Mom passed seems have kept him going and not growing old together in the conventional sense.

However, there are many where the mind goes before the physical stuff and not sure I want to be in that group where you not aware of how old you are much less what age you would like to live to.

One day at a time I guess and don't get run over by a bus.

Cyclone, That seems to be a common denominator "will I make it till Christmas?"

I guess if I had know I was going to live this long I might have taken better care of myself. -- Ever heard that before?

Mr Bill

DjTonic, of course yours it is a good question, but giving this type of replies are is in my nature and I could not resist...

Now a more serious answer. At 70, the standard life expectaton is about 15 years, but not so many good ones. And I do not hear often "too young" when somebody in his seventies dies. Therefore, I consider myself in what is called injury time in a soccer game. I am glad to have already reached this milestone and hope maybe I will be lucky enough to keep in relatively good shape for a decent number of years. But I would not be surprised, much less disappointed, if this is not the case.

It is what it is!

It is fixed that one will die...it is not not fixed when...unless you believe...that we all die at the same time like I do...what happens when we do...is another subject of which im not concerned...but i am sure it is good... this does not preclued nothing

jetguy said...
I don’t care how long I live, but I desperately want to see my wonderful grandson through college, which will require another decade. Very unlikely given my family history.

My own favorite grandfather died the summer before my senior year of high school. It was hard, as I felt very close to him. He and I were buddies, fishing and enjoying time working together on his farm when I could visit. I loved him so much.

My first and foremost desire is to see my own grandson graduate from high school. We have a late start, and he won't graduate for probably 12 years (he's entering kindergarten this fall). Maybe I'll be there, maybe not, but we're already working on the "buddies" part!