Your own mortality

[ChocolateFrog]

Probably been covered loads of times already but do you ever think about your own mortality? Particularly if you're 60+.

My parents are mid/late 60's and getting to the point where if they're lucky they've got another 10 years, very lucky then maybe 20 years plus. It must be odd to think you've only got a few years left, 3650 days makes it sound even worse.

10 years goes past in a heartbeat so it does worry me.

Anyone getting to retirement age is already quite lucky IMO.

[Register1]

at 65, I am looking for 20 years still.
Ambitious ?

Fit and healthy, no medications,
I know that counts for zilch sometimes, but one would hope to score another "score"

[JeffreyD]

ChocolateFrog said:

Probably been covered loads of times already but do you ever think about your own mortality? Particularly if you're 60+.

My parents are mid/late 60's and getting to the point where if they're lucky they've got another 10 years, very lucky then maybe 20 years plus. It must be odd to think you've only got a few years left, 3650 days makes it sound even worse.

10 years goes past in a heartbeat so it does worry me.

Anyone getting to retirement age is already quite lucky IMO.

Enjoy it while you can

My old man snuffed it after a short illness aged 66.
On the other hand my mum was given 2 years to live 6 years ago and at the same time told if she had another drink she'd be brown bread.
6 years and thousands of litres of gin later she still walks amongst us.

[Bill]

I think you're underestimating their potential (assuming no significant health issues.) A man who's got to 70 in the UK should make 86 on average, and a woman 88.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunit...

I'm 51 and am likely not even half way through my adult life. Albeit I'm not as fit, but less of a fkwit.

[Muzzer79]

ChocolateFrog said:

My parents are mid/late 60's and getting to the point where if they're lucky they've got another 10 years, very lucky then maybe 20 years plus.

Why do you say that?

Do they have underlying health problems?

My parents are mid-late 60s and I there's no foreseeable reason why they won't go on for another 20 years or more. My worry is the quality of life they'll have - the fear is dementia or similar.

As I get older, I do notice how much faster time goes - the last few years have flown by and I suspect it'll only increase. But I don't worry about my mortality, there's too many other more pressing things to be concerned about.

[Al Gorithum]

Yes. I'm 15 months away from the age that my Dad died. This weighs heavy.

Aside from the above I've lost younger friends and acquaintances in the last couple of years.

Each day is a blessing to me.

[GetCarter]

Many friends of mine have died that are younger than me.

(I'm 64).

Get used to it... it'll be much sooner than you think.

[GTFC]

Yes, got to 60 last year retired should be the time of our lives, then all governments put a stop to that. fully intend to spend next 10 years, god willing, having a great time SKIing (spending kids inheritance) lol. Will come a time we can't physically do it, can't be bothered to do it or run out of money.

[Mr-B]

Time does seem to go faster as you get older, as a kid even a month used to feel like forever, now a year passes in what feels like a month. Can be quite depressing to think that if you are mid forties you are quite possibly past the half way point and it's downhill from there I'm past mid forties which is even more depressing.

[lauda]

I had a stroke at 33, was diagnosed with a first degree heart block at 38 and had treatment for skin cancer last week (at age 42) so probably think about it more than most people my age!

I'm practically uninsurable when it comes to life insurance and travel insurance is a pain too.

But I'm fit (cycling or running most days), not overweight and I don't think there are too many changes I could make to my lifestyle to realistically add years to my life. Except give up drinking but since it's one of my favourite hobbies, I think I'll just accept the risks there.

So ultimately I'll just keep on as I am and will go when my time is up.

[ChocolateFrog]

Register1 said:

at 65, I am looking for 20 years still.
Ambitious ?

Fit and healthy, no medications,
I know that counts for zilch sometimes, but one would hope to score another "score"

My stepsister died a couple of months ago from cancer, she was 30 and was diagnosed about 5 months prior so personally I'm not banking on anything.

[PositronicRay]

As time cracks on I'm more and more aware of limited time. I ought to be doing more stuff to slow it down, but less and less motivation.

[Chris Type R]

Mr-B said:

Time does seem to go faster as you get older, as a kid even a month used to feel like forever, now a year passes in what feels like a month. Can be quite depressing to think that if you are mid forties you are quite possibly past the half way point and it's downhill from there I'm past mid forties which is even more depressing.

Closer to the end than the beginning.

[ChocolateFrog]

Bill said:

I think you're underestimating their potential (assuming no significant health issues.) A man who's got to 70 in the UK should make 86 on average, and a woman 88.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunit...

I'm 51 and am likely not even half way through my adult life. Albeit I'm not as fit, but less of a fkwit.

No males in my family make it past 80, the women do slightly better.

My dad's health is much better than my mum's, I'd be amazed if she makes it to 88.

[ChocolateFrog]

Muzzer79 said:

ChocolateFrog said:

My parents are mid/late 60's and getting to the point where if they're lucky they've got another 10 years, very lucky then maybe 20 years plus.

Why do you say that?

Do they have underlying health problems?

My parents are mid-late 60s and I there's no foreseeable reason why they won't go on for another 20 years or more. My worry is the quality of life they'll have - the fear is dementia or similar.

As I get older, I do notice how much faster time goes - the last few years have flown by and I suspect it'll only increase. But I don't worry about my mortality, there's too many other more pressing things to be concerned about.

Only what I've touched on above. Not that many people make it into their 90's.

My gran is still alive at 86 but very ill from multiple conditions and has "passed her sell by date" in her own words, her last 3 years or so she's been practically housebound, in the same situation I'd rather be dead.

[mike13]

Parents both died the age I'm at now, Mid fifties, I'm getting over cancer treatment having had it twice in three years, not going to make state pension age which is unfortunate as I'm fully paid up this year.

[Jim on the hill]

Mr-B said:

Time does seem to go faster as you get older, as a kid even a month used to feel like forever, now a year passes in what feels like a month. Can be quite depressing to think that if you are mid forties you are quite possibly past the half way point and it's downhill from there I'm past mid forties which is even more depressing.

It's an interesting point and scientists believe it's due to less new experiences. People get older and do the same thing each year so the brain doesn't need to store as many memories.

I can get on board with that as if I do a week in the sun somewhere it flies by and I'd struggle to write a few pages about lounging on the beach and bar but a week exploring a country feels like I've been away for ages.

https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/no-not-jus...

[PositronicRay]

Jim on the hill said:

Mr-B said:

Time does seem to go faster as you get older, as a kid even a month used to feel like forever, now a year passes in what feels like a month. Can be quite depressing to think that if you are mid forties you are quite possibly past the half way point and it's downhill from there I'm past mid forties which is even more depressing.

It's an interesting point and scientists believe it's due to less new experiences. People get older and do the same thing each year so the brain doesn't need to store as many memories.

I can get on board with that as if I do a week in the sun somewhere it flies by and I'd struggle to write a few pages about lounging on the beach and bar but a week exploring a country feels like I've been away for ages.

https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/no-not-jus...

A short story from (I think Graeme Green) involved an elderly bedridden man, he lived in a big house and moved bedrooms each week so he'd live longer.

[littleredrooster]

I've become acutely aware of my mortality lately. It sometimes keeps me awake in the early hours, but I know it's pointless worrying - more likely to cause problems than to solve them!

I've made it to 67, got my pension(s) *yay* and take a boatload of pills every day, having survived my first heart attack. I thank <insert your own deity here> that I'm still here, after watching my father die a slow, painful death from undiagnosed myeloid leukaemia. He was 52.

In the ambulance on the way to hospital after my 'event', I seemed to revert to childhood as I asked the (fantastic) Paramedic "Will I die before get to hospital - is this it?" I was genuinely terrified.
"I hope not" was the curt answer, "I could do without all the extra paperwork on a Sunday, so I've got a vested interest in shovelling you into someone else's territory first"

The dark humour continued in hospital: Mr. Consultant Cardiologist: "Thank God they managed to get you to someone who actually knows what they're doing" Paramedic: "OK, we'll try to keep a few more alive for you tonight!"

I feel quite bitter about the pandemic; although we managed to move house to our chosen retirement area (N. Yorks) during the outbreak, for almost two years now it has really scuppered our travel routine - for the past six/seven years, we have just jumped in the car/on the bike and trolled around somewhere in Europe as we pleased. Bliddy covid has all but stopped that, and these are our twilight years when we are still active. In possibly five years time, this may become a chore because of decreased mobility, or whatever may befall us so two years may well be a 30% loss of our freedom.

[Esceptico]

Thinking about it more than I did. Think it gets to my wife more as she is approaching the age her mother was when she died. An inevitable part of ageing.