Ripe Old Age

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

Ok...the other Post got me thinking.......

If you could, would you want to live to be a 100 yrs old? Is it in your genes, so to speak, to live to be a ripe old age? Do you think skydiving will be a part of your life when you hit say...65, 70?

Or do you have the mentality...burn out, rather then fade away?

Just curious.......

Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[Scoop 0]

God no! I know im only a young whippersnapper but I cant even imagine life at 70. Maybe ill have more motorvation then like grandkids or the fact that I dont want to give it all up yet or something but at the moment I shudder at the thought

[yamtx73 0]

Quote

Ok...the other Post got me thinking.......

If you could, would you want to live to be a 100 yrs old? Is it in your genes, so to speak, to live to be a ripe old age? Do you think skydiving will be a part of your life when you hit say...65, 70?

Or do you have the mentality...burn out, rather then fade away?

Just curious.......

Bobbi

As long as I was able to get out and enjoy life then living to be 100 would be fine, if not then even making it to 70 would suck...
My grandparents all made it into their 90's so I'm guessing I'll make it that far (barring accidents of any kind), will skydiving be part of my life then? I don't know, I'd like to think it would be though....

The only naturals in this sport shit thru feathers...

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

My Dad is 80, going strong...walks everyday, goes swimming, swims 80 laps, at a local college once a week. Doesn't take any kind of medication

My Mom on the other hand...has borderline high BP, border line Diabetic, has had a knee replaced and is 76 yrs old.

My father is/was extremely active. I take after him. I can't sit still, neither can he. My mom's biggest exercise routine is to get up from the couch every time a car pulls into the condo community to "check it out". She doesn't do any kind of walking, etc.

Grandparents all lived to be late 70's to late 80's.

I just don't want to wear a diaper.

Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[Lindsey 0]

I'd love to live to be a very, very old woman...as long as I'm healthy. I would NOT want to be an old woman, bed-bound in a nursing home and unable to participate as I desire in life.

linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[RhondaLea 4]

My father's mother turned either 99 or 100 on her last birthday (December 22, I think). She is still living in her own home, has no physical problems, and she gets around just fine, including up and down the stairs, and across the street to bug my mother...all day long.

Her mind is toast. Gone. Sometimes she's 16, sometimes she 50, but everything that has happened since she was about 87 years old does not exist for her. Even so, the last time I saw her (2003), she seemed happy enough.

As long as I'm physically healthy and mentally "there," I don't mind getting older. If I begin to lose the ability to do the things that are meaningful to me, however, I'm out of here.

rl

If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

[cocheese 0]

for example ? Don't leave us Rl.

[RhondaLea 4]

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for example ? Don't leave us Rl.

Um...that wasn't a suicide note, Jef.

I'm pretty healthy now (I'lll be even more so when I leave this job), and I expect to remain healthy as long as the manufacturers of levothyroxine stay in business.

But if a time comes that it all starts to go irretrievably downhill, I will not stick around for the end of the progression.

rl

If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

My grandmother lived to be about 98,96,93. We aren't sure. We couldn't find her Birth Certificate and she lied about her age..
She lived alone up until the last two years of her life. She lived in Philly for the whole time and my father put her in a nursing home for various reasons...one being she let someone in who said they were with the electric company and they ended up robbing her (she kept ALL her money under her box spring) and beat her up pretty good. The second situation..my father went to see her once a week, my uncle went to see her once a week too, well my uncle skipped a week and when my father went to see her again, her house was 30 degrees and she was trying to light the pilot lite on the furnance (she opened up the door to her gas oven to help keep her warm in the mean time). My dad had enough and forced her into a "home" (it was NOT a pretty conversation). I KNOW it really broke her spirit. she hated it (the nurses robbed her too, it was awful) and she died shorty after. She was a VERY independent woman. I admired her but at the same time felt very sorry for her. Ho Hum....


Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[RhondaLea 4]

Well, if you want to get into that discussion, the way we deal with our elderly is terrible. Your father had no choice given the way we have institutionalize warehousing as the solution, but nursing homes are bad, bad, bad.

I'm lucky. My daughter will send me out on the ice floe before she lets that happen to me.

rl

If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

, my kids say I can live with them....a mother-in-law suite attached to the garage. I loooove my kids. Hell, my youngest says he'll never leave (I know better), but its still a sweet thought.

I have a good friend whose grandparents are Masons, they live in a Masonic "Lodge" in Elizabethtown Pennsylvania. This place is outrageous!!!!!!!!!!! They have everything when it comes to services, from semi-retired to full time assistance. they even have their own farm to produce the veggies and fruits for the facilty. It is huge and absolutely beautiful.


Bobbi


Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[PLFXpert 0]

I agree.

My mom, however, is the opposite of you and your daughter. She has begged me never to take her in/care for her, if she ever lost her ability to self-function. Her worst fear is to be a burden on someone (despite that I would NOT consider her a burden).

I understand that logic, which is why in the other thread, I said I have no desire to live past when I can function on my own.

On the subject, though: Unfortunately the stats of elederly abuse/neglect are just as bad for the elderly being cared for by family members.

I have very little patience, in general, but have three exceptions: Children, Elderly & Animals. I especially have no patience of those who abuse/neglect any of those three.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[Lindsey 0]

My mom's the same way. I always threaten that I'm going to make her come live with me when she gets old and unable to live alone....lol....and I will. I tell her it's payback for her making me live with her my first 18 years of life....heh.

linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[PLFXpert 0]

I didn't grow up with my mom, but if I did, I'd definitely steal your line That's hilarious.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

I keep tellin my kids that someday they will have to wipe my ass,. Payback for all the times I had to do it for them and deal with their nasty underwear. They get really appauled, little do they know whats coming.

Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[RhondaLea 4]

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I agree.

My mom, however, is the opposite of you and your daughter. She has begged me never to take her in/care for her, if she ever lost her ability to self-function. Her worst fear is to be a burden on someone (despite that I would NOT consider her a burden).

I wasn't clear.

My daughter knows that I do not want to "be taken in/cared for." It will never happen.

I reared her to understand that pulling the plug is a gift, not otherwise; hence, the reference to the ice floe legend. But unless I have a catastrophic accident, I'll take care of things myself while I'm still able to do so.

rl

If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

I am totally with you in that aspect, Rhonda. I will not be a burden to my kids or any other loved one. I have everything set in stone so to speak and make no bones about what I want done if and when something like that happens.


Every see the "synthetic" diamonds they make out of cremation remains??

Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[Lindsey 0]

When my grandmother was unable to take care of herself, her children took on the *burden*. The lengths they went to to let her keep living in her own home until she died were amazing. I don't think any of them ever thought of it as a burden, though, but they were really glad to be able to make her last years pleasant for her. It was a very important time in my mother's life. I hope to be able to come through for my parents the same way....

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[PLFXpert 0]

Definitely.

My entire family including myself (at 25) has living wills--all of them say PULL THE PLUG.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[lawrocket 3]

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If you could, would you want to live to be a 100 yrs old?

I think it's tough to answer that question now. It's much like asking, "Do you plan on voting Republican, Democrat or for a third party candidate in the 2040 Presidential election?" SUre, you may have a baseline idea now, but so many things can change.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

I'm looking for the first thought that pops into you head.

Don't analyze it too much.

Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[godfrog 2]

NO! I am 41 now and have live to rough of a life and this includes my job. to many broken bones and arthritus is setting into parts of my body. hurts to much to get out of bed now.

Experience is a difficult teacher, she gives you the test first and the lesson afterward

[tbrown 26]

My great grandfather lived to be 100. He was a Civil War veteran. I've always believed I would live to be a 100 too. On the minus side, my mom & dad have had all four knees and one hip replaced and my dad has severe arthritis in his lower spine. So I have to believe I've only got so many good jumping years left, maybe twenty if I'm lucky. When I get to where I can't jump on my own anymore, I'll probably take a tandem ride or two every year and do the rest of my jumpin' indoors with the nurses at the old folks home.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[happythoughts 0]

My grandfather lived to be 104. He was ambulatory and alert until 102. My dad is still alive.

Between the endpoints of perfect health and vegetative state, people draw the line as to what is an acceptable point. Few have the mental strength to take that step.

Ask anyone, "Would you want to live as a 'head on a pillow'? The universal answer is no. Then you work back down the spectrum.

Some people were never healthy beyond an existence level, so a sickly state is not a big contrast. The transition from young couch potato to old one is not a large change.

Skydiving is a sport of the healthy. You have to be able to deal with opening shock, running out landings, windy days. One day it won't be possible.

[airtwardo 7]

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I'm looking for the first thought that pops into you head.

Don't analyze it too much.

Quote

But I'm an analytical kind of guy....!

Life itself is a 'dangerous' sport, genes, lifestyle, and plain luck all factor in regarding the longevity question.

I too would like to think that I'll be healthy and able to live life in a fully satisfying manner until a ripe old age, then drift off in my sleep after doing everything there is to do. In reality, I know the odds of that happening are pretty small.

Reading the "I'm outta here" if it gets too bad comments are a cavalier attitude that bolsters the ego somewhat by taking for granted that we actually HAVE that option.

Aside from the obvious religious considerations concerning taking your own life...there are logistics involved that 'may' prevent such actions.

I currently find myself in a situation that brings about some weird thoughts about just this question.

My best friend on the planet, just one year older than me, has some serious health issues...and has had for some time now.

We've had a lot of heart to heart talks over the years, and he basically asked for my help 'when things get too bad'...to either make it possible for him to end his life if there comes a time he is unable to do so on his own...or even 'pull the plug' so to speak, myself...should something like a state of vegetation occur before he's able to act.

There is an all to real moral and ethical set of questions now before me...what would "I" want done...what WILL 'I' do???

I really don't know at this point, but I have a suspicion I may know the answer to that...and the cavalier mantra, in reality is nothing more than just that...words.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~