I have come to a realization lately that these stories of all us old people living longer is a bunch of phooey. Here I am finishing up my second year of being on Medicare and when I read the obituaries in our local small town paper I see lots of people who are much younger than I am. That fact has kind of startled me and warned me that my years on this earth might be shorter than I have planned. You never know.
At our ages if we show up in tomorrow’s obit it probably wouldn’t bring a big surprise to anyone especially to those younger folks who are currently taking over the country. Some might even be relieved that one less person is on the Social Security entitlement program. But I have been told by all those statisticians that I will live considerably longer than my parents and grandparents due to all the advanced technology and stuff. I am a planner, I have always been a planner and I am planning on living another dozen years or so but maybe the big guy upstairs has different plans. :)
In reality I think the biggest voice in the “living longer” stuff are the financial planners. The more they can convince you to put aside and let them manage, the bigger their income. I was told I would require 90% of my pre-retirement income in retirement. In reality the number is more like 60%, maybe even lower. I admit that we are living more frugally than before but we are also living more satisfyingly.
In the end (pun intended) we will go when we go. None of us have a big part of that date. Yeah, we can maybe stretch it out a few more months if we spend hours a day at the gym and eat nothing but alfalfa sprouts but who really wants to do that? I kind of think my DNA and genes have a more prominent role in how long I live.
Like it or not, admit it or not, as we get over a certain age our bodies start to deteriorate. That is just the normal scheme of things. Some like to delay the process with various creams and other snake oil type things. But in reality we all die sooner or later. I think those of us who are reconciled with that fact live a more comfortable and soothing life. Those who battle it to the end are doing just that; battling it to the end. I don’t want to be in that camp. Some day I will wake up to read my obituary in the paper. That is just the way it is……
RJ's Corner - Having My Say 
RJ, I think you are missing the point a bit about the gym and alfalfa sprouts. First, you can have an impact on exactly when you are going to depart this world by treating your body kindly. You can’t forestall it forever, of course, but you can certainly delay it to a degree, other factors out of your control not withstanding. The second, more important point, is that eating well and exercising deliver their own rewards. Immediately you can feel wonderful energy coursing through you, rather than the energy equivalent of a kick in the head that eating poorly or refusing to move delivers. Sure, a great big sugar and/or fat laden meal tastes great, but is it worth the food coma crash that inevitably follows?
I’ll go when I go, and I’m at peace with that, but I intend to enjoy every moment of my life in the meantime, and that requires good energy. Eating well and being physically active are the best ways I know of to ensure my energy stays high relative to my increasing age.
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Hi Tamara, when I wrote this post a few weeks ago I was sure you would chime in on the topic. :) Please realize that like my hero Will Rogers, who died 78 years ago today, you must take almost everything I say at RJ’s Corner with at least a small dose of jest. None of us should ever take life to serious as Will said.
A little about myself in this area. I have been on a low salt, low caffeine, low fat diet for 25+ years. My cholesterol is at very healthy levels across the board. I try to walk at least two miles everyday. So, I am not a couch potato, but I am also not a health nut. So, even though I don’t think it will add much length to my life (see a little jest here) it does add some quality and quality often means more to us than quantity doesn’t it?
But I do stick to the original premise of this post that for the most part the length of our lives is more dependent of our DNA than our lifestyles.
BTW, I have been reading your blog about the fantastic vacation you are having. We took a month long vacation through the same area a few years ago and it was nice. We didn’t hike 13 miles in 3 hours but had fun at our own personal pace. Have fun on the second half…
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OK, OK, I can go with that!
And thank you for the well wishes. We feel incredibly fortunate to be doing this, I assure you!
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