Becoming Elderly

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Plan to play video games. Seriously.

Good plan. That is something we have that old folks nowadays just don't understand .

[Language]

I'm scared as heck of getting old.

If I live to my 80's I'll probably be doing a lot of porn watching.

[Sliver]

Watch some porn, smoke a bowl, then play some vids. CP, you have delivered.

[REDVAN]

I signed on to see this thread... and to see what sort of crap you'd be spewing.

Frankly, it is a good question. And some good answers.

When my grandpa was 90ish, I'd remind him to do whatever the heck he felt like- he'd made it this far.

[Titan]

Get high and play video games sounds solid. And it will keep your mind active so you can keep enjoying it.

[Northendzone]

i plan to be rapping in commercials, because we all love old people who rap.

generally speaking, i'll be happy if i am somewhat mobile, mentally alert and able to take care of the activities of dailiy living.

of course the government will be taking care of me financially.

[trumpethead]

I plan on doing a fair bit of this when I am old...

[kirant]

Continue designing video games.

God can have me after he pries the development software out of my dying hands.

[Lobotroth]

Receptionist: Hello, sir. Are you here for "Coping With Senility?"
Jasper: No. I'm here for "Microwave Cookery" ... No, wait, "Coping With Senility."

[Dion]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

Speaking as an older person, you don't do anything different than you did when you were younger. You just do it at a more moderate pace and with slightly less gusto. That assumes you are not hindered by serious health or physically limiting issues.

No, you increase the pace. Use it or lose it was what my late father preached to me. He was in the best shape of his life at age 66 and if it wasn't for ####ing Cancer I have no doubt he would be walking the golf courses at age 90.

I've talked with people in their 80's who have said they don't feel any different than they did in their 20's. Many people live a very full life well into their 80's and even their 90's.

I had a fella in his 80's tell me that old age is a state of mind. Just because your body ages doesn't mean your mind has to.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

The wife asked me the other day if I will still want to be having sex when I'm 80.

I said to her, "I'm going to have a lot of spare time then. How else am I going to fill it?"

[Dion]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

I plan on doing a fair bit of this when I am old...

Then there's the female version

[flamesfever]

I think the longer you feel needed and useful, the longer you will enjoy a good quality of life.

I recall someone telling me, there was a bunch of 70 year olds in a seniors facility, lying around doing nothing, while an 85 year old was busy washing their clothes and doing things to help them.

I think family becomes increasingly important as you age. I think the more time and energy you devote to your family, the more comes back to you at a later age.

Being active in a church, fraternity, service club, or volunteering can be beneficial. I think it's important to maintain your social network.

Get a dog. I remember asking my Mom why she had dogs, and she said they are the only thing that really needs me...which of course wasn't really true.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

The wife asked me the other day if I will still want to be having sex when I'm 80.

I said to her, "I'm going to have a lot of spare time then. How else am I going to fill it?"

So she's saving it up for you???

[troutman]

I often do not start fishing until the cool of the evening. Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise.

I hope I have a camper, and can fish a different river every day.

[flamesfever]

As a geologist, I have always been project minded. If I have any spare time, I will automatically create a project.

I think of people like Harley Hotchkiss and think of what wonderful things he managed to do in his 80's.

[Muta]

I'm going to video game like crazy (maybe even go to an E3 conference or something), I'm going to grab a coffee at a market or something and watch chicks walk by (and wink at them if possible) and generally try to live life happily and not too seriously. I'm going to try to make everything funny as hell, as much as I can, for everyone around me.

[Cheese]

Finding new ways to push Hemorrhoids back in?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I signed on to see this thread... and to see what sort of crap you'd be spewing.

Frankly, it is a good question. And some good answers.

When my grandpa was 90ish, I'd remind him to do whatever the heck he felt like- he'd made it this far.

I was going to Sliver-a-fy it, but I knew it would be derailed too quickly. Original title was: At what age do people outlive their usefulness? It took me a long time to massage the body of the OP to a point where I didn't think it was going to offend anybody. It is a sensitive topic...not many people seem to be able to lead a full, enjoyable life past 85 or so.

I also didn't want to give you the smug satisfaction of getting to add to your list of threads you aren't surprised I started.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

The wife asked me the other day if I will still want to be having sex when I'm 80.

I said to her, "I'm going to have a lot of spare time then. How else am I going to fill it?"

My game plan is to be shot dead at 85 years of age on the sidewalk outside of a diner by a jealous teenage husband after spending my last few dollars on a delightful chocolate milkshake and hamburger.

I deal with the elderly a lot but also those who are younger and terminally ill and the husbands, wives, daughters, sons they leave behind. Sadly, I've had about 10 clients die in the last 12 months, through terminal illness or accidents, including children. And one more lady, in her mid-60's, who will die in a few weeks or months at the most. I'd normally average about three.

The "70 Yard Line" is often where you see people transition from the middle years to true old age . . . . but I also have clients in their late 70's golfing every day and people in their 80's out hiking in the mountains.

I want to run a half marathon when I'm 70 and I think that will happen. Interestingly, Rick Collier, who died last week in a mountain climbing accident, was the 70+ winner in my half marathon event in June, clocking an amazing 1:57 time.

I have to watch people closely for signs of descent into dementia . . . . often their first reaction to gathering memory loss is denial and lashing out, then finally acceptance as the wife or husband finally tells them to face it. And this year I did have one 75 year-old client go way off the rails . . . I could see it coming and wondered what exactly was up . . . . and then he called me from the schizophrenia ward of the hospital!!! So, good confirmation there.

Anyway, I'm seeing a lot of people in their 50's and 60's whom I've known for decades dying of terminal illnesses . . . . and it reminds one to live now because counting on reaching 85 and the 31,000 or so days it represents isn't necessarily going to happen.

Older folks sometimes just get bored with it all and give up. Others enjoy the daily game all the way through.

You can have a great quality of life in your 70's and 80's. A lot of it will depend on your attitude towards life. Stay active physically and mentally as long as you can.

Not sure if that was coherent but its all I've got to say.

Cowperson