How long do you want live? 80, 90, 100?

[AARPTeri]

Do you have a number in mind? Do you want to live to be 80, 90 or 100? How about 115 or 120?

Do you think it matters what your expectations are? I do. I think if you expect to live a long healthy life, your chances of doing so are greater.

[babrahamson]

As long as I am both independent and healthy. If not, I would like to be given the same consideration that we give to our pets when they are suffering.

[2LUANAMARIA]

Absolutely!   I fully believe that I have the right to choose when I depart & will do so when the conditions are not opportune for self sustained viability.   Otherwise, I intend to go, go, go until the engine slows down considerably.

[jthorses]

I will be 72 in a couple of months and I still ride horses and walk and lift hay bales and saddle my own horse. I have had a very full and adventurous life and my husband, love of my life, went home to be with the Lord 3 years ago. I would like to make it to 80s if I am healthy and living well, but when it is my time I have no regrets of undone activities.

[ginnielee5]

I used to say I would probably live to be a 100 ( I am 81) but then i read an article about someone living to be 122 and 137. I am in good health with no life threatening problems. I set my goals farther ahead. I may not make it that far but I refuse to limit myself.

[brennedi]

Old age and dying became clear to me when my dad had a brain tumor. He was a businessman, and trust me, he became a different person. He was funny, and I had the PLEASURE TO TAKE CARE OF HIM FOR 8 MONTHS. I got to know the man that I loved the most, only better. God allowed that joy for me to get even closer. He was my herro. When we take our own life it keeps people from drawing close to us during the dying process. My best friends mother took the easy way out and she said she will never forgive her for being so weak. I don't mean to say that in a hurtful way to people that disagree, but she said she felt her mother was weak, but maybe she just wanted to help her mother and get close, as I had the joy of doing. Not every family is the same, or close, and some have no one. But there are people out there that can help fill that proccess, as I think I have read about them, maybe hospice knows. Yes it is scarry to hurt, and die, but God must have his reasons. There are days that I feel that my children are so busy that they might now have that kind of time, or patience for me. Everyone is working, moving, or on their phone, or a movie at night...you know, I'm busy watching a movie Mom/Dad. Why not talk to your family, or hospice, or church, now. There are great payoffs for those left behind that help you through the final journey, but in my opinion, into the arms of Jesus. 

[gm6827]

Wait a minute! "My friends (sic) mother took the easy way out and she said she will never forgive her for being so weak." I assume the woman committed suicide. It is easy to pass judgement on another when you do not truly know what is going on with an individual. I believe the daughter, needs to realize that she does not know what, precisely, was going on with her mother. You suggest they were not close. Perhaps, Mom knew that daughter was a judgemental person and incapable of providing empathy and therefore kept her own counsel. The mother's suicide, assuming that is what is being talked about, may have been one of the most courageous act that a human being can do.

[k228300j]

I think it is impossible to truly judge a person who decides to end their own life. There are people who live with pain & it becomes more than they are able to continue living with. That can be physical as well as emotional pain. I think Mental Illness is highly misunderstood & can be overwhelming for the sufferer. Often even the family who are touched by generations of mental illness accept the fear & stigma that is prevalent in society. When they do they are unable to help or understand their family member who suffers from MI. The case you mentioned is a case in point. Your friend states her mother took the 'easy way out' and you surmise that the mother knew her daughter was incapable of empathy for Mom, so Mom was left with more aloneness when her depression became overwhelming & she acted on it. I think there are far more people in our world who are held in low esteem because they are very sensitive people.
They are often looked down on as being weak or shunned by those who should be valuing the quality of compassion & empathy that many labeled people live with. I have had a lot of MI in my family & it had caused an early death for several family members. These were each caring, sharing people who would go far to help others. But they did not receive the therapy & medications nor supportive understanding from family members that was missing in their lives. When a family member is rejected by other family members (especially in the parent/ child relationship), that can contribute to a person's self esteem to plummet.
More understanding & respect for people who choose to leave this world on their own terms is needed.

[r640631p]

As long as I have good health in mind, body, and soul. 

[evelevrae1]

read michael gregor's "how not to die".

[jshnov]

As long as I am able to get around, enjoy a cold beer, flirt with a woman, and enjoy life, bring it on.

[bgsdaughter]

I am 70 and presently live in a retirement community  Many residents here are well into their late 80's and many even into their 90's.  We even have had a couple over 100!  For myself, I have made friends with these people and when they have passed away, it is a sad time.  I realize that, since my friends are older and will probably be gone long before I hit my 80's I am not sure I want to live that long. Longevity does not translate into happiness necessarily.  If my relatives and friends are gone or I am in a  condition that as I get older they just wheel me around in a wheelchair, I think 90   would be more than enough for me.  I have lived a good life and maybe haven't had the experiences of some others, but it was enough for me.

[k397840k]

Babies born in the last few years have life expectancies of 120.  I think I'll go into my coffin kicking and screaming--I don't want to die--I haven't lived a full life yet.  There's a whole world I've yet to explore.  I've spent all my young years married, and now that there's no kids to care for,  and I'm still healthy, that world is beckoning to me.  We don't have the option of knowing when the end will come, but I'd like to say I've really lived--like Auntie Mame!

[mem329]

Impossible to say without knowing what my circumstances will be at any given age.  If I'm relatively healthy, of sound mind, have sufficient financial resources, and the love of my life is still with me, then anything goes!  100 would be fine if all these conditions are met.  

[Epster]

Age is just a number, and in this case it isn't the salient piece of data.

I don't care if I'm 62: if I experience some event that 'preserves' my life via machines, I would rather be dead. If I will never again recognize the smell of an elk herd on the wind; if I will never again be able to identify wildflowers in my yard, let alone tell DH what is his favorite dish or the name of the street where he grew up; if I am a vegetable, I want to be tossed onto the compost pile.

That said, I am planning to live until my late 90s.

[ddraine]

I want to live to be 100, and beyond infinity.

[Gladys1945]

I would like to live to be 90 . My parents were both 90 when they passed away . My grandfather was 93 . My brother just turned 87 . And I'm close to 70 . So hoping to reach 90 ,but only if sound mind .

[anneharris28]

I'm already 86, and hope to continue to 100. Members of my family have survived well into their 90s with intact memories and pretty good health. I watch my diet and do things I enjoy: still drive(safely), see a few friends, read, knit, draw, write, cook, etc.

[bw54793157]

I want to live as long as I have a dance partner, and I want to die quickly when the time comes.

avenueskier

[lp30542751]

I prefer to live for today and be thankful for  the blessings  that I have been given.

[mm98382960]

80 is my max, I have too many health issues now at 61 and know they become much worse with each few years so I don't care to suffer beyond 80

[mr6233]

Some time ago I was standing in line at a supermarket and a magazine cover there had a teaser caption on the cover: "Live to be 100."

We think we will be as we are now when we reach 100, but there are a lot of negatives in extreme old age. Your life will revolve around your health. All your friends are gone. Your siblings are gone. Maybe even your children are dying off.

I was lucky, because both my parents lived well into their 90's, but near the end they were only shadows of their former selves. I am 79 now and I try to be as active as I can - I feel my window of opportunity may be closing - so I have to go faster. If I can make it to 90 and still have an active lifestyle, that's all I ask.

My "thing" is long distance cycling, and I have two big trips coming up in Europe this summer. I am constantly asked the question. "How old are you?"

[kenpyburn]

I want to live nine more years to age 86, statistically, a good number with my current health and financial resources. The odds of me still being able to live a life without significant decline, both mental and physical past thyat point are not good. I do not want to live any sort of diminished life and would end this one if I was in any way sufferring the indignity of pain, dependence, or helplessness. I would also have to reduce my standard of living  after that age since I run out of savings that year as well.

[RossmoorPat]

Five years ago (I was 63)  when I was iron deficient (not yet diagnosed), I went in to see my MD.  She told me I should plan to live to 84 y.o.  I was so tired from my condition, I couldn't imagine continuing working, being so tired.  It was then I began to plan for my retirement.

Thankfully iron deficiency is an easy fix.  However, that number stuck in my mind.  That's 16 years from now, but, depending how I feel, I could go longer.

My friend's father is now 101.  After he turned 100, he now has his family come celebrate his birthday every year, coming from all parts of the country.

It all comes down to health, but late 80s or early 90s would be okay with me.

[JoVaDi14]

100 years old would be a good round number.

[vb1937]

I expect to live up to or past 100. Both grandmothers lived to 95 and one aunt till 103. I am taking better care of myself than they did so the prospects are good.

[hp2708]

I pray to live to a healthy 100

[sk1037]

I expect to make it to my 90s. My father died at 90-1/2, my mother is still going strong at. 92-1/2, and great grandparents lived into their late 90s and one even beyond 100. However, I would not choose to live that long if I am very ill and in pain or am a burden on others.

[LogicsHere]

I would like to think that I would live into my 90s as 5 on both sides of my family (and another 2 into their late 80s) have. But I would still want to have decent health and all my brain facilties.  Without that then what's the point.  My hope is that when it is my time that I pass quickly and quietly in my sleep.

[Kicker27]

I completed one of those "health assessments" a few years ago, and if that proves to be true I should live to be 100.  As long as the next 38 years are good, I'm happy.