How long do you want to live?

I'm approaching 60 and I've decided I have about 15 good years left. 75 is a good run.

I would vastly prefer 15 years of strong body and mind to 25-30 years of creeping decline.

I agree with r1.

Tomorrow

I have a flat tire!

😢

Old age is dreadful

That doesn't sound right. Why would you not want to love at least to 80, unless you have significant health problems?

I'm 62 and plan to retire at 67. So long as I am physically and mentally healthy I hope I can live 20 years as a retiree.

I am very tired, R5.

I have friends and family members in their 70s. And while a few are as strong and energetic as ever, there is a noticeable decline in physical and cognitive function for others, especially after 75. It makes me sad to watch.

Conversely, if people in their 60s stay fit, healthy, and active, they may as well be in their 40s. It can be a good decade. Particularly if they're able to retire and really enjoy their lives.

Just my experience.

I'm soon to be 70, and other than arthritis, glaucoma (under control), & cataracts (not quite ready to remove), I'm in far better health than many my age. So basically, I'd like to live as long as I can take care of myself. If the day comes I can't live on my own anymore just let me die already.

I am 71, how the hell that happened is beyond me, seems like just yesterday I was in my 40's. The older you get the faster time seems to fly by. I don't have an age I want to live to, just want to stay alive as long as I can take care of myself and still enjoy living, which I still do despite several health problems. Most of my relatives died around 75 but they drank and smoked, which I have never done so I am expecting to live to at least 75 but none of us really ever knows when our time will come, I would love to know so I could prepare for it mentally. I just hope it is fast and hopefully in my sleep.

Too late!

You people are ridiculous. Stay as healthy as you can. You will never want to let go. Life will fight for itself all on its own.

Why not?

I think around 75 would be good, younger if i get sick, older if i'm healthy. I do hope that euthanasia becomes very regulated but very accessible for any reason.

I do have a tendency toward suicidal ideation, but usually rational concerns stop me ("well, at least spend all your money first!"). When I was a kid with on-the-lighter-side-of-physically-abusive parents (geez the horror stories these days! i was never even hospitalized) I started a chart listed "100 days to freedom" and realized that I really don't spend a third of a year wanting to die so...

I think 72 - 75 is a good range.

R13, remind me not to let you drive me anywhere.

As long as I can drive.

The OP is silly- I’m 69 and have a great life. My parents lived to be 92 and 100 (father). I’m healthy, wealthy, all there cognitively, still meeting guys, skiing, playing tennis- friends, great nieces and nephews to watch grow up. Some people are old and frail at 75, some alive and robust. Time goes faster as you are do icc c take one day at a time and do my best to enjoy it. Sure glad I didn’t croak at 60 like the Op want to- poor guy must be miserable.

…” faster as you age so I take”

I am glad you all are so healthy. I have dealt with lifelong depression.

I’d be shocked to live past 70. Due to cancer genes, most family died before 68. And 2 siblings diagnosed with advanced cancer before 50. And 3 cousins dead from cancer before 55. I’ll take what I can - but also retired early so I can enjoy life before I get that diagnosis.

I'd like to check our now but I wouldn't know who to leave my cat to.

I don't know. Maybe next Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday.

I'd be pretty happy with 75. I'm 53 right now.

R19/OP, then tell us and don’t provoke with a silly post. Why 60, why not 55 or 65. I hope you’ve been getting help. I tend to think you’re just stirring shit for attention. Many many people lead rich lives in their 60s.

Completely depends on my level of health and independence. Don’t want to burden my nieces and nephews.

Am quite healthy now at age 53. Hope to retire in 10 to 12 years so, as others have said, I will have, if fortunate, some time to just enjoy life and not work full time or at all. I think I’ll always need to do some sort of very part-time work just to keep sharp and get out of the house. My default is hermit which is paradise but I don’t want to lose contact with reality.

107.

I’m 30 and I’m horrified by how short life is. I wish our lifespans were like 200 years, I find death very scary.

My grandfather and uncle died at 76, and my dad at 80. So at 56 I feel like I have about 20 years to go.

The world is getting so dangerous

I don't want to get past 40.

[quote]I wish our lifespans were like 200 years

That honestly sounds like torment.

I'm ready to go, yesterday to be honest.

Til my last kitty goes to Heaven. She's age 4. Then I'm out.

Just turned 55 & feeling 80 is a good even number to go out on, "He was 80".... I have some pretty old relatives, and a history of 90+ & 100+ in my family tree, both sides....... So I may have to off myself..... I dont want to be an achey old man....... gah!!!!

Whilst you have your health keep living.

When that starts declining, it's time to think of a final exit.

As long as I can live without pain and not be a burden, when the times comes I will know what to do. I saw the people in a nursing home, never never never.

Time is so crazy. I remember being 17 and my best friend at the time said she wanted to snow board off of a cliff at 30. She's still alive at 41.

Sophia Patrillo said that people always say that if they live until 80, then they will be ready to go, but that it doesn't work that way. When you get to that number you will still want to keep living,

Today is my 70th b'day. Since I didn't participate in the normative social/lifestyle passages - partner/marriage, kids, etc. - while my age may scream "geezer", I certainly don't feel like one. I look back at all that I've seen, done and accomplished over the past 50 years or so. And know that I will keep right on doing it and more for as long as I'm physically/mentally able. Because the alternative is The End. Finished. No second chances. No take-overs. That's all, folks! Forever. And I know that I will really, really, no REALLY miss being alive.

[quote]Sophia Patrillo said that people always say that if they live until 80, then they will be ready to go, but that it doesn't work that way. When you get to that number you will still want to keep living,

I love the way you guys quote Golden Girls even on subjects as important as this.

[quote]while my age may scream "geezer",

Do you even know what geezer means?

[quote]I’m 30 and I’m horrified by how short life is. I wish our lifespans were like 200 years, I find death very scary.

No point in being scared - it happens to everyone.

& how is circa 80 years short? How many things live to or last 80 years?

[quote]Today is my 70th b'day.

Happy birthday!

I'm going to show this post to my mother whenever she tries to pull the "I'm too old to figure out basic internet and technology can you do it" bullshit. Like, ma'am...you're a Gen Xer. Stop.

R42 Your kind wishes appreciated. Vis-a-vis "figuring out internet", I've been online from the git-go, 1989. University bulletin boards, UNIX commands, very basic email. Yet put a smartphone in my hand and I'm clueless. Don't own one, don't know, don't wanna know.

[quote]Yet put a smartphone in my hand and I'm clueless. Don't own one, don't know, don't wanna know.

I held out, but so many things these days require a smartphone. They're very easy to use. The apple ones at least.

R44 I'm sure smartphones are very easy to use. However, I spend enough time online on my laptop. I like the idea that I can log out, head out my door and sped a few hours looking at the world around me rather than at a screen.

I’m 63. I have some health problems but still enjoy my life. I retired at age 58. I love my dogs, reading, swimming, painting, and biking.

I'm with OP. I hate my life and have for a long time. I have some serious family, financial and health issues that I am dealing with. I have had depression most of my life and it seems resistant to most anti depressants (except the few that have horrible side effects). I just spend my time worrying and fretting and I don't see the point in trying to prolong this living hell. I'm in my late 50's.

Even should you hail from a family with crap DNA, 1. eating little, 2. being active every day, 3. keeping slim, and 4. not smoking can dramatically tip the odds in your favour for a healthy later life.

It's taking forever.

Too many flippy floppy weak willed people about. At the sauna I watch groups of obese bears and podgy Gen Zs merrily flapping their arms about – the types you once rarely ever saw outside of the lone classroom fatty – and think FFS. I suppose they're happy enough. But they're setting themselves up for later life hard wall crashes.

[...]

[quote]I have had depression most of my life and it seems resistant to most anti depressants (except the few that have horrible side effects).

Before you give up completely, try ketamine therapy from a reputable clinic, r47. Deal with financial issues later. Put your own well being first, for a change.

Excellent advice. Get drugged up first before making any life decisions!

I've said this before but I'll say it again-

There a LOT of depressed people here on the datalounge.

R54, we know, asshole.

A lifespan is basically a crap shoot. I know people who lived as healthy a lifestyle as any humans possibly could, and yet dropped dead in the 40s and 50s (heart attacks, strokes, cancer). I also know people who have eaten crap food like pigs, got fat, drink liquor daily, usually to excess, did all kinds of drugs in their early years (and I suspect still do some drugs), yet they still live well into their 70s with no end in sight.

82 or 84 is plenty of years imho. My dad just turned 90 and he was doing great until about 84/85.

Get back to us at 59 OP

Life is over after 30 for gays. It’s a bit like ‘Logan’s Run’ but without the blinking crystal, the Carrousel, and Farrah Fawcett in a bit part.

Until the sex drive is gone

Life is exhausting

Life is a banquet

R9 is right. Seems like I was easing into my 40s, then I look up and 70 was here. I work full-time in a very rewarding position and continue to develop projects that I want to complete.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer this year, but it was early and I have an excellent prognosis. Three of my friends went through the same thing in their early 70s and have passed their 5 year dates. Otherwise, I have no health issues, thank goodness.

My dad's 95 and enjoying life, even with some mobility issues. That sounds like a good goal for me as well.

I'm 61 and I retired at 59. I have never been so happy as I am now. I don't want to live to be excruciatingly old, but so far the 60s are a fucking dream if you don't have to work.

R27 whenever I get greedy and don't think I'll have enough years or whatever, I replay Brian Cox about the impossible rarity of getting to live at all - "What More Do You Want?"

* Meant to say something like the almost impossibly rare thing of getting to live at all --- hell, some great grammarian on here tell me how to phrase that properly. The video is still great though - I promise you - and 36 seconds long

I'm 75 this year. Have some unfinished business I want to complete. I hope to celebrate 50 years with my partner in 2030. I'm ready to go when the call comes, but gosh I'd like a few more years.

I'm 71, an age I never thought I'd get to. Like others, I always thought 70-75 would be plenty.

The problem with saying, 75 is enough, is that once you're there, you can't do anything about it (assuming you don't off yourself). You just keep going and going if you're healthy -- a friend's mother just turned 107. And she plays bridge every day (although she has very limited mobility.)

So say whatever you want about age, the issue is the same issue humans have had since they started thinking about it, at this point in science and medicine, there's nothing you can do about it, no matter how long or short you want to live (again, excepting suicide).

But OP, when you actually turn 60, you'll still look 35, so I'll bet you'll change your mind then.

I'm 61 and asked my doctor what my life expectancy is - he said, late 80's. Still working and plan to retire at 66. For aliments, I have minor ones that are popping up but overall, I'm okay.

As long as my mind is okay (my mom had Alzheimer's and I am mobile), I'm okay with that.

OP, I also hope you do not live past sixty, if that's any help.

I'd like to play Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom when it comes out in May, and I have an elderly dog and an elderly cat. Once those things are finished, I am okay, whenever.

The world keeps getting more ridiculous, and definitely want to check out before climate change gets too out of control

As long as possible. I couldn't fathom cutting my life short.

[quote]There a LOT of depressed people here on the datalounge.

I can't imagine why that is...

/s