rationalskepticism.org

Spearthrower wrote:If I could have perfect health, I'd happily live for ever. As I can't, I am pretty sure that I will eventually come to see it as something of a relief: I'm not that far away from that feeling already!

I was invited to an online discussion on the idea of longevity, but being my practical self, while it sounds wonderful to think of living long enough to see your great-great-grandkids. The trouble is money, and resources. If we continue to breed in the numbers we do, and old people aren't making way for the younger ones, resources will eventually run out. Also money. We made ample provision for 15 years of retirement. We've now reached more than 20 years, I'm 23 years into retirement. My pension wouldn't be enough to support me for another 50 years should science be able to make it so. I understand and accept that there are reasons we don't live longer than we do. I'm content with that.

Getting all your ducks in a row is mostly about getting peace of mind and knowing that your grand exit will be smooth and simple for those left behind; let them focus on grieving rather than sorting out legal, burial etc. issues.

I think it's just a simple, basic reality we all have to face at some point, and it's generally better to get ahead of it and know how you feel about it before you're forced to encounter it. I don't think that's morbid: I think it's entirely rational.

Yes, that was my thinking. When we moved back to the city, it was because one of the kids literally needed a roof. His dad's "wife" set up his will in such a way that she would be allowed access to the money to buy herself a residence, which will eventually go to my kids on her death. However, there's a history of extreme longevity in her family, so we couldn't leave him sleeping on a couch at one of his brothers' homes until then. Almost four years later she's still going strong, while he needed care when he had covid, and luckily I was there to provide it, even while I was infected too, but vaccinated, so not as sick as he was.

But just as it's rational to be mentally and emotionally prepared for that inevitability, I think it's also worth devoting the same degree of consideration to any contemporary feelings: they too will pass. Even if it's a shitty slog today, who knows where you'll be in 6 months, and I don't think it's at all unhealthy or naive to cultivate some optimism in that regard - our feelings affect outcomes, so positivity, aspirations, and taking the time to enjoy what we have is also wholly worthy of our efforts.

Yes, now we're waiting for the grandkids to get vaccinated. I can't bring them here because our house isn't sanitary to the point their schools are, and is possibly the reason we got infected. Hopefully by the time my next birthday rolls around it will be different, Also I'm thinking of spending some money due to us at the end of the year, to do another little road trip on our own. So while it's on my mind that Barry's needing geriatric care now, he can still drive, and we'll go without a destination, just head in a direction and see where it takes us. At least I am content now that all my stuff is easily accessible and that there's enough money set aside for two cremations when the time comes so none of the kids has to spend any of their own. So while it's being practical, it's not negative, just accepting that it's coming sometime in the next 20 years.