Old People

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 11:31 pm

Old is rather subjective. I've decided to start this thread because I had an odd number of elderly people at work tell me this week that getting old sucks and they hope I don't have to do it.

lol

As horrid as it might sound, they were actually rather optimistic about dying instead of pessimistic about living so it didn't amount to a series of crises. I might be kind of odd that way in that I don't freak out when someone implies death might be pretty okay.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:04 am

Yes getting old SUCKS...!! I'm the oldest person on the staff where I work. Having said that I can also say I can work circles around them all. One the subject of death as it will happen for me sooner, than later just the truth. I don't fear it one bit actually looking forward to the rest.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:51 am

Well as one of the oldest (if not the oldest) participant on FG I feel qualified to participate in this discussion. I neither fear death nor look forward to it as I am enjoying my quality of life despite a few irksome medical conditions. I think that most of the aged residents of this fantastic retirement community in which I live feel the same way. There are 3,100 individual homes in this community of varying size, with 1/3 occupied by one person.

The average age is 70. With tennis courts, volleyball courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, library, biking clubs & 32 other chartered clubs it is a very active community. The one common thing is that it is a reasonably affluent community where the majority of residents can have their aging bodes tended to properly by various medical specialists outside of the community. Because of the average age of the residents, death is a weekly happening as is the Emergency Medical Vehicle. Rather than find this morbid, we joke about it.

We are a fortunate group of seniors and I am very much aware that not all are as fortunate.

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:48 am

Being old literally is a pain in the arse! As well as many other places. :wah:

Anyway, you know when you're really old, is when you go to a restaurant, and the server asks to be paid up front for the meal!

Post by **LarsMac** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:42 pm

I am older than I ever thought I'd be, but it doesn't seem as old as it used to.

I don't fear death, or growing older, as long as I can still get around.

Guys like Lon are my role model, now.

I intend to be an active old fart, or die trying.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:44 pm

If we live long enough, we get old. After that, we die. That's just the way it is. I do reailize that at my age, most of my life is over. I accept this, and also enjoy each day that is given to me. There is alot that I am thankful for. I hope that after I do die, someone will think of me....and smile.

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 4:18 pm

along-for-the-ride;1356188 wrote: If we live long enough, we get old. After that, we die. That's just the way it is. I do reailize that at my age, most of my life is over. I accept this, and also enjoy each day that is given to me. There is alot that I am thankful for. I hope that after I do die, someone will think of me....and smile.

I'm thinking of you now, and

koan · Post by **koan** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:14 pm

There is a lot of emphasis on extending life as long as possible and not enough concern about quality of life. Dying isn't always the worst thing that can happen.

The last woman who brought up considering death this week wasn't so much looking forward to it as admitting that she hadn't been putting affairs in order until her daughter started pushing her about it. Her daughter's job is to help clean up messy estates after people die. I mentioned that it's not so much about getting ready for the event as being able to relax and enjoy life more because you know everything is in order. That's true of any age though, as soon as there are kids a parent should make sure wills are written.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:25 pm

We hear a lot about "Quality of Life" but who is to decide quality of life for some one else? It's a personal thing. Stephen Hawking is a good example. We all have our own personal requirements for our own quality of life.

koan · Post by **koan** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:28 pm

Lon;1356212 wrote: We hear a lot about "Quality of Life" but who is to decide quality of life for some one else? It's a personal thing. Stephen Hawking is a good example. We all have our own personal requirements for our own quality of life.

I use it in the sense of my grandfather being envious of the family dog when he heard we were putting her down.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:36 pm

koan;1356214 wrote: I use it in the sense of my grandfather being envious of the family dog when he heard we were putting her down.

Was he in that poor of health & disposition?

koan · Post by **koan** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:48 pm

Lon;1356217 wrote: Was he in that poor of health & disposition?
yep. hip problems all his life with replacements and then amputation of one leg at a time.

A person should be allowed to decide when enough is enough.

M.A.S · Post by **M.A.S** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:00 am

being old and lonely is a problem but being old with a family is cool i think :guitarist

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:22 am

koan;1356220 wrote: yep. hip problems all his life with replacements and then amputation of one leg at a time.

A person should be allowed to decide when enough is enough.

I agree

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 7:00 am

I agree as well we allow people to suffer greatly much longer than they should.

yep. hip problems all his life with replacements and then amputation of one leg at a time.

A person should be allowed to decide when enough is enough.

Tightwad · Post by **Tightwad** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 5:19 pm

koan;1356140 wrote: Old is rather subjective. I've decided to start this thread because I had an odd number of elderly people at work tell me this week that getting old sucks and they hope I don't have to do it.

lol

As horrid as it might sound, they were actually rather optimistic about dying instead of pessimistic about living so it didn't amount to a series of crises. I might be kind of odd that way in that I don't freak out when someone implies death might be pretty okay.

The old folk's you're hearing this from are most likely baby boomers (my generation) that has always been the goingest & doingest generation of all. Boomers don't like not being able to do what they want , when they want, since age always slows down the human body.

Boomers don't take kindly the aches and pain and the diminished abilities of their bodies so they complain.

I've accepted that I can't do all the stuff I used to nor run hither and yon like I used to. I now am calmer , more quiet, than at any other time in my life. For me a hot time on Saturday nite is a good supper, a pipe or two, and a cup of good coffee afterwards then off to bed.

Life can be either conflict or peace it all depends on what you choose.