Thanks to modern medicine and general advances in society our life expectancies are at a all time high. Now a long life doesn't always mean a good one - especially in the later years. My family is extremely long lived - my grandfather is approaching his 91st year quickly - his younger siblings are well into their 80's and show no signs of keeling over anytime soon and his older ones passed away at very very ripe old ages (his oldest brother lived till 96).
But really...does a long life appeal to you?
My motto is "quality over quantity" - if I can maintain independence, health, good spirits, an intact mind and cognitive skills and still do have friends, things to enjoy etc - then sure, I'd totally be up for living as long as I could. But I don't know...living just for the sake of living or ending up in a care home or something isn't something that I'm really willing to accept; Realistically if I pass away at 65 or even sooner - I'd feel it a life well lived and an acceptable age to say farewell.
Coming from a Asian (Chinese) background there's so much cultural significance and focus on longevity - health and other things too but a great great focus on longevity in general. There's a thing where at birthday parties noodles are served and the noodles shouldn't be cut or mashed up with a fork when served to the birthday person as to not "cut" the long life wished apon said person signified by the noodles. So....for me saying openly that I don't want to be around till my 80's/90's is abit of a taboo and has earned me many hairy eyeballs from my relatives/extended family - well, that and my Hungarian Kuvasz too...
But really...does a long life appeal to you?
My motto is "quality over quantity" - if I can maintain independence, health, good spirits, an intact mind and cognitive skills and still do have friends, things to enjoy etc - then sure, I'd totally be up for living as long as I could. But I don't know...living just for the sake of living or ending up in a care home or something isn't something that I'm really willing to accept; Realistically if I pass away at 65 or even sooner - I'd feel it a life well lived and an acceptable age to say farewell.
Coming from a Asian (Chinese) background there's so much cultural significance and focus on longevity - health and other things too but a great great focus on longevity in general. There's a thing where at birthday parties noodles are served and the noodles shouldn't be cut or mashed up with a fork when served to the birthday person as to not "cut" the long life wished apon said person signified by the noodles. So....for me saying openly that I don't want to be around till my 80's/90's is abit of a taboo and has earned me many hairy eyeballs from my relatives/extended family - well, that and my Hungarian Kuvasz too...