How long of a life is long enough?

[VanKitten]

MY Dad died last Sept at the age of 94

His final years were very hard...so many medical problems, disabled, and finally dependent on caregivers for nearly everything.

He used to say that he was long past his sell by date.

There was a web site a few years back that would tell you how long he have to live. You filled in all sorts of info on family background and living style.....
Well, it told my dad that he was already dead.

I guess living that long is more than enough.

 

[Richard]

Just found this video a moment ago. It's a bit of serendipity that it's relevant to this current thread and that the man in the video lives in Austin, Texas (which is where I'm currently staying in a hotel following yesterday's overheating fiasco; waiting to see whether I've blown a head, a head gasket, or perhaps got lucky enough to only need a water pump, a thermostat, or some other relatively minor thing).

109-Year-Old Veteran and His Secrets to Life Will Make You Smile | Short Film Showcase (12-minutes, 38-seconds)

 

[Vagabound]

 Man, is not finite, nothing is finite, everything on the planet and beyond is constantly changing structure, existing in a different form, constantly reinventing itself, ...

Correction: The raw material of our over-esteemed meat sacks is infinite, at least as far as we can theorize, barring a final trip for them into the sun.  It is that raw material that gets recycled and changes form. As humans, our next and last stop is transforming into soil. If you can demonstrate that you've located sentient soil, now we've got something to talk about.

To borrow and modify, superstition by any other name smells as stinky.

Tom

 

[Vagabound]

 Man, is not finite, nothing is finite, everything on the planet and beyond is constantly changing structure, existing in a different form, constantly reinventing itself, ...

Correction: The raw material of our over-esteemed meat sacks is infinite, at least as far as we can theorize, barring a final trip for them into the sun.  It is that raw material that gets recycled and changes form. As humans, our next and last stop is transforming into soil. If you can demonstrate that you've located sentient soil, now we've got something to talk about.

To borrow and modify, superstition by any other name smells as stinky.

Tom

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

... If you can demonstrate that you've located sentient soil, now we've got something to talk about.

To borrow and modify, superstition by any other name smells as stinky.

Tom

Not soil; but there have been a number of studies demonstrating even plants feel pain/emotion (the names of the book(s) where I read the results escapes me at the moment --- The Life of Plants or something like that I think)

It's all energy in one form or another

 

[speedhighway46]

It's the Law of Conservation of Matter

 

[wayne49]

"Secret Life of Plants"

 

[wayne49]

I cannot answer how long is long enough. I have some lines in the sand for myself.

Worked in a geriatric health care center in the early 70's. Can't get that experience out of my head.

What I do know is that I don't want to be spending a long time dying.

 

[Vagabound]

....

Worked in a geriatric health care center in the early 70's. Can't get that experience out of my head.

What I do know is that I don't want to be spending a long time dying.

Understand. I visited someone I cared about in a nursing home one time. I left feeling so depressed, with the words "human warehouse" stuck in my head. It was sad, creepy, and chilling all at the same time.

Tom

 

[Ballenxj]

109-Year-Old Veteran and His Secrets to Life Will Make You Smile | Short Film Showcase (12-minutes, 38-seconds)

That was good, thanks.

 

[jimindenver]

I have been thinking about this and will let you know when I get there.

 

[Goshawk]

OMG this thread. Painful memories of my wife dieing of cancer while did my best to be brave.

No one gets out alive. Believe what you want to believe.

Be real aware of your chances for recovery and happy functionality. A heart attack could leave you crippled. All we hear is the good survival stories. The bad stories are buried with those who suffer for a year or more after. Doctors can make the body work, but will your internal personality handle the stress of being frozen in a body that can't function? Will you handle the stress of your impact to love ones that are literally slaving over you to care for you ? Be smart about this all.

The early comments about finding pain relief are very important. Do that. So many states have bullshit poor laws about caring for someone who is poor (no insurance) and in pain at end of life. And with many trying to mess up and cut medical care. Just be aware of what state you need to live in for proper help.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bullfrog]

Can you recommend or know of one to avoid as far as states go?

 

[Vagabound]

OMG this thread. Painful memories of my wife dieing of cancer while did my best to be brave.

No one gets out alive. Believe what you want to believe.

Be real aware of your chances for recovery and happy functionality.  ...

Goshawk,

I was moving a mile a minute when I first read this in the thread and didn't really have time to comment. Before that starts up again, I want to take the chance to say that I think your post was brave, honest, and full of practical wisdom. Thanks for sharing something like that with us.

Tom

 

[DrJean]

There is federal law about pain... and the phrase, "I have a right to not suffer this pain" should trigger the MD to supply something for the pain. It always has for me....

Alas I have all but conquered (or learned to repress) my "chronic" pain...

I had DNRs... but God choose to let me live.

 

[poncho62]

I slipped on the ice the other day and banged my upper arm/shoulder pretty good. No bruising, but I think I pulled some muscles going down......Hurts like hell and I'm ready to die now......lol

 

[Vagabound]

I slipped on the ice the other day and banged my upper arm/shoulder pretty good. No bruising, but I think I pulled some muscles going down......Hurts like hell and I'm ready to die now......lol

LOL. It has occurred to me that if I ever decide to write a book or a blog or something about my box truck build-out project, I should include a chapter titled "What to do when repeated injuries make you wish for your own premature death".

Tom

 

[LeeRevell]

Having ongoing medical troubles is a real bummer, especially when limited to a vehicular lifestyle. Having had to drop medical insurance due to unsustainable costs makes it tougher.
But online study shows other options, and there are methods of improving some aspects of our health.
With the prospect of a major seastate change in health insurance looming, I hope for something more workable. Until then, "self medication and treatment" is the SOP.
How long do I expect to have? Who knows. Maybe longer than I think, or maybe less than I hope.

 

[DrJean]

Considering that there is only ONE actual medication that cures anything: antibiotic kills viruses.... it's not a problem for me to work around my allergies to the fake/synthetic meds MDs prescribe and use actual herbs... Everything else the MD prescribes attacks the symptoms only, and causes more symptoms for which they prescribe something else... a vicious but very lucrative cycle for them.

I haven't died yet... and could have... so I'm eager to begin my bucket list

 

[INTJohn]

They say only the good die young........
My father was 97 when he died and one more sin he would have been immortal.......

When a friends son died at 17 months; He said, "My son already knew so much about the World the he left at the first opportunity."

As for me; I won't deny that there have been times in my life when it has been very comforting to know that suicide is always an option......... Freedom! I can exercise anytime I want.

INTJohn