I happened upon this article the other day, talking about how scientists have come across genetic markers common to those who seem to have extreme longevity, living well into their 100s.  The article points out that knowing you have these genes could really impact the way you plan to live out your life.  After all, when your retirement lasts a good 20 years beyond what you might have expected, there is a lot to consider.  I can see how this type of knowledge could be really useful, since it’d give you a better idea if you should be seriously considering making plans for how you are going to live well after the normal life expectancy.

I actually wouldn’t really want to live so long though.  There may be plenty to do and endless knowledge to accrue, but I think once you get to a certain age, you start to become too much of a burden.  Unless you’ve saved up expecting to live to 120 and your health remains strong, financial issues will begin to surface one way or another.  I’d hate to be clinging on to life at 110 years old, living off my progeny because my retirement funds dried up 25 years ago and medical bills started to stack up well before that.  What’s the point, at that point?  What more is there to live for?  Not to be morbid or anything, but I’d rather make peace with everything I’d done in my life, say goodbye to my loved ones (if I could), and let nature take its course.  If I’m sick and broke, I’m doing no good to anyone and probably causing those closest to me the most harm.

It’s a silly little thing, but I’ve always thought that 88 is a nice age to live to.  (Perhaps just because it’s a very lucky number in the Chinese culture.)  I think by then I’ll have done most of the things I want to do without any major desires to fulfill.  Of course that is only speculation and we’ll have to see how things go as I age.  But whenever I get to the point where I’ve deteriorated so much mentally and/or physically that I’m a burden, I’d like to be able to call it a life and let the world move on without me.  People come and go and at some point, living just to stay alive becomes senseless.  We humans have such a strong drive to live on, and I’d certainly feel robbed if I had to die before I could retire and have grandkids and experience the world a bit more, but if I got to do all that… I’d be at peace leaving things to the future generations.

But first, I want to live a full life!  And though I’d like it to be long, I don’t want it to drag out to be too long.