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Good choices.

72

I am not having any depression or apathy issues. Good marriage, family ties, good friends. I stay active. Always learning new things. Very good hobbies. When I get bored I find a new challenge. Like starting drag racing at 71. The new Jaguar E Type is keeping my interest now. It was sitting for a good while so I’m bringing it out of hibernation. That means fixing things. The wife was with me and on a major road and said “feels like it needs one more gear”. So I’m putting in a Tremec 5 speed. So there is always something for me to do. Flying, shooting, cars, drag racing, car clubs and events, etc.

Rather than depression, I am just sad that this grand adventure will someday end.

Sounds to me like you are winning OG. Everything you say in your post is inspirational. I get the impression from you that staying active and engaged is key. You kind of done it all already, maybe learn how to Ball Room dance with your wife while you still have your mobility, just a maybe stupid suggestion, although she may love that and be impressed with that. There is a poster on this site that is a professional Ball Room dancer, forget his name but there was a post on it here a while ago, probably can do a search for it. The grand adventure here will end someday but the good news is that the ultimate adventure will just begin if you keep the faith.

"Ballroom Dancing is the second most fun thing a man and a woman can do together".

I tell a lot of folks that one. But, truthfully, for my wife and I it was the "most fun" thing -- the other was good too.

Unfortunately,, my wife who has literally been a high end athlete all her life has become too ill to dance anymore -- she virtually can't walk (she's 85 now).

So the bottom line is that aging may stink but the only other option is much worse!

Yes.

Everyone wants to go to Heaven but nobody wants to die to get there. 😀

I hope that I am living a sufficiently righteous life. Every day I try to make time to thank the Lord for my many blessings.

I think it mostly has to do with the time and manner of death. If everyone died in their sleep at the age of 100 I’m sure the fear of death would be significantly less!

Yes, I agree. I know with me, I always expected to live beyond 80 years old. So, until I was 80, I just didn't think about death for me or my wife. I was planning on 90 for both of us.

Now, I don't know if I have 2 years left or a decade left -- bothersome at times. My wife probably has less than 2 years. Starting 3 years ago, I was spending most of every day taking care of her. 2 years ago, it became close to a genuine 24 hours (I would get some PC games in -- that was all I had time for). Now, she has daily professional help.

We'll all get there someday. My father died young (62). But, he didn't know it was coming. He was once a Pro Golf Teacher. He went out and played 36holes one weekend. Monday, at lunch, he laid his head on the table. The folks with him thought he was going to sleep. He died of an internal hemorrhage literally caused by too many golf swings. An 80+ year old friend of a Son died on the course. Not really a bad way to go -- having fun golfing -- then suddenly its over -- no time for worries.

When I turned 60 I had the thought "OK, maybe I have 20 more years left"....
Thing is, here I am 3 and a half years later and I keep thinking "OK, maybe I have 20 more years left"

I have had Type-1 Diabetes for 21 years, already had a couple of heart attacks. I am shocked I that I have made it to 71. My Dad died at 53 from a stroke on the golf course. He told me several times if he had to go that he wanted to go on the golf course. He got his wish.

I figure everyday on the ride side of the grass is gravy, alllll gravy.

Yes Leaf85 we all want to live. My daughter when she passed from a 3 year battle with cancer her last words before she passed were " I want to live ", will never forget that. Of course we all want to live but it is not the end when we pass, just the eternal beginning of life if you believe. Don't get me wrong I enjoy every second of living.

I decided I couldn't be afraid of death, having lost a few who are ultimately precious to me, it will come, a definite. Whatever happens afterward will eventually be revealed regardless. And if nothing, there will be nothing to worry about it. Only thing that does worry me is the manner of my death.

This.

I had already mentioned to my family that if I died on my motorcycle from either racing motocross or riding my street bike...that there are worse ways to go and not to feel too bad about the manner of my death.

Much better than going out like many of my friends and family have recently...laying in a hospital bed in incredible pain when the painkillers stop working and languishing in agony until the inevitable end.

I read today that 1 in 3 Americans will get Cancer. That's an incredible statistic. I am sure Cancer has affected many family's on this site, it has affected my family in the worst way. I myself wouldn't want to go out with Cancer, that's my fear. Not afraid of dying but going out in that manner would be terrible.

Of course that statistic includes older people in their 80’s or older who get the disease. A 7 year old kid with leukemia is a lot more tragic to me than an 85 year old with prostate cancer.

Totally agree PM, seeing cancer in older people is probably not that uncommon but seeing cancer in young kids is just devastating and heartbreaking. Every time I see one of those ST. Jude commercials with those cancer ridden children, I tear up. I now donate to St. Jude's.

I donate to them too.

Good on you OG, you have a good compassionate heart. I think it is a worthy cause too.