After retirement life throws you a curve. (relative, retired, graduate)
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I was given two years 11 years ago because of a heart valve, five years 7 years ago because of my lungs. I haven't had any operations and I still work out at the gym daily. Don't buy that coffin too early, it may be obsolete by the time you need it
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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1 yr to live?, too early to care,
As mentioned, there are many things come to play... largely your quality of life during that yr.
Many will desire to leave a legacy,
others... to leave AFTER experiencing all their "I-Wish-I-Coulda"
Not clear cut to me. Probably time invested in family / friends and assuring my family foundation and trust is in good shape.
If I hurry and get that done, then another road / motorcycle trip to National Parks in USA, Canada, South America.
I haven't tryed skydiving, and it sounds very fun. Maybe start that on day 355 to be able to fit in a few jumps if I like it.
I don't think I'd make any appreciable changes to my life as I live it now. Beyond ensuring that all my affairs were in order for my wife's sake I'd continue to spend the bulk of my time with her. As for the children, they all live 700-2,000 miles away. They would be welcome to come here if they wanted to spend some time with me, or reassure themselves that I really was on my way out. If they didn't make the effort, oh well. I would not be traveling to see them.
I take much joy in our current surroundings and would want to spend as much time in place as possible. As for adventures left undone, so be it. In many ways it's been a good life both here and abroad. I'm content.
None of us knows how long we'll be on this earth, or in what kind of shape physically, mentally, and emotionally. I retired early (at age 55), as did my wife, not knowing exactly what would happen but realizing a simple truth ... that the day we retired was the first day of the rest of our lives, and we were eager to see what those lives would be like.
We had made plans for retirement, but nothing set in stone. We thought we'd sell our house and move - we didn't. We thought we'd end up living closer to my family - nope. We thought it would be just the two of us at home, but our grown son needed to move back home and regroup after the economy soured.
We have each had medical challenges - nothing serious (knock on wood), but troubling nevertheless. We've also had a LOT of fun. I am so much closer to my wife now, something that I didn't think was possible prior to retirement, and something in which I take great delight each and every day.
Have we been thrown curves? Sure - life is like that whether you're retired or not. Could things be better for us? Of course. But things are darned good now, and if things get bad, we'll deal with it then.
A few years ago I had a cluster of ominous systems that can indicate a terminal disease, one that usually kills within a couple of years, even with aggressive treatment. I spent a few weeks scheduling, undergoing, and awaiting results from various diagnostic procedures. The one thing that I kept thinking was that if the tests came back positive, I would immediately hire a top-notch decorator (had one picked out) to redo our master bedroom suite. Price would be no object. I'd have the best mattress, linens, lighting, rugs, accessories, tech toys, etc. that money could buy.
What's odd is that my decorating style is normally no-frills. We do have a nice mattress and linens (love the comfort) but it's a tailored, simple, almost spartan look. I prefer it that way. But by gum if I was going to be sick, I was going to be sick in luxurious surroundings! I was determined to do so even while aware that I'd likely not spend more than a few months using the room.
At the time I had no idea why I had dreamed up this scheme and didn't care. Now, looking back, I realize how well the planning distracted me from worrying about the test results. I was obsessed with the plans and was so busy collecting samples and visiting showrooms that I had no time to think about the tests and their implications.
Obviously my tests all came out negative, and my bedroom is as plain jane as ever. I love it that way.
Neighbor retired two years ago. Went for his doctor's appt; many appts later he
has one year to live. Saved all his life for retirement has plenty of money. What
to do now?
He has one child well to do.
I think I would run and away and have fun.
Fast cars Loose men and drink for me.
What would you do? Has life thrown you a curse and how did you cope?
What was left of my life would be a non stop party. Wine, women and song. I'd travel anywhere and everywhere I could. And, I'd spend every dime of my money I could.
I was given two years 11 years ago because of a heart valve, five years 7 years ago because of my lungs. I haven't had any operations and I still work out at the gym daily. Don't buy that coffin too early, it may be obsolete by the time you need it
My beloved aunt had advanced lung cancer back in the 1960's, when she was only in her forties. Her doctors told her to "get her affairs in order", she did. She prepared thick inspirational packets, with pictures and typed memories and favorite poems, and sent them to all her siblings, including my mom. I still have it.
Flash forward 40 years later, to Thanksgiving dinner. We were discussing this, for the first time in many years. Beloved aunt, now 85 and in excellent health, said "you know, I ought to call those doctors and let them know I'm still here." ... long pause ... "But they're all dead so I can't."
My beloved aunt had advanced lung cancer back in the 1960's, when she was only in her forties. Her doctors told her to "get her affairs in order", she did. She prepared thick inspirational packets, with pictures and typed memories and favorite poems, and sent them to all her siblings, including my mom. I still have it.
Flash forward 40 years later, to Thanksgiving dinner. We were discussing this, for the first time in many years. Beloved aunt, now 85 and in excellent health, said "you know, I ought to call those doctors and let them know I'm still here." ... long pause ... "But they're all dead so I can't."
What a wonderful story!!! Love it!!!
I would want to get my affairs in order, but I have actually been trying to do that for a lifetime, lol.
I would not do anything any differently than I am doing right now, except I would want to have more parties where the people I enjoy could be in the same room more often.
I have lived my life knowing anything could happen to any of us at any time . . . so I don't take relationships for granted. And I have been lucky to have experienced more than I dreamed I would as a child. So I have no regrets. I do still have personal goals and aspirations and dreams! So I would doubtless continue on the same path I have been on since a child -- "life is a journey" -- and filled with surprises. Love well every day . . . today won't be duplicated.
When I first read Belagio I thought you meant the casino in Vegas. LOL. Sounds delightful though and romantic. I want to spend a bunch of time traveling Europe and Asia so those are the two geographical regions I am making
Quote:
Originally Posted by biscuitmom
My beloved aunt had advanced lung cancer back in the 1960's, when she was only in her forties. Her doctors told her to "get her affairs in order", she did. She prepared thick inspirational packets, with pictures and typed memories and favorite poems, and sent them to all her siblings, including my mom. I still have it.
Flash forward 40 years later, to Thanksgiving dinner. We were discussing this, for the first time in many years. Beloved aunt, now 85 and in excellent health, said "you know, I ought to call those doctors and let them know I'm still here." ... long pause ... "But they're all dead so I can't."
That is a wonderful story too. Reminds me of something that happened to me similarly where I was told by many people that my marriage would not last 7 years because I was marrying a "Korean woman" Here we are 33 years later.
Neighbor retired two years ago. Went for his doctor's appt; many appts later he has one year to live. ...What would you do? Has life thrown you a curse and how did you cope?
My father had his own business, and at age fifty-seven was moving into retirement. He was more or less presiding over his business and was getting ready to sell it. He was dx with cancer of the trachea (life-long smoker.)
He was a very closed off person - in some respects stoical, but also in large measure simply emotionally constipated. He died in a year, living as he always had. Sitting in silence, saying little or nothing.
Very close to what was clearly The End he suddenly wanted to talk and talk. Unfortunately by this point the cancer had robbed him of this ability, and he could only grunt and make sounds like a small dog barking. He could not write.
So, we sat and watched while he waved his hands in frustration. He finally gave up one day, lay back on his pillow, drifted off to sleep and died.
I doubt that if his last year and death had been able to be described to him before it happened that it is what he would have chosen. But since having it any other way would have meant discussing his feelings with his wife, myself, and his friends when he got the dx; however, this was evidently more threatening than just continuing on to the grave in silence.
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