What are the odds you will be healthy, vigorous, and sharp til age 75?

[artemis]

Since there's no way to know for sure, how do you plan?

Part time work seems like a good answer but some fields don't suit that well. I like what WCI said though: once you have enough money, don't you dare trade your health for more of it.

I think that's the answer. Find something you REALLY want to do and do it. Then cross your fingers. If the worst does happen, at least you didn't waste your limited time doing something you hated.

[burritos]

I think that's the answer. Find something you REALLY want to do and do it. Then cross your fingers. If the worst does happen, at least you didn't waste your limited time doing something you hated.

What percentage of all humans in all of history has enjoyed "doing" their dream job/passion? .001%? I think well being comes from within. And that's generally a struggle in itself.

[Tim]

We got off topic by discussing all the things we can do to improve our odds. Yes we should do those things. But there is a significant element of chance which was really the point of my question. Like Lake Wobegon we believe we're all above average . But guaranteed some on this board, even some apparently healthy folks doing all the right things, are going to get unlucky. How do you account for this in your planning? Put money aside, what about how you allot your time on short (day to day) or long (decade to decade) time scales?

If I live to a healthy 90 I have way more to give in my late 40s. But if I develop Parkinson's at age 60 I should have retired already.

Since there's no way to know for sure, how do you plan?

Part time work seems like a good answer but some fields don't suit that well. I like what WCI said though: once you have enough money, don't you dare trade your health for more of it.

Answer three questions and you will have YOUR answer.

https://thephysicianphilosopher.com/guides/three-kinder-questions/

There really is no “right” answer. A wheelchair at 45 might be your choice. Quality of life is about as individual as you can get.

[CM]

But guaranteed some on this board, even some apparently healthy folks doing all the right things, are going to get unlucky. How do you account for this in your planning? Put money aside, what about how you allot your time on short (day to day) or long (decade to decade) time scales?

Since there's no way to know for sure, how do you plan?

I can't say I planned any of this, but this is how I've done it:

From 18-35 my focus was on lifting, dancing, clubbing, and lovers. I was out all the time. I met everyone and did everything. I didn't focus on my career anymore than I focused on brushing my teeth; it was a necessary chore that occupied enough of my attention to accomplish the task, not more.

I took a year between college and med school to do something I loved, then took a year between 34-35 to travel, ski, surf, dive, hang-glide (tandem), and fail at writing a novel. I stepped away from medicine for 13 years in my 40s and early 50s to wander through life doing whatever seemed interesting at the time.

For the last 8 years I've been working a lot, and now work has my full attention. I hated my career when I was younger, but I appreciate it now. Discarding call has a lot to do with that, but I think declining testosterone can claim the lion's share of the credit.

So, to the extent you have anything in common with me, I recommend you burn the candle at both ends doing all the things that are meaningful to you while young, and/or "retire" young in order to work in older age. Work (knowledge work) fits better on an older body.

I was always the healthy person doing all the right things, but I suffered two serious (non-lifestyle) illnesses in my 50s, and my best friend from high school and college, another healthy person doing all the right things, died at 57. I'm well aware I could die tomorrow, but that doesn't make me want to quit work because working and planning for a long life feels right at the moment.

[Jenn]

I’d like to see the research that backs that last statement up. Lots of confounding factors. But if you took a group of people who 1. Had enough saved up and 2. Had a lot of varied interests that require a lot of time (I.e. the type of people that FIRE appeals to)…would they be happier working vs not working? My theory is that many people who are happier working either need the money (so the monetary stress of not working causes unhappiness) or are not self-motivated or creative enough to make their own routine that gives them purpose. And then of course there are the lucky few who love all aspects of their work so much (including all the aspects that make it a job—I.e. the schedule/work environment/paperwork/politics) they would do it for free…I think those people are the exception.

I'm dissatisfied in retirement- somewhat bored, not always interested in doing the projects I have at hand, not seeing the grandkid so much anymore now he's in daycare (I was unpaid part time nanny until the slot opened). When it gets enough I ask myself "do you want to go back to work?" or even spouse says "well why don't you commit to this volunteer activity?" and I immediately realize, no, I'd much rather be here wishing I could decide what to do than at work wishing I had time to do things I want to do, or wake up in the morning thinking "what shall I do today? Oh yeah, I have to (wo)man the garden shop/ walk the animal shelter dogs/ whatever so grumble and get on with that." I only wish that (and I am working on) spending less of my free time making good stuff to eat. Oh, and eating at restaurants several times a week instead of once every two weeks is really nice as well. So all in all, always seeking something more, but definitely more satisfied retired than working. And apparently freedom (sometimes to spend that freedom wondering what I want to do) is more important to me than a specific purpose/ interest.

[Jenn]

No doubt smaller people have advantages, but when it comes to competing and besting others in physical feats/competition... well there's a reason why smaller people generally aren't out competing bigger stronger foes at a high clip.

Being 5'4" myself, and female and never a strength trainer (Army time got me ahead of most females but not competitive with most males my age) as well as an organic gardener (tons of stuff for compost instead of a bottle or so of fertilizer) I am constantly regretting not being stronger. Foresee the day as I age of getting the cheaper 50# bag of dog food or lime pellets loaded into my car by a nice grocery/garden store guy, then having to open it and take the stuff out a few pounds at a time to get it into the house/ garden. And part of my gardening is collecting bags of leaves or grass when the neighbors put it out for trash collection. I am constantly telling folks I see (men and younger women) "I sure wish you weren't so much stronger than me- then I'd be able to pick up these bags you have filled so well." (Sometimes that gets them to load them in my truck for me.)

[Jenn]

What percentage of all humans in all of history has enjoyed "doing" their dream job/passion? .001%? I think well being comes from within. And that's generally a struggle in itself.

As soon as you HAVE to do it... Spouse loved flying simulator games and private pilot training. Got into the pilot training arm for flight surgeon and lost all his enthusiasm for it after work hours. Took him a few decades to go back to flight sim games.

[Tim]

“And apparently freedom (sometimes to spend that freedom wondering what I want to do) is more important to me than a specific purpose/ interest.”

”Took him a few decades to go back to flight sim games.”

The real trick my wife and I found last weekend. Had a sago palm the we lost to the freeze (awhile ago).

My “job” was to cut it down.
Our “job” was to load the 3ft sections in the wheel barrel
My “job” was to wrestle it to the curb.
Not yet done:
My “job is to dig out the stump.
Her “job” was to plant the flower bed.

Neither of us “want to do anymore. Gott run and pick up daughter’s dog. That will keep me busy all weekend. Not sure why but it does.

Only suggestion is get hubby to help with 50lb bags.Of course, he may not want to.

[Nash22]

mandatory retirement at 70 or submit to independent cognitive evals every year and release all results
sorry not sorry

Can you please send this to my 70+ boomer partner who refuses to retire or cut back on volume because there is never enough $$$ in the world? Continues to operate at > 95% MGMA levels with no end in sight. Sloppy, quick work, of course, because something has to give when you maximize both $$$ and lifestyle. These people are a different breed, and personality pathology is involved.

[Nash22]

As soon as you HAVE to do it... Spouse loved flying simulator games and private pilot training. Got into the pilot training arm for flight surgeon and lost all his enthusiasm for it after work hours. Took him a few decades to go back to flight sim games.

Very common among pilots. I knew a flight instructor who was so into it that he gave up his prior career at age 40 to do flight training full-time, got all his ratings, and instructed. All he ever did was complain about the business, acted like it was no big deal, like driving a bus. Just some annoying thing you had to do. Whatever passion he initially had for it to give up everything and do it full-time was either gone or he purposefully hid it to try and fit some kind of tough-guy pilot image. Seen this in many other pilots. None seem to have any awe about flying machines through the sky -- it's just an annoyance for them. Whereas I have met plenty of surgeons who literally got a high out of operating and wouldn't shut up about how awesome what they do is.

[GlassPusher]

Can you please send this to my 70+ boomer partner who refuses to retire or cut back on volume because there is never enough $$$ in the world? Continues to operate at > 95% MGMA levels with no end in sight. Sloppy, quick work, of course, because something has to give when you maximize both $$$ and lifestyle. These people are a different breed, and personality pathology is involved.

At the other extreme, the French are protesting the govt retirement age being raised from 62 to 64...that's on top of a shortened work week and less hours than , well, pretty much everyone else.
The last protest I remember was transport workers protesting high gas prices caused by strikes at fuel refineries over wages...protest begetting protest...

[burritos]

At the other extreme, the French are protesting the govt retirement age being raised from 62 to 64...that's on top of a shortened work week and less hours than , well, pretty much everyone else.
The last protest I remember was transport workers protesting high gas prices caused by strikes at fuel refineries over wages...protest begetting protest...

Entitlements begets more entitlements. Eventually you run out of able bodied workers to fuel the entitled, then u get involution.

[burritos]

Hey, a guy 100 years old just ran the 100 meter dash at the Penn Relays.

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2022/05/02/100-year-old-race-penn-relays-meters-lester-wright/amp/

World records are starting to seem likely in your future. Try race walking. Weird event, but actually difficult. You will smoke ‘em in the last 100 with your finishing kick.

This(sprinting at the age 100)>>than being a billionaire IMO.

[Tim]

At the other extreme, the French are protesting the govt retirement age being raised from 62 to 64...that's on top of a shortened work week and less hours than , well, pretty much everyone else.
The last protest I remember was transport workers protesting high gas prices caused by strikes at fuel refineries over wages...protest begetting protest...

Rather interesting. Macron did not have the votes to get it passed in the legislature. The choice came to not passing his major campaign promise.
Now he decided to do that via a "decree". Look for a "no confidence vote" that he may not have the votes to survive. High stakes gamble for his political career.

[Tim]

This(sprinting at the age 100)>>than being a billionaire IMO.

"Wright placed seventh out of nine in the men’s 80 years and older division, beating an 86-year-old and a 92-year-old."
Age group competitions are inspirational. "All comers" competitions as well. You my find need to get off your bike and run something.

http://live.finishtiming.com/meets/514614/events

FYI, the competition isn't really against others, it is to turn in a PR when it counts. I can hear the crowd getting to it's feet, "Run Burritos Run"!
You don't need to wait until 100. The dude came in 7th and that was the hot heat.