Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Life Expectancy

I just completed a life expectancy calculator which returned an expectancy of 102 years. My first thought, I don't want to live that long. Now, I want to live to see my grandchildren and hopefully great grandchildren, but whew, 102 years. Perhaps things will be different. I'm a vegetarian, but I don't exercise. I still have time to get into that right? My grandmother lived to be 72. Before her illness, she was extremely active and walked for longer distances than I do or did when I was more active. Her diet, however, was not as good as mine and she grew up through the first depression and Jim Crow, so life was much more difficult and perhaps more stressful. So, I anticipate having a good health and mobility in my older age.

Still, I'm not sure I would like to live to be 102. First, men die younger than women. I suppose I could find me a younger man, someone 80, 75? Heck, I'm a hot girl, I'm going for 65. If I had a man, living to 102 may be worth my while. However, I must also consider my children and grandchildren. Would they really want me around? As long as I'm active, I wouldn't be a burden. No one, or should I say, very few want to surrender their independence and become burdens on loved ones. I'm no exception. Perhaps I should take up more extra curricular drinking to bring that expectancy down a couple of decades. Now I know why getting my life insurance was so easy and inexpensive. They know they'll never have to pay out.