If You Could Live To Be 150 Years Old......

[Major Tom]

In this thread, Meadbh posted a link to an article about a gentleman who is almost 105 years old, and who still swims competitively. It reminded me of a question I pose to myself from time to time (which I'm sure many of us have asked ourselves occasionally) and that is - if it were possible to live to be very old, would you want to?

Putting the realities of biology and medical science aside for a moment, what if the average lifespan was 150, and it was possible in some cases to live to be even older, with good physical health. Would you want to live this long?

I do have my own thoughts on the subject, but I'll hold off for the time being. I'm interested to know what others think, even though it's a rather fanciful subject.

 

[Nemo2]

Either live that long or be able to 'return to Earth' periodically just to see how it all turns out......I'm up for it.

 

[HFWR]

So, if you FIRE at 100, are you still "retiring early"?

Not sure I'm up for an 80-100+ year career! Of course, all this will come about when I'm old[-]er[/-] and [-]more[/-] dilapidated, so unless we figure out how to regenerate, I'd live another 90 years as an "old" person?

 

[Dash man]

So, if you FIRE at 100, are you still "retiring early"?

Not sure I'm up for an 80-100+ year career!

Investments in Pfizer (Viagra) and Kimberly-Clark (adult diapers) would carry you through!

 

[Animorph]

Heck yeah I'd go for 150. But if I had to live an extra 40 years with a current 110 year old's health and mental acuity that might not be so hot. On the other hand, a super duper wheelchair might be cool.

 

[H2ODude]

If my health and finances are up to it and DW wants to go along, why not? Unfortunately our healthcare industrial complex seems far more interested in preserving us as long as possible in order to drain our accounts, not to keep us vibrant and enjoying life. Just because you can be kept alive for a long time doesn't necessarily make it a good thing.

 

[Lsbcal]

I would definitely like to live to 150. I could hook up with one of those hot 80 year old chicks. Could probably have a new one each decade. Let's see, first a blond, then a red head, ...

Also I would probably be able to buy a huge mansion given my investments now and the time value of money.

But why stop at 150, why not go for the really big time? Maybe 250?

 

[Donzo]

If my health and finances are up to it and DW wants to go along, why not? Unfortunately our healthcare industrial complex seems far more interested in preserving us as long as possible in order to drain our accounts, not to keep us vibrant and enjoying life. Just because you can be kept alive for a long time doesn't necessarily make it a good thing.

And to avoid any litigation from lack of care..

I would do 150 as long as I was enjoying life. Even if it mostly consisted of reading, eating good food and of course managing my money

 

[Meadbh]

I would not want to live to be 150 unless I could be in good health for at least 145 of those years. And that's not gonna happen.

 

[Mulligan]

My Lord no, unless they have it engineered to where we look 75 at a 150. I couldn't imagine breaking my hip by tripping over my loose neck skin dangling on the ground, or needing a chainsaw to cut my ear hair thicket. Unless improvements are made, I will be like a lady a few years ago who was celebrated in the local paper for her 105th birthday. When asked what her birthday wish was, she said, "not to be around to celebrate a 106th birthday".

 

[REWahoo]

Only if friends and family had similar longevity.

 

[W2R]

Absolutely! I want to live as long as possible. I am in no hurry to leave this marvelous, magnificent world or end this wonderful life.

Like my mother said to me at age 97 (not long before her death), I still enjoy every single day of life and I look forward to each new day with joy and anticipation. Life is a gift that I accept gratefully.

But why stop at 150, why not go for the really big time? Maybe 250?

For sure! I am ready for the immortality pill, if they would just hurry up and invent one.

With a little effort I could easily spend less than 2%, especially after SS kicks in. If I did that, I think I would be set for life no matter how long that happens to be.

 

[easysurfer]

If I was healthy...sure I'd like to live until 150.

Even today, we've got it good comparing to back in days like Shakespeare where if you made it to 50, that was considered a ripe old age.

 

[Lsbcal]

...

For sure! I am ready for the immortality pill, if they would just hurry up and invent one.

With a little effort I could easily spend less than 2%, especially after SS kicks in. If I did that, I think I would be set for life no matter how long that happens to be.

If you lived that long W2R, being such a sensible person with money you could end world hunger. Just think how high Wellesley would climb by then!

I think I will nominate you for a Nobel prize in advance of your good fortune.

 

[Major Tom]

I'd like to live to 150 or 200, if I could do so with good physical health. The part that interests me though, is how I'd handle all the changes in society that would take place over such a long period of time. Taking the example of a 200-year life - if you were getting ready to meet your maker now, this means that you would have been born in 1814. Just think of the extreme changes in society and lifestyle that have taken place since then. You'd have to be a particularly adaptable and nimbly-minded person to deal with all that change, but I'd certainly like to try.

 

[easysurfer]

I think observing all the changes in society is part of the fun. That at all the technological breakthroughs.

 

[Lsbcal]

I'd like to live to 150 or 200, if I could do so with good physical health. The part that interests me though, is how I'd handle all the changes in society that would take place over such a long period of time. Taking the example of a 200-year life - if you were getting ready to meet your maker now, this means that you would have been born in 1814. Just think of the extreme changes in society and lifestyle that have taken place since then. You'd have to be a particularly adaptable and nimbly-minded person to deal with all that change, but I'd certainly like to try.

Sometimes just as a mental exercise, I try to imagine what things might be like 1,000,000 years from now. Will the human body evolve in ways we cannot imagine? Will any of the history we now take so seriously be remembered even 1000 years from now?

Sometimes we take all this present stuff too seriously. But what else is there to do?

 

[eytonxav]

This would be a major drag on social security, so after the funds run out, it might be a less glorious life.

 

[Brett_Cameron]

I would have to get working on creating an income stream after I am forced to withdraw the last of my 401k at age 134.

 

[Mulligan]

I would have to get working on creating an income stream after I am forced to withdraw the last of my 401k at age 134.

At least you would have one. I think my pension system would be forced to create a death firing squad to eliminate anyone who reaches 100 to keep the system solvent.

 

[ERD50]

Only if friends and family had similar longevity.

And not your enemies!

I imagine RMDs would be down to fractions of a penny by then, unless they updated the tables? Well, I guess even if they did update the tables (not really, a one or two percent WR oughta be just about a 'forever' portfolio).

-ERD50

 

[dontworry]

I would like to live that long only if I had my physical/mental health intact and my loved ones still surrounding me.

I am actually looking forward to what God has in store for me and everyone else though.

 

[Nemo2]

Also I would probably be able to buy a huge mansion given my investments now and the time value of money.

I seem to recall an old joke, from back in the time of coin operated payphones, where a guy is revived from cryonics a couple hundred years after death.

First thing he does is call his bank and is overjoyed to learn his account is now worth billions......then, halfway through the conversation, an automated voice says "Please deposit $250,000 for an additional three minutes".

 

[Bestwifeever]

I would be most concerned about vision, hearing, and cognitive functions (worst IMO would be to have 100 percent intellectual capacity but not be able to see or hear). Mobility and strength are way below those on my list.

If everyone had this superlongevity, we would need a lot more of everything--think how many people have been born since 1864.

 

[MichaelB]

Will a 3% withdrawal rate last 75 years? Should we keep the mortgage? How about an annuity? Should we delay Social Security 'till age 100?