Do you wonder how much time you have left?

I think lockdown has given us all too much time for introspection in that we are able to sit and think without any distractions. I have certainly thought a great deal about being left on my own, my own death and not seeing my grandchildren grow up. Hopefully once we are out and about again these thoughts will diminish.

It always makes made sad to see someone's life thrown into a skip.

I sometimes think about it and mainly try not to as it can be depressing. My neighbour died in mid January, he lived alone
his son has left all sorts of his belongings piled up outside both back and front and it is an eyesore. I have phoned the social housing to try to get the stuff moved and they have done nothing. How sad and undignified that this mans life belongings are left like this. It has prompted me to finish off the payments for my funeral so my adult children are not left with that burden on them

I'd like to see my DGC start school, go to university, get married, have their own children .... where do you stop?

This is a most interesting post.
Foxglove77 has started her post by saying 'without being morbid' which immediately reminded me of my parents reaction to any queries I had regarding death as a child.
They wouldn't talk about making a will either as it was a morbid subject.
When I attended a funeral for the first time in my life at age 20 I was struck by the power of the words. About how man rises up like a flower and then is struck down.
The following year my uncle died at 48 of a sudden heart attack, so another funeral to attend and again the power of the words. I'm not religious as such but those words are actually saying, don't waste time, reassess your life today!
Another statement on this subject is the three score years and ten.
About a year ago I mentioned this saying in our office ( when they were having a conversation about population) and as most of my colleagues are in their 20's and 30's they looked at me like I'd grown another head!!

if someone offered me a pill that would ensure I’d live for another 50 years, would I take it?

Yes!

Like some other posters here, I pack as much into every day as I possible can (not alwasy as much as I'd like) - but I've done that all my life.

I've had a good innings already and I'm not scared of death one bit. I'll go when my heart stops...meanwhile - get out of my way I have things to do

It’s a strange thing, living, isn’t it? I want to stick around for a good few years yet if I can, but if someone offered me a pill that would ensure I’d live for another 50 years, would I take it?

I suppose in the end our quality of life is paramount to its enjoyment. I pass an old folk’s home sometimes and think of ‘god’s waiting rooms’ and it makes me sad. Not everyone in there has family to call and even better, pop them in a car and take them out occasionally.

I'm curious how long I'd have but would I really want to know if I could? I hope to still be exploring the mountains when I'm in my 70s.

I do a bit but in maybe a different way. Four of my relatives have gone beyond 100. My mum is 99. Everyone says to me oh you’ll live a very long time then. It makes me really uncomfortable. I might not. I might not want to. Extreme old age doesn’t look like much fun. My OH talks about when he’s gone because of course I’ll live to 100. It’s a really weird feeling. I think my main concern is I don’t want to be alone and yet I don’t want to be a burden to my DC.

Yes. Being 83, it does haunt me quite a lot as to how many more seasons I will see, how many more places I will visit, will I have any great-grandchildren (none yet, sadly).

I do wish I could have some idea as to how much longer I am going to live, in order to work out my finances better. I know - I am a total 'control Freak'.

I do find myself these days, when I hear of someone I knew having died, think of how old they were.

I will be 80 in few weeks time, so a couple of months after that I will have passed my Mums age on her death, have long since past that of my brother. Another four years to pass my Dad.

Recently I added a codicil to my will to arrange for a small sum of money to be given from my estate (sounds posh - but is really the sale of my flat), to each g.child when they reach the age of 25 yrs. So wrote in that the month and year for each of them and realised that there was very little chance of me seeing the young four get to that age.

I really do hope to see my four older g.children graduate -my parents did not have this as we tend (as a family) not to have children very young. So, hopefully, I will get through the next five years.

TBH, provided I can continue living totally independently, and keep my brain working I am fine. But would not wish to continue 'living' if this was not the case.

It’s inevitable I suppose, I tend to think about it at odd moments of joy, how many more years will I see the daffodils? Smell the lilac outside my kitchen window? Sit in the sun at the seaside?
I have six grandchildren, I love them all and I think they love me, but most of them would accept that’s what happens to grandparents and get on with it. But I have one, who has had a lot of upheaval in her life, and we’re very close, she knows grandpa and I are always there for her. So I really need to keep going till she doesn’t need me anymore.

I do wonder, I'm now older at 73 than my mother was when she died. My father made late seventies which was incredible given the amount of alcohol and cigarettes that he got through. I would love to see my grandchildren get through university and go out into the world. As the youngest is 14 I might do it. I worry more about DH who is nearly 83 with various health issues, want him to hang on as long as possible!

I try not to speculate about how long I've got. However, I do think about what will happen at the end of my life. I need to warn my loved ones that I don't want anyone coming to say their "last goodbyes"... it's too final. I want to feel I'll live on in their hearts. They can say "Au revoir, Mum" or "Have the kettle on ready when you're up there"!
I regularly remind my English family that I want them to put half my ashes in a jiffy bag and post me up north to be scattered on Scottish soil near my birth family. That's a very powerful feeling.

Both my parents were 93 when they died, 3 years apart, so I am expecting to reach, or even exceed that age. I am 77 now and have had a few health issues over the years but generally am coping with the aches and pains of bits of me wearing out.
DH's Mum died at 49 and his Dad at 76 so he is sure that he will go before me and his recent cancer diagnosis and surgery has convinced him of that even more. He is quite pragmatic about it and just wants to make sure that I am left provided for, so is doing what he can to ensure that.

We have been blessed with a lovely son and daughter and four exceptional grandchildren, now all in their teens with the eldest at university. It will be sad to leave them all when we die but that is the circle of life and there is nothing we can do to avoid it. I am grateful for the life I have had and hope to enjoy what's left of it. Every day is a bonus when you get to our ages.

I just used to assume I’d go on for ages, healthy active lifestyle, good diet etc., thoroughly enjoying retirement with my husband. Now I know that won’t happen, but I really don’t want to be given an end date for the calendar, not even an estimated one.
I try to live for the day and see fun where I can. Mostly I manage to do this. I know everyone says it, but health is the most important thing, please enjoy good health while you can, those of you who have it.

I don’t really, I live every day like it could be my last, I spend every penny I have each month and when it’s my time, I leave nothing for no one?

Foxglove77, only occasionally - and it doesn't influence my decisions. It's a rather negative way of thinking. We all know that it's quality of life that really counts, not quantity.

I never used to give a thought to how old I would live to (both parents lived to 90) and then, at the age of 70, along came our first grandchild and, just a few weeks ago, at 72, along came our second grandchild! I am now constantly thinking that I really hope that I live to see them both become adults. Another 20 years for me would do it - I'll aim for that then!

Covid 19 has certainly concentrated my mind We normally visit one son (and his family) who lives in Canada once a year ( they could never afford to come to us). It's almost 2 years since we saw them, and looking like it will be next year before we can see them again. I always knew it was a 'countable' number of times we would enjoy with them before I died, perhaps that's why I feel so cheated by this bloody virus

Having been to 2 funerals of friends within the last 10 days I have to say it is certainly on my mind. One of them was totally unexpected, only just 70 and shocked everyone who knew her. Just about all cried out. A few of the same people were at both funerals which made those of us together really take a stock . If you’re wanting to do something, do it ASAP.

I think it's normal to wonder from time to time. My ancestors have all lived to a ripe old age, generally into their 90s. But I do have friends who have died in their 40s and 50s and that makes me feel mortal. I hope I have a good bit longer in me yet.

Yes, I do think about it. I’m 68 and generally fit and well but I am aware of my mortality. My DH is a similar age but has a range of health issues which may effect his life span. I often think that this may be. The last time I buy something significant Eg mobile, washing machine, curtains for the lounge etc. Not morbidly but just matter of fact. I sometimes think of how much of my grandchildren life I will be an active part of - whether I will see them grown up and with families of their own. My grandparents lived til their late 70’s and my mum until her late 80’s. Who knows what the future will hold?!

Flexiblefriend