Would anybody like to live till they are 150.

I thought this thread would deteriorate into one of Frank's political assertions. Do you know, Frank, that the contributions made by employees and employers into occupational pensions in the public sector are not always invested? They are actually taken by whatever government is in power and the pensions are paid out of contributions - possibly or possibly just out of the general purse. We all pay to support pensioners and as I'm a taxpayer and a pensioner, I'm paying to support myself. You may not know this either, but the road tax we pay isn't used to repair or build roads. And the income from National Insurance is nowhere near enough to cover the costs of the NHS.

My Mother was nearly 102 when she died so I would have to say no. She was mentally as alert as she always had been but her quality of life was declining for a couple of years .Her sight was failing, her hearing was very poor and she was losing interest even in the family,so quality before quantity for me everytime.

Yes, hunter, you paid in all that. But at the time you were paying it in, your parents' generation were receiving a pension. Where do you think that came from, the fairies? No, it came from the people who were paying it in - you, and your generation. Pension schemes can't print money, they have to have cash flow, in and out. There is some elastic, but it is not everlasting.

When DH took early retirement was made suddenly redundant, and the firm then went bust, the pension scheme had to be taken over by an insurance firm and what there was in it carefully invested so that it would continue to keep the ex-employees in their old age when no-one was paying ahything in any more.

My grandfather lived into his late 80's - mostly in excellent health. He used to say the worst thing about growing old was seeing family and friends die.
During WW1 he was an officer in the Royal Corps. As a child I remember when he went to their annual reunion parties - he always came home with a silly smile on his face and his coat buttoned up incorrectly . In the 1970s he stopped going as every year someone would be missing. The first few years there would be one member missing, but towards the end several.
By the time he died two of the people he loved the most, my mother and my grandmother, had died several years in the past. If you lived to 150 can you imagine how many people you'd lose.

Totally agree Mamie, I feel just the same.

I just love life, but we have to take turns

Likewise Frank. Two full pensions, plus AVCs. Nevertheless I don't think that the amount I paid in was intended to fund 90 years of retirement, plus health costs, sustaining and developing infrastructure of the country etc etc

I can think of nothing worse than living another 80 odd years in this greedy culture.

Hi Mamie

I do not agree that working people support the retired.
I paid into 2 occupational schemes, sacrificed all my bonuses paid AVC'S and I have paid National Insurance for the state pension I will hopefully get.
My father passed away when he was nearly 90 last year and was in a similar position.
My father outlived most of his friends but was still loved by his family.

Frank

Interesting programme on French tele at the moment. At the moment in France there are nine working people supporting four retired. By 2040 there will be nine working supporting seven retired.
Sorry bit inelegant, but I am translating!

No.
I am grateful for being born in 1949, not having had to fight a war, having profited from the NHS, the expansion of higher education and the liberation of women. I am grateful for a happy marriage, a rewarding career, a comfortable income and wonderful children and grandchildren.
I would hate to live on, consuming more than my fair share of the world's resources, outliving my friends and family and becoming a drain on society.
Frankly if I died tomorrow I would feel that I had been richly blessed, but another twenty years would be nice.

I have no permanent health problems and I do not take any permanent tablets and my father was not on any permanent tablets until the last few months of his life.
I am on very good terms with my family so I want to live as long as possible.
I certainly want to meet my great grandchildren.

Frank

No.

People's views as to what age they want to live to tend to change as they approach said age. I can imagine some circumstances though when I would probably want to call it a day.

Only if a cure or prevention has been found for dementia. Also osteoporosis and various forms of arthritis.

I think 95 will be long enough for me, and only then if I can get rid of my lower limb pain. If not tomorrow will be fine!

Frank, I think it's strange that your granddaughters called you Uncle Frank as well...

If I could continue as I am, yes, I would love another 50 years in NZ! Providing my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and probably great-great-grandchildren all live as well.

My target's always been 102.

If being a 150 feels like I have this last week no I dont think I will bother.

No!

After the day I've just had with a social care manager hanging up on me because I disagreed with her 'assumption' that my mother's care needs are being met....they're not, the answer is an emphatic NO.