To be frank, with the direction the world seems to be going, I would not want to be here until I’m 100. Certainly not in any form of a Trumpism world. But also, we already cannot humanely or effectively take care of our elderly population with empathy and compassion.
EBrian: I have to agree with you where treatment of our elderly population is mostly shameful. My husband is currently in a nursing home that used to be part of a huge hospital system here, but after Covid, that system abandoned its nursing homes and sold them off to investors. Needless to say the facility has some kind and caring personnel, but many of them are there just to collect their paychecks. I have to be there every day to ensure that he gets what he needs.
To answer today’s question: I agree with the other folks in this thread that I would not want to live to 100 if health problems plague my daily existence such that I am of no use to anyone let alone can provide inspiration. If destiny wills it, I hope to be of value to loved ones and the world as long as I am able.
Trump world will go on until it burns itself out, which I hope will be very soon. Sometimes I think that these monsters are simply too evil to die.
At 70, I'm nine years younger than our current president - so if I live to 100, there's a pretty good chance I'll outlive that guy. That's reason enough to go to the health club 5 times a week, eat well (but not too much), keep in touch with friends and make new ones - all things you need to do to become a centenarian. On the other hand, if he's still around when I'm 99, I'll probably start drinking heavily...
That's an interesting question especially for those of us well into our senior years. Generally, yes I would want to with the caveat that I would have the same good health that Dick Van Dyke has.
I have thought about that a lot lately, I will be 84 in January. My mom lived to 101, she was physically not great but mentally perfect (as perfect as one can be at 100). Totally depends on health both physical and mental. Laying around the house or worse in a nursing home, i would prefer not to live that long, but I think everyone thinks that way. I am active and still working. Happy and healthy so let's see what happens!!! Of course the world is so fucked up not sure i want to be part of it.
Hmm... I don't know that I'd want to live to be 100 unless I could be mentally well-functioning and physically mobile. I try to walk daily, do yoga, and watch my diet. I maintain a good group of friends and stay involved in my community.
But I have to say, this terrorism in our neighborhoods by the SS-ICE is shortening my life. Yesterday I was at a massive street fair and two men dressed in green uniforms, flak vests, and no badges were skulking about at the end of one of the side streets. I stared at them, they looked at me, I turned and got a uniformed cop and told them that if those two were planning on grabbing people, a riot would ensue. (I would probably start it myself but I didn't say that.) The cops went after them but saw them leave in a truck. You can't imagine how hard your heart pounds in your chest seeing those jerks and their smug expressions--same look as every SS officer you ever saw in the movies. We have to stand up for our neighbors because they aren't checking if folks are citizens or not and that really doesn't even matter--it's flat out kidnapping. If someone isn't here legally, prove it in court. Let the law handle it--not a bunch of racist sadists.
As I have aged — I’m about 17 years younger than Mr. Van Dyke — a number of relatives and acquaintances have died. But the added years after retiring from most work have also allowed me to ask medical personnel what they have seen in treating patients close to their deaths.
If there is one consistent answer it is that “they just seemed to give up.” Now many were in severe pain from accidents or illnesses and there seems to be a limit as to the physical pain a person can endure.
But (to exaggerate just a bit) others, who seemed in good health one day were dead the next. “They just seemed to give up.”
None that I knew made it to 100. Mr. Van Dyke might have the answer to longevity: happiness.
It’s difficult to tap happiness these days, what with the trump regime — and their die-hard supporters who will latch onto trump’s successor if he’s white enough and racist enough.
Trump and his henchmen and women seem very unhappy. Perhaps that bodes well for the rest of us. We can hope.
I love my life and all the people who are in it. But I have been chronically ill and disabled since I was 44 - I’m now 65 — and I am not sure I want to be around when I will no longer be able to care for myself as I age. I have become an introvert and I worry a great deal, especially about the current state of affairs. So I’m not sure that even if I want to live to 100 that it’s in the cards for me. But I’m so glad for people like Dick who are able to reach this milestone and to live well.
Trumpty Dumpty had a big, bad, fall (certainly not summer, or spring, or winter, but it rhymes),
All the republican senators and all the republican representatives (definitely not all the king’s horses, and all the king’s men, since there is no king in the United States)
Couldn’t put Trumpty Dumpty’s presidency together again. (‘nough said).
Thank you for this optimistic message. I will be 80 next year, a healthy 80. We’ve moved to the High Sierra, we hike with the dogs, we’ve started a nonprofit that gleans local fruit and vegetables and gives it to the food insecure. Locally, we are largely untouched by the horrors taking place in Washington. But I didn’t want to enter my eighties with this horrible man in the White House. I care about this country, I fought for this country in Vietnam and everything he touches only inflicts another wound on our republic. So I have to spend some of my energy speaking out, demonstrating, supporting politicians who care about their constituents. I try to remember that we will still be here after he is gone, then the rebuilding can take place in earnest.
I want to live as long as possible! I love the excitement of new challenges and adventures,.
I’m fairly robotic anyway so as long as most everything works I will love each waking opportunity to taste feel hear see breathe…. Even though a gargoyle is spinning chaos.
Walks yes! Music yes! Art galleries yes! Playing scrabble with other wordy people yes
My mother-in-law turned 100 last Saturday. She does practice ikigai (even though she is Okinawan, not Japanese) and continues to every day. She is kind, generous, humorous, and appreciative. She and others like her are a positive to have around, unlike
the large cadre of callous, evil creeps we are burdened with now. Too bad those who cause hurt and harm cannot see the error of their ways.
I want to outlive this evil regime. I want to continue the fight and be here to see the world turning back towards solving our global challenges. I'm heartbroken that we've left so much for our children, grandchildren, and their descendants to fix. I hope it doesn't require living to 100 to get these things (35+ years)
My mom has Dick Van Dyke beat by two years. 102 and still living independently.
To be frank, with the direction the world seems to be going, I would not want to be here until I’m 100. Certainly not in any form of a Trumpism world. But also, we already cannot humanely or effectively take care of our elderly population with empathy and compassion.
EBrian: I have to agree with you where treatment of our elderly population is mostly shameful. My husband is currently in a nursing home that used to be part of a huge hospital system here, but after Covid, that system abandoned its nursing homes and sold them off to investors. Needless to say the facility has some kind and caring personnel, but many of them are there just to collect their paychecks. I have to be there every day to ensure that he gets what he needs.
To answer today’s question: I agree with the other folks in this thread that I would not want to live to 100 if health problems plague my daily existence such that I am of no use to anyone let alone can provide inspiration. If destiny wills it, I hope to be of value to loved ones and the world as long as I am able.
Trump world will go on until it burns itself out, which I hope will be very soon. Sometimes I think that these monsters are simply too evil to die.
At 70, I'm nine years younger than our current president - so if I live to 100, there's a pretty good chance I'll outlive that guy. That's reason enough to go to the health club 5 times a week, eat well (but not too much), keep in touch with friends and make new ones - all things you need to do to become a centenarian. On the other hand, if he's still around when I'm 99, I'll probably start drinking heavily...
Yes, I want to live to 100. I have more to do.
Dick Van Dyke today (Dec-13-25 - *alive*) + 10 others who did (1 other is alive):
Grandma Moses (September 7, 1860 – December 13, 1961): 100
Irving Berlin (May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989): 101
George Burns (January 20, 1896 – March 9, 1996): 100
Queen Elizabeth (August 4, 1900 – March 30, 2002): 101
Bob Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003): 100
Olivia de Havilland (July 1, 1916 – July 26, 2020): 104
Kirk Douglas (December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020): 103
Norman Lear (July 27, 1922 – December 5, 2023): 101
Eva Marie Saint (July 4, 1924 - *alive*): 101 (alive)
Jimmy Carter (October 1, 1924 – December 29, 2024):100
That's an interesting question especially for those of us well into our senior years. Generally, yes I would want to with the caveat that I would have the same good health that Dick Van Dyke has.
I have thought about that a lot lately, I will be 84 in January. My mom lived to 101, she was physically not great but mentally perfect (as perfect as one can be at 100). Totally depends on health both physical and mental. Laying around the house or worse in a nursing home, i would prefer not to live that long, but I think everyone thinks that way. I am active and still working. Happy and healthy so let's see what happens!!! Of course the world is so fucked up not sure i want to be part of it.
Hmm... I don't know that I'd want to live to be 100 unless I could be mentally well-functioning and physically mobile. I try to walk daily, do yoga, and watch my diet. I maintain a good group of friends and stay involved in my community.
But I have to say, this terrorism in our neighborhoods by the SS-ICE is shortening my life. Yesterday I was at a massive street fair and two men dressed in green uniforms, flak vests, and no badges were skulking about at the end of one of the side streets. I stared at them, they looked at me, I turned and got a uniformed cop and told them that if those two were planning on grabbing people, a riot would ensue. (I would probably start it myself but I didn't say that.) The cops went after them but saw them leave in a truck. You can't imagine how hard your heart pounds in your chest seeing those jerks and their smug expressions--same look as every SS officer you ever saw in the movies. We have to stand up for our neighbors because they aren't checking if folks are citizens or not and that really doesn't even matter--it's flat out kidnapping. If someone isn't here legally, prove it in court. Let the law handle it--not a bunch of racist sadists.
As I have aged — I’m about 17 years younger than Mr. Van Dyke — a number of relatives and acquaintances have died. But the added years after retiring from most work have also allowed me to ask medical personnel what they have seen in treating patients close to their deaths.
If there is one consistent answer it is that “they just seemed to give up.” Now many were in severe pain from accidents or illnesses and there seems to be a limit as to the physical pain a person can endure.
But (to exaggerate just a bit) others, who seemed in good health one day were dead the next. “They just seemed to give up.”
None that I knew made it to 100. Mr. Van Dyke might have the answer to longevity: happiness.
It’s difficult to tap happiness these days, what with the trump regime — and their die-hard supporters who will latch onto trump’s successor if he’s white enough and racist enough.
Trump and his henchmen and women seem very unhappy. Perhaps that bodes well for the rest of us. We can hope.
I love my life and all the people who are in it. But I have been chronically ill and disabled since I was 44 - I’m now 65 — and I am not sure I want to be around when I will no longer be able to care for myself as I age. I have become an introvert and I worry a great deal, especially about the current state of affairs. So I’m not sure that even if I want to live to 100 that it’s in the cards for me. But I’m so glad for people like Dick who are able to reach this milestone and to live well.
I want to live until I can’t enjoy my life anymore. I can’t put a number on that, but I don’t aspire to be a centenarian AT ALL.
Trumpty Dumpty: The story of a loser.
Trumpty Dumpty sat on a wall (of the East Wing),
Trumpty Dumpty had a big, bad, fall (certainly not summer, or spring, or winter, but it rhymes),
All the republican senators and all the republican representatives (definitely not all the king’s horses, and all the king’s men, since there is no king in the United States)
Couldn’t put Trumpty Dumpty’s presidency together again. (‘nough said).
Stephen Kirby
12-13-2025
Thank you for this optimistic message. I will be 80 next year, a healthy 80. We’ve moved to the High Sierra, we hike with the dogs, we’ve started a nonprofit that gleans local fruit and vegetables and gives it to the food insecure. Locally, we are largely untouched by the horrors taking place in Washington. But I didn’t want to enter my eighties with this horrible man in the White House. I care about this country, I fought for this country in Vietnam and everything he touches only inflicts another wound on our republic. So I have to spend some of my energy speaking out, demonstrating, supporting politicians who care about their constituents. I try to remember that we will still be here after he is gone, then the rebuilding can take place in earnest.
Thank you for your thoughts.
I loved the tenor of the article. It sings! ☺️
Remembering Dick Van Dyke made me smile!
YES!!
I want to live as long as possible! I love the excitement of new challenges and adventures,.
I’m fairly robotic anyway so as long as most everything works I will love each waking opportunity to taste feel hear see breathe…. Even though a gargoyle is spinning chaos.
Walks yes! Music yes! Art galleries yes! Playing scrabble with other wordy people yes
This was fun!
🎶🎶👏🎶🎶
My mother-in-law turned 100 last Saturday. She does practice ikigai (even though she is Okinawan, not Japanese) and continues to every day. She is kind, generous, humorous, and appreciative. She and others like her are a positive to have around, unlike
the large cadre of callous, evil creeps we are burdened with now. Too bad those who cause hurt and harm cannot see the error of their ways.
I want to outlive this evil regime. I want to continue the fight and be here to see the world turning back towards solving our global challenges. I'm heartbroken that we've left so much for our children, grandchildren, and their descendants to fix. I hope it doesn't require living to 100 to get these things (35+ years)