Lois’s answer to “I know people ask you about the books and characters. But I wish in inquire about your health.? You…” > Likes and Comments
53 likes · Like
I wonder what our expected lifespans would be if granted eternal youth and health. Death would come sooner or later from accident or violence, but individual lifespans could vary greatly.
Some actuarial-minded person once did a calculation, I am told, that the average lifespan in that case would be about 800 years before an accident took one out. Though like medieval death stats, I suspect that might be front-loaded to the younger years...
Ta, L.
I wish to live forever. My to read list is just getting longer so i will need all the time to read all the books.
Wow, 800 years is longer than I’d have expected. It must depend somewhat on where you’re born; although, if you get through the early years, you’ll probably start moving around.
Glad to hear that you have no expectation of checking out in the immediate future. Neither have I. However, my hope is to die someday very suddenly by surprise: it’s the best way to go.
Rereading The Fall of Hyperion just now, which contains the caution that one might not want to live forever, particularly if one still ages
Andrew: Definitely not if you still age! I’m reminded of the song ‘Everdance’ (“Dry bones, sightless, still he dances yet”). However, if you have the ability to live forever, you can choose when to die, instead of getting an unsolicited visit from Death sooner than you would have chosen.
back to top
date
newest »

message 1:
by
Jonathan
(new)
Mar 09, 2024 02:03AM

reply
|
flag

Ta, L.


Glad to hear that you have no expectation of checking out in the immediate future. Neither have I. However, my hope is to die someday very suddenly by surprise: it’s the best way to go.

