Is longevity the curse of happiness?

artdrectr — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:50:42 -0800

Know any happy 80-year-olds? An 85 year old friend, who is still a practicing artist, told us she wouldn't wish anyone to live as long as she has. We were startled, and very sad.

My wife and I (mid-lifers) were surprised to become aware that nearly all the folks we know or have known over the age of 80 are/were quite unhappy. Each is unique and pleasant to be with, have different backgrounds, different types of families, different financials, but almost all are deeply unhappy with their quality of life (and degrading health of course, which may be the overall theme of this question).
It seems a rather ominous fate to look forward to.

Tell me about some truly happy octogenarians you personally know.

I need a gift for my 80-year-old auntie

AgentRocket — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 07:06:39 -0800

Help me find a good gift for my beloved, octogenarian, Luddite Aunt. My auntie turns 80 this year and we are throwing her a nice party. My wife and I love her to death and would like to get her a good, meaningful gift but - like every other time we've shopped for her - we have no good ideas.

She lives alone and has a house full of chotchkes, so a little statue or other trinket is out. She likewise is up to (and over) her ears in hats, scarves, gloves, etc. She likes TV and is reliant on her old-school VCR Plus to record shows. We thought of a TiVo but she is too intimidated by it to use it. That same reasoning rules out all but the simplest technology. She likes the St. Louis Cardinals and Notre Dame football, but has tons of gear from those teams and can't travel well so a roadtrip to a game is out. She's got 79,000 photographs in an equal number of frames so that's not really an option. We want the present to be meaningful or lasting.

Our current best idea is a flowers-of-the-month club, where a nice bouquet will be delivered to her each month. That's pretty, and will provide fresh flowers to her year-round. And she is a widow so she doesn't really have anyone to send her flowers otherwise.

Is there a brilliant idea we have not considered? All suggestions (including good f-o-t-m clubs) are welcome. Our budget is variable, up to several hundred dollars.

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Is longevity the curse of happiness?

I need a gift for my 80-year-old auntie