If you only had 7-10 years left to live...

[Clifton Tesh]

If you knew you were going to die in 7-10 years, what would you do?

7-10 years is not a long time in the grand scheme of things. Would you take the opportunity to enjoy the not so safe and healthy things in life?

Would you spend $2800 on that bottle of The MacCallan 25?

Would you do the things you were always afraid to do?

Would you eat what you want without worrying about your waist line?

Would you try to dance with a cobra or swim with the sharks?
Would you tell people the truth that's in your heart?

If you only had 7 to ten left to live, would you throw caution to the wind and just live?

 

[TippyThomas]

I don't have many bucket items that I could really do, so I'd just take the time with the animals at the shelter with the time I have left and make sure they're as financially taken care of as I can once I'm gone.

 

[tvguy]

7 to 10 years is a long time. I'm 67 and just looking casually at the stats, another 10 to 12 years would be my normal life expectancy. I wouldn't do anything differently. First, because that estimate could be wrong. Second, because I have to make sure my wife has money since stats indicate she will outlive me by 3-5 years.
Frankly, is is a rather depressing list of questions.
There is no correct answer, I just know too many people that splurged on a lot of things only to live a whole lot longer than they expected, and the splurging compromised their ability to pay their bills.

 

[Clifton Tesh]

I don't have many bucket items that I could really do, so I'd just take the time with the animals at the shelter with the time I have left and make sure they're as financially taken care of as I can once I'm gone.

I would adopt all the old kitties that never get adopted. I have a special place in my heart for old kitties.

 

[Clifton Tesh]

7 to 10 years is a long time. I'm 67 and just looking casually at the stats, another 10 to 12 years would be my normal life expectancy. I wouldn't do anything differently. First, because that estimate could be wrong. Second, because I have to make sure my wife has money since stats indicate she will outlive me by 3-5 years.
Frankly, is is a rather depressing list of questions.
There is no correct answer, I just know too many people that splurged on a lot of things only to live a whole lot longer than they expected, and the splurging compromised their ability to pay their bills.

My wife and kids will be well taken care of if I pass away. Between 401k, life insurance, and a couple other investments there will be a few million left for them.

I have worked very hard and saved very well.

I'm 41 so really can't touch my 401k or anything without suffering massive penalties so that's out of the question.

It's not so much of an estimate as it is an average of other people diagnosed with the same condition and, trust me, I fully understand that the doctors can still be wrong. They gave me grandaddy two weeks to live for the last ten years of his life. I come from a stubborn bloodline that just refuses to die.

I'm just more so asking this question because it's all I have been thinking about for the last few days and I really want to buy that bottle of scotch

 

[fla4fun]

The thing is, no one knows when their time is up. I have pondered that scenario many times over the years. A doctor can give you an expiration date, and you could go tomorrow or outlive that date by another 15 years. I feel the important thing is to live your life in a way that you minimize any regrets you could have at the end of it. Tell your friends and family how you feel about them and spend quality time with them now. I doubt anyone will end up on their deathbed thinking “I wish I hadn’t told my SO I loved them every day last month. It was too often.” or “I wish I hadn’t spent the afternoon with my (kids/friends/etc.) yesterday. It was a waste of time.” If you have items on a bucket list you would like to accomplish, start working on them now. Don’t put it off until retirement or some other arbitrary date. I am not saying to ignore your responsibilities, but to balance them with the things that will mean the most to you and to those you leave behind. Financial security and emotional security are both important.

And, hey, if you want the scotch, and it doesn’t cause a financial hardship to spend the money, buy it. It’s all about balance, and I don’t see the harm in a splurge every once in a while if you can afford it. All work and no play . . .

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I'm not brave enough to do anything out of my comfort zone. No dancing with a cobra or even looking at one for me. If I had a guaranteed timeline, I'd spend every second I could with my DH & adult DS. I hope I'd try to travel more, but knowing me, I'd probably travel less. I'd be more focused on leaving my family in a good financial position.

Edited to add an omitted word.

 

[disykat]

I think the only thing different I would do is relax my saving for the future. If I didn't have to plan ahead for possibly 30 years of retirement I could help my kids buy houses, etc. I'd be ramping up the travel too!

 

[goofyernmost]

It is true, but don't for a second think that is something that just doesn't happen. I few days ago I celebrated my 76th birthday. 10 years from now puts me at 86 years old. That scenario is real life to me. I'm aware of the time running out but I am not changing anything that has given me 76 years already. I don't think about it a lot because in spite of having a few medical problems I am still fairly healthy and active, but that isn't going to last forever. I know at some point in the not to distant future I will be leaving. It isn't comforting but it isn't all that scary either. It just is the circle of life.

I've experience a lot of life from happy (marriage, fatherhood, grand fatherhood) to sad, (loss of family members and friends) to scary, (surviving a year in a war-zone). I've traveled not just with the military, but also personal and have seen 12 different countries (some twice) and 38 of the 50 states. I have lived, lost and loved and I only regret not being able to play golf well no matter how hard I tried. So, no there is nothing that I am going to change now that the end of the tunnel is getting closer and it seems pretty dark on the other side. I have already lived longer than many in my family I still plan for things to do tomorrow, today!

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I have a cyst/lesion on my pancreas. I've known about it for a couple of years now, and I also live with the knowledge that it will very likely turn cancerous at some point. In that event, the doctors who keep an eye on it will do whatever is in their power to give me as much time as possible. So I think about what I could be doing differently in my life.

I have to say, I helped to raise my sister's three into good, productive adults. I moved here in 2008 and so was here to help raise my cousin's daughter into a good, productive adult. I am now helping to raise *her* little boy. I think I've been a success because I was important in the life of many children. Whenever I die, I will be remembered with love and laughter, and that's enough for me.

 

[tvguy]

I'm just more so asking this question because it's all I have been thinking about for the last few days and I really want to buy that bottle of scotch

LOL. If I bought that scotch my wife would say....."we could have bought new furniture for the Family room for that" .
Although my wife and adult children did encourage me to buy a 1965 Mustang 9 years ago, so I have splurged, but home to drive it for many for decades.

 

[Clifton Tesh]

It is true, but don't for a second think that is something that just doesn't happen. I few days ago I celebrated my 76th birthday. 10 years from now puts me at 86 years old. That scenario is real life to me. I'm aware of the time running out but I am not changing anything that has given me 76 years already. I don't think about it a lot because in spite of having a few medical problems I am still fairly healthy and active, but that isn't going to last forever. I know at some point in the not to distant future I will be leaving. It isn't comforting but it isn't all that scary either. It just is the circle of life.

I've experience a lot of life from happy (marriage, fatherhood, grand fatherhood) to sad, (loss of family members and friends) to scary, (surviving a year in a war-zone). I've traveled not just with the military, but also personal and have seen 12 different countries (some twice) and 38 of the 50 states. I have lived, lost and loved and I only regret not being able to play golf well no matter how hard I tried. So, no there is nothing that I am going to change now that the end of the tunnel is getting closer and it seems pretty dark on the other side. I have already lived longer that many in my family still plan for things to do tomorrow, today!

76 means a year in Vietnam... That in itself is a huge success. Much respect.

I did my time in Afghanistan. It was one of the greatest things that happened to me. It gave me the ability to truly appreciate my life and be grateful for the life I have had.

I have a 17 year old daughter, a 6 year old son, and another daughter that is due to join us in November (wife is currently pregnant).

I have had a wonderful like and I am very grateful for it. I have done my best to live everyday to where the only regret I will have is not knowing what is written on my tombstone.

I'm content with the knowledge that there's a high probability that I may only be here ten more years but I'm also fully aware that doctors are often wrong.

I've watched men that were the epitome of health keel over when they were 23 and I've seen people do everything the doctors tell them not to do and they end up living to be 100.

There isn't anything I really want to change, there's just things that I've really wanted to do that I had plans on doing later down the road but now that later down the road seems like less of a possibility than it did two days ago, I may just be expediting those things.

 

[Clifton Tesh]

LOL. If I bought that scotch my wife would say....."we could have bought new furniture for the Family room for that" .

My wife just got new living room furniture last year, but she would definitely say something along the same lines

My son is 6 and the idea that I will probably never get to enjoy a good scotch with him makes me want to buy it and leave it for him so that he can enjoy it "with" me.

 

[Clifton Tesh]

I have a cyst/lesion on my pancreas. I've known about it for a couple of years now, and I also live with the knowledge that it will very likely turn cancerous at some point. In that event, the doctors who keep an eye on it will do whatever is in their power to give me as much time as possible. So I think about what I could be doing differently in my life.

I have to say, I helped to raise my sister's three into good, productive adults. I moved here in 2008 and so was here to help raise my cousin's daughter into a good, productive adult. I am now helping to raise *her* little boy. I think I've been a success because I was important in the life of many children. Whenever I die, I will be remembered with love and laughter, and that's enough for me.

 

[easyas123]

hmmm, well I would buy encourage my husband to get the scotch (not that he needs my encouragement! ) and I'd get myself a more than decent bottle of champagne and we'd enjoy them together.

As far as anything else? I've love to see the Holy Land/Egypt/Jordan before I die. And go back to Heidelberg and Vienna and Budapest at least once more. And Wales. And then I'd like to spend as many days on the Chesapeake, on a dock at a restaurant. Drinking martinis and enjoying crab dip and Smith Island Cake.

After that, just the usual. Saturday suppers w/ the kids around. Fires in the fireplace every night. One more big dog in my life, another great dane or english mastiff to hog the bed.

I have to say, I helped to raise my sister's three into good, productive adults. I moved here in 2008 and so was here to help raise my cousin's daughter into a good, productive adult. I am now helping to raise *her* little boy. I think I've been a success because I was important in the life of many children. Whenever I die, I will be remembered with love and laughter, and that's enough for me.

That's quite a testament you've left not only for yourself, but a gift to everyone else.

 

[Meriweather]

Well, I'm 70..............so, who knows how long I have.
I won't change the way I do things now. I like to cruise and go to Disney parks on both coasts. I will do those things as long as I can.
I've been a lot of places. So I am good with that. Raised two great children. They will be comfortable after I am gone.
So......just live my life and spend time with family

 

[MillauFr]

I would spend my time 24/7 on DisBoards.

 

[CGB]

The average lifespan after heart bypass surgery is 18 years. Eight years ago, my husband came home from work early struggling to breathe. He was having a heart attack, which resulted in a quadruple bypass the following day. A month later, an infection with the chest incision landed him back in the hospital for another week. We spent another month administering intravenous antibiotics at home with nurses coming and going. He lost a crazy amount of weight, was covered in scars, and at one point couldn't even get himself out of bed. But, he survived. In that experience, we learned to take it one day at a time. We discovered we could face anything as long as we did it together.

Today, he's doing great. He recovered and went back to work for another five years before retiring. We changed our diet and lifestyle in more ways than one. Family and friends are our focus and priority. We try to be more loving, honest, and patient with each other as well as others. That doesn't mean we don't have our moments still. But, you learn to live for keeps. If 10 years is all that's left, not one minute will be taken for granted.

 

[TLSnell1981]

If you knew you were going to die in 7-10 years, what would you do?

7-10 years is not a long time in the grand scheme of things. Would you take the opportunity to enjoy the not so safe and healthy things in life?

Would you spend $2800 on that bottle of The MacCallan 25?

Would you do the things you were always afraid to do?

Would you eat what you want without worrying about your waist line?

Would you try to dance with a cobra or swim with the sharks?
Would you tell people the truth that's in your heart?

If you only had 7 to ten left to live, would you throw caution to the wind and just live?

I'm old enough to already delve into "afraid to do'' list. Let's get the tattoo, swim with sharks, say what I think and purchase that expensive bottle of whiskey!

 

[TLSnell1981]

LOL. If I bought that scotch my wife would say....."we could have bought new furniture for the Family room for that" .
Although my wife and adult children did encourage me to buy a 1965 Mustang 9 years ago, so I have splurged, but home to drive it for many for decades.

I hope to be here long enough to hear you've lived dangerously!