If you just found out you had two, three maybe five good years to live...

[WCGreen]

what would you do.

[babylonsister]

1. If $ was no object, travel as far and wide as possible. nt

[WCGreen]

2. Good answer...

[BurtWorm]

20. Even if it was an object, I might do that.

And write about it.

[Dulcinea]

38. Same here.

And I'd tell my old supervisor to go Cheney himself right before I punched him out.

[old mark]

3. My wife was told she had 5 years at best due to liver disease. She stayed home,

worked in her garden, we had a fine happy quiet life together. This October, it will be 6 years since she was to have died, and we are still having g great time, her health is better than it has been in decades, liver function tests in the normal range.
Fuck you , rich doctors.

mark

[ChicagoSuz219]

11. :-) n/t

[madokie]

16. Great

[Shell Beau]

26. That is good to hear about your wife.

Sorry they gave her a death sentence basically.

[pitohui]

33. i know a guy told he had 18 mos. in 1977!!!!

his condition was a rare form of cancer for which there was no treatment in those days

he quit his business, dumped the bitchy wife, and retired to the country and followed his hobby, the only problem with the cool plan is that since he never did die, the $$$ eventually ran out and he had to start some new businesses/hustles

he out-lived the doctor by a long shot

there's also the stephen jay gould story, i think he lived 20 yrs after being given 18 mos. to live

we could all die tomorrow, but we could all live another 20 yrs we weren't planning on, my compromise has been to take some time every yr, i mean put it in your new year's resolution, and keep that resolution, to see/do the things i wanna do, travel is cheap if you do it right, sometimes cheaper than staying at home, getting along with yr spouse instead of fussing and arguing is actually cheaper than being a bitch so why not? i used to have a bad temper but i don't want to be remembered as bitch, i want to remembered with love if something happens -- you can do that stuff, right now, starting today

if you want to -- why wait for a death sentence to be handed down to try to change your life? i almost died as a teen, so i'm aware that death can hit at any time, i try to do something every day to make life better

[old mark]

36. I had 2 heart attacks the same day, in '03, and retired early 3 years ago.

I do what I have always wanted to do, and don't worry about people's expectations and don't have to deal with their bullshit. I think I have added to my lifespan just by that alone, but I really enjoy my time and I really agree with you - life at its longest is very short - do what pleases you.

mark

[DeschutesRiver]

41. best wishes for many more peaceful days for you and your wife. nt

[bigwillq]

48. How cool.

Good for her, and you! Enjoy! :hi:

[old mark]

54. Thank you! Our 17th anniversary is the 14th and her birthday is the 20th....

We partyin' this month!

mark

[SmileyRose]

55. Big K and R for Mrs. Mark

love your post.

[SimonPhoenix]

65. Happy about your wife, but the doctor slam was lame

Are you planning to treat her yourself if she gets sick again? You know, those rich doctors might have better things to do - like play golf. Because they're so rich and all. I'm sure you can figure out how to treat her-bachelor's in any field will prep you.

[Birthmark]

4. Nothing I'm not already doing.

A couple of things that I *might* have to speed up, but no drastic changes of plan or of behavior.

[gleaner]

5. I can't take life for granted ..

I have MS. My Neurologist informed me that it is not a "benign" disease. What he meant is that it can kill you all by itself. When I was first diagnosed they told me only secondary infections that resulted because of it would kill me. They still will, but if the MS takes a zap at nerves which control involuntary body functions like breathing it could do it too.

It is a very capricious disease. No one can predict its course. So I try to live in constructive denial, and take good care of my husband who survived MRSA, but is still too sick to care for himself in many ways. Whatever happens I want to spend the rest of my life, however long it is, with him. He is the love of my life.

[vadawg]

6. why wait until you get the news, you could die tomorrow

live life every day and never have regrets.

[Syntheto]

9. Truly the best advice...

[Syntheto]

7. Depends on...

... what my quality of life was, in terms of pain management, mobility, vision, etc. If it was a deteriorating condition, I suppose i would start spiriting away some of my pain medicine for the eventual day when I had enough to reliably OD on... there would come a day when i wouldn't want to see anybody, or have them see me as a dry husk lying there with tubes up my nose and with a catheter... especially my kids or future grandkids... Prior to that, I would try to write in my journal, read a lot and strive to be nonjudgmental...

[Nay]

8. I wouldn't go to work even one more day, not even to clean out my desk. It

that bad. But I suppose I'm glad to even have a job. Kinda hard to do that sometimes, tho.

[CTyankee]

17. I'm glad to see your post. I always thought I was weird, not loving my job.

I was fairly well paid and had health care benefits and good vacation/sick leave. But I longed to go see my granddaughters, spend lots more time with my elderly mother and disabled brother. I finally gave up, when I could rely on my husband's health insurance and was able to collect full Social Security. I did work part time (not doing what I had been doing)for a while but once my brother and my mother had died, a few months after my retirement, I had enough money to quit.

Getting old in the workplace is difficult. The boss wants you and all the other "oldsters" out and they do disgusting things to "encourage" you to leave. They start tearing down your performance, the very things that you were proudest of. It becomes Orwellian. Yesterday you were great, today you're crap.

I am much happier now...I see my grandkids, I volunteer, I do research on subjects I love, and I travel to places I've only dreamed of going to. I wouldn't go back to work for any amount of money...

[Morning Dew]

29. Nobody,

on his or her deathbed, says "I wish I'd spent more time at the office".

[CTyankee]

34. I love that saying!

However, some people say they would die if they couldn't work. I don't understand that but perhaps their job is perfect for them and they'd feel lost without it. Far from being lost, I felt that I was "found" when I quit...

[riderinthestorm]

51. Au contraire! My husband is a professional dressage and combined training rider.

Diagnosed with Stage IV, Grade IV lymphoma he decided to...?

Ride till he dies. He actually WILL die in "his office", I'm absolutely certain of it and he will die a happy man.

He's currently in remission. Honestly, I think people diagnosed with serious illnesses who drop their bullshit lives and begin actually LIVING their REAL life, do really live longer. There's something intrinsic to our overall health and mental well-being (imho) if you are doing what you love.

Bernie Siegel, a Yale University oncologist has made a powerfully persuasive scientific medical argument for this: you CAN extend your life by doing what you love.

For me? I'd drop everything and drag my family around as I saw the world! After a year or so of travel, I'd settle back into farming and die a happy camper.

[Nay]

43. Getting old is indeed difficult--they simply don't want you there, even

if you do keep up with all the bullshit software they roll out every 6 months. CT, in a year I may be like you--take early retirement, stay on hubby's health insurance, and then at 62 start SS. We're both ready to leave. And to think they want to raise the retirement age to 70!!! They don't want 50-year-olds, and they're going to raise the retirement age to 70???

I say LOWER the retirement age to 55 or 60, and let the younger people who are out of work get the jobs that open up.

[ChicagoSuz219]

10. Oh.. probably just spend it...

...'fighting' with the people on the Gun page... NOT!

(OMG - they're relentless!)

Spend as much time with my favorite people - family & friends - here, there & everywhere... :-)

[mwb970]

14. Don't waste precious time on gun nuts.

Here on DU or elsewhere, these people have an obsession the rest of us will never understand. Kind of like foot fetishists, except lethally dangerous.

[ChicagoSuz219]

40. Relentless!

I told one guy he didn't need a gun... he could just talk someone to death! LOL

[Broke In Jersey]

12. Live EVERY DAY like its your last day on earth....

what a different world we would be living in if we did.

[babydollhead]

18. if we just treated each other like it was our first day on earth...

and lived as if it was our first day on earth..think of the smiles

[damyank913]

13. Man. I'd have to look all over for a bull named Fu Manchu...

[madokie]

15. about a 99% chance that is the case

I'm damn near 62 with PAD and the life expectation is about that. I'd do what I am now what I've done all my life and that is live my life. Why would I want to do anything different than what I'm doing? Did I lose something in Egypt or China or Africa or in Europe somewhere that i just have to go find. NO. Right now I'm about finished with the designing, drawing and procuring the material to build my next project, what could be better than that? I guess I never have seen the grass as greener over THERE. All I've cared about is that which is under my feet, that I may just lay down in and even take a nap on when I get tired. Thats what I'd do

[Blue_Tires]

19. turn to a life of crime, then find warm, quiet corner of the planet to die in

[livetohike]

21. This poem has always summed it up for me. I would do this:

If I had my life to live over again

I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
I'd relax, I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.

I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual troubles,
but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live
sensibly and sanely hour after hour,
day after day.

Oh, I've had my moments,
And if I had it to do over again,
I'd have more of them.
In fact, I'd try to have nothing else.
Just moments, one after another,
instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

I've been one of those people who never goes anywhere
without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat
and a parachute.
If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over,
I would start barefoot earlier in the spring
and stay that way later in the fall.
I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.

Nadine Stair,
85 years old.

[pitohui]

31. easy to say that when there's no chance of being taken up on it

she's 85, and in reality she prob. does have 2-5 yrs to live, or least that few years remaining where she has a lot of mobility

writing a poem instead of actually going to dances and picking daisies is kinda a cheap way of saying "ok you guys go out and have the adventures, do as i say and not as i do and i'll sit back and watch the fun on my teevee"

she could travel lighter starting today, she'll never be any younger than she is today but the cold fact is there's always a reason and an excuse for people who refuse to travel light for why they refuse to travel light

all you have to do to travel light is put down the fucking bags and get on with it

[livetohike]

69. I'm glad I first read that poem when I was 30 (28 years ago)

I agree with what you're saying, but the sad truth is that once people get set in their ways it is very hard for most of them to change.

[sinkingfeeling]

22. Do a refi on the house and go around the world, seeing everything I want to see. I'll let you know

if I'll be doing that by April 15. Should have the results of my PET scan by then.

[xultar]

23. I'd start the kickinest and most coolest Nationwide Chihuahua rescue

[Mari333]

24. I would do THIS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwGFalTRHDA&feature=related

[CaliforniaPeggy]

25. I'd get busy living...

I'd write as though my life depended on it...

Travel, visit friends, see my grandkids more...

:hug:

[Shell Beau]

27. I'd spend every moment I could with my loved ones.

Especially my daughter and husband. Hopefully, we could take a lot of meaningful trips to some of the most beautiful places on the planet. And I'd have fun.

[Lars39]

28. I was handed such.

I've surprised all my doctors and lived past 5 years. I was diagnosed with Stage III B breast cancer at a fairly young age.

I spend a lot of time with my husband and kids. I'm finishing up all my projects...straightening up my stuff so my husband will know what to do with my stuff.
I have fun where I can take it. :D

[Shell Beau]

37. I am sorry. Glad you made it longer than they told you though.

I hope you can continue to do that for many many more years.

[Lars39]

39. Thanks, Shell Beau.

I'll be dragged out kickin'. :D

[DeschutesRiver]

42. keep having fun and stay well. best wishes for lots more time. nt

[Lars39]

45. Thank you, DeschutesRiver.

:hug:

[Cleita]

62. Oh, Lars39 I didn't know!

:hug:

You are a brave and a generous person.

[Lars39]

63. Thanks, Cleita.

It took me quite a while to get out from under the cloud of fear and "own" the diagnosis. You're on my list of DUers I'd love to be able to meet in real life. :hug:

[Cleita]

64. I hope we could meet too. I think the chances are rather slim though. n/t

[Lars39]

67. I know.

Traveling has gotten so expensive. We manage a few trips a year to see my daughter and that's about it now.

[Fleshdancer]

30. I would start a writing and/or video project for my daughter

I would tell her all the thoughts and feelings I could remember growing up and give as much advice and wisdom as I could. I would begin every entry explaining to her how much I love her and how sorry I am for not being there for her.

[KansDem]

32. Look up my first and only true love...

:loveya:

[DianeK]

35. In the words of Stephen Levine...

"If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?"

[RagAss]

44. Upgrade to Johnny Walker Green

[damyank913]

46. LOL

[951-Riverside]

47. Live in constant fear. n/t

[Cleita]

49. As an elderly widow, I think I'm there, however, whatever I want to do is

not possible because my income is limited. Otherwise, I'm grateful to have a roof over my head, enough health care and amenities to live life reasonably comfortably unless I get the final rug pulled out from under my feet. I am concerned about that.

[Individualist]

50. What I'm doing now

Enjoying each day to the extent possible. I have heart damage from a previous heart attack along with congestive heart failure.

[BeFree]

52. One day....

...i felt awful and thought, ok, if i were to die today what would i want to do?

went back inside and logged on to DU. Yep.

i'm already doing what i want to do.
Actually, just about everything i ever wanted to do, i've done. Life has been great.
The true love of one more woman would be nice, so i wait, patiently.

[Edweird]

53. I'm already on 'borrowed time'.

Everyone that knew me expected me to be dead by 21 - some family was betting on 18. Not for medical reasons, simply because I was - and still am - a maniac. Needless to say, I like to wring as many endorphines out of every day as I can.

[Dragonfli]

56. I will let you know when I figure it out

Right now I am trying to avoid paying a tax I can't afford because I can't afford the insurance that I can't afford to use.
If I had the money for either I would buy pain meds instead.

But I don't
So Mostly I just hate the fuckers that want to hurt me further with the time I have left by taking away my meager food allownce I budgeted for myself and giving it away to Corporate profits.

Most of you think I should be criminalized because I can't afford this republican legislation you need in order to get points on the Dem scoreboard.

Real healthcare may have provided me with some help with the discomfort, but most around here don't thing that is a as good an Idea as Criminalizing me for barely being able to work enough to eat.

Thanks alot "democrats".

I thought you were on my side.

What happened to the real Democrats?

[Juche]

57. No idea

The reality is the world is too big and complex for me to even know what I really 'want' to do if I had limited time. Ideas would be things like traveling extensively, learning to boat alone on the ocean, learning to pilot a plane, and things like that. But again, I can't say for sure. I guess part of gaining experience is finding what you want/don't want. And I am not there yet. So I guess that would be something I'd work at, figuring out what I 'really' wanted and why.

However if I had endless money (billions and billions, as Sagan would say) and a few good decades in me, I would start up neuroscience research institutes. Basically what Paul Allen from microsoft is doing, promote neuroscience research to treat diseases, expand human potential and increase quality of life.

[OmahaBlueDog]

58. I would do everything I could to get as much money as I could for my wife and kids

I'd add "my parents" to that list, but they are pretty much OK. As much as I'd be tempted to cease working and see the world, I'd feel compelled to use the time I had left to do what I could for the living.

I would also re-emphasize my admonishment to my family that if they bury me in $8,000 worth of mahogany I will rise from the grave as if it were a Wes Craven movie and come haunt them.

[fishwax]

59. finish my dissertation and travel

[mrs_p]

60. buy some land, move there with my hubby

and dog, get some sheep, and try to be self sufficient. oh, yes, and don't give the creditors my forwarding address...

[WCGreen]

61. I am really enjoying all the answers....

[csziggy]

66. Keep doing what I do now - enjoying life and doing what I love

As much as I can with my aged body. I'd probably try to wind up business stuff to leave Mr. csziggy without worries about how to handle things. Set up instructions for what he should do with whatever stitching supplies I won't have time to use up; instructions on what to do with the horses I have left; instructions for my family on the things I want them to have.

Specifics on what I am already doing - stitching all the needlework I can out of my stash; working on the family genealogy; scanning pictures, both family pictures and ones we took, and trying to organize them so we can share them, puttering around in the garden, spending time with my horses, watching the birds and other wildlife.

Except for pain management, I would not want to see another doctor ever again.

Prepay for my cremation,and for a tree to be planted on the spot Mr csziggy buries my ashes.

[alfredo]

68. Get up, make a cup of tea. Check my e-mail, read the paper.

Later I might go out, or I might take a nap. I have stacks of books to read, not enough to last five years, but I can buy more. Maybe my wife and I will walk in the park. Maybe lunch on the deck, would be fun.

The car needs washing.