so between the hardest stage of life and some of PF comments and threads lately

someone commented that 65-75 are not the hardest if you have had your priorities strait throughout your life.

well here is a question that I found renders/distills a persons priorities in a hurry. everyone should start by answering this. question , yes there is a part B

Question :
You have 11 months to live, the next 10 will be at your current level of health. The 11th will be downhill rapidly. (hospice is covered and will keep you nearly pain free in that final month.)

A. What are you doing with your time?
B.


think about that some , no month and no season will repeat.
then if you care to share your answer please do.

also you are who you are today with exactly the savings and resources you have today, today begins your 11 months. your last day is Jun 7th 2027

also no I am not sick but my wife was given a similar scenario Jan 2025 and lived it the 6 months she got.

Well being that I am terminal with no cure having End Stage Kidney disease it's not really hypothetical for me. Just about amonth ago it felt the end was immenent ,it's been nine years of this and it does take a heavy toll, I felt closer to the dead than alive. All I have to do is stop treatment and let nature take it's course. About 2-3 weeks I am gone. But I thought it over first because you don't get a do over. My kids are grown and have good lives and my wife is an independent type so they all will be fine so that's not a thing really but I decided I still have some work inside me that will surpase any of the art,carving , gunmaking I have done plus my pond project. So I got my head on right , upped the dialysis, doing PT on my legs and now I can walk with far less of that crippling pain that I thought I would be in a wheelchair. Even gaining some weight back from 106 to 117 and mental attitude is way up and fired up. Still have constant pain and bad days I can't do any thing but not as frequent by a lot. So I would say if your time is limited don't waste it. Do the things that mean something to you and are worth the fight. Don't put it off , when the end comes be content in that you LIVED

I wouldn't tell Anybody about my condition
I would go on with my life as normal for 10 months
On the 11th I'm going on a hiking trip
Got a brook trout stream that calls my name


The last walk
The way it originally was done

part A
I would dip into my retirement savings and buy the boat I want that will very comfortably fish 3-4 people title it in my son's name jointly I already do that with everything he is an OR owner on anything since my wife passed before that she was an OR owner on everything.

I have a little cleaning to and organizing to do while my boat is getting setup give myself a week or so for that. probably hire someone to paint the trim and put a new roof on the house , it isn't leaking but I would want it ready for the kids to sell or not have to worry about it for a long time.

then I am going on a fishing and visiting tour till it cools down then pheasant hunting with friends and relatives and head south for the winter for more fishing until I check myself into hospice.

going fishing with everyone I want to because some of the best visiting happens while fishing.

well i wouldnt work anymore,that would be a start,and i have enough money set aside to do what ever i want,travel ,fish,maybe some exotic hunts.and i have no debts to leave on my family

If I tip over in 2 minutes my possessions are all taken care of. Think I would spend ten months with kids grandkids and greatgrandkids.. Trapping fishing hunting camping and trying to teach some of the lessons I have learned. I try to do that regular now while I am healthy.

Part B

the part be question is

How is that different from what you are doing today?


yes the question is designed to make you think about your limited time. give it a very clear definition as sub year no repeat months or seasons.
Then ask you to realize we all have limited time none of us knows when the end will be and we don't repeat the seasons of our life.


so my part B is
I have a trip scheduled July , August , September
July is a week of fishing with my dad and brother up nort
August is camping with friends actually 2 different trips.
September is a canoe camping trip with a friend to a canoe only wilderness area.

also weekend and week night fishing you know in-between mowing the lawn and taking care of painting that trim that needs doing.
then pheasant hunting one day a week once season opens.

I have to keep working and saving for the possibility that I could live well past 11 months.
I am saving for a larger boat but my current boat is comfortable for 2 and if the 3rd person is small we can fit them in.

I have a DDF and the kids know where to find it not what is in it other than the paperwork they will need.
DDF= drop dead file.
it has my final wishes , all the accounts , any insurance , medical and durable power of attorney all the lawyer garbage as well as a message for the kids.

also yes when I pay off my credit card at the end of the month from my most recent Davis tent order , I owe no one a dime in this world , the kids will be decently set to also owe no one anything and will have a house to live in or sell.

all my kids are adults I have one left in college. the other 2 are out and working.

I would refill my subscription for viagra!

Part B
No difference in the first 10 months
I take care of my Mother full time and my grandsons part time
I work when time allows, I have a small clientele list that of well to do people that understand and are willing to wait for me to do the work.

I had to give up full time work 5 years ago now. But I do subcontract work from time to time also

So nothing would change

I'm going on an Alaskan cruise month 1. Month 2 to ireland. After that, I don't know. Family time maybe. And also get things in order.....I wish I knew today when the end for me was. It would make things a lot easier.

1st thing is I don't tell anyone except for the wife.
2nd get financial stuff lined up. I have large Ins policy, I have it go to my 3 kids, my wife is already financially OK.
3rd get my stuff in order, clean up and get rid of all manner of personal stuff so wife and kids don't have to deal with it.
4th take wife on a couple of trips she always wanted to do.
nothing for myself, I have lived a very good life and would be content to go today.

Last month, live it out at home, I have Ins to cover home nurses etc so I wouldn't be a burden on wife.

I would work like crazy and start liquidating stuff and cleaning up my place, would hire someone to do a bunch of house projects so my wife and kids would be set.

Enjoying our great outdoors trapping,hunting,and fishing

You've had a lot of time to think about that lately, Pete. I hope your final plan could include a little fishing with us too. I would really enjoy that.

Patrice

I would just want to spend time with family and a couple of good friends that I consider family.

Have your affairs in order. So you are not a burden on your loved ones.

Nothing else really matters. IMO. But that is the way I was raised.

It would depend on your age when you get that news.
A young guy qould have a ton of things he would want to do,,a middle aged person a few less things maybe.At my age having done pretty much everything I have ever wanted to do I would just continue the laid back good life I am now living.

Agree.
I would make sure all details are written out and will is order. I would just live it out the way I have been since I retired 10 years ago. My last walk would be at the ranch and go out with my boots on.

The exact same for me, other than I would go on a hunting trip.