# What Do You Think Is Your Life Expectency **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 15, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723 "2011-01-15T16:59:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/21 "2011-01-16T01:25:08Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > According to [this site](http://www.livingto100.com/) I’ll live to 77. Yeah, well, it say’s I’ll live to 95 - fat chance! ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/22 "2011-01-16T01:35:18Z")
I expect the unexpected and know only that I will live until I die. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/23 "2011-01-16T01:41:36Z")
Well, my father lived til age 94, my mother, age 86. My fathers father-89. So I am guessing 85 myself. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/24 "2011-01-16T01:57:51Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > I expect the unexpected and know only that I will live until I die. Not true; there’s a good chance that you will die well, and that you just don’t know it yet. Either way, it won’t bother you long. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/25 "2011-01-16T02:22:44Z")
Sometimes I practice, **Count Blucher** , by feeling dead inside. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/26 "2011-01-16T02:29:34Z")
I’m female, and have had female blood relations living well into their eighties. Now, my matenal great-grandmother lived to be 94, and her daughter, my matenal grandmother, is still alive at 106. So I’m hoping to my late eighties, early nineties. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/27 "2011-01-16T03:31:32Z")
My mother lived to be 76, my father to 68. My father was a non-smoker who died of lung cancer. His mother died of pancreatic cancer. My mother had cancer twice, including uterine cancer while she was carrying me. My mother was one of 11 children. 6 had cancer. My father was one of 6 children. All were type-1 diabetics. I don’t foresee a terribly long life. StG ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/28 "2011-01-16T03:42:45Z")
If it makes some of you feel better, what I’ve read indicates that only about 30% of longevity is determined by genetics. Since people of previous generations didn’t have the knowledge of lifestyle issues that we do, hopefully we’ll fare better. My parents didn’t live very long unfortunately, but both of them were smokers, ate a diet heavy in red meat, etc. I am hoping my chances are better since I am a non-smoker, a vegetarian, and I’m trying to be active. Here’s hoping! ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/29 "2011-01-16T03:58:28Z")
I expect to get to 120 or get in an accident (like my liver giving up) while trying. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/30 "2011-01-16T04:12:21Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > A few years back I would’ve given it into the 80s, but do to my lack of a good job now, no health insurance, etc etc > > I think I’ll be lucky to see 60. Even if I got a great job with wonderful health care and stuff, the damage is done already and while some can be reversed, in my case it probably too late. > > But then again, one never knows, after all a 20 year old can get hit by a bus tomorrow Isn’t it a bit much to say you had twenty years cut off your life span just because of a period of lack of coverage? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/31 "2011-01-16T06:02:25Z")
Genetics is my best hope. I come from a long lived family. Several members of my family have made it into their eighties and nineties. ---
**Author:** ![Allthegood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Allthegood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Allthegood)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/32 "2011-01-16T06:12:15Z")
Most of my grandparents and some of my great-grandparents lived well into their 90s. I’m shooting for well over 100. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/33 "2011-01-16T07:00:11Z")
> [@Allthegood](#): > > I’m shooting for well over 100. …And you’d want to do this becaaause…it’s lilacly? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/34 "2011-01-16T07:04:54Z")
It depends on what the retirement age is. I’m in the retirement plus a year group. If I’m lucky they’ll extend it to 85. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/35 "2011-01-16T07:36:34Z")
That link says 79, but I’ve always assumed more like 59. My main thing is that I don’t want to get to the point where my brain stops working correctly. I already forget enough to be a lot older than I am. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/36 "2011-01-16T10:43:56Z")
Mum and Dad still alive and approaching 90. Grandparents lived into 80’s and 90’s. Who knows when the lights will go out? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/37 "2011-01-16T13:11:40Z")
I really don’t want to grow too old. What’s the point of being alive if you’re just drooling and senile and incontinent? I’ve seen my aunt grow old and senile and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone - and she was a mild case. I’m happy to live while I’ve got my mental capacity. Living to 80 will hopefully let me see great-nephews and great-nieces who will remember me. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/38 "2011-01-16T13:38:13Z")
I have no idea being that I am already in my 80’s, but my doctor says I could make it to 100, I hope she is right. But I wouldn’t want to live after I could not be well enough so as not to burden my children. I had a brother die in his 90’s and a sister who is 92, so I guess I wil just accept what happens! ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/39 "2011-01-16T20:02:21Z")
My great grandmother lived to 97, 2/4 grandparents are still alive. Mom’s dad died of lung cancer at 70 and his wife died 6 months later. Depending on who you ask it was a broken heart or a deep seated unwillingness to let him exist anywhere without her to bitch at him :D. Either way, she was in excellent health until his death. Both Dad’s parents are still alive and independant in their mid 80’s. I’m in excellent health now and I see no reason for it to change so I’m going for 90-95. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723/40 "2011-01-16T20:06:49Z")
I went with 70-75, because long ago that’s what I heard it would be for someone born when I was. But many people in my family have lived much longer, even with poor health. BTW: You should have itemized every year in the poll up to 125, then gone to the 5 year increments up to at least 150. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-your-life-expectency/567723.md?page=3)