Being alone and growing old......any plans?

[4pack]

This is more of a question to any guys(or girls) out there who have no siblings, don't plan to have kids, and just don't have any luck finding someone.

How are you going to take care of yourself as you age? I'm asking this as my parents have asked me to move back in with them for health and support reasons.

Most people don't plan to have kids just so they in turn can look after them as they get older. Although we can workout on a regular basis, watch what we eat, try to stay positive for as long as we can there comes a time when our body will fail us or an unexpected accident.

I have some close friends but they have lives of their own. I also have some distant cousins but that's not the same as blood siblings.

Just curious if anyone of you who is basically alone wonders what the future will hold for you if your health fails you and you have no backup.

 

[Stoo]

Cheery topic...

I am not in this category entirely, but my kids are most likely going to live a long way from here, so I have thought about this. I am the youngest of my siblings as well, by some years (I was an accident apparently... ) so I'm not counting on them either.

Until a few months ago, I believed I was going to be well-off enough to be able to hire help, or live in a decent nursing home. With the stock market dumping, my intent is to roll my wheelchair into a bridge abutment as fast as I can when my portfolio balance hits $0.00.

Hopefully the market will recover in the next 30 years or so. The thought of a high speed wheelchair death isn't that appealling.

 

[Jade4u]

Trust me those with children still wonder what the future holds as we all know our children get older and most likely will move on with their lives. My Mom had 7 children herself and they all moved all across Ontario. Only one stayed in the small town that I grew up in. As far as that goes we have family all over the place Aunts and cousins etc... all over the U.S.A, some family out in B.C. Nobody knows where life will take them. If their jobs supplies them with a percentage of the cost of a new home and transportation and pay increase as it did with my brother in law. Who would say no? I know I would certainly tell my children to go for it. Even if that meant saying good bye.

 

[a 1 player]

Even if that meant saying good bye.

In my world, there are no 'goodbyes' with family. Only 'see ya laters'.

 

[cute-bald]

Well.......................

... I am 44 & getting into buying 5 , 1 bedroom condos downtown to rent out. That is my retirement income & asset for when I need to be in a care facility.

 

[S.C. Joe]

I have one brother (good for nothing) and no kids...I might be taking care of my parents, I know my brother could careless (not in word but actions).

Am trying my best to stay healthy, eat right, no smoking, etc. I think about what you say, what if you need somebody and there is nobody who loves you then Might be the big down fall on this hobby if one decides not to marry.

 

[Jade4u]

In my world, there are no 'goodbyes' with family. Only 'see ya laters'.

In a perfect world there would be no good byes. But in reality sometimes distance even keeps loved ones apart on Christmas.

 

[a 1 player]

In a perfect world there would be no good byes. But in reality sometimes distance even keeps loved ones apart on Christmas.

Very true, might just mean I'll see you 'much' later. To me goodbye is a forever thing, and I'm not willing to say that. Silly I know, but that's just me.

 

[Can4You]

Moving to Thailand

Already got my kids programmed. When I cannot get around.........they are to ship me to Thailand........Supreme Hotel. Nice Room, Pool and breakfast for less than $1000 a month.

Find myself a nice Thai girlfriend, who can massage me, get me my remote control and whatever else I need. Then off to bed at 7:00pm and she can go enjoy the night life.

A lot better care than a retirement home and I can also with my savings cruise Asia too. Maybe do some time in VietNam......Philipines and/or Costa Rica.

Thailand, great transportation and set up for foreigners to get around and some of the best medical fascilities in the Far East.

 

[Hangman]

Retiring to a foreign country has some merit if you've got nobody here, maybe for half the year or all. Your retirement income will go a lot further. I knew a retired lawyer in Rio who was screwing his way through Rios working girls at a high rate and loving it.

 

[Rockslinger]

Having kids is no guarantee that they will take care of you when you are old and fragile. My Mom's doctor often said that some kids look after their dogs better than their parents. Go figure. If you are mentally and physically capable, money will take care of you. Old Irish saying: "It is bad to be young and poor but it is hell to be old and poor."

 

[toughb]

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt...

Trust me those with children still wonder what the future holds as we all know our children get older and most likely will move on with their lives. My Mom had 7 children herself and they all moved all across Ontario. Only one stayed in the small town that I grew up in. As far as that goes we have family all over the place Aunts and cousins etc... all over the U.S.A, some family out in B.C. Nobody knows where life will take them. If their jobs supplies them with a percentage of the cost of a new home and transportation and pay increase as it did with my brother in law. Who would say no? I know I would certainly tell my children to go for it. Even if that meant saying good bye.

**********

One plans to be alone. Get the house, the car, boat and whatever toys are your thing.

Ensure you have plenty of outside interests.

Been on my own for almost 10 years with no complaints.

Have contact with my daughter in Calgary daily. Daddy/Daughter thing as strong as ever.

 

[S.C. Joe]

Being alone doesn't worry me, as long as my health is fine and I can take care of myself. I worry what if I am unable, who will help me then? Maybe it won't ever happen, I be looking fine and just drop dead from a heart attack one day

 

[Plan B]

Unfortunately, like other posters have already said, having kids is no guarantee that you'll have company when you'll be older.In fact, having a spouse is no guarantee either, as she may pass on before you do. And in many cases you can feel just are lonely with the wrong spouse.

If I'm still around at 65, I'm retiring to South America. The cost of living is much cheaper, and the winters are much warmer. This alone should add some time to your life. But most likely, I'll get robbed and beaten to death by Columbian thugs, and end up in an unmarked grave. Few people will care by then.

 

[a 1 player]

I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

 

[S.C. Joe]

Some of those old age homes are pretty bad...last summer some teenage girls were charged with abusing the old people..sexually

 

[bing]

A person should make their own arrangements for old age and not put the burden on family and siblings. We enter life alone, and should plan on exiting alone.

 

[4pack]

Being alone doesn't worry me, as long as my health is fine and I can take care of myself. I worry what if I am unable, who will help me then? Maybe it won't ever happen, I be looking fine and just drop dead from a heart attack one day

Basically this is how I feel. What if I get a stroke in the middle of the night or some life altering event where I need someone to take care of me. I'm physically fit NOW but sometimes I do worry about the future. I hate seeing my dad get old with problems and I worry what I mom would do if I wasn't there.

I shouldn't worry about events I have no control of but when you see your parent get problems it reminds me of my mortality.

 

[brocko]

When my mother passed away from cancer my father's health which had not been that good quickly deteriorated and he died 6 months to the day of my mother's death. I had always visited him regularly usually twice a week and did his shopping and chores. My last visit, I entered a darkened apartment with the newspapers and mail on the floor and him dead in his bed.
My greatest fear is this is how I will die. Don't let it happen to your folks or to yourself if you can.

 

[Bale]

Smith & Wesson,

Your best friends in your time of need.