Discussion Topic |
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Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 16, 2017 - 02:41pm PT
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I was watching a Robert DeNiro movie the other night – The Intern. In the opening scene a question was asked of DeNiro, “Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?” Then it struck me! The answer for me is, “Dead, of course”.
When I was a young boy, I remember reading that the life expectancy of an American male at that time was 68 years. Since I was born in 1932 that meant I might just barely make it to the 21st century – the century of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon, the age of ray guns and rocket ships. Oh, boy!
Well, we are 17 years into the 21st – we have ray guns and we have rocket ships, and here I am 84 years of age still awaiting the grim reaper’s swath.
I still climb, though leading 5.8 is my limit on a good day and I can still get up 5.9s with a snug upper rope. That is until my heart bypass surgery 11 months ago stopped all that – rehab will be lengthy.
Since we are all aging, this thread may never lose its relevance – it should always have contributors … no doubt, recurring contributors as time moves along.
So for you – where do you see yourself in the next 10 years? Watch this space!
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looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Lassitude 33
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May 16, 2017 - 02:58pm PT
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Phil Conners:
"I think people place too much emphasis on their careers. I wish we could all live in the mountains at high altitude. That's where I see myself in five years. How about you?"
Don, getting out and leading routes in your eighties is impressive. The tendency to let inertia take hold becomes harder to overcome as the years go by.
In ten years, with my youngest out of College, I hope to spend my well deserved leisure time leading routes and riding my bicycles.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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May 16, 2017 - 03:01pm PT
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Well, Don, I hope you make to a hunnert. It would be good to see.
At nearly 60 I have heard the wake up call and am taking good care of myself. In ten years I hope to be doing at least a week a month of skiing, climbing and backpacking with both young and old people. I am going for the free ski pass at nearly every ski area when I hit 80.
I see myself in Yosemite for every season staying in the volunteer camp and pitching in to make it nicer.
Backpacking and skiing the Sierra backcountry twice a year.
Regular hiking and peak bagging in the San Gabriel Mtns.
International Ski Trips every year and holiday trips in the summer.
Lots of Boy Scouting to bring kids into this outdoor life.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 16, 2017 - 03:15pm PT
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I grow old...I grow old...
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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May 16, 2017 - 03:36pm PT
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If I make it ten more I'll be happy, especially since I've made it about
40 more than I figured I would. :-)
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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May 16, 2017 - 04:09pm PT
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I watched Killer Elite with De Niro last night, Don.
His character, Hunter (a natural killer, of course), said, that life is like licking honey from a thorn.
I hope the honey keeps flowing AT LEAST another ten years for you.
As for me, I don't tend to think that far into the future.
I'll be happy to make it to another Facelift.
Call me Grasshopper, Master, for that is truly who I am.
And you'd look GREAT in purple, donini. Give in to your fantasy.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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May 16, 2017 - 04:19pm PT
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Thx Don. A good question to keep in mind.
As I feel the years creep in, I've renewed my interest in fighting back.
Not to say, that I won't enjoy a wee dram, pint, carcathon or runout, but the point is to get out. And that time outside can't be re-obtained inside.
So in 10 years, I hope to be outside.
10 after that, I hope to be outside.
10 after that, I hope to be outside.
10 after that...
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10b4me
Mountain climber
Retired
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May 16, 2017 - 06:16pm PT
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Man I don't know. I'm not particularly optimistic though.
My dad died in 2002 at the age of ninety one. My mom is ninety eighty, and is still amongst us.
I guess, in theory, I am destined to live a long life. Seeing what I've seen, and knowing what I know, I'm not sure that I want to live that long.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
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May 16, 2017 - 06:27pm PT
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Lauria...I remember seeing you at Suicide when you were 42.. That was 1975 .. You had the physique of a running back...I saw you racing your bike up the steep 12% Whitney Portals in the early 90's with a grin on your face thinking about the post race martini... 5.8 at 84...? What more could you ask for...?
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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May 16, 2017 - 06:37pm PT
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Don and Hennek, 2nd ascent NA Wall days.........
Royal Robbins photo
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jgill
Boulder climber
The high prairie of southern Colorado
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May 16, 2017 - 08:42pm PT
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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May 16, 2017 - 09:09pm PT
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Hopefully not rusting.
Susan
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Fuzzywuzzy
climber
suspendedhappynation
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May 16, 2017 - 09:13pm PT
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Don
We've got to be a little lucky too!
Just took my 88 year old Mom skiing last week.
How many more days do we have?
Enjoy every single one!
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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May 16, 2017 - 09:15pm PT
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hey there say... oh my, i have not idea...
god is just leading the way... and i am here...
will have to wait and see...
it's been NOT how i had thought, so far...
but-- it's been better than i'd imagined...
those, as a mommy, i DO miss my kids...
however, i know so many moms/dads that
have lived far from their kids, and i know sometimes,
in life, we must take the trails that work best for us to live on...
i am an open book... and god is the one with the pen, :)
and thus, full story will be in ten years time...
:)
hope by god's grace, i can read it with my kids,
and, or, friends and loved ones... :)
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zBrown
Ice climber
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May 16, 2017 - 09:26pm PT
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I have never thought about 10 year intervals.
I think about getting to 95-100, so 25 more to go,
I'm glad for your mobility Don,
I can barely figure out a week at a time.
Probably not a good thing!
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Trad climber
Will know soon
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May 16, 2017 - 09:48pm PT
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I watched Robert De Niro in the Intern tonight. Ten years, I'm with Neebee. God knows, I don't.
What I do know is what several of you expressed. I want to live with a capital L. I want to learn new things, go to new places, meet more incredible people that belong to this amazing planet. I love life and I love the people in my life. And I especially want to finally finish the two books that mean much to me.
Thanks for this ST campfire and all you amazing people that surround it. Cheers, lynnie.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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May 16, 2017 - 10:01pm PT
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Just to inject a SLIGHT tone of optimism into the discussion, life expectancy can be misleading.
These are usually defined as being *at birth*....which is fairly accurate.
HOWEVER, NOW, we have successfully evaded many of the causes of death, such as childhood illnesses, the teens and twenties with it's bravado, etc.
So a better estimate would be an age-based life expectancy calculator, here is Social Security's:
https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/population/longevity.html
But even these have limitations:
do not take into account a wide number of factors such as current health, lifestyle, and family history that could increase or decrease life expectancy.
And I think as we age, those become increasingly important
So for example, Don, it calculates out to something like 7 years for you. I don't believe that.
I think those unaccounted factors matter a lot for you. The average 84 y/o person is not leading your lifestyle. You are exceptional, and are very likely to skew the statistics!
I guess we should be asking: What's the secret???
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Bruce Morris
Trad climber
Belmont, California
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May 17, 2017 - 12:15am PT
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Living on the streets without food or any place to sleep.
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mastadon
Trad climber
crack addict
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May 17, 2017 - 07:21am PT
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Bruce-that's a good one. It will be like a full circle back to the early C4 days.
I've come so close to dying so many times and used up so many of my nine lives over and over again that I have no idea how long I'll live. I've outlived most of my Washington climbing partners and friends by decades.
The way I figure, I'll be gone when I'm gone and won't care one way or the other.
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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May 17, 2017 - 07:36am PT
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@Donini: Nice Prufrock ref. there. So you've read a couple of the classics, eh? I'm not a fan of Wasteland, but dig Senior Prufrock.
As for me? I hope to be climbing and hiking and biking, a consummation devoutly to be wished. I'll be 65, so baring any dread disease or accident, I should be doing okay. My wife is almost 65 and climbing 10's and hiking/biking pretty dang hard.
BAd
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