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Will baby boomers live much longer than expected?

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Will baby boomers live much longer than expected?

Old 01-16-21, 10:29 AM
  #26  
mdarnton
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I ride for an hour every day or so, on Chicago city streets, at different times, exploring different directions and routes from my home, out 5-8 miles in any direction--from the loop to Evanston, within 5 miles of the lake--that is, a lot of the north side. Most of the bikers I see fit neatly into 25-35 years old riding either beater mountain bikes or 40 year old road bikes, overdressed (ready for anything with down coats and hoods, no helmet) with small backpacks. None look like they're doing it for any reason other than to get somewhere (not for exercise). I only see electric bikes in specific neighborhoods being used by people who look like they're on short runs. They're in the same age bracket, but more dressed for the moment, and slightly hipper looking. I don't ride the lakefront path, but when I do I see more young training-racer types and bearded 35-45 year old (retro-hippie) commuters with road bikes and single panniers. I don't know that I have ever seen anyone near my age--72.

Yes, as mentioned I do have that 1970 lugged steel with chrome high-end road bike stashed away waiting for the day I have to downsize.

On the original Q, I restarted riding as a pandemic activity in the summer after many years off. I'm in better shape than I have ever been, in every respect. The last time I looked this good might have been 40 years ago (I was never one for exercise or exertion--only for commuting during some periods). My family tree is filled with deaths in the 90s, and one 105 year old, so I may live a bit longer still, regardless of what I do.

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Old 01-16-21, 10:39 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by Koyote
Especially to our children, who will have to deal with parents who are still physically healthy but mentally bonkers. And if you're not sure what I'm talking about, let me tell you about my 83-year old mother.
Reminds me of the guy that said with breast implants and viagra, we will have 100 year olds setting around not knowing what to do with them.
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Old 01-16-21, 10:41 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Obeast
It is nice to see older people being active while those younger ones will probably all die early from being indoor too much.
They better not die. They are paying my SSI!
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Old 01-16-21, 11:29 AM
  #29  
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I don't want to be the killjoy here, but just the other day, one of the health agencies-- I'm not sure which one-- Center for Disease Control or National Center for Health Statistics announced that the life expectancy in the USA went down by one year in the last 12 months. It's the greatest decline since the statistics have been projected. This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic So if you outlive COVID, perhaps you are right.
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Old 01-16-21, 11:38 AM
  #30  
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I love to ride my bicycles but my workplace is way too far for me to commute on a bike and I'm not a fan of cold weather. While I have owned a bicycle for most of my 62 years on this planet, I have had more years by far where I didn't ride even an inch compared to the number of years I have logged in quite a few miles. I'm fairly certain that I rode more actual miles in 2020 than all of the rest of my life combined.

We know that this past year was a boom for bicycle sales. Being the skeptic I am I find it difficult to imagine that the scarcity of bikes will translate into more bike riders in the next few years. Both of my kids are adult age, getting them on a bicycle is a chore. Bicycles cannot compete with video games. It's just that simple.
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Old 01-16-21, 11:46 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by Bassmanbob
I don't want to be the killjoy here, but just the other day, one of the health agencies-- I'm not sure which one-- Center for Disease Control or National Center for Health Statistics announced that the life expectancy in the USA went down by one year in the last 12 months. It's the greatest decline since the statistics have been projected. This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic So if you outlive COVID, perhaps you are right.
US life expectancy started declining in 2014; the trend is mostly driven by affluence, as more people are dying in middle age from problems arising from alcohol, drugs, and obesity. Covid is just pushing the trend further, and taking more senior citizens.

https://www.advisory.com/en/daily-br...as%20increased.
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Old 01-16-21, 11:46 AM
  #32  
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I don't know if bicycling will make me live longer, I just want to live long enough so that all the 'next-generation' of my extended family will be responsible for disposing of all the stuff I've accumulated, all the debt I've incurred, all the financial tools I've set up, will be theirs to decipher and sort out.
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Old 01-16-21, 12:47 PM
  #33  
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It's lack of affluence that's screwed up US life expectancy ... opioid deaths and suicides among people whose incomes don't sustain their lives, deaths due to pollution in less affluent parts of the country, etc. I think wealthy boomers probably will live longer than expected.
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Old 01-16-21, 01:24 PM
  #34  
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Things run in cycles. The parents of the Boomers live and worked thru the depression and WWII. They were worked out, and burned out, and when they retired they sat, rusted out and died at an early age. As others have mentioned about their parents, my father worked like a dog all his life. When he turned 65 and retired, he sat in his easy chair, watched TV and did NOTHING. He rusted out and died within an year.

While I am a pre-bomber, I witnessed that, and I keep moving. Cycling is a big thing in my life, and I think it has a great deal to do with the fact that I am in so good of health.

Now the gen-x types we have now are setting in their chairs, never to out side, just peck away on their smart phones, and they will end up just like their grandparents did. Like I say things run in cycles.
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Old 01-16-21, 01:49 PM
  #35  
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Life expectancy for the Boomer cohort has actually been DROPPING, I believe, and that was before COVID. Suicides and opiates.

And it's worth noting that whatever the health benefits of exercise are, almost nobody gets run over by a car while sitting in a recliner in their living rooms.

Originally Posted by Koyote
"Anecdotal observation" does not equal "fact."
Or, as we say in my business, "The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data.'"
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Old 01-16-21, 02:25 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by rydabent
Things run in cycles. The parents of the Boomers live and worked thru the depression and WWII. They were worked out, and burned out, and when they retired they sat, rusted out and died at an early age. As others have mentioned about their parents, my father worked like a dog all his life. When he turned 65 and retired, he sat in his easy chair, watched TV and did NOTHING. He rusted out and died within an year.

While I am a pre-bomber, I witnessed that, and I keep moving. Cycling is a big thing in my life, and I think it has a great deal to do with the fact that I am in so good of health.

Now the gen-x types we have now are setting in their chairs, never to out side, just peck away on their smart phones, and they will end up just like their grandparents did. Like I say things run in cycles.
Your nickname needs to be 'king of sweeping generalizations'.
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Old 01-16-21, 06:01 PM
  #37  
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No so many of my generation. As I am a baby boomer still smoke and have bad health habits.
Many of my friends are very sick. I work on my health every day.
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Old 01-16-21, 06:23 PM
  #38  
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that is plan A

Originally Posted by caloso
It would just be like the Boomers to hang around longer.
And I'm sticking to it. But I plan to go e-bike only after it starts taking more time to ride back up the mountain than it does to walk it.
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Old 01-16-21, 06:40 PM
  #39  
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Boomers will live longer if they ride ‘bents and trikes.
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Old 01-16-21, 06:52 PM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Boomers will live longer if they ride ‘bents and trikes.
only if they start waxing.
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Old 01-16-21, 07:02 PM
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Many of us are doing just fine ... sorry, all. Plodding along; 6000 kms/year cycling ... aet. 69 ... a little too fond of good (rye) whiskey and a few other vices, but what the h_ll. Haven't killed me yet. I plan to live as long as possible, if for no other reason than to annoy succeeding generations.

Still working full time, btw, and paying for everyone else's pensionable future along with my own. We don't have mandatory retirement up here, and I have no plans to cut back for at least another three years. Dunno what I'd do with meself if I didn't have work to torment me.
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Old 01-16-21, 07:15 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Boomers will live longer if they ride ‘bents and trikes.
Except for getting run over because they're too low to see.
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Old 01-16-21, 08:12 PM
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I've already lived longer than I expected to when I was 20.
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Old 01-16-21, 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Troul
only if they start waxing.
Wax on. Wax off.


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Old 01-16-21, 08:21 PM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by jon c.
I've already lived longer than I expected to when I was 20.
my luck; hell will reach full capacity rendering my punishment to be immortal.
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Old 01-16-21, 08:25 PM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Wax on. Wax off.



Uh... now Biff, I want make sure that we get two coats of wax this time. Not just one.

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Old 01-16-21, 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by rydabent
Things run in cycles. The parents of the Boomers live and worked thru the depression and WWII. They were worked out, and burned out, and when they retired they sat, rusted out and died at an early age. As others have mentioned about their parents, my father worked like a dog all his life. When he turned 65 and retired, he sat in his easy chair, watched TV and did NOTHING. He rusted out and died within an year.

While I am a pre-bomber, I witnessed that, and I keep moving. Cycling is a big thing in my life, and I think it has a great deal to do with the fact that I am in so good of health.

Now the gen-x types we have now are setting in their chairs, never to out side, just peck away on their smart phones, and they will end up just like their grandparents did. Like I say things run in cycles.
How old do you think Gen X is?
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Old 01-16-21, 09:28 PM
  #48  
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After today, I'm wondering if cycling might be lowering my life expectancy. Riding on a residential road, I had a VERY close call with an inattentive driver.
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Old 01-16-21, 09:38 PM
  #49  
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In spite of medical advances, I don't think Texas boomers will live longer. We like booze and B-B-Q too much.
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Old 01-19-21, 07:39 AM
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I believe that the OP was unable to frame the question that he really had in mind.

And the answer is no, they will not - populations live pretty much exactly as predicted. That's why actuaries get paid.
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