Close to me was my father in law (my husband's father). He was 89 when he died. Until his triple bypass 3 years earlier, he was still in his home, doing everything by himself (cooking, cleaning and cutting his grass and trimming his cedar edge, driving his car, etc.). He also had to fight treatments for prostate cancer (which he won).

After his hospital stay (which turned out very bad but he recoupped after a struggle), he went back home for another year doing everything, with some help as we forced him to get a housecleaning person and we helped him with some chores. We talked him into moving into a assisted-living apartment. We sold his home and he kept lots of his furniture so he still felt at home where he was. He had nothing else to do but enjoy life. He still went to the gym (it was light due to his condition), we got him a little motorized cart for his longer walks as he was getting into heart failure (not sure the term in English) but his heart was working harder, also getting some fluids into his lungs.

But he was still active to almost the end. Although he was on too many pills to control everything, his mind was all there most of the time. But he slept more and it was harder to get him out of this sleep pattern.

He never "exercised" much, like most of us here. But he was active differently (bowling, light walking, sometimes line dancing) working around the house which can get very physical. He used to be alcoholic (but stopped some 30 years before), never smoked. So overall, nothing major done but some was good genes I supposed.

But I must admit that towards the end, he fell like he was a burden to us (my husband and I) and even the caregivers. So he only wanted to die and said it was time that we regained our life instead of taking care of him. Yes it took a lot of our energies just to deal with everything in the end but we would do it all over again just to have him with us.

Like Pax said, most his family and friends were dead. He went to more funerals then weddings...so it must be hard to go through. He had my husband when he was over 40. So even hubby did not have a chance to see his extended family that much as they were dying as he was growing up.

So I do hope, like most of us, that I get to live a long and healthy life. Sure we'll get some bumps along the way. Just hoping they will not be too high and hard to go through and that will be able to afford all the cares I will need when I get there. Can't depend on kids...as we have none. hihi