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>from age 20 to about 40-50

Really? Just that range? Not sure about your own family history but the vast majority of 50+ and 60+ year olds I know are quite healthy, vital and fully independent, perhaps more so and especially more independent than many people in their 30s and 40s even due to greater accumulated assets and self care. There are many exceptions of course but most people in developed places seem to live quite well and independently into their 70's even these days.



I just mean that "societal contribution" (that is, towards group fitness) peaks in the age window, on average.

After age 50 or so many of us may be living perfectly well, but by and large, we're coasting (or at least slowing down).


Agree. I'm in my mid 50s; I figure anything more than another 15 years or so is a gift. That doesn't sound like a lot of time in retrospect; thinking about 2006 does not seem like very long ago to me. So there's a growing sense of there not being a lot of time left, and a stronger desire to spend it on simple things that give me satisfaction rather than building more software that will be obsolete before it's really even finished or learning new technologies that will be "legacy" by the time I can really be productive with them.

At the same time I have zero interest in longevity. I will live the life I've been granted, for as long as it lasts. Then I'll get out of the way.




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