If you were Dying (Hypothetical)

[virginia boy]

In the interest of gaining perspective, I would like to pose a hypothetical "end of life" scenario, and then ask how you imagine this would affect your cruising plans.

While few of us get very much advance warning of our death, lets assume that you have an incurable disease with a fairly predictable prognosis. You will remain healthy enough to sail and travel for two or three more years, but after that you'll begin a year long decline and ultimately exit stage left.

You are retired with modest income.
Your children are either grown or heavily involved in step family activities etc, so your role in their lives and ties to land are minimal.

Does news of your impending death change your plans? How?

Would you say goodbye to family now and travel your last days?

Would you take greater risks in your travels? Sail past Somalia coast while flipping the bird? Cape Horn?

Would you sell your boat and attempt to spend your last few years with family and friends?

Some of you may be in this very situation: Would you be willing to share your experience?

[Panope]

If casting off the lines were that important to me I would have already done it.

I would keep doing exactly what I am doing currently.

Steve

[David_Old_Jersey]

Getting ill can also simply suck the desire out of ya, even if physically still able. Also surprisingly mentally tiring. But I suspect that also a YMMV thing.

My answer would likely depend on whether I was married (to someone I liked!), and very unlikely to involve any great boat travels (never had any great desire to see the world by boat! - so why waste my last few years doing that?!)........if tucked up with a woman I would probably based my life around us / her / whatever, and some of that likely would involve travel and boat - likely a mix of experiences. If on me own would probably head off back down to SEA and relive my (adult!) childhood with one last hurrah!....an extended one!, full of complete and utter f#ggin stupidities powered by alcohol and whatever. with knobs on .

But for 99% of folks sh#t like that creeps up on ya, and yer discover that the last 2 or 3 good years were already spent........

...on the upside, getting sick ain't always turn out to be the end of the world, just feels like it!

[MarkJ]

I think the : "Does news of your impending death change..."

Everything.

Whatever we answer now would be worthless because our attitudes could change markedly after that news.

For me, personally, being single, and having already circumnavigated, I would probably sell the boat and concentrate on land based travel in the areas that I cant sail (or have no wish to sail).

Mark

[Freerider]

I don't mean this to sound harsh, but this concept is so f***'in mind blowing to me, and it really shows how we've become such victims in society.

If i had 2-3 good years left in me, then it means I'm not going to die and I'm going to beat that disease.

I would start to eating healthy, I mean real healthy (no processed, no dairy, no grains, no factory meat etc), I would move to a place with lots of sunshine and clean air and give my body the tools to get healthy. Once the diet changes the mental state will begin to change, and its all uphill from there.

I know that sounds all hippie/treehugger and all, but its realistic and it happens all the time.

Almost all terminal diseases are linked to stress, diet and habitat, and many of these so called "terminal" disease have been managed or cured by life style changes.

Then once i dominated that weak disease, i would push the limits like always. There's just something about scaring the sh*t out of yourself, that makes life so much more fun.

[Teknav]

Let's say, if you only have one year left in your life. During your years of work, you had a few bosses that were NOT very nice to you...this is your opportunity to be nice and kind to them, as they were to you...

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

[Jacana]

Large bank loan,large boat and very attractive crew sailing off into the sunset.

[S/V Illusion]

What's the difference between your hypothetical and how everyone should live their lives?

We're all mortal; the only difference is the date

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

We're all mortal; the only difference is the date

and it might be much sooner than the hypo 2 to 3 years.

[s/v 'Faith']

We are all dieing.

[tbodine88]

This guy had a good idea:

http://www.workingwaterfront.com/art...meaning/15387/

[zeehag]

because we are all dying, some of us more rapidly or even more suddenly than others, why not just live as you are most happy and fulfilled.
underlying conditions happen. i have that--no big deal--live then die--is life.
enjoy it and be happy--even when working. i loved my work. i love my peace now.
i would be doing that which i am already doing

[virginia boy]

[QUOTE=S/V Illusion;1263909]What's the difference between your hypothetical and how everyone should live their lives?

There are a plethora of opinions as to how we should live our lives, but personally, there would be huge differences in the way I managed my time and money.

I would spend less time (or no time) on long range projects. Sell stocks and pull out retirement money? Begin eating cakes and pie again! Start smoking again? Rob a bank?

Maybe that five year boat refit plan before you leave for your circumnavigation needs be trimmed a little. Maybe new paint and teak just became unimportant. Maybe it would mean going with fewer skills and equipment? Maybe you'd head out with a pistol with no intention of coming back? Whats the difference?
..I don't know.

[sailorboy1]

I would quit wasting my time on CF!

If I still need to spend time on the internet, well .............. I hear there are lots of porn sites.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Don L

I would quit wasting my time on CF!

If I still need to spend time on the internet, well .............. I hear there are lots of porn sites.

Too much Porn makes you go Blind.

Me just looks at the Art online .