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Source: (consider it) Thread: One year to live
Schroedinger's cat

Ship's cool cat
# 64

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What would you do if you have a year to live?

Just for clarity, lets assume you have an illness that doesn't really have significant impact, as long as you continue to live you current life.

If you decide to climb Kilimanjaro, for example, that is fine, unless it will take 9 months to organise, in which case you will probably not live to see the top.

Lets also assume that you condition is incurable, but there are meds to help the symptoms, so you should be pretty well asymptomatic, but there is no hope or chance of a cure, or even remission.

OK, so pretty much everything else is up for grabs. How would you spend your last year, give or take a few months?

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Lord may all my hard times be healing times
take out this broken heart and renew my mind.

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Sparrow
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# 2458

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Wasn't there a 1960s TV series where this happened? The guy got to travel all over the world having all sorts of adventures.

I would just travel. Maybe ending up with a round the world cruise when my illness got to the stage where I couldn't travel under my own steam.

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For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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agingjb
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# 16555

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I would at least try to resist the endless badgering to travel.

Perhaps I'd be able to do what I ought to be doing anyway - and perhaps I'd be able to work out what that is.

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Refraction Villanelles

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Huia
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# 3473

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Finish writing my will.

I would visit all the native forested areas of NZ that I haven't yet been to especially Kapiti (wildlife sanctuary) and Codfish (Kakapo breeding) Islands.

Also Id need to find a loving home for Georgie-Porgy fat'n'fluffy my cat.

Huia

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Charity gives food from the table, Justice gives a place at the table.

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Galilit
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# 16470

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We should probably be living like that ALL the time actually.

After 2 rounds with The Oncologists and a near fatal tractor accident I find it hard to imagine the next week, let alone next year...

If I really had a year though...I think I'd spend it doing what might be regarded as unremarkable things - with friends and family watching waves and other water movements like rivers, creeks, waterfalls, drains and plug 'oles, lighting fires and watching the flames, baking bread, making yoghurt, eating fresh fruit and veg.
I would also travel back to Aotearoa/NZ to some of the places Huia mentioned and I would visit the Starlight Reserves

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She who does Her Son's will in all things can rely on me to do Hers.

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Schroedinger's cat

Ship's cool cat
# 64

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I would buy a lot of wine, and drink a great deal.

I would also get to see the Northern lights, if possible, and also spend the summer months somewhere I could experience the midnight sun.

These latter ones are things I will try and do before I am in my last year.

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Blog
Music for your enjoyment
Lord may all my hard times be healing times
take out this broken heart and renew my mind.

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Og, King of Bashan

Ship's giant Amorite
# 9562

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quote:
Originally posted by Galilit:
We should probably be living like that ALL the time actually.

I don't know- it is sometimes the more mundane moments of my life that end up being the most satisfying. And I think that is the tough part of the "one year to live" question. There would be so much pressure to go out and LIVE damn it that I don't know how enjoyable it would be. You might miss out on the authentic pleasure of coming home on a Monday night, fixing something easy for dinner, and sitting back for some bad television.

Would it be selfish to keep it a secret from all but the closest people? I'd have to tell my wife, as she would have to start preparing for life without me. But I can't think of anything that would make me more miserable than being the center of attention for a full year.

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"I like to eat crawfish and drink beer. That's despair?" ― Walker Percy

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Emendator Liturgia
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# 17245

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With a year to live suddenly looming, I'd take my partner and two closest friends and we'd see the places which together we want to see - kinda using what I'd leave them to spend time with them in places we all wanted to see. Now whether those places were near or far, seeing them together and seeing them through each o09thers eyes, THAT would be something that would stay with me for - well, eternity!

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Don't judge all Anglicans in Sydney by prevailing Diocesan standards!

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Firenze

Ordinary decent pagan
# 619

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quote:
Originally posted by Schroedinger's cat:
I would buy a lot of wine, and drink a great deal.

Yes, I'd just carry on as normal as well.
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Chorister

Completely Frocked
# 473

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I haven't visited all the British Cathedrals yet, so that would be no. 1 on my list. Then I'd continue with my other great work of 'Island Bagging', which should keep me busy during the summer months. Finally, my quest to visit as many up high (towers) and underground (caves) places in the country, would be completed. At least I'd feel at home 6 feet under if I'd spent time acclimatising myself first!

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Retired, sitting back and watching others for a change.

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Lyda*Rose

Ship's broken porthole
# 4544

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Schrodinger's cat:
quote:
Just for clarity, lets assume you have an illness that doesn't really have significant impact, as long as you continue to live you current life.
In other words, a "brain cloud". [Biased]

Well, if I had a bit more money, I'd come to the UK and hit all the shipmeets that would put up with me plus go to lots and lots of Evensongs and other musical events.

I'd also book an eleven day cruise from San Francisco to Alaska and back.

And after doing all that for myself I'd stop being a selfish schlub and pay attention to my friends and the state of my soul. [Angel]

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"Dear God, whose name I do not know - thank you for my life. I forgot how BIG... thank you. Thank you for my life." ~from Joe Vs the Volcano

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Kelly Alves

Bunny with an axe
# 2522

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I would just. write.

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I cannot expect people to believe “
Jesus loves me, this I know” of they don’t believe “Kelly loves me, this I know.”
Kelly Alves, somewhere around 2003.

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L'organist
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# 17338

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If I were given one year to live by my local hospital I'd move very swiftly to ensure my affairs were in order because they tend to be over-optimistic (or crap at their job, take your pick): generally they over-state by about 4 to 5 times... [Eek!]

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Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

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ken
Ship's Roundhead
# 2460

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quote:
Originally posted by Og, King of Bashan:
quote:
Originally posted by Galilit:
We should probably be living like that ALL the time actually.

I don't know- it is sometimes the more mundane moments of my life that end up being the most satisfying.

It is possible that I am actually in this situation. Been thinking about it for some months. To my surprise I find I want to carry on as normally as possible. Even going to work.

There are of course those unwritten books howling to be born...

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Ken

L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle.

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Welease Woderwick

Sister Incubus Nightmare
# 10424

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I might travel a bit but basically I'd want to stay most round here and be with the people I love.

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I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
Accessible Homestay Guesthouse in Central Kerala, contact me for details

What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?

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Heavenly Anarchist
Shipmate
# 13313

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I would want to put my affairs in order, so that my family encounter as little stress as possible after I am gone. This would include decluttering my stuff so as not to leave that chore to anyone else. I would also try to sort out some practical things towards my family being less reliant on me to organise them.
But after that is all sorted I would like to spend time with my family and nature, walking in Scotland, exploring the Cornish coast, that sort of thing.

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Uncle Pete

Loyaute me lie
# 10422

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quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
I might travel a bit but basically I'd want to stay most round here and be with the people I love.

Indeed, if I had a year to live, I would wish the last 4 months to be in India.

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Even more so than I was before

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Kitten
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# 1179

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I'd spend as much time as possible with my grandchildren, taking them to places I've loved and trying to give them happy memories.

When my Father knew he was dying he did something similar, he spent the whole summer and much of the autumn taking my brother and myself out nearly every day until he got too ill to drive. At the time I found it frustrating and longed to spend a quiet day in the garden occasionally but I didn't realise he was dying, I was only 15 and he had had health problems for as long as I could remember so I assumed he would come through this as well. Looking back I am grateful to him for that summer of memories. He also had many deep conversations with me, the significance of which did not occur to me until afterwards.

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Maius intra qua extra

Never accept a ride from a stranger, unless they are in a big blue box

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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713

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After the practical stuff which Heavenly Anarchist mentions I would set out on a tour of The World's Best Restaurants (not excluding Deli's, coffee shops, street food stalls; heck, how much can one man eat in twelve months?)

I wouldn't use guidebooks much, but get some local knowledge.

It could even, in some way, turn into a serial shipmeet, so people could find out what I'm really like before the bowdlerised version is presented at my funeral!

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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"

(Paul Sinha, BBC)

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Ariel
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# 58

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I'm already acting on the assumption that life is short, so am making an effort to get off the fence and try a variety of new things, or old things in a new way, and savouring the moment. It's all any of us can do really. The Eurostar trip will hopefully come later.
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The Rogue
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# 2275

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I would give up my job but stay in touch to write the software that we so desperately need. That way I will be at home with my family all the time. I may or may not finish the job.

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If everyone starts thinking outside the box does outside the box come back inside?

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jacobsen

seeker
# 14998

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As has been pointed out elsewhere, your in tray is never empty when you die, but I would keep working and try to get my students through their exams before shoving off this mortal coil. Then I would have a round of farewell visits, sit in my garden and watch the birds squabbling for precedence at the seed feeder, and drink.

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But God, holding a candle, looks for all who wander, all who search. - Shifra Alon
Beauty fades, dumb is forever-Judge Judy
The man who made time, made plenty.

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leo
Shipmate
# 1458

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Spend all my savings on foreign holidays.

But people have done that and then found out that their diagnosis was wrong and they continue to live in penury.

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Lyda*Rose

Ship's broken porthole
# 4544

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It's not All Saints but ...ken [Votive] .

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"Dear God, whose name I do not know - thank you for my life. I forgot how BIG... thank you. Thank you for my life." ~from Joe Vs the Volcano

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Jane R
Shipmate
# 331

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[Votive] for ken.

Basically, what Og said. I would also waste less time on the Internet so I could play more boardgames and go on outings with Daughter and Other Half.

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Stercus Tauri
Shipmate
# 16668

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Exactly one year ago I was told I had an incurable cancer. At first I thought it meant I'd bought the ticket and the train was leaving. Mostly it meant confusion, but reason kicked in, and as Schroedinger's Cat recommended, we made sure there was a good supply of wine at all times.

In the event, the medics never gave me any time to think about it, and they rushed me off my feet for six months while they messed with my body. I still had a major project to finish, so when I got back on my feet I had to finish that, and before it was over I had two more to do. I did a fair amount of writing too, but mostly unpublishable. Right now, I haven't got time to think about dying, and probably won't get around to it for quite a long time.

My response to the OP is: carry on doing what you need to do and like to do. Don't pay more attention to death than is necessary until it's staring you in the face, and even then, get a second opinion. And keep a good stock of wine.

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Thay haif said. Quhat say thay, Lat thame say (George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal)

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Ethne Alba
Shipmate
# 5804

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Find a way to live very close to the coast for the whole year
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Palimpsest
Shipmate
# 16772

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Unless your plan is to max out your credit card limits in exactly one year, the best plan is to do what you want to do, simplify your estate and cherish your family and friends.

The annoying follow up question is: What would you do if you only had two years to live, or ten, or fifty? I can see not doing long range projects like having children or planting topiary but the harder part of the question is; if you know how you want to live if you only have one year, why don't you live that way even if you would live longer.

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St. Gwladys
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# 14504

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quote:
Originally posted by Ethne Alba:
Find a way to live very close to the coast for the whole year

[Smile]

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"I say - are you a matelot?"
"Careful what you say sir, we're on board ship here"
From "New York Girls", Steeleye Span, Commoners Crown (Voiced by Peter Sellers)

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Kelly Alves

Bunny with an axe
# 2522

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quote:
Originally posted by Lyda*Rose:
It's not All Saints but ...ken [Votive] .

Amen

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I cannot expect people to believe “
Jesus loves me, this I know” of they don’t believe “Kelly loves me, this I know.”
Kelly Alves, somewhere around 2003.

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Twilight

Puddleglum's sister
# 2832

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First I would buy a carton of cigarettes, then I would do the usual; read books, watch TV, read the paper, then talk about it all on the internet -- and Ken would always be here to disagree with me. Always.
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Kelly Alves

Bunny with an axe
# 2522

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That occurred to me; whatever else I did, parking it on the Ship would definitely be on the agenda,

[ 27. February 2014, 00:03: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]

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I cannot expect people to believe “
Jesus loves me, this I know” of they don’t believe “Kelly loves me, this I know.”
Kelly Alves, somewhere around 2003.

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no prophet's flag is set so...

Proceed to see sea
# 15560

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This is a very difficult question. I've done most of the things I have ever wanted to. It's the things I might want others others to do. After a day and night of thinking, I think I would tell my children that they get extra money, early, from my estate for having babies. Perhaps $100,000 per. Because I want grandchildren. (Am I allowed to be outrageously manipulative and selfish in this thread?)

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Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety.
\_(ツ)_/

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Stercus Tauri
Shipmate
# 16668

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quote:
Originally posted by Palimpsest:
...if you know how you want to live if you only have one year, why don't you live that way even if you would live longer.

I think you have it absolutely right.

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Thay haif said. Quhat say thay, Lat thame say (George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal)

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anoesis
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# 14189

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quote:
Originally posted by Palimpsest:
...if you know how you want to live if you only have one year, why don't you live that way even if you would live longer.

My answer to this would be: Because, if you are the one who only has one year to go, and the rest of your family, as far as they know, have plenty of time, then they can be expected, to some degree, to arrange their lives around you for that year. Which is not a workable plan for an indefinite period of time.

I think what I would most likely do, if I only had a year, is yes - travel, to the extent permitted by having small children. Drink - most certainly. Also, I would start saying the stuff that I mostly don't say because it's too out there or too smooshy or might make someone uncomfortable or embarrassed. Because I think sometimes that stuff can have a lasting positive effect on people, and if it backfires - hey - what have I lost?

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The history of humanity give one little hope that strength left to its own devices won't be abused. Indeed, it gives one little ground to think that strength would continue to exist if it were not abused. -- Dafyd --

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ExclamationMark
Shipmate
# 14715

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Keep on as I am. Avoid being the centre of attention. Carpe diem and live in it whatever it brings. Trust God more. Sit with my cat and my wife. Talk to my children and grandchildren. Wonder at beauty. Receive and give amazing grace.
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Schroedinger's cat

Ship's cool cat
# 64

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quote:
Originally posted by Stercus Tauri:
quote:
Originally posted by Palimpsest:
...if you know how you want to live if you only have one year, why don't you live that way even if you would live longer.

I think you have it absolutely right.
I think there is a point there, and I did say that I would try to do the visiting things. The drinking thing would just become a self-fullfiller. That is something I would only do to numb the pain.

Most other things I do try to live like that anyway. But this really is about focusing on the special stuff - selfish or otherwise.

And Ken - really sorry to hear this. Prayers with you.

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Blog
Music for your enjoyment
Lord may all my hard times be healing times
take out this broken heart and renew my mind.

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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58

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I'd be unlikely to tell anybody until it became unavoidable. I wouldn't want a fuss and I'd want people to behave just as normally: all the joys and woes and petty squabbles that make up what real life is.

There's always going to be something that you leave unfinished. Nobody, anywhere, ever lives life perfectly. I'd aim, though, not to be on bad terms with anyone before I left; even if we're no longer in touch I'd like that to be without rancour, just a sense of having moved on and accepted that we don't agree on some issues, and that nobody ever agrees perfectly with everyone on everything anyway.

And I know this isn't particularly Heavenly, but two years ago after having visited a friend in a hospice I came away feeling a bit shocked, but deeply grateful for being able to get out of bed unaided on a cold, dark, rainy winter morning and just go to work. Have a normal, ordinary day, with all the little niggles and tiny pleasures, look forward to doing things I'd put off for years, while I still had the chance.

So if the weather ever improves, that Eurostar trip will have to happen, and meanwhile, trying to find something good in each day.

But as per the OP, let's try to keep the tone light and let's hear your "bucket lists".

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Meerkat

Suricata suricatta
# 16117

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Ken... [Votive]

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Simples!

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Nenya
Shipmate
# 16427

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ken [Votive]

I'm completely in agreement with carrying on pretty much as I am. I love my job and it is part time, so I have regular slots in the week for coffees and lunches with people I care about and love spending time with.

I don't enjoy travelling and am particularly phobic about going abroad, but there are places here I'd like to visit with Mr Nen. Some for sentimental reasons - I'd like to go to Chichester where my mum grew up and I haven't visited there for years. I'd like to go to Norfolk which was a special place for my brother and his partner (my brother died two years ago) and I'd like to revisit the Fort William area of Scotland where Mr Nen and I fell in love. I'd like to go to York and Ely and Wells. There are some friends I'd like to visit and a few people I know online that I'd like to meet in real life - so there'd be a bit of private-messaging and arrangement-making.

In writing this I realise that most of these things are eminently doable... not sure why I'm not making plans already...

Nen - thoughtful after reading this thread. [Smile]

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They told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn.

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the famous rachel
Shipmate
# 1258

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I would write a long series of letters and stories for my three year-old son, and probably film some videos. I would leave the letters for him to read when he is older.

I would declutter the house and make every possible arrangement for my son and husband's futures to be as stress-free as possible under the circumstances.

And then I would stop being sensible and blow some of the money we are saving for a house on a big trip to South Africa to a really swanky game reserve, and go on Safari. I've been dreaming about something like this for when the famous pre-schooler is older, and three may not be the right age, but if it were now or never, I'd go now!

Rachel.

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A shrivelled appendix to the body of Christ.

Posts: 912 | From: In the lab. | Registered: Aug 2001  |  IP: Logged
Spike

Mostly Harmless
# 36

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quote:
Originally posted by Twilight:
First I would buy a carton of cigarettes

Same here.

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"May you get to heaven before the devil knows you're dead" - Irish blessing

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Galilit
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# 16470

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I agree, Ken, in that sitution I just wanted to to do simple things and keep on fighting till the Very End...and here I am

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She who does Her Son's will in all things can rely on me to do Hers.

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Og, King of Bashan

Ship's giant Amorite
# 9562

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quote:
Originally posted by no prophet:
(Am I allowed to be outrageously manipulative and selfish in this thread?)

For some folks, that's the entire point of estate planning. (I took Trusts and Estates law from a professor who took over her legendary father's position at the law school. After teaching that subject for 60 or so years, her father died intestate (without a will). 60 years taught him that the statute dealing with the division of property in the absence of a will would be sufficient to take care of his family, and any other planning was just needless meddling which was bound to cause resentment and family fights.)

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"I like to eat crawfish and drink beer. That's despair?" ― Walker Percy

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St. Gwladys
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# 14504

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We're doing a couple of things on our "bucket list" this year - not necessarily because of health constraints but morer because of potential financial constraints.

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"I say - are you a matelot?"
"Careful what you say sir, we're on board ship here"
From "New York Girls", Steeleye Span, Commoners Crown (Voiced by Peter Sellers)

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Timothy the Obscure

Mostly Friendly
# 292

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quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
quote:
Originally posted by Schroedinger's cat:
I would buy a lot of wine, and drink a great deal.

Yes, I'd just carry on as normal as well.
I'd definitely up the quality.

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When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion.
  - C. P. Snow

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Aggie
Ship's cat
# 4385

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I would give up work - that's the first thing I would do, and then I'd go travelling and see all the places I've always wanted to see, and try to pack in the lot if my health and finances allowed:
1) Santiago de Compostela and I'd like to walk the Camino
2) Asturias, Basque Country and Rioja in Northern Spain
3) Rome and the Vatican
4) The Amalfi coast of Italy
5) California
6) south-east Asia
7) Moscow
I would also eat and drink what I wanted to.

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“I see his blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.”
(Joseph Mary Plunkett 1887-1917)

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bib
Shipmate
# 13074

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I find this question to be rather insensitive given that I have a close friend who is in such a situation. It is impossible for us to walk in her shoes and to imagine ourselves in her situation is IMO quite wrong. Her battles and options are changing daily and even her personality has changed. Although she would like life to continue as normal, it doesn't work like that, particularly as time passes and she approaches the end. I pray that her final days are filled with peace and love. [Votive]

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"My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring"

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Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528

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But we're not asking or talking about her and are therefore not being insensitive to her. We are discussing ourselves in what are for most of us hypothetical situations, and hoping to learn from the discussion. On your principle we would have to give up discussing parenthood, for the sake of the infertile among us; old age; cancer; job problems; and so forth.

[ 28. February 2014, 14:21: Message edited by: Lamb Chopped ]

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Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!

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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58

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The OP was posed as it was not with the intention of getting people to focus on their own mortality (I hope SC will confirm that), but with the intention of defining a set of parameters to form the framework for a discussion. It could for that matter have been posed as “you only have one year left on Earth before you’re sent to Mars on a one-way ticket to help build a new colony” or “incarcerated for a very long time”.

If we can, let’s keep this thread to a reasonably lighthearted sort of discussion about what you would do under those circumstances. The “bucket list” is a widespread concept across the internet, and very likely the first that came to mind, but the principle we’re considering for the purposes of this thread isn’t actually mortality so much as those as-yet-to-be-actualized dreams when you know time is limited – for whatever reason – and want to fill it in your own way. Let’s go with that.

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