man's longevity

This certainly makes an interesting read... from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/

Bad habits key to man's longevity
(China Daily) Updated: 2007-05-21 14:52

Zhang Shuqing, a centenarian in Pixian, Sichuan, has his own secret for long life - smoking every day and drinking liquor after every meal.

Zhang, whose daughter died eight years ago, turned 100 on May 7. He lives with his nephew Zhang Chenggui.

Zhang senior said he started smoking and drinking strong liquor when he was in his early 20s. Since then, he has smoked every day and taken a drink with every meal.

According to his grandson Xu, Zhang has consumed 15 tons of liquor and more than a ton of tobacco in his lifetime.

Zhang, who is in good health, has a huge appetite, with a standard meal comprising two chicken legs, a bowl of steamed pork fat and glutinous rice, vegetables and fruit. And he eats the lot in less than 20 minutes.
(Tianfu Morning Po)

when you are old

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, and take down this book,
And slowly dream, and think of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of the shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false and true,
But one man loved the pilgrim Soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

by William Butler Yeats

old age

While watching the program on 'Japan Hour', I was particularly struck by the elderly ladies in their 80s to 90s years of age. They seem so serene and contented farming away in the fields...waking up before dawn.

Is retirement a thing of the 20th century? A thing of the past?

A huge chunk of the population belongs to the baby-boomers. The Y and Next generation blame the baby-boomers for squandering the resources and so forth and so forth... And there are not enough of the Y and the Next to take care of the baby-boomers...

Can one actually retire after spending a whole life long working? Where work became one's identity and purpose in life? Can one actually hang around doing nothing all day long for unspecified period of time?

Considering the lack of resources and manpower, in due time, surely retirement might not be an option. Perhaps the economy will have to create and absorb those in their sixties or seventies for their patience, diligence, experience...and what have you.

Will the 21st century be one that a person works till he/she drops dead?