The Fountain of Youth. Would you turn back time if you had the opportunity?

I'm not talking about going back in time, just shaving years off of our bodies and keeping all the memories and experiences we've had. I'm still way back there inside my head. I guess late-teens, early-twenties, back in the hippie days were the best for me. But, the world will never be like that again. I love the idea of going through the rest of my life with no pain and no medications but I don't think I'd like living another 50 years with the way the world is heading. It's scary enough now!

Oh, heck YEAH Sandra! Getting those young, firm bodies again is what it's all about! LOL About 10 years ago, I was looking at myself in a mirror and said, "My face is fat." My son, who happened to be in the room said, "No, it isn't, Mom. It's just saggy." I'm not entirely sure that was a compliment.

Alice, there are dozens of different types of arthritis - I count myself lucky I only have 3. Marti, if that's the case, count me in! Can I swap by flabby thighs as well? Then perhaps I can wear short skirts again.

There must be people somewhere who are like me - who want to work in a garden and cannot get one for some reason. Maybe someone in you neighborhood would love to help you?? There are some special things to help those who cannot bend to the ground. I have seen high beds for growing veggies and flowers so that even a person with wheelchair can do some gardening. I don´t know if this would help you, but you may find something on the net that would.. Perhaps this article would interest you: http://www.1minutecure.com/TA65DVD.SOIG.ALLDISONECURE.01.06.10.html I am not selling anything, but I might continue to do some research on this subject. Anyway, the information is interesting..

I'd like to remain the same age I am with the same memories and simply have a body that cooperates better than it does now. I would not want to live longer than my allotted time, either. Just to have a body that did what it used to, that would be awesome! I'm talking about this life, here on Earth. I finally got the land I've wanted since I was a kid but don't have the energy to do all I want to do with it. I think it would help if I had a husband who enjoyed gardening, or at least enjoyed helping me, but doing it alone and not having the energy I used to, it gets depressing and I give up sooner than I'd like.

I would not want to lose the memories or experiences, either. What we go through in life is what shapes us into what we are. I like who I am and would not want to go back in time, either, but I sure could handle having a younger body! LOL

I understand what you are saying, checkmail. Watching my mother grow old hurt me because we used to do so many things together then, one day, I realized that we could no longer do these things. Now, it's my turn. Age has not been kind to my body. My mind is still as young as ever and I still have the same dreams and ambitions but my body is unwilling to cooperate. I would love to take 10 or 15 years off my body, back to when I was still able to do so much. All we can do is our best, no matter what life hands us.

Yeah, age definitely has a way of closing some doors on us. It's not fair and, in some cases, really stupid on the part of employers who would rather have youth over experience. All I can say is, I hope that fountain is HUGE because I know quite a lot of people who will be there with their cups out. LOL

I agree with that, vigirl. The newer generations grow up having to deal with different things than what we grew up with. They don't see the massive changes that we've seen as we grow older. I was just thinking recently that, back when I was a teenager, we didn't have all these electronic games. Nothing needed batteries. We used our imagination and made our own fun. Maybe that's why I can't wrap my head around today's technology; I simply did not grow up with it. My oldest son seemed to be born with the knowledge of how to fix computers and how to program the stupid VCR! LOL This is a true story, I bought a VCR and tried to get it to work for over an hour. My son took over (he was no older than 12 at the time) and had it working in 5 minutes! I wouldn't want to BE younger, just have a younger body. I could do so much if I had a body that worked right!

I'd make a few different choices if I had a body that cooperated with me. I'd only want to take 10 years or so off my body so I could still make those changes.

I'm so happy that you are happy right now, mimpi! I wish I could freeze time for you. I've often said that it's never too late to do what you want but, since my body started falling apart, I know now that it can be too late. In May 2007, we moved into this house with the three acres of land that I've wanted since I was a child. I wanted this land to plant all the fruits and vegetables that I'd ever need. Gardening is my passion. But, it came a little too late for me. I haven't been able to do anything near what I wanted to because I simply do not have the energy and only get help with it when my sons are available. So, I'd love to shave maybe 10 or 15 years off this old body of mine. I wouldn't want to go back in time but simply have a younger body. I like who I've become and know that is from all the experiences I've had in my lifetime so I wouldn't want to change that but I could sure handle having a younger body!

Youth is wasted on the young

Yes, that's the whole point, to have the knowledge and experience we've gained, yet have that younger body. I've often thought we should be born old, then grow younger. As we gain that experience and knowledge, we'd have the physical energy to put it to good use. We're so backwards!

I'd have to say that I feel exactly the same as you if I were to die today. I've had a hard life but also have some really fantastic memories. Everything that happened to me is what has formed me into what I am and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But, to be younger with my memories and knowledge intact, well, I wouldn't mind being 10 years younger. I wouldn't want more than that because I'm having a hard time dealing with all the changes that have already taken place in my lifetime. I doubt I could function at all if I suddenly became 20 again and had all those years to live over. Not in today's world! Geez, I can't even handle this new-fangled cell phone I have! I think I've hung up on more calls than I've answered, all because, apparently, I'm hitting the wrong button when trying to answer it. I want a cell phone that's just a phone! Do they even exist?

Yep, I have a Nokia that just makes and answers calls. One button to answer and hang up. They also make the Jitterbug, a little pricey for me at $30 a month but very simple.

Their problem.

Sure! Anything goes with the Fountain of Youth! Anything goes when we're dealing with fictitious things and our druthers. I'd LOVE my 20-year-old body again. Everything's firm, everything works and nothing hurts. It would be a little odd, though, going places with our kids and telling people they're our kids when we look younger than they do.

Hindsight is always 20/20. It would be wonderful if we could go back and make different decisions. I would settle for simply having the physical energy to do things today to make life better. I wouldn't want to live longer, though. My life has pretty much sucked and, even when the most wonderful things happened in my life, like the birth of my children, I have never been completely happy, not even content. No, I wouldn't want to live any longer than what I'm programmed to live.

Hi Leenie. I've been hybernating, for the most part. Partly depression, partly the frigid weather we've been having. Plus, the holidays have kept me pretty busy. I wouldn't want to go back in time, either. I would LOVE to shave 10 or 15 years off of this body, though! I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything. The things we go through in life are what make us who we are. I'd just like a slightly younger body to go with this brain of mine that still thinks I'm 25. I look in the mirror and think, "Who the heck is THAT???" LOL I'm content to grow old now. I just wish I had a body that did what I want it to. Love you, too! Take care of yourself!

Have you tried putting notices around saying what you need? You might be able to find someone who needs to rent out half their house or even someone who has a place to rent. Lori found an ideal place for her and /Rex. They're renting a cottage or small house on the property of an older woman and paying a very low rent in exchange for helping her around her property. I'll tell you, Leenie, if you could take the freezing cold weather we've been having, I'd ask you to move in here with me. (Assuming my husband would go for it, of course.) I just got out of the hospital because I smashed my middle finger of my left hand in my car door, and I'm left-handed! That means I won't be alboe to do muchg of anything for awhile. You'll probably notice more typing errors than usual for me because I only have my index finger and thumb to use and I'm terrible at typing if I can't use all 10 fingers. AND, we're expecting it to start snowing again any minute now and continue into tomorrow. This has GOT top stop! You know what? I don't know if it would help but you could try writing to your congressmen about your husband's situation. Actually, about bothof your situation, about your house, his unemployment, your health, all that to see if he/they could help you. I'd try every avenue I could if I were in your position. My friend, who used to work for Social Swecurity told me that I should write to the president because it couldn't hurt. Ialready have my other house on the market but I don't think you'd like it there even if it wasn't because it's so very cold there and also because it's so isolated. I'm going to be looking around for other things that might help you guys. I do belong to a work-at-home jobsite that lists jobs every week. Maybe you or even your husband could qualify for some. The place is called HomeworkersNet at www.homeworkersnet.com. They have job listings like data entry, transcription, customer service, internet specialists, consultants, tech support, etc. There is no referral system so you can just go there, sign up and start getting these listings. If I can come up with any new ideas or websites, I'll let you know right away.

Hey Marti, I'm with you on the body weight. I'll take what the Big Guy sends me in illnesses as long as I could go back to 170lbs. I know that sounds like a lot but it looks good on me. I don't need to be skinny to feel good. So spill it. What in particular are you depressed about. I know the snow can bring you down after a while but try and kick back in your warm beautiful home and enjoy. How are the boys and hubby? I'd love to hear about your Christmas dinner as well. I guess we are going to have to move out around the beginning of Feb. I'm praying for that apt. or condo that some person wants to rent out. Or a job for hubby out of this town. I'll have to tell you about my Sisters ambush, but not here. Love Ya Leenie

Opal, I don't think you'll ever have to deal with being alone. It sounds to me that he loves you and age really is irrelevant. My husband is 8 years younger than I am and he's never even mentioned the age difference. I had a boyfriend who was 17 years younger than me and it was me who broke that off because he acted even younger than his age too oftyen. He begged me not to break up with him, too. No, I don't think you'll ever have to face that problem. At his age, I'd have to assume that he knows what he wants by now and he wants you. As long as you don't let your age bother you, I know it won't bother him. You know, I think I'd worry more about my man looking for someone younger if he was OLDWR than me! (Pardon my typing, it'sd pretty bad right now because I smashwd my finger in the car door earlier today and have a big bandage on it PLUS I'm full of a very potent pain killer... hydrocodone. It's not broken but severely bruised with maybe some tendon damage.) Put your fears to rest, Opal. I'm positive you have nothing to worry about.

Oh, man! I'd love to be in my 40s again! LOL I used to tease my mother about being a half-century old when she turned 50. Then, I turned 50 and I thought, "I am the age my mother is supposed to be! What the heck happened???" I was 47 when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia so I'd love to remain physically younger than that, forever. At least we can still dream, huh?

I think that's what we all would love; younger bodies with the same memories and experiences so we would make better choices. Hindsight is great, isn't it? But, what good is it if we can't make changes? Age definitely slows us down. They say age is all in our heads. We're only as old as we feel. The trouble is, I feel 100 years old sometimes! I'd love to take 10 or 15 years off this old body.