Nick, in his comments on my blog post Questions Answered had this to say – “You must be remarkably content if you can’t think of a single thing that would improve your quality of life!”
I think that his response was to this question and my answer.
Q : What would improve your quality of life?
Ans : I doubt very much that anything would improve on what I already have.
There is an element of inevitability in my being content with my lot. I am 73 years old and have been a retired hippy for so many years that I have forgotten how many! Hippy because, both my hips have been replaced and one of them revised twice and the other, once. The latter is due for second revision and I am hoping that I will pop off before it becomes an absolute necessity. Obviously then, I can’t have ambitions of getting on a powerful motorcycle to zoom off into the sunset or other equally appealing escapades.
I have built my comfort zone around a home that stands debt free and increasing in value every year. I live with my son and daughter in love who indulge me my small requirements, lavish love on me and worry about me when I step out of the house. I know that I can depend on them to take care of me if I get into an accident. I have enough in the bank to meet any emergencies and get a pension that is adequate to finance my small indulgences, primarily books, movies and periodicals.
I enjoy being lazy. Since using local taxis and autorickshaws is not too expensive, and to avoid hassles of traffic, parking etc, I go where I want without having to search for the keys to the car. I also have great friends who have chauffeur driven cars who take me around if we were to do things together just as my children and a few other younger friends do.
Solving four crossword puzzles, three good meals, good siesta in the afternoon and sleep in the nights every day; company of family and friends etc, makes life quite pleasant. If I want excitement, I simply get myself a thriller to read on my kindle or to watch via DVD on our home theater system. I have so many clothes that I don’t have to buy any new ones any more and I am of an age where I don’t really have to be conscious of the latest styles in my attire.
A powerful computer and a smartphone enables me to be in touch with my far flung network of relatives and friends and for them to be in touch with me too. I have made a great many friends through blogging and with facebook and whatsapp long lost old friends are coming back into my life regularly.
“Money, social status, plastic surgery, beautiful houses, powerful positions – None of these will bring you happiness. Lasting happiness comes only from serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin.”
~ Yuval Noah Harari. Sapiens A Brief History Of Humankind.
I think that I have been blessed with enough serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin naturally. What more do I need?
Well, yes, what more could you possibly want? You’ve arranged your life very well! A devoted circle of family and friends is a great asset. Especially when you now have the magic internet to keep in touch with them.
nick recently posted..Who me, smart?
Sorry Nick, I did not arrange my life to be the way it is now. It just happened and I am grateful that it did as it did.
I think you must add weather? Says she as she heads out to scrape ice off windshield. But really that is not a complaint. I am content with every aspect of our wildly changing weather, often plus 30 in the summer, and minus 30 in the winter. Today? Only minus 10 but huge humidity, thus, scraping.
Your life sounds wonderful.
Yes. In retrospect, I feel like kicking myself. Pune, where I live, is very pleasant throughout the year. I am very fortunate that life brought us here to retire in. http://www.virtualpune.com/html/localguide/cityfacts/html/climate.shtml
Contented people are much easier to be around than the others so if you are happy, they are happy and there is an upward spiral. I like upward spirals.
We seem to be kindred souls Kylie!
Contentment is good. I’m just not quite there, yet.
Mike recently posted..Eyes of the Great Depression 140
Don’t be so modest Mike. You are content doing what you do while you still have the energy and wherewithal to indulge in your passion for travel!
Clearly the result of a life well lived
Thank you. That is one way of explaining it, the other being, the result of having let things just happen!
“Lasting happiness comes only from serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin.”
Amen to that! As you know I was lucky enough to discover happiness as a spiritual practice about 60 years ago. If anyone wants to understand how to manage those neurotransmitters, I highly recommend The Upward Spiral by the neuroscientist Alex Korb.
I don’t think that I am now capable of reading that tome CM! Frankly, I hope that I never have to!
You nailed it Ramana. I am content mich of the time bit I deal with bouts of depression periodically. Which makes me appreciate contentment more.
XO
WWW
Wisewebwoman recently posted..The Mighty Abyss
You are another warrior WWW. I admire you for the life that you have chosen.
first. I have always liked how you call manjiree your daughter~in~love.
I think that very simple thing shows a lot about your character. and it’s wonderful.
I am also content. I enjoy living alone if I can’t live with bob. and I have the marine if I’m ever in a bad way.
my pension and social security give me enough income that if I’m careful I actually have a very nice living.
the secret is in not wanting much!
I have been making my little apartment more cozy and livable these past few weeks.
and I’m happier than I’ve ever been. healthwise … GOOD health accounts for much in day to day enjoyment and contentment! here’s to the contented good life for us all. xo
tammy j recently posted..moving on old bean
In India, she is not a daughter “in law”. In all Indian languages, she becomes a daughter the moment she completes the marriage ceremony with one’s son. The “in law” came into India via the British and in English usage, has become an accepted part of speech. There are words for each relationship in all Indian languages. The usage in our family was started by my sister Padmini when she acquired one and like lambs we have all followed that practice.