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?
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