Expat Life Expectancy is Shorter

Personally I want to die as old as I can while I while I still feel young. I believe living abroad has lengthen my life span. I often read that retirees in the US die about my current age because of there lifestyle changes upon retirement. I do think it is an individual thing. I ran a fast pace professional life in the US and I think sitting and watching TV, the sedimentary lifestyle, in retirement would kill me quickly. Obviously from driving on the roads to finding your favorite grocery item, it is a challenge here, stimulating our brains and giving our bodies exercise whether we like it or not. I like the stimulation and exercise. I have not even considered the female companionship opportunities that I would face in the US, versus what I experience here. I would much rather be eyeing a 20 years old than falling asleep aside someone that experienced WW II first hand. Those eye exercise opportunities here certainly keep my heart young, even if it kills me. I would not give up the last three years and half years here, as it has been fun, although frustrating at times, and challenging most of the time. I feel living here keeps my mind and body feeling young.

 

I have noticed that older people have had more birthdays so maybe its birthdays that keep you kicking, seriously, if you came here have a good healthy life style dont drink to much cheap booze keep fit you should live longer than being in the hussle and bussle of some over regulated country in the developed world.

 

hahahahahah i think you would get 100% agreement on that dave....more fun chewing on lamb than a bit of old mutton

 

Die young as late as possible.
Those friends who died young here has been mostly due to excess drinking and smoking and lack of exercise. What is usually called an unhealthy lifestyle.
I think that could effect the statistics too. A few drunk driving accidents to add to that.

 

During a lunchtime Pint with my Dad during a home Visit in my final Air Force days ( I was 43) he said to me, Son, if you don't change your ways & lifestyle you will not see 50.

I will be 67 in May and I will salute the Old Bugger and Toast him for my Birthday.
He Died in 2001 at 87 and spent his life exactly as I have done, cos he taught me how to. Based on that I reckon I got at least another 20 years.

JP

 

Great topic and I agree wholeheartedly with the responses.
It always surprises me to see statistics that suggest men abroad live shorter lives.
If its true I would suspect as you might as well, that passing out drunk after a day of sitting on a barstool smoking 1 or more packs, and the high incidence of motor vehicle death is the culprit.
The topic reminded me of the cup holder I bought shortly after my divorce that read, "married men don't live longer, it only seems longer!"

 

While I agree wholeheartedly with your philisophy, my limited experiences here in the Philippines is that the "aging clock" seems to run backward for many of us. Perhaps it is a more active lifestyle or just generally being "happy with life" here, but many, many of the expats I know are 10 to 15 years older than their appearance would suggest. This is certainly not a "scientificly supported statement" simply a personal observation using a small "test sample".
As another DI member often states: "Your mileage may vary"


Seems that if you are Dutch living abroad is rather dangerous, cutting your life expectancy by about 20 years. I couldn't find anything from other countries on this but I suspect the life expectancy for most westerners goes down once they relocate to a third world country. Not really surprised by this considering the state of health care in most "developing" countries.

Personally, I'm not too concerned about it. I'd rather die young living somewhere I love being than living a long miserable life living, and working, in a country I'm not overly fond of. While it is not a concern for me, it is something that a person who isn't sure on moving overseas should take into consideration.[/QUOTE]