been spending some time with old people to try to understand how an American president thinks

witness gonzo | writing at summerlightning.substack.com
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roughly the conclusion I’ve been coming to. I can kind of see why the boomers in my neighborhood don’t want to sell their homes, it’s like a last vestige of power they have over others

I once was required to volunteer at an old age home as part of a scholarship. I was paired with a woman in her late 80s to talk to named Gertrude. We did not really hit it off, but damn she was depressed, tired, hard of hearing, and while not cognitively impaired, dull and slow. This was a person waiting to die.

My own parents are in their 80s now and in better shape with more zest, but none of us can avoid sharp decline if we live past ~85. People who are reported to die at 100% cognitive ability past 85 are either very rare, or important and heavily mythologized by handlers, or both. I think the biggest factor after genes/physical health is having an important and esteemed role. Real power is a real energizing trip. Like a rejuvenating drug. So I doubt median experiences are fully indicative.