Live to be 120

As a child, in bible study I would read about these people in the bible that lived very long lives. Adam lived to be nine hundred and thirty years old. Seth, Enos, Jared, and Kenan all lived for over 900 years. I remember learning that Methuselah lived up to 969. That is almost a 1000 years of age! My young brain (and adult brain now) could not comprehend the possibility of living up to that age. Currently the life expectancy in the United States is 79.8 (WHO). Therefore, most Americans will not get to live 1/10 of the life that Methuselah lived in the bible.
If it was scientifically possible to live up to 900, I would be willing to bet that most Americans will choose not to. Imagine living to see 900 birthday candles, countless wars and many changes in head of states. Personally, it will all be too much.
What if though, aging can be slowed down and there is a good probability to live to be 120 years of age? Is that still too old or just right? According to a Pew survey, 56% of people would not want to live longer to at least 120 years. However, 68% believe that most other people would want to live longer. Where do you fall in the survey?

I’m lucky to have had 2 of my great-grandmothers live very long lives. One lived up to 110 years and had a pretty healthy life. The other one’s health deteriorated more rapidly in the last few years of her life which I guess is not too bad compared to how her health was most of her life. Still, having witnessed them both age differently, I would want to live up to 100 maybe even 110 only if I knew that I would stay healthy physically and definitely mentally. Ultimately, it is not about how long you have lived but, how much you live in the years that you have. Back to Methuselah for a minute, I could not tell you what he did in the bible other than living the longest. On the other side of the spectrum, Jesus only lived up to 33 and many people worship him up till today. Would you live longer if you could? And how long? Since the science is not here yet, let’s focus on living healthier and more productive lives.