My beloved father-in-law oft laments the obituaries, not the actual passings, but rather, the ages at which his fellow men have a tendency to expire. His observation aptly reflects data concerning why women and men live as long as they do. Men tend to live as long as their spouses do. If by sad circumstance their wives pass, the likelihood of the partner’s passing in the next year or two increases 20 fold, drastically reducing his life expectancy after the age of 60. Why is that? It is believed, that as they age, the circle of friends a man has continually contracts until there is one remaining contingent…their wives. This happens as school buddies, college buddies, work buddies, gym buddies, golf buddies, drinking buddies and the activities with which male friends collectively participate fall away as they graduate, as they retire, as their physical agility and/ or health declines. Leaving just one constant companion.
I have one suggestion, oh, wait two: 1. be kind to your wife, your life depends on her and 2. make lifelong friends with someone who you talk to and interact with on a daily basis that is not activity driven.
The irony in this spousal life dependence is that should the opposite occur, a woman survives her husband after the age of 60, her life expectancy increases. And it increases by at least 20 years. Why is that? *
* Please refer to previous article on why housework causes stress.
I have one suggestion, oh, wait two: 1. be kind to your wife, your life depends on her and 2. make lifelong friends with someone who you talk to and interact with on a daily basis that is not activity driven.
The irony in this spousal life dependence is that should the opposite occur, a woman survives her husband after the age of 60, her life expectancy increases. And it increases by at least 20 years. Why is that? *
* Please refer to previous article on why housework causes stress.
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