I was taken "aback" the other day when my son-in-law tossed out the idea of them building a small log cabin in my farm woods--first for them to live in temporarily, then for me to live my final days in. (By then, they will have built something bigger and more permanent for themselves.)

It occurred to me that in less than 12 years, I'll be 80. And that perhaps I should be thinking about leaving my current house (which is way more house than an old single person needs--or can handle). I hate it when reality hits you in the forehead. I love my place of residence and don't even want to think about selling or moving.

I suppose most of us our age must consider the possibilities, the future. We no longer have true aspirations or long term goals--perhaps some dreams or a bucket list, but few considerations of what we want to do with the rest of our lives. We just want to live out our lives in peace. No worries or major concerns.

Yes, we hope for good health, enough money to live comfortably on, family support, and contentment, if not happiness (joie de vivre). I don't know when this all occurs. I guess right now, come to think about it!

But I haven't thought about it much. I'm into the immediate, not the future. I'm into my struggling golf game, my garden, my winter firewood supply, my New England trip. This is now, not 12 years down the road.

I definitely don't want to spend my "old age" in a retirement village or health care facility. Perhaps I should be thinking about my old age days. I hate doing that because I don't feel old now. Maybe, just maybe, my SIL has a good idea. Time to look forward.