I have never sailed - I think I might like it. As a life? Probably not for me.

You're hired! Of course such a resource would need protection against one who is overcome by temptation [rare, but it might happen.....]

thanks, David;
I think you're right about many people and some of my issues as well. However, I have bio-mechanical issues that also lead to pain whether I'm stressed or not - and I've done a lot of work on this issue because it's the first thing doctors say when you come in with what looks like a classic tension headache: do these neck exercises, you'll be fine. Not if every disc in your neck is damaged or out of place, you won't be fine. You can hope for "better".
You are also right about "a new normal" - in different ways, we are all reacting to/defying/ignoring/etc the stresses of what modern American life does to people who belong here. There will be a "let down" period - the kind that comes when you make a decision that is right and damn the torpedoes - and get no torpedoes!

I and many of you, like me, are older and would likely not survive long, without the extensive medical services we have, today. However, it's not just about us.

Our children and their children are young and strong and could likely withstand years of sub-optimal care, while they wait for their fledgling medical services to develop in the Gulch. Consider, for instance, the risks that the two dozen or so that are talking about shipping off to Mars will be taking, by leaving major medical centers behind in their wake. Yet, I believe that most of them fully expect to live long, healthy lives.

No, I don't know if I or my wife would survive in a "primitive" Galt's Gulch, but I believe that such a place will be more for the productive young than for those of us who merely wish to relax in our golden years.

It is a small device that is battery powered or plug in. There are two grips to hold in your hands. It produces a positive standing wave form that disrupts bacteria and virus metabolism like silver colloid I believe. There are many listed on the internet. Most are asking to much for them and you never know how good they are. I got mine through a health food store from a guy I trust. Still working after ten years. Has help me with everything from nail fungus to the flu.

Wiggys, I would willingly gulch at any moment go gulch, and having been raised in a limited technology home, could pretty easily survive it. I have also been studying survival and prepper skills for a year now. I am also now researching herbal healing and homesteading. I rarely go, or take my kids to the doctor, unless I have to. My doctor and I discuss home healing, and he gives me ideas I haven't found yet and supports our way of life. I bet he would go Gulch.
I also have a goal to make my own home as self sufficient as possible, with or without the "fall of Rome".

That is an excellent question. While she agrees with the economic message of AR, and likes the movies, I think she would have a hard time with part of the oath. She had her birthday today.

The main point of "The Strike" (Rand's working title for "Atlas Shrugged") was that the productive minds who had gone "on strike" and retired to Galt's Gulch didn't need anything from the "looter's world", but that the world needed them instead.

(I do my own research.)

Can I volunteer to be the dentist? My husband and I and both children are dentists, and will take the oath

well I am set on living to 120 years. then i'll be able to report on what has happened. but in the meantime I believe in your life time you will not see a population in general increasing with respect to living longer. drugs are drugs are drugs and the drug companies will tell you the most glorious of things but they are all faking reality.

See, they're there and available.

Agreed. No magic. Agreed. Deeds have consequences.

Right Now we have studies that suggest deeds that have the consequence of delaying aging. That is not in the future. It is now.

In the future we will probably have more of these deeds/drugs/procedures (such as rapamycin). People who take care of themselves and avail themselves of these techniques will live longer.

What stupid people of all ages do re eating poorly and not exercising has nothing to do with what I can choose to do.

Jan

you unfortunately are not considering the FACT that young people today are developing illnesses earlier in life for a few reasons; they do not exercise as my generation did. they eat for the most part garbage food. they are fixated on screens like tv, phones ipads etc. their intelligence level is so low that they do not know what they are doing and of course they are smoking weed and the government is striving to make it even easier for them to acquire it. so they will not be living longer than the current generation even IF an anti aging drug appeared. do these mad scientists have any idea of the long term consequences of such drugs NO! There is no magic anything now or has been or will be. that is one of the premises of objectivist philosophy.

I can't guarantee it would heal everything, but there is every reason to expect that entire classes of medical issues would either be arrested, improve significantly or heal completely.

One very interesting "must-read" study comes to mind:
http://harvardmagazine.com/2010/09/the-m...

Perhaps true 20 years ago. Not true today.

There is no 'magic pill' but we are starting to understand the mechanism of aging and there are substances that alter gene expression (epigenetics) to change the rate of aging.

Give us time; we will solve this too.

Jan

Davidmcnab:
Your comment was refreshing. I would sincerely hope that the shedding of layers of accumulated stress, of ridding oneself of the shackles imposed by society/government in "being your brother's keeper" ... would bring such a relief and rejuvenation of the body and soul that we would all bask in the glow of health and happiness.

Good for you. Welcome to the Gulch!

NealS: you are a dream! I really admire your resistance to the cell phone. I am intrigued by your statement that you felt as though you were living in the Gulch and "... something went wrong." - umh, that's almost like leaving the Garden of Eden... Hopefully you learned something?

anti-aging drugs do not exist. those who say they have something that will keep a person from aging are faking reality. the best method to keep from aging is to die young.

An excellent question kh.

buy from veterinarians.

will she take the Oath, j?

db's sister is a Randian. Her specialty is geriatric care. she's also looking to shrug.

If you look at how most new communities start in Florida, the seniors come first, demand medical care, get it, and then the rest of the community grows around the nucleus of seniors.