I know some people who have lived past 80 without regretting it, but they invariably share a few basic features: their lives are filled with constructive things

I know some people who have lived past 80 without regretting it, but they invariably share a few basic features: their lives are filled with constructive things to do (even if those things are not always enjoyable), they have an internal purpose or direction, and they take time to enjoy whatever spare moments they can grab. In particular, I know of one octogenarian who works part-time in the IT field as a mid-level support tech in a large company. He’s the one who sets up systems, replaces broken mice and monitors, and gives printers a good whack upside the chassis when they misbehave. It’s light enough work for him to keep up with the field, but important enough that he feels valued. And the company loves him. To everyone there he’s their “Opa”, and that’s what makes him jump out of bed every morning.