No pills yet, (knocks on wood). I discovered after moving to Japan that old people are different here. First, there are lots more of them, second, they seldom take pills. Obesity is uncommon in Japan, and diabetes is rare, less than one-fifth America’s level. My wife’s grandmother is pushing 100, yet all she takes is vitamins. You have to be pretty active to live in Japan, people don’t drive much, most people walk to stores and shops, and most houses have stairs.

Japanese aren’t avid exercisers, and they eat more salt than any other nationality. But they do move about a lot, and this frequent, low-intensity activity seems to make a difference. My daughter’s ski teacher is 81 years old this year, and I can’t keep up with him on the ski slopes. Most of the teachers are over 70. I hope to be as fit when I get to their age.