Some say Darwin's Theory says the careless and stupid ones take themselves out of the gene pool. If so, we should be safe. All of us older guys are past the age of reproducing.

I doubt that. In 1968 when I was in 1st year medical school we were shown stainless steel hip replacements which were supposed to last a couple of years.....

A decade ago my Mom (now 93 y.o.) received a hip replacement and they said it would be her last because it would last longer that she would. So far, both are fine

I have 2 boys because during a trip to Australia in 1985 a physician told my wife of the treatment she needed to allow her to have a chance of having children. I will remember his words until I die: "We don't care what the Americans and Canadians say. Your endometriosis has to get treated, otherwise you will never have children". Then he pointed to a picture of himself holding a baby and said "THAT child is the first test tube baby born on this planet, and I was a member of the team that developed that technique. Believe me, I KNOW what I am talking about". When we returned to Canada we faced the same resistance from knowlegeable specialists and then my wife showed the specialist (one of the top 10 in the country) the letter from Australia and he followed the advice in the letter. Treatment lasted 6 months and 2 months later she was pregnant That baby is now a 24 y.o. who has a B.Sc. Honours degree, and who recently swam from Alcatraz to the mainland and came in 2nd out of 20 starters - and he had only trained in Canada's fresh water lakes and rivers. The treatment (from 1985-6) is now SOP and used regularly in the treatment of some cases of endometriosis.

What I am saying is that while we MAY think we are beyond the reproductive cycle, DO NOT bet your life on it

Not hardly. I know several +60 and at least one +70 who are new fathers. The latter was married to a 30 something and had two children by her. She ran off and left him with the kids. Signed off parental rights and the whole bit. He and his older kids set about raising them. Last I heard they did just fine.

Boy what genes they must have, eh?

Darling wife had me fixed after youngest was born.
My reproducing ability or lack if it has nothing to do with age.

Which goes to prove you must be the smarter ones. Like I said, the stupid and the careless die young.

Amen, brother! The pain signals seem to get more strident as our T drops off, but the principle remains the same. You just have to train yourself better to ignore it.

I don't know. Just what is involved if I decide NOT to cope?

I usually reflect on all my blessings and good luck and realize that my life of cycling had left way out in front of the pack. I could have died five years ago and still had a fuller life than most of the brain-dead population that passes for current humanity.

Hope i don't miss the next "dancing with the stars."

I kind of cheat, started dealing with arthritis pain in my teens. Now there are so many pains competing with each other for my attention it's become easier to ignore them all. LOL