FUTURE SELF
Name: Gwen Age: 22 Imagine that you are a 65-year-old person and answer the following questions. What is an average day for you? I will wake up quite early in the morning and take my poodle for a walk. Then I will spend some time reading all the books that I wanted to read as a 22-year old but never had time to. I will probably still have a job when I’m 65 and I can see myself working as a tutor/professor at Uni. I will probably not have grand-/children but I will have many pets around me (cats and dogs) How would you like to celebrate your 70th birthday? By travelling the world by train and boat. What are your living circumstances like? I will live in an inter-generational commune somewhere in Europe. We cook for each other, have a garden and we look after the children together. Everyone helps everyone. The house will also have a stage and every night we perform for each other, play an instrument, sing and read a book. What are your plans from now on? To learn the piano To nourish and support my friendships and family To write a book What sort of music do you listen to? Rihanna! Till death do us part! What activities do you do? I climb mountains with my friends, go to gigs, read, cook nice and healthy food, go and see a lot of theatre. Are you free or do you work or volunteer? As I said, I will still be at work (hopefully part-time) Who do you live with? (see above) What are your dreams for the future? I want to be like Iris Apfel!
Gwen age 22 Script:
Hi I’m Gwen. I live in an inter-generational commune in Europe. We cook for each other, have a garden and we look after the children together. Everyone helps everyone. The house also has a stage and every night we perform for each other, play an instrument, sing and read a book. I climb mountains with my friends, go to gigs, read, cook nice and healthy food, go and see a lot of theatre. I wake up quite early in the morning and take my poodle for a walk. Then I will spend some time reading all the books that I wanted to read as a 22-year old but never had time to. I still have a job, working as a tutor/professor at Uni. I dont have any grand-/children but I have many pets around me (cats and dogs). My favourite singer has always been Rihanna! Till death do us part! At the moment my plans are to learn the piano and to write a book. I hope to always keep nourishing and supporting my friendships and family. I hope to spend my 70th birthday by travelling the world by train and boat. A huge life influence of mine was Iris Apfel!
Name: Laura Veal Age: 21 Imagine that you are a 65-year-old person and answer the following questions. What is an average day for you? I get up quite early because the mornings are the best time to be up. Id make breakfast with my husband (if I have one). I’d generally hope to be working still, and interacting with people on a daily basis is something that is important at this age. I’d be back home in the evenings, but I’d always be happy to go out for dinner with friends and family. How would you like to celebrate your 70th birthday? I’d probably like to have close friends and family in a restaurant with a view of Sydney harbor. Lots of liquor and possibly a few retellings of embarrassing stories. What are your living circumstances like? Generally quite good, Sydney based and quite close to the water. That’s where I feel most at peace (but its still quite lively for a 65 year old!). I’m still working most days, so being close to the city center is good for me. What are your plans from now on? We’ve always thought of buying some property in the country, not too far out of the city. We’d like to rebuild a house and with attached rooms for a bed and breakfast, and a small farm. It’s a big project, but if not when? What sort of music do you listen to? All kinds! Our generation was the first to have such massive availability to music. Youtube, Spotify and Soundcloud. It made discovering music instant and easy, constant access. So it was important to me to pass this down to my kids, and it also helps me keep up with them! What activities do you do? Lots of social activities, meals out and maybe a little bit too much wine. I keep up with art classes still. Walking is also important, especially for our dogs. And I go swimming either in the pools or down at the beach. These days I’m definitely wearing a one-piece! Are you free or do you work or volunteer? I’m definitely still working, and plan to be for some time. I can see my self volunteering more when things slow down later in life, but right now I’m keeping fairly busy. Who do you live with? My husband and a few too many cats and dogs… We are always happy having guests over, or one of the kids who need a break. Lots of weekends are devoted the having guests. What are your dreams for the future? I hope to be in the country in a comfortable house surrounded by family and friends, lots of nature and a lot of animals! I hope it’s comfortable for people to stay as often as they liked. I’m still planning on a lot more travel. The places I’ve been have definitely changed with time, and places that I haven’t yet been. There is a lot that we can still learn.
Laura Veal age 21 Script:
Hi I’m Laura. My living circumstances are generally quite good, Sydney based and quite close to the water. That’s where I feel most at peace (but its still quite lively for a 65 year old!). I’m still working most days and plan to be for sometime, so being close to the city center is good for me. I live with my husband and a few too many cats and dogs… We are always happy having guests over, or one of the kids who need a break. Lots of weekends are devoted to having guests. I get up quite early because the mornings are the best time to be up and then make breakfast with my husband I’m working still, and interacting with people on a daily basis. I think this is something that is important at this age. I can see my self volunteering more when things slow down later in life, but right now I’m keeping fairly busy I’m back home in the evenings, but I’m always happy to go out for dinner with friends and family. I do Lots of social activities, meals out and maybe drink a little bit too much wine. I keep up with art classes still. Walking is also important, especially for our dogs. And I go swimming either in the pools or down at the beach. These days I’m definitely wearing a one-piece! I listen to all kinds of music! Our generation was the first to have such massive availability to music. Youtube, Spotify and Soundcloud. It made discovering music instant and easy, constant access. So it was important to me to pass this down to my kids, and it also helps me keep up with them! In the future I hope to be in the country in a comfortable house surrounded by family and friends, lots of nature and a lot of animals! I hope it’s comfortable for people to stay as often as they liked. I’m still planning on a lot more travel. The places I’ve been have definitely changed with time, and places that I haven’t yet been. There is a lot that we can still learn. My husband and I have always thought of buying some property in the country, not too far out of the city. We’d like to rebuild a house and with attached rooms for a bed and breakfast, and a small farm. It’s a big project, but if not when?
Name: Rupert Hohwieler Age: 23 Imagine that you are a 69-year-old person and answer the following questions. What is an average day for you? Get up around 8am, work from 9-5. Get home around 6, relax for a bit and then make dinner. After go to the gym, and when back watch tv/sport/movie. Go to bed around 11pm to complete my day. How would you like to celebrate your 70th birthday? On a tropical island somewhere in the Orient, surrounded by friends and family. What are your living circumstances like? I’m very well off and can support family with ease. Life isn’t hard. What are your plans from now on? I don’t have any plans. I have a philosophy to take things on a day by day basis. What sort of music do you listen to? Old music that I listened to in my youth. The new sound does not appeal to me and music from my youth is nostalgic. What activities do you do? I train in a wide array of martial arts, go to the gym, casually play tennis at a local club. These are things i do in my weekly routine. Other activities vary and are spontaneous. Are you free or do you work or volunteer? I work. Who do you live with? Wife + kids. What are your dreams for the future? Maybe attend a World Cup if i haven’t already.
Rupert Hohwieler age 23 Script:
Hi I’m Rupert. So if I was to tell you a bit about my life: I live with my wife, and see my kids regularly. I’m very well off and can support my family with ease. Life really isn’t hard. I usually get up at around 8am and then I work from 9-5. Get home around 6, relax for a bit and then make dinner. After That I go to the gym. When I get back from the gym I watch TV usually either sports or a movie. I head to bed at around 11pm to complete my day. I train in a wide array of martial arts, go to the gym and casually play tennis at a local club. These are things I do in my weekly routine. Other activities vary and are spontaneous. In terms of music, I like to listen to the music that I listened to in my youth. The new sound does not appeal to me and music from my youth is nostalgic. Next week we are celebrating my 70th birthday on a tropical island in the orient and all of my friends are family are going to be there. My dream is to attend a World Cup, which has been a goal of mine throughout my life.
Name: Darius Binning Age: 23 Imagine that you are a 69-year-old person and answer the following questions. What is an average day for you? I usually wake up around 7am, prime time for the stillness of the lake- i’ll cook our usual breakfast of eggs, toast and a couple of slices of avocado with a few tomatoes. After setting out Boulder’s (my dog) food, I generally like to take a dip in the lake with my wife, naked of course- for that’s what freedom feels like! Getting out the lake I like to have a nice cup of coffee and another rummage around the fridge to see what else I can indulge in, usually nothing, so I head to the grocery store which is a twenty minute drive In my old truck. Groceries obtained, twenty-minute drive back, cook some more, eat some more. I like to spend most of my time reading and writing, whilst looking out at the lake and view. So I continue doing that with a full belly but overarching air of lust for absolute fulfilment, as I wonder if It can ever be achieved. How would you like to celebrate your 70th birthday? I’ve never been too much of a fan of long distance travelling; maybe in my younger days in my first few trips to exotic lands but that soon grew old. So I’d like my family and friends to come to my wife and me on the lake. I wouldn’t want to it be too much trouble for anyone I love to organize so I’d hire in a few people to set up the decoration and food. There would be lots of good food, great conversation and too much regrettable wine-assured dancing on my behalf. What are your living circumstances like? As I said my wife and I are living on the lake in our cabin, which isn’t too fancy but has its own rustic charm. The interior is warm and cozy, and filled with bits and bobs my wife and I have collected from our travelling days both before and whilst we’ve been together. The house had 6 bedrooms; I’ve turned the ground floor one into my office as it has the best view of the lake. The others run along the mezzanine upstairs, which looks down onto the kitchen living space. Not too fancy, but has its rustic charm. What are your plans from now on? Not too much going on; my brother and his wife are hoping to come stay with us for a week in the next month or so. What sort of music do you listen to? I don’t listen too often these days, I quite enjoy the tranquility of my surroundings, but my wife is still very keen on a different soundtrack to each day so I just leave it to her, which works for me, she has great taste in music. Are you free or do you work or volunteer? My books have been selling well so I’ve had a steady income from that for some time. I still write daily but nothing too serious. What are your dreams for the future? I don’t really foresee myself having too long left, ten years if I’m very lucky. I’m very much enjoying the slow days on the lake, but the thought of time ticking has got me thinking recently; I’d like to visit each continent one more time. Maybe that might even tempt a final novel out of me but that’s of no particular precedence.
Darius Binning Age 23 Script
Hi I’m Darius. I live in a cabin on the lake , which isn’t too fancy but has its own rustic charm. The interior is warm and cozy, and filled with bits and bobs my wife and I have collected from our travelling days both before and whilst we’ve been together. The house had 6 bedrooms; I’ve turned the ground floor one into my office as it has the best view of the lake. The others run along the mezzanine upstairs, which looks down onto the kitchen living space. Not too fancy, but has its rustic charm. We never have too much going on but my brother and his wife are hoping to come stay with us for a week in the next month or so. I usually wake up around 7am, prime time for the stillness of the lake- i’ll cook our usual breakfast of eggs, toast and a couple of slices of avocado with a few tomatoes. After setting out Boulder’s (my dog) food, I generally like to take a dip in the lake with my wife, naked of course- for that’s what freedom feels like! Getting out the lake I like to have a nice cup of coffee and another rummage around the fridge to see what else I can indulge in, usually nothing, so I head to the grocery store which is a twenty minute drive In my old truck. Groceries obtained, twenty-minute drive back, cook some more, eat some more. I like to spend most of my time reading and writing, whilst looking out at the lake and view. So I continue doing that with a full belly but overarching air of lust for absolute fulfilment, as I wonder if It can ever be achieved. My books have been selling well so I’ve had a steady income from that for some time. I still write daily but nothing too serious. I don’t listen to music too often these days, I quite enjoy the tranquility of my surroundings, but my wife is still very keen on a different soundtrack to each day so I just leave it to her, which works for me, she has great taste in music. I don’t really foresee myself having too long left, ten years if I’m very lucky. I’m very much enjoying the slow days on the lake, but the thought of time ticking has got me thinking recently; I’d like to visit each continent one more time. Maybe that might even tempt a final novel out of me but that’s of no particular precedence.
Name: Madeleine Matene Age: 21 Imagine that you are a 65-year-old person and answer the following questions. What is an average day for you? Keeping myself busy. Visiting friends and family. Or helping out volunteering. I’d also like to keep up with some daily exercise. How would you like to celebrate your 70th birthday? Hopefully surrounded by my children and grandchildren. What are your living circumstances like? If I was married and my husband was alive we would live in our family home as close to children and grandchildren as possible. If not I would do the same as my grandmother did and live in a retirement village. Not a home, one where you live alone in your own apartment. I will be able to socialize with other residents and join in on activities. What are your plans from now on? To spend as much time with family and friends and enjoying all I can still do at this age. I’d love to still be able to move around at ease. What sort of music do you listen to? I think I will be listening to the music that my parents and me enjoyed together in my childhood. As by then they will no longer be around. So it’ll bring back good memoires. What activities do you do? I’d love to go on walks, and if I’m able to even do more vigorous exercise. Take up bowls or something of the type to help keep me busy and to get outside as much as I could. Are you free or do you work or volunteer? My grandmother volunteers for the cancer society, driving patients to appointments. I’d love to do this myself when I am her age. Who do you live with? Hopefully I am married and my husband is still alive. If not I think I would live alone. What are your dreams for the future? For myself and my family to be happy and healthy.
Maddy Matene age 21 Script:
Hi I’m Maddy. My husband and I, live in our family home, as we want to stay as close to our children and grandchildren as much as possible. My daily routine usually just envolves me Keeping myself busy. Visiting friends and family. Or help- ing out volunteering. I always like to keep up with some daily exercise. I love to go on walks, and at times more vigorous exercises depending on how I feeel. I’ve just taken up bowls or to help keep me busy and to get outside as much as I can. I like to listen to the music that my parents and me enjoyed together in my childhood. A lot of people have passed away, So it brings back good memoires. My grandmother used to volunteer for the cancer society, driving patients to appointments. I really admired this when I was younger, so now I have decided to volunteer as well. My plans from now on are to spend as much time with family and friends and enjoying all I can still do at this age. While I ‘m still able to move around at ease. My dreams for the future are always for myself and my family to be happy and healthy
Name: Saphie Age: 21 Imagine that you are a 65-year-old person and answer the following questions.
What is an average day for you? I would wake up and make some fresh juice and then I would do some yoga. I would definitely go for a swim at some point in the day. Go to the farmers market and get some fresh produce. You would then probably find me either in my studio working on some sort of DIY project or in the kitchen making something yummy.
How would you like to celebrate your 70th birthday? I would celebrate my 70th probably the same way I like to celebrate all my birthdays when I was younger which is by inviting all my friends and family to a beach BBQ and just enjoy my surroundings.
What are your living circumstances like? I will live in a beautiful home somewhere tropical, I won’t have assisted living at that point. In my family we age very well and are always very fit and independent right until the end.
What are your plans from now on? Just to live life and enjoy every moment. To do all the things that I enjoy spending my time doing. The things that bring me happiness.
What sort of music do you listen to? Neo soul Soothing relaxing music (jack Johnson) anything that sounds good to me. What activities do you do? yoga swim surf ( yes at that age) cook pottery paint make my natural products just DIY everything pretty much.
Are you free or do you work or volunteer? I work for myself. At first that was a lot more work than expected but it was doing things that we loved so it was okay. Now that we are doing really well with the company our staff takes over the daily needs but we are still always there.
Who do you live with? Tom
What are your dreams for the future? Just to continue to do what I enjoy. Probably a few trip to beautiful places in the world.
Saphie Age 21
Hi, I’m Saphie. I live in a beautiful home somewhere tropical, I won’t have assisted living at that point. In my family we age very well and are always very fit and independent right until the end. I work for myself. At first that was a lot more work than expected but it was doing things that we loved so it was okay. Now that we are doing really well with the company our staff takes over the daily needs but we are still always there. In terms of my daily routine,I usually wake up and make some fresh juice and then I would do some yoga. I would definitely go for a swim at some point in the day. Go to the farmers market and get some fresh produce. You would then probably find me either in my studio working on some sort of DIY project or in the kitchen making something yummy. I do alot of activities like yoga, swimming, surfing, cooknig, pottery, painting, making my ow natural products. Just DIY everything pretty much. In terms of music I pretty much listen to anythign that sounds good to me, particularily Neo soul and Soothing relaxing music like (jack Johnson) From now on I Just want to love life and enjoy every moment. and To keep doing all the things that I enjoy spending my time doing. The things that bring me happiness. I hope to still do a few trips to beautiful places in the world.
Name: Tom Age: 25 An average day for me would be getting up in the morning to go do some surfing or fishing until about midday. This would be followed by a light lunch and an afternoon spent with my family and grandchildren. I will also swing by our family run resort. In the evening I would have a nice meal with the family followed by either reading a book in my hammock or watching a movie. I would like to celebrate it surrounded by my family and friends in a tropical setting, eating good food and having a few drinks. I will live with my wife and be independent and still very active. I will be keeping an eye on the resort that we will have given to the hands of a family member who is now running it. My plans are to just enjoy life now. Do the things I like doing and enjoy my time with my family and friends. I will listen to a lot of different types of music, from acoustic to jazz and classical. I will be surfing, fishing and teaching my grandchildren all things outdoors. I will be free but also volunteering in projects ranging from local charity work to but also helping out at our resort. I will be living with Saphie. My dreams are that my family, friends and I live a happy and healthy life wherever this may take us.
Tom Age 25
Hi my names Tom. An average day for me would be getting up in the morning to go do some surfing or fishing until about midday. This would be followed by a light lunch and an afternoon spent with my family and grandchildren. I will also swing by our family run resort. In the evening I would have a nice meal with the family followed by either reading a book in my hammock or watching a movie. l live with my wife Saphie and am independent and still very active. I keep an eye on the resort that we have given to the hands of a family member, who is now running it. I love surfing, fishing and teaching my grandchildren all things outdoors. I listen to a lot of different types of music, from acoustic to jazz and classical. I am free but also volunteering in projects ranging from local charity work to but also helping out at our resort. My dreams are that my family, friends and I live a happy and healthy life wherever this may take us.
Name: Eve Age: 21 • What is an average day for you? I don’t usually like to stick to routine but I usually wake up early, go for a run or a swim in the nearby lake and then come home and wake my husband up who does early morning volunteering at the football club in the little village down the road that helps keep kids of the street. I make myself breakfast and then go look after the vine- yard and open up, my husband usually comes home at around 11 am and helps out as well. We finish at around 5 and then the people who are staying with us and paying for their rent by working, stay and do the evening shift for dinner. When its not the season we are off on the road in our travelling van and don’t have any schedule what so ever. • How would you like to celebrate your 70th birthday? Probably with all my friends and family, somewhere hot and relaxing. I want everyone to feel treated, and for it to really seem like a special occasion for everyone, a nice break. There has to be a lot of amazing food, preferably Mexican or indian food. • What are your living circumstances like? We have our own vine yard in Chile. We live in a nice rustic house behind the vineyard building- the whole vine- yard sticks to the authentic look of Chilean/south American buildings. Not to over designed and modern and fits in with the setting around it. In the off season we leave our vineyard and escape every year in our travelling van that has a double bed and a kitchen inside and travel around America. • What are your plans from now on? I think we might eventually sell the vineyard, I don’t want to right now but Eventually I might just find a house near the water and relax and spend lots of time with my husband. • What sort of music do you listen to? Since I was a teen I always loved older music from the 60s-70s like Jimi Hendrix and Fleetwood mac etc. So I still keep listening to my faves as they are timeless. Then of course I loved the artists from my twenties like the band Tame impala and Pond then artists like Lana Del Rey and Kurt Vile etc I always search for new music as well in my spare time! I listen to a lot of Spanish music since my experiences in South America. • What activities do you do? Lots of photography- have collected a lot of cameras over time. I like to go to markets and find strange things- cool objects. My room is full of these kind of things. I run, swim in lakes and oceans and also like to play tennis. Any activity that is outside I like. I also still play the piano, we have a beautiful piano in our home. • Are you free or do you work or volunteer? Well I work on the Vineyardbut its pretty relaxing. • Who do you live with? My husband , and then people work and live on the vineyard- we have a guest house block. • What are your dreams for the future? I guess to keep having the energy and well being to do what I love for as long as I can. That My husband is happy and we can live and continue to adventure for a long time , we hope to get enough money to head down under to New Zealand and Australia to visit some family and relatives soon.
Eve Age 21 Hi, I’m Eve. To tell you a little bit about myself, I live with My husband in Chile, where we own a vineyard. We live in a nice rustic house behind the vineyard building- it sticks to the authentic look of Chilean/south American buildings. Not too over designed and modern and fits in with the setting around it. I don’t usually like to stick to routine but I usually wake up early, go for a run or a swim in the nearby lake and then come home and wake my husband up who does early morning volunteering at the football club in the little village down the road that helps keep kids of the street. I make myself breakfast and then go look after the vineyard and open up, my husband usually comes home at around 11 am and helps out as well. We finish at around 5 and then the people who are staying with us and paying for their rent by working, stay and do the evening shift for dinner. When its not the season we are off on the road in our travelling van has a double bed and a kitchen inside and don’t have any schedule what so ever. In my Spare pare time I do Lots of photography- I have collected a lot of cameras over time. I also like to go to markets and find strange things- cool objects! I still play the piano, we have a beautiful piano in our home. I love music still of course. Since I was a teen I always loved older music from the 60s-70s like Jimi Hendrix and Fleetwood mac and so on. So I still listen to all of this as its timeless. Then of course I loved the artists from my twenties like the bands Tame impala and Pond then artists like Lana Del Rey and Kurt Vile etc I always search for new music as well in my spare time! I listen to a lot of Spanish music now, since living in South America. From now on I guess I hope to keep having the energy and well being to do what I love for as long as I can. That My husband is happy and we can live and continue to adventure for a long time. I think we might eventually sell the vineyard, I don’t want to right now but Eventually I might just find a house near the water and relax and spend lots of time with my husband.