From SFGATE.COM: 

Entrepreneur backs research on anti-aging
Scientist says humans could live indefinitely

A controversial scientist who hopes to help humans live for thousands of years has received a multimillion-dollar grant from a Bay Area entrepreneur.

Peter A. Thiel, co-founder and former chief executive officer of the online payments system PayPal, announced Saturday he is pledging $3.5 million “to support scientific research into the alleviation and eventual reversal of the debilities caused by aging.”

The recipient will be the Methuselah Foundation, a Springfield, Va., nonprofit started and run by the most colorful scientist in aging research: Aubrey de Grey, a 43-year-old English researcher who says he hopes to “radically postpone aging, giving indefinite life spans.”

In short, de Grey’s thesis is that there are seven main causes of aging, and that if those can be licked, then people could live indefinitely.

(more here)

If you could live to be 1000, or maybe 500, in perfect health with the body and mind of a 40 year old, would you want to?

Just imagine, you spend your first 50-60 years working, and the next 400 or so in retirement.   30 year mortgage?  No problem.

It would give a whole new meaning to “Until Death do us part”.   Would wedding vows have finite endings written into them?   “Until death, or 100 years pass, do us part”.   I wonder what sort of gem you give your sweetie on your 300th wedding anniversary.

How about collecting a social security check for 400 years,  or long term investments, or other long term projects?

Sounds good to me,  sign me up.