The quality of life

Much is made about "the quality of life". By this we seem to mean the intrinsic value in the things we do.
As a working person one rarely has an option, the bulk of ones time is spent working, burying oneself in the needs of others to earn a living, part of the earnings, hopefully set aside to pay for doing something which is outside the scope of work or the money and effort you put in to simple live each day.
The decision regarding what you value as special is very individualistic except when and if you are bringing up children, their needs often come first.
The question of considering "quality" rather than quantity become particularly sensitive when one reaches "retirement" since time and options begin to become naturally limited.
There can be an obsessional focus on the time one has left when you retire. The things you need to do whilst fit and able, the places to visit, the mountains to climb and the rivers to cross. Of course the fact that the list you made a few years ago begins to be less relevant as you cogitate about your life in general and the dreams seem not now as relevant when you visit a place as an older person, unable to fit in to the night life or risk your lot on a relationship amongst strangers.         
Quality therefore means something very different when you get older. Quality can mean a good nights sleep. Quality can mean having a peaceful day. Quality can mean sustaining good communication with family, friends and neighbours.
Getting older, one begins to shrink back into ones self, to a degree, finding your own company sufficient, your own thoughts entertaining and revealing.        
Perhaps it's natures way of reminding yourself after a lifetime of putting others ahead of you that you can reintroduce the substance of who you are to the person you have become and hope there is still plenty left in the relationship.