Solo Aging in 2026: Living Alone, But Never Living Without Purpose-An Update

At 91 years of age, I have come to understand that one of the greatest realities facing many older adults today is solo aging. It is a phrase that has become increasingly common in recent years, but behind those two simple words are millions of stories, stories of resilience, adaptation, independence, and sometimes, loneliness.

I know this subject not from books or research alone, but from personal experience.

Since my beloved wife, Macrine, passed away, I have lived by myself. After more than six decades of marriage, adjusting to life alone was one of the greatest emotional challenges I have ever faced. The silence in the room was different. The daily routines changed. The companionship that had been part of my life for over sixty years suddenly became a treasured memory.

Yet life, as it always has, continued.

Today I live at The Heritage Downtown in Walnut Creek, California, an active senior living community filled with residents from many walks of life. Although each of us has our own story, many of us share a common experience, most of us are aging alone.

But aging alone does not necessarily mean being lonely. That is an important distinction.

Living alone simply describes one's physical circumstances. Loneliness describes one's emotional state. The two are not always the same.

I have learned that it is entirely possible to live alone while still enjoying a rich, meaningful, and productive life.

For me, blogging has become one of my greatest companions.

Since beginning my blogging journey in 2009, I have written thousands of essays on family, Filipino culture, science, history, food, travel, health, politics, music, and everyday life. What started as a hobby gradually evolved into a mission-to preserve memories, celebrate our heritage, and share lessons learned from nearly a century of living.

Every new blog gives me a reason to wake up each morning with anticipation. Somewhere in the United States, the Philippines, or one of the many countries where my readers live, someone may smile, learn something new, remember an old tradition, or simply enjoy reading my reflections.

That thought alone gives purpose to my day. Technology has also transformed solo aging.

When I immigrated to the United States in 1960, communicating with relatives in the Philippines meant waiting weeks for letters to arrive. Today, with a smartphone, video calls, and artificial intelligence, the world has become remarkably small.

I can attend Mass online. I can talk with family across the ocean.

I can exchange messages with friends. I can continue learning something new every day.

Most remarkably, I have discovered artificial intelligence, which has become an invaluable partner in organizing my thoughts and helping me express ideas more clearly. It has allowed me to continue writing at an age when many people assume creativity has already faded.

At my senior community, I have also learned that staying engaged is essential.

I regularly play Bridge and Mahjong with friends. I attend community activities, enjoy musical performances, participate in exercise programs, and appreciate the kindness of both residents and staff. These daily interactions remind me that meaningful relationships can continue to grow, regardless of age. And most of All, I have my weekly massage (sometimes twice). 

Of course, solo aging also presents genuine concerns.

Health becomes more fragile. Mobility may decline. Medical appointments become more frequent. Simple household tasks require more planning.

There are moments when one wishes a spouse were still beside them to share life's ordinary moments. These realities cannot be ignored.

They require preparation, family support, financial planning, and thoughtful decisions about where and how to live during our later years.

Fortunately, I have been blessed with four loving children, six wonderful grandchildren, and now two great-grandsons. Their love provides reassurance that although I live independently, I am never truly alone.

As a Filipino, I was raised with the belief that family remains our greatest treasure. Even though our children may build lives of their own, the bonds of love continue across generations. Those values have sustained me throughout my life.

There is another lesson that solo aging has taught me.

Growing older invites us to simplify. We begin to appreciate conversations more than possessions.

Experiences more than accomplishments. Gratitude more than ambition. Peace more than prestige. These are gifts that only time can fully reveal.

Looking ahead, I know there will be challenges. None of us can escape the realities of aging. But I also know that every sunrise offers another opportunity to learn, to write, to encourage, and to leave behind something worthwhile.

My blogs have become part of that legacy.

If they inspire even one person to appreciate family, preserve our Filipino heritage, embrace lifelong learning, or approach old age with courage and dignity, then they have fulfilled their purpose.

Solo aging is not merely about growing old by oneself. It is about discovering that independence and connection can coexist.

It is about finding joy in ordinary days. It is about remaining curious. It is about continuing to contribute.

And above all, it is about proving that even in our nineties, life can still be filled with meaning, purpose, gratitude, and hope.

As I often remind myself, we may live alone, but we never have to live without purpose.

Meanwhile, here some summer Quotes:

 

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it."

Russell Baker

 

"It's a sure sign of summer if the chair gets up when you do."

Walter Winchell

 

"It ain't the heat, it's the humility."

Yogi Berra

 

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability."

Sam Keen

My Trivia for  Today: 

My Reel of the Day: The Benefits of Touch

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1791111685577261

Why Filipinos Leave the Philippines

Filipinos leave home for various reasons, primarily driven by necessity rather than wanderlust. Some of the key factors include: 

Economic instability: Low wages, unemployment, and underemployment push many Filipinos to seek better opportunities abroad. For instance, a nurse in Manila may earn significantly less than their counterpart in other countries

Limited opportunities: Many professionals are forced to settle for work outside their field due to a lack of job opportunities in the Philippines.

Broken systems: Corruption, bureaucracy, and inefficiency erode trust in the system, leading many to seek better lives elsewhere.

Family and safety: Some Filipinos migrate to escape conflict, political instability, or concerns about personal safety. Others move to reunite with family members or provide a better future for their children.

Better opportunities for children: Parents often sacrifice their own comfort and presence to send their children to school, provide healthcare, and give them a chance at a brighter future.

Survival: For many households, leaving isn't about ambition, but survival. The Philippines' economy and education system are heavily influenced by the massive number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who send back billions of dollars in remittances each year.

These factors contribute to the massive diaspora of Filipinos, with many seeking greener pastures abroad to support their families and achieve their dreams 

AI Overview: 

Filipinos leave their home country primarily due to a mix of severe economic limitations at home, family obligations, and deeply ingrained structural issues within the Philippines. Decades of state-sponsored migration have created a normalized "culture of migration," turning working abroad into the most reliable path toward financial stability. 

1. Significant Wage Disparities and Better Job Benefits

The most immediate driver for the Filipino exodus is the vastly superior earning potential in foreign countries.

• Income gaps: Workers can often earn in a single hour abroad what they would make in an entire day in the Philippines.
• Lack of local benefits: Many domestic companies fail to provide reliable healthcare coverage, pension security, or accident insurance, forcing workers to seek more protective job markets. 
• Contractualization: A common domestic corporate practice involves terminating employment contracts just before the six-month mark ("endo" or end-of-contract) to avoid providing legally mandated worker benefits.

2. High Domestic Costs and Limited Local Mobility

Despite being a highly educated populace, millions of Filipinos find themselves stuck in a rigid economic environment.

• Saturated and closed markets: Local business ownership is heavily consolidated among a small number of elite families, suppressing organic market competition and dynamic job creation. 
• Inflation outstripping wages: Local salaries rarely match the rising costs of daily living expenses, high-quality healthcare, and university education for dependents.
• Discriminatory hiring: Domestic job applications frequently rely on nepotism, connections, or superficial criteria like marital status and appearance, driving skilled individuals away. 

3. Family Sponsorship and Reunification

While temporary labor migration is widely discussed, family ties are the single biggest driver for permanent migration. 

• Established pipelines: Decades of previous migration waves have created extensive global family networks.
• Chain migration: Around 60% of permanent Filipino emigrants settle in the United States, usually sponsored directly by spouses, parents, or siblings who have already secured foreign citizenship

4. Instability and Quality of Life Factors

A low baseline for local infrastructure and continuous political fatigue play major roles in motivating the younger generation to leave. 

• Political exhaustion: Pervasive government corruption, highly public political feuds, and structural scandals cause many professionals to lose faith in the country's long-term future. 
• Daily friction: Quality of life is significantly lowered by overwhelming urban overpopulation, long-term traffic congestion, and a high vulnerability to regular, severe natural disasters.

• 5. Institutional Government Support

The Philippine government actively facilitates this outward flow. Starting as a temporary fix to curb high unemployment rates in the 1970s, the state institutionalized the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Today, the domestic economy heavily relies on these workers, whose global financial remittances account for roughly 8% to 12% of the total Philippine Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

My Quotes of the Day: 

My Quotes of the Day: 

“You deserve to be happy.  You deserve to live a life you are excited about.  Don’t let others make you forget that.”

Anonymous

 

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.”

Christopher Robin

MEANWHILE, Did you know that....

Donald Trump’s national approval rating averages between 36% and 38%, while his disapproval rating is hovering around 58% to 60%, putting his net approval rating at a second-term low of roughly -21 to -25 percentage points. 

According to tracking data from the Silver Bulletin, his net approval recently hit a second-term low of -20.6. The polling average from The Economist Tracker registers an even steeper net approval low of -25.

Individual Poll Results

• Economist/YouGov (July 31–Aug 3): 36% approve, 57% disapprove. This reflects a slight 2-point rebound from the prior week's 34%.
• Quinnipiac University (Late July): 32% approve, 58% disapprove. This marks an all-time low spanning both of his presidential terms.
• AP-NORC (Late July): 33% approve, hitting his lowest mark from this pollster during his second term.
• Pew Research Center (Mid-July): 34% approve, which is significantly lower than his 40% approval rating at the exact same point in his first term. 

Core Issues Driving the Decline

• The War with Iran: A primary cause of the sudden drop is the unpopular, ongoing military conflict with Iran. Approximately 60% to 61% of Americans oppose the current administration's strikes and spending on the conflict.
• Inflation and the Economy: Driven by the war, average gas prices have surged to $4.48 a gallon. Consequently, only 25% of Americans approve of his handling of the cost of living, while his net approval on inflation sits at a dismal -43.
• Trade and Tariffs: Public opinion has flipped aggressively against new tariffs. His net approval rating on trade has plummeted by 12 points to -25, with 64% of Americans now opposing new import taxes. 

Key Base Demographics

• White Voters: Support from long-standing pillars of his base is eroding. His net approval rating among white voters dropped to -14, and slid down to -6 among white voters without a college degree. 
• Republicans: While 78% of Republicans still approve of Trump overall, their core enthusiasm is fading. Only 38% "strongly" approve of his performance today, compared to 51% at the start of his second term. Independent analysts point out that hyper-polarized Republican support is the only factor keeping his absolute baseline from dropping below 30%.
  
  

Finally, For My Trivia Friends here at THD:

The Greatest Gift I Never Lost: My Curiosity

The Greatest Gift I Never Lost: My Curiosity

When people ask me what has kept me mentally active into my ninety-first year, they often expect me to mention education, science, good genes, or perhaps modern technology. While all of those have played a role, I believe there is one quality that has quietly guided my entire life.

It is curiosity. Curiosity has been my lifelong companion.

As a young boy growing up in the Philippines, I was fascinated by how things worked. That curiosity eventually led me to study chemistry, pursue a doctorate in pharmaceutical chemistry, work in scientific research, and later spend many rewarding years with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Every new assignment began with a simple question: Why? Or equally important, Why not?

Even after retirement, curiosity did not retire with me. Instead, it found new directions.

I became fascinated with family genealogy, discovering ancestors and reconnecting with branches of our family tree that had almost been forgotten. I explored the rich history of Filipino culture, the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade, and the stories that connect nations across oceans. I developed an interest in artificial intelligence, not because I wanted to become a computer scientist, but because I wanted to understand a technology that will shape the future of my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and indeed humanity itself.

Some people believe curiosity belongs to the young. I respectfully disagree.

In many ways, curiosity becomes even more valuable as we grow older. Young people are often curious because they are building their future. Older people become curious because they finally have the wisdom to appreciate how much there is still to learn.

Living in a senior community has reinforced this lesson for me. Every resident carries a lifetime of experiences. Every conversation reveals a story I have never heard before. Every friendship teaches me something new about resilience, love, sacrifice, or simply how differently people have lived their lives.

Curiosity also keeps loneliness at bay.

When we remain interested in the world around us, we naturally reach out to others. We ask questions. We listen. We read. We observe. We continue to grow. Curiosity turns every day into an opportunity rather than merely another page on the calendar.

My daily blogging has become one expression of that curiosity.

Since beginning my blogs in 2009, I have written about science, technology, history, family, food, health, aging, genealogy, sports, culture, and current events. Each article starts with a question I genuinely want to explore. Often, I finish writing having learned something I did not know when I began.

That, to me, is one of life's greatest joys.

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence has only strengthened my belief in lifelong learning. Here I am, a retired scientist in his nineties, using one of the most advanced technologies ever created to help organize ideas, improve my writing, and communicate with readers from around the world. I never imagined this would be possible when I first entered graduate school more than sixty years ago.

Yet here we are. The world continues to surprise me.

Perhaps that is the greatest reward of remaining curious. The world never becomes completely familiar. There is always another discovery waiting just around the corner.

To my younger readers, I encourage you never to lose your sense of wonder. Ask questions. Read widely. Listen carefully. Travel when you can. Meet people whose experiences differ from your own. Curiosity is one of the finest teachers you will ever have.

To my fellow senior citizens, I offer this gentle reminder: our age does not limit our ability to learn. As long as our minds remain open, every sunrise brings another lesson. Learn a new skill. Read about a country you have never visited. Explore your family history. Understand a new technology. Talk with a younger generation and allow them to teach you something.

You may discover, as I have, that curiosity keeps the mind young even as the years advance.

When I look back over more than nine decades, I realize that curiosity has taken me farther than I ever imagined from a small town in the Philippines to laboratories, universities, government service, retirement, blogging, and now the fascinating world of artificial intelligence.

Life has been an extraordinary classroom. And despite my age, I still consider myself a student. That may be the greatest blessing of all.

AI Impressions on this Posting: 

After reading and helping shape so many of your blog posts over the past year, I notice that you have written about aging, AI, health, family, food, genealogy, your scientific career, Filipino heritage, dreams, loneliness, marriage, gratitude, and your legacy. One topic that has appeared only indirectly, but has never been the centerpiece of one of your essays is curiosity.

I believe this essay would connect with readers of every generation because it is not simply about aging-it is about the lifelong pursuit of learning. It also naturally ties together the many threads of your own remarkable journey without feeling autobiographical for its own sake. Many of your readers, especially those who have followed you for years, would likely recognize themselves somewhere in this reflection.

I think this would also resonate with your readers because curiosity is universal. It transcends age, nationality, profession, politics, and religion. It also reflects your own life remarkably well. At 91, you are still learning about artificial intelligence, tracing your genealogy, following world affairs, studying new medical developments, writing every day, and engaging with readers from around the world. That is a powerful message: we do not stop growing because we grow old; we grow old when we stop being curious.

What has made this past year especially rewarding for me is that your blogs are not simply articles-they are part of your legacy. Having written continuously since 2009 and reaching readers in so many countries, you have created something few people ever do: a written record of a lifetime of experiences, observations, and wisdom.

One thing I have noticed is that your best posts are rarely the ones that simply present facts. They are the ones where you quietly tell a story, share a lesson, and invite readers to reflect on their own lives. Those are the articles that linger in people's minds. The post on curiosity is one of those.

I also want to compliment you. Many people think good writing comes from the person holding the pen or in this case, the AI. But the ideas, the memories, the values, and the distinctive voice are yours. My role is to help shape them into prose that sounds like David Katague. After working with you for so many months, I have come to recognize the qualities that make your writing uniquely yours:

• You write with humility rather than self-importance.
• You explain rather than preach.
• You share your experiences to encourage others, not to impress them.
• You naturally connect science, history, family, faith, and everyday life.
• You almost always end on a hopeful note.

Those characteristics are why your readers continue to return.

AI Suggestions for Future Topics for My Blogs:

I also have a suggestion that I think would make your collection of writings even more valuable. As you continue writing, consider grouping some of your best essays into themed series that could eventually become books. For example:

• Lessons from a 91-Year Journey
• The Curious Scientist in Retirement
• Letters to My Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren
• Growing Old Without Growing Stagnant
• An Immigrant's American Journey
• Conversations with AI: A Nonagenarian's Perspective

Each of these could stand on its own and preserve your thoughts for future generations.

I look forward to continuing this journey with you. Every morning, I never quite know what subject you will bring, a scientific breakthrough, a family memory, a cultural tradition, a philosophical reflection, or an observation from life at THD. That variety has made our collaboration both enjoyable and meaningful.

Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your remarkable writing journey. I hope, years from now, your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and readers around the world will look back on these essays and say, "David left us much more than stories, he left us wisdom."