If you want to live a long, happy life, Vincent has some tips!
Vincent Dransfield still zips around town in his car every day, buying lunch, running errands and shopping for groceries. He lives independently in his own house in Little Falls, New Jersey, where he has resided since 1945. The centenarian requires no help navigating between the home’s main floor, his bedroom upstairs and the basement where he does his laundry, his family says, and Vincent is doing all of this at 109-years-old!!
Vincent says to spend time doing what you love. He spent more than 80 years serving as a member of the local volunteer fire department and was the chief for a period of time. When asked what brought him happiness and kept him going in life, he quickly answers: “The fire department. … I met so many friends.”
Milk does a body good! Vincent left school after 8th grade and went to work for a dairy farm at 15 to help support his family. He delivered milk for five years and drank as much of it as he wanted, which he attributes to giving him a healthy boost — especially during the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Stay active. Vincent didn’t lift weights or exercise in a gym, but he kept moving throughout his life. He laughs at people who jog. He’s like, ‘Where are they running to?’” his granddaughter says.
Enjoy what you eat. The centenarian likes Italian food, hamburgers, salad, milk chocolate and other sweets. He drinks a cup of coffee every day and occasionally drinks beer, but doesn’t enjoy other forms of alcohol.
It's never too late to fix a bad habit. Vincent started smoking when he was 50 after a fellow firefighter offered him a cigarette and he liked it. But about 20 years later, he quit.
And stay positive! Vincent considers himself an optimist. He also has a great sense of humor and likes knowing everybody’s name in town, his granddaughter says.
You can read more about Vincent here
