Dotsie, you are asking how we would feel about being dependent on another. You had surgery on your knee, right? If I remember correctly it sounded like you had a healthy exchange of doing as much for yourself while relying on others to get around. I think I true test of how much someone loves us is how they treat us when we are sick. I do not fear having others care for me if when I am sick. My fear is that no one will be there! Even those who have children can't be guaranteed that those children will be willing/able/available to help us. I hope that elder care (and we have an expert on this subject on nabbw I think) ...I hope that elder care evolves so that being dependent on others is not a scary proposition, but something to be grateful for, that we are all in this together.