Going through life alone (with out wife and kids).

[untamed]

I'm 32 and probably the only one in my circle still without a wife and 2 kids. I've just recently broken-up with my girl of 6 years whom I dearly loved (best relationship I've been in). Here in my country too, while there are a few who choose to go single, our culture/society and predominantly old-world European Catholic values basically centers the FAMILY as the basic unit.

From my own experiences, while I'm happy right now that I have a lot more time and opportunity some money to spend on my own pursuits and hobbies, there are days definitely when I'd like to come home to a good hot home-cooked meal and tell my partner how my day was, hug and snuggle-up to before going to bed and tell all my corniest jokes and stupidest dreams. Plus the fact that health and sanity-wise according to studies, it's really better to have a partner to go thru life's up and downs especially in the later years.

Maybe what I'm trying to tell you, is to give yourself time. Never let the outside dictate what you ought to be in life. Whether you'd want to marry later or go at it alone, what matters is that is should be a fulfilled life because a fulfilled life is a contented life and a contented life is a happy life.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I'm 27 and single. My parents have a long term relationship. They literally started dating when they were 14, got married at 19, and had me at 27. They fight, they bicker, they piss each other off, but at the end of the day they put up with each other and still love each other.

Unfortunately, I have been told and have found out that they are an anomaly. Many people are still together, but fight like cats and dogs and have no love for each other.

I know people who had a good thing going, and lost it all because the other party wanted out. I think I am more worried about losing half my belongings, than about going through life alone. I don't think I need to get married, I would like to grow old with a beautiful/smart/funny woman, but I don't know if I need to get married and have kids.

 

[DaveH]

there are days definitely when I'd like to come home to a good hot home-cooked meal

Here's a reality check for some:

If you want a hot home cooked meal, you'll be cooking it yourself.

and tell my partner how my day was, hug and snuggle-up to before going to bed and tell all my corniest jokes and stupidest dreams.

Get a dog, they'll listen better.

 

[jackknife]

At 66 years of age, and being a married man since 1971, I can't think of my life being worth a sh-t without my Karen.

Yeah, we've fought WW3 on a couple of occasions, and once she threw the thanksgiving turkey at me. Quite frankly I deserved it. It been a wonderful trip in general though, and when I look at my grandchildren, I would'nt change a single thing!

There were times money was tight, ( most of the time) and I could have had a more material richer life if I was single and buying toys. But belongings are just things. They don't mean anything. In fact Karen and I gave most of our belongings away just a couple of years ago in a retirement mode downsizing. Our children got first pick, then nieces, nephews, friends. I kept just two handguns and two rifles, Karen did the same. Knives, camping gear, house hold items, all cut way back. With a more spartan life we are actually happier. I think my children our my lifes treasures.

That woman has been my lifes partner, best friend, lover, co-conspiritor, and companion. We've nursed each other through sickness and injuries, and with each of us to lean on the other, there was no dark hour we could not face. We made a team to face lifes problems, big and small. I don't think I would have had such a great life without her.

Sure theres times she drives me totally nuts! But there are times to be honest I do the same to her. Men and women are oposites, theres always going to be something not right. But in the big picture, whats a little something out of place here and there. When you look back at a long journy do you remeber every little pothole, or the great times when you were sailing along just great having a ball?

Then there was the day when the last kid moved out, and we had the time to re-discover each other again. A second honeymoon, chasing each other around the house naked, and doing riske things on the living room coffee table, the backyard patio, or whatever we damm well wanted. When you've loved someone for over three and a half decades, theres a level of intimacy that is unbelievable.

No, I would'nt have traded my married life for anything.

 

[reconseed]

You'll probably meet somebody when you least expect it. Rather be single, yearning for a wife and kids, than the other way around

The Viking speaks truth.... But my last ditch option is going to Sweden and finding one of those smoking hot Swedish babes!!!!

 

[John R. Fraps]

My Better Half and I were married the summer we turned 21....
(1968) not because we could at that age but because her Dad OK'd it when I asked him for her hand.....
Our "Baby" is gonna be 30 this summer....Our Oldest is gonna be part of making us grandparents for the first time in Autumn......
My In-Laws are still living in their own home....and I love them as much as is possible....no in-law jokes...for some reason I just won't...BUT My Mother-In-Law's nickname is "Shorty".....
My wife and I will be buried with my In-Laws. My parents are in the same cemetery, but their area is filled. I would still be buried with my In-Laws....it matters to them.....besides I can (didn't say, "would") be buried between my wife and her Mom ....which is me being ornary and tradition....Shoot, if they were buried next to each other, they'd probably be shopping together in Heaven.....
I honestly hope my wife outlives me, if she doesn't, I will probably not care about living anymore.

Single? I am at home making knives and managing other contributions to our living during the day....with our "Princess" (1 year old Beagle....thinks she is the Queen around her.....I keep trying to tell when Judy gets home, the dog is the Princess, not the Queen)....
I still wave goodby to my wife every day when she leaves. She gets a kiss and is met at the door when she gets home (IF I hear her come in....half-deaf old fart that I am....)
Single is fine for some folks....I respect that....I just can't fit that life.....

A good friend of mine, who will turn 65 soon, was married from approx. age 40-50. He is, by my standards, extremely economically successful.....He dates and does trips, I can't. He might would give up most of his success for the life I have with my Wife.....I don't know for sure.

Our very Dearest Closest friend was widowed on Dec. 15, 2006.....I guarantee she would give any, and every, thing she has to have her Husband back...... She is a professionally successful, beautiful woman.....but cries way to often because of her heartbreaking loss.

Single can be fine for some folks. For some others, including me, it would be very very difficult after all this time, most all of which has been pretty doggone good....in spite of me being a challenge at times...

 

[TLM]

But my last ditch option is going to Sweden and finding one of those smoking hot Swedish babes!!!!

The still hotter secret is that it just isn't true, also you did not read the specs carefully enough, they nag you to death.

TLM

 

[untamed]

. . . A second honeymoon, chasing each other around the house naked, and doing riske things on the living room coffee table, the backyard patio, or whatever we damm well wanted.

In spite of information overload, I still get a bellyache when I remember your "Mortal Embarassment" thread sometime ago

 

[fudo]

When I was a kid people would ask me, "What do you want to be when you grow up." I used to say, "Married." We're going on 14 years now. I could do another 14 standing on my head, and I wouldn't trade my wife for anyone. For me marriage is much better than being single.

 

[JimMLa]

I could not explain what my only son means to my life. Words would fail me.

 

[Thalestin]

I think life is about enjoying your day to day. If you are happy then things are good. Do not let the norms of society change who you are unless it will make you happy. Personally, im single and I dont want to be forever, but right now Im happy and enjoy being able to travel etc. Me and my bro are really close so we are able to travel and do stuff together quite a lot. When the right girl comes along Ill get hitched, till then ill just enjoy life as it is=)