General Discussion

DesertDiamond

(1,616 posts)

5. My dad always wished I would get married so I would have someone to take care of me in my old age...

Tue May 29, 2012, 05:18 AM

May 2012

This despite the fact that he knows lots of older women who are married but still don't have a man taking care of them. And when he was caring for my mom in her final years,and then later when his girfriend was dying, he found that nurses were always shocked to see him there and so devoted to caring for them -- they were used to seeing men just dump their wives off and never come back. Yet, my dad still had this idea if only I were married I would have someone to care for me. Sigh.

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More Baby Boomers Facing Old Age Alone [View all] jtuck004 May 2012 OP

Behold the benefits of zero population growth. Zalatix May 2012 #1

I worked in a nursing 20 years ago HockeyMom May 2012 #13

Yeah, that is sad. Abandoned by your own kids is doubly tragic. Zalatix May 2012 #18

wait..what? You're pushng zero population growth, yet you have kids? madmom May 2012 #26

Woah, I'm NOT pushing zero population growth. I'm pointing out one of its nasty side-effects. Zalatix May 2012 #28

Zero population growth means averaging 2 children per couple. It does not mean having no children Cal33 May 2012 #31

Because everyone knows the earth can support an infinite number of people. ret5hd May 2012 #14

I'd say it's more the benefits of cheap energy The2ndWheel May 2012 #21

Or so they think. I would trade all the wealth in the world for the real life community I have. Zalatix May 2012 #22

I'm not sure people have that level of control over the situation The2ndWheel May 2012 #24

Yet we have a lot of unemployed people My Good Babushka May 2012 #29

That job is a calling. A lot of people simply aren't suited for that kind of work. Zalatix May 2012 #30

But some people are My Good Babushka May 2012 #32

All of that, 150% true. Zalatix May 2012 #34

I like your intentional community idea. silverweb May 2012 #2

That is what I hope for RobertEarl May 2012 #10

It starts with the intention. silverweb May 2012 #36

Thank you for the ideas... n/t jtuck004 May 2012 #38

there are a lot worse things than being alone Skittles May 2012 #3

I have thought about this. JNelson6563 May 2012 #4

55, Divorced, No Kids - I Am The Statistic Referenced In The Article - The Last Years Will Be Rough cantbeserious May 2012 #6

Similar sitch here.... ProfessionalLeftist May 2012 #15

Same here... Javaman May 2012 #16

That's a fine idea, but lacking in reality, IMO. Hippies were young, strong and able. CTyankee May 2012 #23

Yeah, I know what you mean... Javaman May 2012 #27

I think the problem with that plan is that a community composed entirely of old people may HiPointDem May 2012 #7

Yes, a very good point. JNelson6563 May 2012 #19

You'd have to have a "pay-it-forward" committment Auggie May 2012 #39

My dad always wished I would get married so I would have someone to take care of me in my old age... DesertDiamond May 2012 #5

I was going to say, two can live cheaper than one, and you don't have to be married JDPriestly May 2012 #8

My next door neighbors, when I was growing up Mariana May 2012 #12

56, no kids, no job, no future... chervilant May 2012 #9

My GF and I have a plan... Javaman May 2012 #17

You're misinterpreting the statistics from the article: surrealAmerican May 2012 #11

You're right, I wrote that wrong. Thank you. n/t jtuck004 May 2012 #35

The Green House Project looks promising. klook May 2012 #20

Very interesting sorefeet May 2012 #25

A counter-argument - "The Myth of Isolation" bhikkhu May 2012 #33

that last part sounds good. i'm in. eom ellenfl May 2012 #37

Nest empty, divorced 12 years, last four serious girlfriends turned out to be hopelessly damaged. slackmaster May 2012 #40

I am 73 years old, alone, and I like that way. RebelOne May 2012 #41

I can see me moving in with my daughter arikara May 2012 #42