Great article. I think about this too. 54 and married - no kids, just my mom, , no one close by, 2 great friends far away. I feel I may outlive my hubby. I like your comment "lean into the freedom". In the end I think the worse feeling would be to be in nursing home and regret all the beautiful things, travel, etc we missed out on. It's easy to fall into our "safe traps, safe spots".... but we will regret that at the end of our days. You sound adventurous. 😁. Good for you.
Beautiful, thank you! This struck me: "What if society also needs a certain number of free agents who are able to focus on something larger than themselves precisely because there are no ties of the human variety and no expectations?". the poet Rilke spoke of the needs of those who exist for "the Greater Circulation." At 18 I knew I wanted to be an artist, and I never waived from that decision. I had a tubal ligation at 24 to ensure I would not have children, and my brief marriages showed me that I was not well suited to the sacrifices marriages impose on one. My primary friend, companion, mate and muse has been my own creativity which also often inspired a kind of restless wanderlust. Yes, I'm alone often, and at 74 I am grateful for friends as I have no family, but I recognize and accept that my dying will have to be done alone. I hope to have another 10 years before that happens, but I accept that fate as the price I paid for the life I've had.
Beautiful m. Thank you.
Great article. I think about this too. 54 and married - no kids, just my mom, , no one close by, 2 great friends far away. I feel I may outlive my hubby. I like your comment "lean into the freedom". In the end I think the worse feeling would be to be in nursing home and regret all the beautiful things, travel, etc we missed out on. It's easy to fall into our "safe traps, safe spots".... but we will regret that at the end of our days. You sound adventurous. 😁. Good for you.
Beautiful, thank you! This struck me: "What if society also needs a certain number of free agents who are able to focus on something larger than themselves precisely because there are no ties of the human variety and no expectations?". the poet Rilke spoke of the needs of those who exist for "the Greater Circulation." At 18 I knew I wanted to be an artist, and I never waived from that decision. I had a tubal ligation at 24 to ensure I would not have children, and my brief marriages showed me that I was not well suited to the sacrifices marriages impose on one. My primary friend, companion, mate and muse has been my own creativity which also often inspired a kind of restless wanderlust. Yes, I'm alone often, and at 74 I am grateful for friends as I have no family, but I recognize and accept that my dying will have to be done alone. I hope to have another 10 years before that happens, but I accept that fate as the price I paid for the life I've had.