Boomer Women - How Important is a Relationship in Your "Golden Years?"

I believe times have changed. Don't you? In getting ready to write this article I have done some research. I personally only knew what I had lived with as far my mother and other women her age. Being married was more of an expectation or possibly a need. Being single was not desired by most of these women in this generation.

Granted, women live longer than men so it's not a surprise that the older we get the more 'single' women there are. If you think about this though, these women didn't really have a choice. Her husband simply passed before she did.

The women I am referring to are in their 50's, 60's or even 70's, and they have made it a choice to remain as single women. Do you fit into this group?

Have you been married before but, either through divorce or the death of your husband, you are currently single and plan to stay that way? Or have you simply never married in the first place?

In the articles and blogs I have been reading, it was very clear to me that our generation is doing this piece differently. (As well as many other pieces we do differently!) There is not the societal pressure on being married that our mother's generation had. Women of our generation do see being single as a choice and as an option.

More women are working and supporting themselves very successfully, so they don't need a man to support their lifestyle. The single women I know and the women I have been reading about love their single life. They love the freedom it brings and feel more options are open to them.

Now, hear this loudly and clearly, this does not mean they don't enjoy being in a relationship. Having someone to go to dinner with, go to the movies or travel or just be a good friend, is important to most. It's the marriage piece that doesn't feel as necessary as it may have in the past.

Women of our generation are independent and savvy. We have broken through many glass ceilings and will continue to do so. We have choices that women before us may never have had. Hopefully, the stigma of being a 'spinster' is in the past and will remain there. These choices have opened up worlds of endless possibilities and being single does not get in the way of any of that.

Again, this is not about being anti-male or against being in a marriage. It's about the option of having that choice and knowing whatever choice you make you will be able to find much support.

Where do you fit in here? Are you single out of choice or due to death or divorce? How important to you is a marriage situation or is being in a relationship without the legalities a better fit?

Kim Kirmmse Toth lcsw, acc is a Transitions Strengths Based Coach and Trainer specializing in CEO's, Executives and Entrepreneurs: Life after Work. If you are ready to begin creating the next big transition in your life, to ensure it's as successful as your career get your Free Top Ten Secrets to a Successful Retirement now at http://www.redhotretirement.com or visit http://www.positiveaginginc.com.