Originally posted by
prr
I hear you--not having an SO at the moment simplifies this equation for me, as does knowing what pleases me in terms of cimate, creature-comfort needs, etc. My last GF was very dismissive in terms of moving to a warmer climate (like FL or AZ--I currently live in NY) which I'd like to do
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...Problem is, have I really covered all my needs or am I forgetting or minimizing something crucial?
Interesting question you pose and one that I've been giving a lot of thought to for quite some time. I'm more or less with you on the numbers needed -- thought the obvious problem I see there is that forecasting what will be needed by the time the moment comes is not exactly formulaic thus always looking at the higher figures. For me, although a couple of years younger than yourself, I'm looking to do this in two, three years max, pending proper sale of some property I have.
Having said that, I'm in the same boat vis-a-vis a SO and both how it simplifies needs and reduces costs. But when you say if "you are forgetting something" it is, IMO, exactly that. Meaning that as simple, free and comfortable an existence one has as a bachelor, I've been without a SO for over six years now and not getting any younger -- starting to get a bit lonely and I suppose that is not going to get any better when one is no longer in workforce. Thus I factor in the possibility, and it just throws all my calculations off-kilter and I get more than a bit anxious. Why? Well, the dating scene for a guy my age gets rather complicated, especially when taking into account that I'm looking for someone that will be a companion more that a GF in the dating/party sense that I've loathed for the better part of the last two decades in my life. At least around here that narrows the field, to well, almost zero in so far as I've seen, for the few mature women with a similar desire that I've met come with a lot of added responsibility. Mostly in the form of children -- and its rare that we're talking a single child nor that they are even close to being financially solvent; it is what it is here. I just don't think I have it in me to take-on that kind of responsibility after having recently finished my financial commitments to my only child
and having factored into my numbers the inheritance I would leave him if the numbers in fact, do work.
So again, I don't know how you view your future in terms of aging alone, but that, to me, is the most distressing part of the whole plan. Just don't see how to fit it into the equation...
I'd be interested in your thoughts on that particular issue -- or anybody else of course, as long as you don't feel we're straying too far afield of your OP.