I was at a few gatherings over the last two weeks and heard some interesting tales and saw some even more interesting interactions. All of the participants are in their 50s. All men are in "professional" careers and all women are "no longer in the workforce." So much for the basics.
Couple 1 recently moved from Pennsylvania. They bought a 5,000 sq ft house and the wife is busily redecorating. The husband says it was the biggest mistake of his life. The mortgage is killing him and her spending is digging the grave. When they moved, he thought they were ready to retire. Now he has to work forever. She won't consider moving. A quote I heard -- "If he retired, what would he do all day?" I almost fell over to avoid laughing.
Couple 2 recently bought a retirement/vacation home on a lake. Husband wants to sell the big old house they raised kids in and retire to the much smaller lake house. His health isn't all that good and probably won't be able to work too much longer. She doesn't want to move because what would she do with all her furniture." He says the added expense of the lake house is straining their finances. An obvious miscommunication on the objective and plan forward.
Couple 3 got interesting when the husband said that a couple could live on $6K per year in Thailand. He thought it would be nice to go there and they could afford to retire and still have plenty of money for other travel and return visits to see the kids. She doesn't want anything to do with it. She likes where she lives now. He'll just have to keep working.
Couple 4 consists of a man about to be forced out from a well paying management position but with a good severence package and health insurance until 65. She wants to move near her new grandbaby. She's thinking 5,000 sq ft. He's thinking lake house. She says that he should find another job and keep working. I suggested that since she hadn't had a job for 30 years maybe it was her turn and he could stay home. That was not a popular remark with her but he loved it.
Here I saw 4 perfect examples of women who want to expand their lifestyle and maintain their leisure and freedom while keeping their husbands in the workforce. I know for a fact that 3 of the couples are better off financially (total savings and not just income) than me. I suspect all of them are. My DW seems just as incredulous that just because she fills her days with whatever she pleases that I would want to do the same.
Is this what women want?
Couple 1 recently moved from Pennsylvania. They bought a 5,000 sq ft house and the wife is busily redecorating. The husband says it was the biggest mistake of his life. The mortgage is killing him and her spending is digging the grave. When they moved, he thought they were ready to retire. Now he has to work forever. She won't consider moving. A quote I heard -- "If he retired, what would he do all day?" I almost fell over to avoid laughing.
Couple 2 recently bought a retirement/vacation home on a lake. Husband wants to sell the big old house they raised kids in and retire to the much smaller lake house. His health isn't all that good and probably won't be able to work too much longer. She doesn't want to move because what would she do with all her furniture." He says the added expense of the lake house is straining their finances. An obvious miscommunication on the objective and plan forward.
Couple 3 got interesting when the husband said that a couple could live on $6K per year in Thailand. He thought it would be nice to go there and they could afford to retire and still have plenty of money for other travel and return visits to see the kids. She doesn't want anything to do with it. She likes where she lives now. He'll just have to keep working.
Couple 4 consists of a man about to be forced out from a well paying management position but with a good severence package and health insurance until 65. She wants to move near her new grandbaby. She's thinking 5,000 sq ft. He's thinking lake house. She says that he should find another job and keep working. I suggested that since she hadn't had a job for 30 years maybe it was her turn and he could stay home. That was not a popular remark with her but he loved it.
Here I saw 4 perfect examples of women who want to expand their lifestyle and maintain their leisure and freedom while keeping their husbands in the workforce. I know for a fact that 3 of the couples are better off financially (total savings and not just income) than me. I suspect all of them are. My DW seems just as incredulous that just because she fills her days with whatever she pleases that I would want to do the same.
Is this what women want?