Lynn heard about a book on National Public Radio. It is called
"AARP Love and Meaning after 50: The 10 Challenges to Great Relationships—and How to Overcome Them" by Julia Mayer and her husband Barry Jacobs, both of whom are therapists. It is $11.99 on Kindle.
The idea of reading it together and checking out our marriage appealed to us and we are doing that.
The book focuses on ten challenges that these two therapists have found in many cases:
CHALLENGE 1: The Empty Nest
CHALLENGE 2: Extended Family
CHALLENGE 3: Finances
CHALLENGE 4: Infidelity
CHALLENGE 5: Retirement
CHALLENGE 6: Downsizing and Relocating
CHALLENGE 7: Sex
CHALLENGE 8: Health Concerns
CHALLENGE 9: Caregiving
CHALLENGE 10: Loss of Loved Ones
WHEN NOTHING WORKS: Cooperative Separation and Divorce
Mayer, Julia . AARP Love and Meaning after 50 (pp. 4-5). Hachette Books. Kindle Edition.
A result of our exploration so far is that since our daughter is a grandmother and getting close to joining her husband in retirement, we, in our 80's, are way past empty nest problems. We have already made plans for the handling of our bodies after death. Another result is that we are in agreement that we are lucky to have each other and to have a long, reasonably happy partnership. Both of us had quite a bit of experience dating others and we understand that we are both fortunate.
It is clear to us that neither of us wants to lose the other and yet, we will at some point. She has warned me against hanging on to life just to avoid leaving her alone. We also realize that the odds and experience both indicate that often the guy dies first.
