You know what you want, and that is good! Of course we all have different wants and hopes for the future. I think you are looking in the right place, and with a little time and some luck you will find the perfect woman for you. As you know, the search can be frustrating at times, but I think there is a great possibility you will find the right woman and be a happy married man.
My ex and I started a little later. My children are 17 and 19, and my ex is almost 5 years older than me. I am just now feeling the freedom to do the things I want, travel etc. Sure would be better to have the woman that you love and loves you to do it with you.
Another point to consider for a man in his mid or late 40s like moi is that I rather develop a relationship with another woman's child age 12 or older with whom I can share things right now like playing sports, hiking, camping, fishing, work on cars, fix things around the house, read maps, drive on small back country California roads in foul weather, etc etc etc.
If I was to do it all over again, like Jet would like to do, I'd have to wait till I'm in my 60s to share these things with a teenager or wait till I'm almost 70 to have the house alone for my wife and I.
Jmo,
One of the reasons my kids keep saying they love me so much is that I taught them to develop a social life of their own, to taste the responsibiities of work while in HS and to look forward to a life all of their own with enthusiasm and independence.
I have one single giant size 18 cowboy steel toe black boot I found once in a garage sale almost 20 years ago while looking for a crib for my soon to be born baby daughter.
Money was short at the time, and my ex-wife was really pissed I spent money buying one single boot that didn't even fit me...specially when I told her why I did it.
Ever since my kids could understand the meaning of independence, I told them as often as it seemed appropriate that they eventually should seek lives of their own...
And just in case they choose to stick around the parents's nest when they should be out in the world forming lives of their own, I have the perfect boot with with to kick them out the door...:)
The giant black boot has always been in some safe corner of the garage in whatever house I lived.
Many of my friends don't agree with this approach, specially some single mothers who raise their kids as if to close to the maternal chest...as if life itself would end for them if and when the children move out of the house to do their own thing.
It worked for me and my kids, though.
Toad - as I've mentioned before I beleive life is the jouney not the destination. I do not look at having the house to myself as a goal. Its true that I would want to give any kids I have the best upbringing and chance available but as far as hoping to push them out of the nest and have a two-person retirement - Not a goal of mine.
Jet,
Truth is I love the idea of a household full of kidlets, always did, always will...but the kids' lives is their own, not mine to hold on to. Hence the 'out you go' way of thinking.
They deserve the best chances we can give them to do the best they can with it.
But it's not right to hold on to them to micro manage it for them.
It's the only one they get this side of the mortality.