Why meeting men 70+ is so difficult Bill, said, "Just a short note to express my appreciation for the insight/perspective provided by your newsletter; you should be complimented for the good humor and cheer that's interwoven in the tales of hits and misses you bring us misbegotten disciples every week. A sense of humor-aside from good health-is probably the greatest single asset to be carrying on the books heading into the twilight years. "And here's something for everyone: Harry Truman's dictum - 'If you're looking for a friend in Washington (D.C.), get a dog!' - applies all the more so to the lovelorn 50's set. I adopted Abby, a Lab/Rott rescue dog, eight months ago- three years into my search for a woman partner-and she's here by my side everyday to remind me I'm capable and deserving of love (even if I am a geezer!). Not incidentally, she's also a bit of a 'chick magnet,' but, so far, hasn't attracted the woman I'm looking for." I wrote Bill and asked if I could include his comments, and the picture he sent, not as a personal ad, but just as a human interest story of a single man in his 70s, and oh by the way, we'd include his email address also if he'd let me. I thought it would be a fun way to put a single man in front of our readers without him admitting to posting a profile. Here was Bill's response: "I've shied away from any involvement/prospects of more than 25 miles from my home. My position's not as limiting as it might appear with a major metropolitan area (Washington, D.C.) within the radius. "Candidly, everything considered, I'd have to say my continued solo existence is due as much to lofty expectations as it is to a lack of opportunity. Thus, remaining the hard head I've been for 70-plus years, I think I've gotta decline your kind offer. "I'd nevertheless sign up for anything else you'd care to float with regard to the rewards of canine companionship. In all truth, I wrote what I did thinking about Abby staring devotedly into my eyes from beside me on the bed this morning when I looked up from the newspaper." Bill's comments give us an idea of how one single man thinks about putting himself out there. I can't do anything about his "lofty expectations" but I could have done something about his "lack of opportunity." After three years of him searching for the right woman, I thought he'd be game. But, he's not interested and that is that. Bill's position is similar to so many other men I know. They say they'd like to meet a nice mate, but when it comes down to it, do they really mean it? Would they be willing to make a commitment? What happened in Bill's case is one of the reasons that meeting men age 70 plus is so difficult-besides the most obvious reason, a ratio of single women to single men somewhere in the 3.5 to 1 range-some of the men deep down don't truly want a mate. They'd rather have rover instead. © 2010, Tom Blake
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