Falling in Love Again Later in Life
It is never too late to fall in love.
In fact, more Americans are waiting longer to get married – and more people are marrying later on in life. Likewise, more than half of Americans over the age of 55 are remarried, according to recent Pew Research, while legalized same-sex marriage is giving more gay couples the opportunity to profess their love.
If you find yourself in love, engaged or interested in a relationship later in life, you will bring the wisdom of decades, past relationships and experiences to your relationship. You likely know what you want and what really matters to you.
“The physical relationship might change with relationships later in life, but there is often a renewed sweetness in these relationships. When you are no longer raising children or as worried about careers, you have a chance to really focus on each other and appreciate the gift of a new relationship,” said Dr. Donna Block of Clinic Sofia.
No matter if you are in love for the first time or the last, it is wise to take your time before getting married or making any significant decisions such as moving in together or combining bank accounts. You should focus on finances, healthcare, retirement plans and legal issues as well as romantic ones, since they can impact your estate and beneficiaries. Indeed, some couples decide to maintain separate residences or simply live together. Interestingly, the number of adults ages 50 and up living together without being married more than doubled from 2000 to 2010, according to the “Journal of Marriage and Family.”
“No matter what your age, being in love is a wonderful thing. Take the time to smell the roses, appreciate the little things and enjoy the opportunity to connect with someone special,” Dr. Block added.
