When you watch television or the movies, you could come to the conclusion that romance is only the stuff of those in their teens or 20s. As though somehow once someone reaches full adulthood, much less senior citizen age, the concept of romance is completely out of the question. This may be more a function of the fact that more people in those age groups go to the movies than any grounding in reality about romance for senior citizens. But we know for a fact that romance in the sunset years not only is possible, but it might also be the sweetest romance of them all.
Senior Myth
Part of the confusion may lie in another misconception or “myth” about senior citizens that they are not capable of sexual activity. There are two levels of error in this misconception. The first is the idea that people over 50 are sexually inactive. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sexuality is a healthy component of adult life at all phases of our maturity. Senior citizens are just as capable of sexuality in their relationships as your most randy teenager, albeit probably a good deal more careful. For an excellent article on Sexuality in Later Life by the National Institute on Aging, click Here.
Seniors are Romantic People
The second misconception to confront and put to rest is that even if sexuality is not part of the mix, seniors are not romantic people. This misconception is without a doubt held by people who don’t spend any quality time with senior citizens themselves. If anything, the opposite is the truth. Many people want and need to be close to others as they grow older. If anyone tracked the movie rental patterns of senior citizens, they would witness that seniors have a healthy appetite for romantic comedies. They also have a healthy interest in romantic relationships.
Retirement can be a Rebirth of Romance
Retirement very often is a time of tremendous rebirth of the concept of romance between senior couples. Married couples who may have seen the romance fizzle in their relationship during the child-raising years often see that element of their relationship blossom and become even sweeter and exciting than it was when they were dating. Adult life before retirement is often packed with pressures of raising kids and getting them “launched” as well as work and social pressures. This kind of thing can take away the emotional and mental energy needed for romance. So when a marriage matures into retirement years together, it is common for senior citizens to rediscover why they fell in love in the first place. In the process, they experience a new era of romance that is fun and thrilling for both.
Senior Singles
But senior citizens who find themselves single are perfectly capable of looking for romantic times with others of their own generation. If they have managed their finances well, senior citizens may be well equipped to enjoy an active dating life and enjoy romantic evenings with each other that enrich their lives and keep them upbeat and looking forward to their next romantic experience.
Moreover, seniors have the time and leisure to nurture their romantic relationships slowly. So the suspense of building a romance makes that romance full of excitement of discovery is easily afforded for a senior citizen. Accordingly, the senior citizen may not be as “eager” to see the romance “go somewhere” as a youth looking to start a family. But dating and enjoying romantic times with the opposite sex also provide much-needed companionship. Deep friendships can evolve from romances in the golden years. If the senior citizen has lost a spouse, these times with others their own age can fill a gap left by that spouse and help ease the transition and the grief so the senior citizen can move on to single life successfully.
What about you?
What about you? We are all different. Are you married? Single? Dating? Happy Alone? Leave a comment below.