Rubicon, Congratulations on your 50 years of marriage and thank you for sharing! You are both blessed. Enjoy your celebration and your wonderful marriage for years to come.

Tal: I agree... Morals are not something that go out of style. My parents generation made it clear and simple . when you see those aing excuses and/or give you their sliding scale view of what is moral watch out. Its why people with whom we have placed trust have failed us, in congress, our churches, our corporations, investments, etc Doing the right thing when no one is watching pretty much sums up ethics and morals. In my business life I was a CPCU and CLU and business ethics were central to those two societies and that was to the betterment of policyholders. I feel very deeply aboutthis subject

Lets not forget at this same time another sub-culture was very active, known as the beginning of the hippie generation. Many people were pulled in different directions.

a confluence of temptations
 

yes, certainly the hippie "degeneration", the lure of "free love", widespread availability of contraception and legalization of abortion were all factors in tempting our generation onto paths which now in our older, wiser years, we may be able to look back on and see more clearly. the purpose of starting the conversation is to give moral support to those of us who want to live an improved life. these same societal changes have wrought many unwelcome results in the life of our nation, as well....we can only begin by changing ourselves...or at least holding onto our values and beliefs, and trying to live them. i so admire the few, like rubicon, who never fell prey to false idols. at our age now as singles, the false idols are appealing to our natural yearning for love and companionship, and we hopefully have acquired enough wisdom to discern them.

That is admirable. Also admire people like Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones who wants to remain a virgin until her wedding night. It seems like a personal decision too on her part and not something bracketed onto her by peer pressures from her religion. That takes more strength in IMHO. She is not part of the Mormon or some other religion which dictates no premarital sex.

According to the Dummy's series of books for "Dating for Dummies".

The problem with relationships's is that people become lovers before they become friends. When the physical side disapates, there is no relationship because they never became friends.

Probably easier said than done as we singles must be careful in affairs of the heart.

Cha3 I'm wondering if, by your quote above, you imply that anyone who has a loving, intimate relationship while still Single is a "false idol" or whose partner is a "false idol". What or whom is the "false idol" of which you mention? Is the act of love-making without benefit of marriage the "false idol"? Or, are the participants "false idol"(s)? Being celibate for you is a choice which is honorable in your eyes. Can you afford those Single Seniors who are intimate the same benefit or do you view their activity as dishonorable? I can't help but note your recent post in which you state "societal changes have wrought many unwelcome results in the life of our nation". Since it's within the context of this thread, I wonder if you mean that Seniors finding a loving partner at the sunset of their lives, while remaining Single, can somehow harm the nation. If you're happy in the life you have chosen, great! I also think it's great when a widow and a widower find each other, or a never-been-married finds a soul-mate, or a divorced one finds contentment and learns to love, again.

single male
 

I do not take any sexual relatiionship lightly...I also don't believe the government or the church has any say in my personal life, to condone my behaviour or not..I do not judge others for their beliefs nor do I expect them to judge me for mine...I like the previous post that says before you can become a good lover you have to become a good friend...that is where the true relationship begins..

Also you can have MANY good friends without sex but very few sexual "relationships" without them being good friends..JMHO and not to preach my beliefs to anyone...

I'm so tired of hearing people repeat that crap about the villages std rates without any knowledge, other than I read it SOMEWHERE...Perhaps a quick look at the sumter county health dept website will clear this misinformation up for you and give you peace of mind...It really has placed a nationwide stigma on the singles in the villages and it is totally unwarranted and uncalled for...

to tkret
 

no, i am not trying to judge anyone by any means, just speaking for what makes me happiest in my own life...by "false idols" i mean the temptation to become involved sexually hoping to find that companionship and love before a true commitment has been established...this usually leads to someone getting hurt. i admire young people like tim tebow and the young lady mentioned, who are making wise decisions...whether it is from religion or not, the result is still good. religion is not a set of rules to make us miserable, but rather a set of guidelines to keep us in the happiness God wants for us. not everyone seems to need religious faith, but i find it indispensable. if left to my own devices i would really screw up!! :)

I echo my sincere good wishes, Rubicon. What joy it is on the first try to find a friend, a lover, a wonderful partner for life.

Hugs to you both and fifty more please.

I always say.. "YOU DON'T BRING YOUR GOOD CHINA TO A PICNIC", but sometimes you don't know you're at a picnic till it's over.

Patty55 I'll be honest, plead my ignorance and ask what the heck does this mean? I've have been so sheltered

I'm not sheltered and I don't get it Rubicon, don't feel bad

You met your soul mate and you told him to get lost???

Or, maybe you met your soul mate but it was your boyfriend's brother??

I am taking it from a straight woman's POV but you get the point.

LOL, I'm not explaining to you three. Rubicon & Jimbo I think in reading your posts you have both been married for quite a while. Taltzarac, I believe upthread you have admitted to being a "picnicer" (IMO) in the past.:shrug:

I'm betting that the single ladies on here "get it".

YOU DON'T BRING YOUR GOOD CHINA TO A PICNIC.