Shacking up

Remember when shacking up was a big deal? Maybe it still is for you. Back in the 1970s my elders gave me that speech about "living in sin." No doubt plenty of other people out there got the same darn speech. We were all told about the horrors of cohabiting without the benefit of marriage.

Those very same elders are a lot more elderly now, in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Many of them moved into retirement communities. A funny thing happens in those places. With the passage of time, many of the couples that move into those places eventually lose their partner. However, they meet many others of the opposite sex who are in the same boat. Friendships blossom into romance.

Do they then get married? Hell no! Pensions are on the line. Marriage would mean someone would get a big cut in their Social Security payments. No way are they willing to let that happen. So now, shacking up is just fine. If marriage is going to impact their comfort level, they certainly aren't going to do it. Shacking up is no longer a big deal.

Personally, I'm cool with that. I don't hold a grudge about all the crap they gave me back in the day. A lot of other people are shocked at their parent's and grandparent's behavior. How dare they do such a thing! On the other hand, they don't actually want their parent to get married and put the inheritance in jeopardy. All the same, it just burns them up to see their elderly parent spending money on a new partner.

I find it all very amusing. I'm entertained by my elders trying to explain their living arrangement. Let's just say they don't call it shacking up. As for an inheritance, I knew long ago there wouldn't be one. Dying broke is just good planing. If those old folks can go out with a bang instead of a whimper, more power to them.

Still, I'm glad I didn't take those lectures too seriously back in the day.

-Sixbears