re: Older folks that never had kids

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From what I hear, it (the hollow purpose) hits them like a ton of bricks around age 45.

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No kids for us, absolutely zero regrets about it from me. How many of you older folks regret raising complete frick-ups for children?

I had a great uncle that never had kids. He was married until his wife passed but they never said why they didn't have kids.

He survived two battleships sinking, had a great career after the war, an early retirement, loved the fairgounds, owned a few racehorses, was generous to all his nieces and nephews, had a beautiful home until Katrina. As a widower he lived in a waterfront condo, drove a convertible and had a girlfriend until he was 98 years old. He was always a happy man.

One of my older siblings that doesn’t have any children really is involved with my kids - and even her in laws are like a 3rd set of grandparents

Man we made it to 51 without kids then adopted a 3 year old boy. He’s 7 now and I’m enjoying him more than I thought. There was a learning curve and we had to learn patience. Before we got him I had started thinking it may suck to grow old with no kids but that’s not why we got him. He just needed a family.

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33 and no kids atm. Been trying for a year. Has come across my mind I may not be able to have kids

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Yeah, everyone makes it sound like you can’t leave a meaningful life without kids. Some people are infertile and just make the best of life with the hand they were dealt.

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Do you sometimes wonder what the next step is? Do you get to an age and wonder what you’re supposed to do next?

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Not at all. Made peace with my choice long ago. It was absolutely correct. Only negativities I’ve encountered is family. Sibling and spouse have called me selfish. They have kids and have enquired about what I intend for my legacy($$$). When our parents lost their house and our dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's they walked away. Something about how I don’t have kids and cannot possibly understand. I stepped up, bought a house and cared for my dad until the day he died while they traveled and partied. People can be terrible, family can be much, much worse. I don’t believe that life is worthless without children. I can barely wrap my mind around people saying that. We’ve been programmed to believe it. I guess it’s easier for those who cannot find reasons to exist alone.

Nieces. It’s what works for me.

Raises hand. I never planned on not having kids, but the first wife ended up having an affair on me (mentioned it many times on here), but luckily before she got pregnant.

Married again a couple of years later to a school teacher, and she really didn't want to have kids. I was fine with it, and still am 25 years later. She did get pregnant in our 2nd year of marriage, unexpectedly, but had a miscarriage 3 months in. She had gotten used to the idea we were going to have a child, but then that happened and it devastated her for almost 2 years.

But that isn't to say that I don't wonder what life would have been like to have kids. I wouldn't drive the nice cars, or have the nice house i have now if I had kids, but as I get older, just wonder what will happen should I need help, and there is no one to help me.

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Older folks that never had kids

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Boomers were too busy fricking the country to worry with fricking their wife

I guess the next big life step for me is death