Fear of Growing Old Alone?

myself, as well. I appreciate my own company. I don't grasp the concept of "children" against "growing old alone" at all. Life is a long, tranquil river, and I like it this way.

Brenda, 52: I've never been so glad to be childfree as I am right now. For one thing, my mother is a widow on a pitifully small income from Social Security; being childless frees me to help her out financially. She recently moved in with me, and we are actually having quite a good time. Generally, I'm glad I'm childfree for the same reason I was glad to be childfree at 22: I can sleep late, have nice, breakable things in my home, eat interesting food, and come and go as I please. Being childfree does not intimidate me as I get older. I just threaten my nephews by saying that I'm going to move in with one of them when I'm feeble. I wouldn't do it, though; they're all childed.

Mongo, 47: As far as growing old "alone," no, I'm not concerned. Maybe part of that is a boomer's mentality to live in denial. But also, at my age, I've seen too many people grow old, without the support, or even interest, of their children. Having a child as an "insurance policy" for old age care is ludicrous. If I need help when I age, and my wife is no longer around, I can only hope that the money I have set aside now will allow me to pay for a capable provider.

Lisef: Why should I fear growing old without kids? Potential heirs in a hurry to inherit can ruin your later years and it is not concern for dear mom that leads them to spend time with you -- it is worry that you know how to change your will!

Lastly Risa says: The age-old issue of "having someone to care for me" has never been a consideration. I watched my seventy-something aunt die penniless and alone without having seen her son for literally dozens of years, let alone receiving any aid or benefit from him. It was a sad story and it only illustrated how ridiculous the concept is.

And then Risa provided the top-ten reasons for being a happy older childfree individual:

10. You don't have some irresponsible, low-life offspring who decides she needs some "me time" and drops off her two or three-year-old to

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