In one of my many incarnations, I spend time doing some consultnig-freelancing work in the mornings, and yesterday the office conversation turned–among the single women–to love and marriage, and somehow I was asked my opinion.
Evidently, the conversation began when one of the young women read an article about another woman who had admitted to marrying a man for his money.
They soon regretted involving me in the conversation.
Asked what I thought, I loudly proclaimed: “Nothing wrong with that. In fact, since most first marriages end in failure, opt for the money rather than the love. At least you can walk away with a nestegg or retirement fund.”
That didn’t go over too well, as young people (just as I once did) have these visions of sugar-plum fairies, long strolls on the beach hand in hand, eternal bless and unending love and romance when the subject of marriage comes up.
However, as most marriages soon descend into accommodation if not acrimony, my late-life belief is to go for the money. Then when you’re older and life has taught you its many lessons, you can use your first-marriage nestegg (without admitting to having one) to settle down with a mate who understands the verities of life, love and marriage. Then, if you’re lucky, maybe the love with actually last.
When it’s all said and done, however, I guess a second marriage is what Samuel Johnson called “the triumph of hope over experience.”
Maybe it’s better just to stay single after all. Make the money yourself and keep it.
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Posted in Almanack Musings |
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