I have many friends of my generation (I am 60 years old) who never wanted or had children. For the most part, they are like wrinkly adolescents. They have lots of adult toys and go on vacations a lot. Most of them are quite liberal in their politics. I often think that they ought to be grateful to those of us whose children will be providing their Social Security payments when they retire in a few years. It’s funny that they think they are so smart and sophisticated by not having children. But really, if they are so strongly convinced that they are right, why don’t they attempt to pass on their values to the next generation? To me, it’s just not civilized.
I think to reform this broken SS system, we should mandate that 25% or more of your support come directly from your own children. :p
I'm almost 60, and like you, a lot of my old friends never quite figured out the marriage and family thing. Don't let 'em fool you with their smug, false front. They're not happy that they don't have kids or grand kids, or that no one will be there for them when they're in their sunset years.
I won't say that they don't find joy in some aspects of their lives, but being without progeny is actually a pretty sore spot with most of them. It's an emptiness that is tough to fill.