double-pack responds:
Well I am past "the baby making stage" so I guess marriage is out for me then?
I think there's another purpose of getting married, though I am woefully old-fashioned: a good wife believes in, and provides a supporting environment, for her breadwinner husband. My dad could perhaps have been as successful as he was in his career(s), but the environment and confidence my mother provided helped immensely. I hope I have done the same for my sweetheart husband. We made no babies, alas, but our 16-year (so far!) marriage is strong and valuable just the same.
The funny thing is how the wise woman creates a productive environment for her husband. My mom, for example, appears to be in charge of the finances if only because she takes care of the mechanical details. To outward appearance, it looks like she's "the boss," and my dad is delighfully indifferent to appearances (one of his many endearing qualities). But the truth is, although my mom and dad have had a mostly equal partnership for their 57-year marriage, when push comes to shove, my dad has the final say, and always has, according to my wise and wonderful mom.
I really feel badly for all the confused women around today, who no more understand the dignity and power of feminine "submission" than they do the man on the moon. I have never believed that real men like to be pursued (except in the bedroom!). No matter what boys say, girl teens who call boys on the phone lose respect of those boys; the smart teen girl waits for the boy to call her, and if he doesn't ... then he flunks the test and she's better off in any case. THE TRICK of the smart and truly liberated female is to "pursue" in such a way that the guy thinks he is the one who made the first move.
Ahh,
I see what you're saying,
but still,
Apacko2 and myself are not only in the 'out of baby making' stage, but we're also in the
"Independent woman of means" stage. Which means being the classic wife model doesn't exactly work for us (OK, me) either. Granted, I'd adore staying home all day...but only with a maid to do all that icky housework that I loathe.
What I'd bring to a marriage is more in entertaiment value, and that's about it. OK, and I'm a pretty good friend too. And I can cook...usually.
Sad but true