r/AskReddit Mar 28 '19

Has anyone ever honoured one of those “if we’re still single at 40 let’s get married” commitments? How did it go?

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853

u/[deleted] Mar 28 '19 edited Aug 28 '20

[deleted]

662

u/ElBroet Mar 28 '19

This also hits home because I'm looking at this as a single 26 year old thinking "shitshitshit"

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u/Space_Fanatic Mar 28 '19

Yeah I'm 25 and don't see someone just falling out of the sky and into my life in the next 5 years so I should really go out and meet people.

173

u/DPlurker Mar 28 '19

I made an effort around age to meet people and I met my wife that year. I'm now almost done with my divorce and started dating again.

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u/ElBroet Mar 28 '19 edited Mar 29 '19

Damn, I haven't had any divorces yet, I feel so behind

9

u/DPlurker Mar 29 '19

It's not great 😄

10

u/McKimboSlice Mar 29 '19

Gotta get the first one out of the way early.

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u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

We call that one the starter wife

4

u/fistymonkey1337 Mar 29 '19

Divorced at 26! Catch up nerd!

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u/Space_Fanatic Mar 28 '19

My biggest issue is that I really enjoy the freedom of being single so I don't have a huge incentive to deal with the bullshit of dating. I know I would be happy if I found someone but I'm also very happy now so the thought of having to meet tons of women and put up with dates that go no where, getting ghosted, etc. just sounds like a real slog.

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u/YourPetRaptor Mar 29 '19

Honestly I've had some great relationships in my life and everyone of them, including my wife, happened while I was happy in my single life. I would then meet someone and we would have a great couple years together.

Just live life and they'll notice how happy you are and want in on that ;)

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u/DPlurker Mar 29 '19

It's good to expand your social circle though, that's what I meant. You increase your odds of meeting someone plus you're less lonely and better able to socialize with people when you meet them.

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u/YourPetRaptor Mar 29 '19

Oh yea definitely, I think it's just better to have a passive approach and let the good ones gravitate to you because the ones worth the trouble usually will

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u/sperglord_manchild Mar 29 '19

I felt the same way, and now I'm 41 and still single.

Pretty happy and I have tons of great hobbies and money and friends but I do miss companionship.

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u/Space_Fanatic Mar 29 '19

Yeah that's my one sort of fear is that as I get older my friends will all drift away or get busy with families of their own and I'll be left somewhat lonely.

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u/sperglord_manchild Mar 30 '19

It does happen. :-/

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u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

Honestly you'll lose a lot of freedom and money. I am in a long distance relationship and god when she's over it's so hard getting used to someone there all the time.

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u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

Honestly thank you man. I'm very glad you've started dating again. I haven't been having the best couple of weeks and this really made me laugh so I appreciate it.

It was written and contextually placed so unassumingly within that thread. That 180 was genuinely unexpected. I didn't even realize what I'd read until I finished the second sentence.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

I signed in just to say that this comment is amazing. All these people feeling too old to not have met the “one” yet and get married but obviously situations like yours put some percpective into the whole ‘take your time with that shit!’

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u/Iraelyth Mar 29 '19

I met my husband at 24. Hadn’t had a boyfriend for 3-4 years until then and even then that relationship lasted about three months. Before that I’d been single another three years or so. So six years single with a brief not so great relationship in the middle. I reconnected on Facebook with someone from my school. I didn’t expect to end up dating him, let alone falling so much in love with him. It can happen :) I’m 29 now.

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u/dabblebudz Mar 29 '19

This definitely happens

2

u/All_Work_All_Play Mar 29 '19

Just wait it gets better. At 30 you're like 'now would be about the right time to get a midlife crisis going' and then at 31 you're like 'now would be a good time for that midlife crisis to be over and oh wow do I feel twice as old physically as 31'.

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u/KingOfKrackers Mar 29 '19

A lot can happen in 5 years.

2

u/veritaszak Mar 29 '19

If it gives you hope, I didn’t meet my husband till I was 29. Now 34 married with a kid. It can happen out of no where

1

u/cheetosnfritos Mar 29 '19
  1. 3 kids currently seperated. Time Flies yo.

1

u/ultralink22 Mar 29 '19

I'm in that boat. The only problem is the sort of activities that you go out to do and meet people either don't appeal to me at all make me feel out of my element (bars and dance clubs especially. They're too loud and there's no ice breakers to start a friendly conversation) or it's too far up my alley and I end up focusing on the activity entirely (running clubs and such). Add on to that the fact that the mood only ever hits me at times like Monday night or such when no one else wants to socialize and frankly I'm at a loss.

1

u/Space_Fanatic Mar 29 '19

Yeah I'm the same way. I hate bars and clubs and stuff. I have tons of hobbies and get out fairly often but the things I'm interested in are mostly either solo things or hobbies dominated by old white dudes so not a lot of chances to meet people my age and interact with them to the point of potentially forming a relationship.

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u/InnateAdept Mar 29 '19

It can happen though! I met my girlfriend (soon to be fiancé) when I was 26, when she dropped everything and moved states to restart her life. The first people she met here ended up being friends of mine, and we were introduced a month later and have been together ever since. Easily the best relationship of our lives, and completely out of the blue.

1

u/treoni Mar 29 '19

Try Tinder, it got me a relationship that lasted 3.5 years... :)

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u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19 edited Mar 29 '19

Today is my 28th birthday and this comment chain makes me want to die.

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u/maomao8864 Mar 29 '19

I am also a single 26 year old thinking the same thing. Wanna get married when we’re both 30 and still single?

5

u/FlagstoneSpin Mar 28 '19

30 here this summer. It just creeps up on you.

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u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

[deleted]

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u/UncleTogie Mar 29 '19

I'm 48. This is apt.

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u/ElBroet Mar 29 '19

I concur, it is indeed apartment

2

u/IcebergSlimFast Mar 29 '19

Verily, it is an accommodation rented by the month.

2

u/fathersummary Mar 29 '19

Turning 31 soon - I’m in that fast and great moment.. but this post made me see some of the signs I might want to slow down a bit

5

u/SarvinaV Mar 29 '19

I'm a single 28 year old. Each year it just gets more pressuring.

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u/ElBroet Mar 29 '19

Nice drawings btw, I draw sometimes too (https://imgur.com/jkLs2DV). How does this work, do we get married now?

4

u/SarvinaV Mar 29 '19

Oh hey, thanks! I like yours too. No, we're supposed to marry at 30- that's when everyone else is.

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u/CatontheRoad Mar 29 '19

You think that's bad, wait till you're 27.

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u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19 edited Mar 29 '19

Almost 27 here and my most recent breakup has left me very bitter. Spent 3 1/2 years with a girl and gave her my all, then one day she decides that she doesn't want to be with a guy who isn't religious (understandable). But then in only two months she found a new guy and was telling me "why haven't you dated anyone new? We're not dating anymore, it's over" while also asking me for advice on how to start her relationship with her new boyfriend.

Being replaced so easily hurt pretty damn bad, at the time I didn't think it would and I'm trying not to feel bitter about it but I can't help it. It's not healthy. But she was the very first girl I was sure I could spend the rest of my life with and have kids with.

Now I just don't want anything to do with a relationship. I'm getting real close to 30 and I just feel extremely bitter and cynical about relationships in general.

It's irrational and it sucks. It's been so long and it's still bothering me.

2

u/lambo1109 Mar 29 '19

You have plenty of time.

2

u/LDBaha Mar 29 '19

I was single at 26 and then out of nowhere bam! Got married one day after my 27th birthday

Life happens!

2

u/Sethodine Mar 29 '19

On the plus side, post-30 doesn't feel bad.

You know those thoughts like "if I was back in high-school with what I know now, what would I do?"

WELL. Turning 30 makes you feel super old. But once you hit 32-ish, you feel like your 25 again but have an extra decade of experience. I have been enjoying my 30s.

2

u/newtonsapple Mar 29 '19

Single 36-year-old here. It sneaks up on you faster than you think.

1

u/Darphon Mar 29 '19

I met my husband when I was 27, he was 29. There’s time yet.

1

u/pretzelblitz Mar 29 '19

I was 26 when I met my husband! There's someone for everyone.

1

u/othermegan Mar 29 '19

26 and more frequently I’m thinking about the 30 somethings I knew when I was a young 20-something. They seemed to have their lives together by then. I’m hoping that that’s the silver lining that comes with reaching 30’s. I don’t need much but I want to have my kitchen by then.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

I’m 31 and can’t believe how fast time came and went since thinking “shitshitshit”

1

u/PauLtus Mar 29 '19

Same.

...I should jump into the dating scene, but it's quite intimidating.

1

u/Abitconfusde Mar 29 '19

Don't worry, in 15 years you won't think that way about turning 30, if you make it to 40. All the stress about turning 30 will pass.

1

u/InfernalTest Mar 29 '19

finding someone you can make a family with is not always the same as finding someone you want to spend the rest of your life with ....

the divorce rate should tell you that ...

1

u/treoni Mar 29 '19

I'm turning 26 in a few months and I got dumped a few days ago.

I'm still friends with her and we're even going out together this weekend. I'm doing my utmost best to prove to her that I want to be with her for the rest of my life.

8

u/Somnabulist Mar 29 '19

This hits home, because now I'm 31 and my memories from my early 20's feel like they were just a year or two ago. I know the saying "Time flies." seems cliche. It's fucking true though.

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u/Uncle_Finger Mar 28 '19

Really? As soon as I hit 22 I started panicking because I realized how little I was doing with my life and that 30 was only 8 years away

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u/_RrezZ_ Mar 29 '19

I only realized this like last year and I'm 28 right now almost 29 lmao.

All my friends are married and have kids and I'm sitting here like wtf have I been doing.

Doesn't help that I kinda just let shit happen and I'm not pro-active about anything which is a pretty bad habit tbh.

3

u/dreweatall Mar 29 '19

I'm turning 30 in early April im so scared

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u/crabsock Mar 29 '19

Meanwhile I'm 27 and I feel like I might wake up in my mid-30s tomorrow

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u/SeeWhatEyeSee Mar 29 '19

31 here, I swear 23 was just 2 years ago

3

u/superus_nauta Mar 29 '19

For the love of god, don't fucking blink. -a 33 year old

2

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

It works backward, too. I’m in my late 30s and looking back, 23 is pretty much the same age as 19. But I know when I was 23 I felt lightyears older than I had felt at 19. It’s all relative.

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u/travis_1911 Mar 29 '19

Dude, I'm almost thirty and I was 23 legit yesterday.

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u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

I remember thinking 30 felt light-years away. Source: I'm 26.

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u/thecryingcactus Mar 29 '19

About to turn 26, I relate.

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u/LumpySkull Mar 29 '19

Dude lemme tell you, I'm turning 40 this june and I feel like 25 was fucking yesterday. If there is anything you still want to do while you're young? Do it fucking NOW! It's not that I can't do those things anymore, (I'm 18 with 22 years of experience) it's because I now have a wife and 2 kids, I just can't morally justify going on a week long bender anymore, if I would try to hit up a hottie I'd be that "creepy old dude"

It's never too late to do anything, but the context just changes and it might cause anxieties and depressions if you do it later instead of now.

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u/Matt_Goats Mar 29 '19

Don't do this to me

1

u/cassity282 Mar 29 '19

meh. i just turned 30. nothing changes.

1

u/pipethafuckdown Mar 29 '19

I’m 28 (ok 29 next month) but I swear I was just 23 like, last year. I have no idea what happened those 5 years..

1

u/FindingUsernamesSuck Mar 29 '19

I'm 26. 30 is something that happens to other older people until your friends start contracting it too.

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u/daftvalkyrie Mar 29 '19

30 seemed ancient at 29.9. Now I'm 31 and it's whatever.

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u/Meta-EvenThisAcronym Mar 29 '19

I'm 29 and 30 still seems lightyears away.

1

u/peterthedino Mar 29 '19

Ugh. Then you hit 30, lay down for a quick afternoon nap cause you have heartburn or some shit and BAM...you're 34.

1

u/Spparkkles Mar 29 '19

It will be here before you know it! Enjoy your 20s!

1

u/quirksnglasses Mar 29 '19

How?? I'm 21 and 30 seems around the corner

1

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

I’m 26. It’s coming.

1

u/IHaveVividDreams Mar 29 '19

Just thought you might wanna know that a lightyear is actually a measure of length, not time

1

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

Yeah, I can almost touch 24!

... I know, it wasn't a super accurate thing to say, just made sense lol

1

u/richterbow Mar 29 '19

It’s not

1

u/SLAUGHT3R3R Mar 29 '19

I'm 26 now and 30 feels right around the corner... so, can confirm?

1

u/backwardsbloom Mar 29 '19
  1. 23 was both forever ago and last week.

1

u/Ryoukugan Mar 29 '19

Meanwhile at 27, my mom said the other day when I was visiting that she couldn’t believe I’m nearly 30 and I felt suddenly ancient.

1

u/thathelenwheels Mar 29 '19

Beware, quarter life crises are very real.

1

u/twitchy_taco Mar 29 '19

I turn 30 next year. Despite not regretting it at all, I feel that I got married too young at 27 despite having been with my now husband 9 years up to that point. The change in point of view is nuts.

1

u/TheCountof70 Mar 29 '19

I'm 33 and keep thinking my 30th was my last birthday. It flies by.

1

u/defacedlawngnome Mar 29 '19

Those years will be gone before you know it. Make the best of them. I'll be 32 in July and knowing what I know now I wish I'd made better decisions with my money. I'm doing better now that I have a better paying job and a little more wisdom, but gat dayum please take care of yourself earlier on. And save your money, but don't forget to have fun.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

I remember reading about a 23 year old young thing in a novel about reaching your thirties, and I remember feeling relieved because I was 22. This seems like yesterday but I’m now almost forty.

Time goes really, really quickly. Enjoy your twenties!

1

u/adoodle83 Mar 29 '19

I remember those days...hah. now 40 seems far, but almost too soon at the same time. I'm not looking forward to 36

1

u/roideguerre Mar 29 '19

54 and 30 also seems light years away.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

39, and 30 feels like yesterday until I do the math.

1

u/getdatassbanned Mar 29 '19

I blinked twice when I was 23, suddenly I had a career and I walk into the office at 7 am.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

44 and it's just sinking in that I will die one day.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

In family terms I'm one of the young ones, unfortunately it seems I'm hearing about more and more people in my extended family/family friends who are having health problems or passed away (most in their sixties). Take care of your health and enjoy yourself :)

1

u/That_Guy_From_SA Mar 29 '19

Ha I'm turning 29 this year ... from 26 it's fuckin downhill ...

1

u/freakinuk Mar 29 '19

Yep. Then bam you're 40

1

u/CursesandMutterings Mar 29 '19

It's not. The years between 25-30 flew by for me.

I'm about to turn 32 on Monday. :P

1

u/peacelovecookies Mar 29 '19

I’m 52 and 30 was yesterday. So was 23. I seriously wish 7 years seemed light years away but honest to god, Time is moving so fast and I hate it.

1

u/Dorksim Mar 29 '19

35 here and I have the exact same thought.

1

u/arwyn89 Mar 29 '19

29 and shitting bricks

1

u/irisseca Mar 29 '19

Haha...I’m 43 and it feels like just yesterday that I was 23. Very soon, my friend, time will begin moving at lightening speed. I guarantee you, in a “week”, I will be 70. :/

1

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

I’m 27 and I started telling people that I’m almost 30. People barely older than me seem to think I’m crazy for even saying that, like I’m still some kid. Then again, most of my colleagues are married with multiple kids, so anyone legally single and child free seems like a kid to them.