> People who stay married might just do so because they're afraid of being alone, and so suffer in silence for the rest of their lives. People who have been through many relationships maybe know they'll be ok if they split
I used to think that, esp after seeing the unhappy but still together couples in my parent's generation. But the main issue is that now as I'm older and have a bunch of friends the second category now, and the unhappy couples in my parent's generation are (relatively) happily co-grandparenting together. Whereas this late-30s divorced/never-settled couples are equally (if not more) miserable as some of those unhappy couples were in my parent's generation.
I don't know what will happen to my divorced/never-settled friends when they reach the grandpa generations without grandkids, but most likely they will find similar people like each other to give each other company. I do trust them that they will do something to be happy.
> Whereas this late-30s divorced/never-settled couples are equally (if not more) miserable as some of those unhappy couples were in my parent's generation.
People make their own misery though. The cultural pressures to pair up are strong, so if you focus on things you don't have and think you want because of cultural pressures, of course you'll be miserable. Studies have shown that single people in midlife become significantly happier, I'd argue because a lot of the pressure is then off, and you're free to pursue your real happiness.
I used to think that, esp after seeing the unhappy but still together couples in my parent's generation. But the main issue is that now as I'm older and have a bunch of friends the second category now, and the unhappy couples in my parent's generation are (relatively) happily co-grandparenting together. Whereas this late-30s divorced/never-settled couples are equally (if not more) miserable as some of those unhappy couples were in my parent's generation.
I don't know what will happen to my divorced/never-settled friends when they reach the grandpa generations without grandkids, but most likely they will find similar people like each other to give each other company. I do trust them that they will do something to be happy.