Courtesy Costa Rica Living
By Susan L.

Well! I am in agreement that most true expat women must have quite a little zip to them, being that they have chosen to be here. It takes guts and an adventursome spirit to up and leave the comforts of home, especially the creature comforts in the USA, to move to a 3rd world country, even one that's moving toward 2nd world. And to make that move on your own, single and solo is down right gutsy.

I always get a kick out of middle aged and old American men looking for a young lass and a new start. Makes me feel sorry for them, unless of course they are honest about it and admit they are just looking for a roll in the hay! (Remember my cookies if that's your true agenda! LOL No chemicals needed to enjoy them!)

But there's reverse twist on all of this. How about some of us old girls hooking up with those young, lithesome tigers...here or at home?

When I first got divorced during the time the dinosaurs roamed the earth I connected with a young puppy who was about 13 years my junior. In those days I was a whole lot younger and a ton and a half thinner and could pass for 13 years younger than I was...so I figured this guy was just looking at me for my money! LOL he sold bagles for a living. :-)

As we continued our affectionate affair he kept getting more and more serious and I, on the other hand, kept having more and more fun being unattached and unconcerned.

One day he approached me for 'the talk'. You know the 'what-are-we-doing-here' talk. I said well I thought we were having a fun, uncommitted, long term roll. He on the other hand was getting 'serious' and wanted a 'committment' from me. Remember, I was newly divorced and who needed another two year old. I already had one and he was approaching 3.

I told my honey that by the time he was into his mid-life crisis I'd be back in diapers and asked him if he was still interested in a committment. Needless to say he went back to the store and made some more bagles.

So all you gals who are having a middle-aged, invisible moment I ask you this? Do you really wnat one of these guys who are looking for a young, pit woofy Tica 30 years their junior?

If so, then I suggest finding a nice old codger of 80 something with a LOT of money and a heart condition and getting an Anna Nicole dress up costume for Halloween! You might also want to bring some of my cookies for him, :-) I'm with Fred (well not really WITH Fred, LOL), but i prefer someone with a little depth. Actally a lot of depth and someone who will appreciate me as person with all my gremlins. And until he appears I'm happy as a pig in mud to be on my own enjoying my own sweet self.

After I got over my own fears of taking care of myself (just my take here), I realized that not only did I not need a man in my life, but I didn't really want one either, unless he was my equal and someone who is really interesting. After all killing bugs and moving furniture can be done by the handyman and I can use a hose to put out the fire in my bbq.

I always told my kids when they came home from school upset about the other kids not liking them, to ask themselves if they liked the other kids. Well I think of the men in my life and the women for that matter, in the same vein. I'm more worried if I like them now than if they like me.

I think we older, riper, more fully flowered women make is so much harder on ourselves trying to compare ourselves to young women in regards to finding a man. There's no benefit in comparing our insides to these young girls outsides. Just makes us feel bad about ourselves. Anyway, eventually our insides will be outside anyway. LOL

We old, wise crones are just perfect just the way we are and when that smart guy finds us he is a lucky man. But always remember to check in with yourself to see if you are as lucky as he is when you hitch up.