I kinda feel the same about it. If we've been doing this for 40 years how does one even go about starting over again? You're definitely not a "hot piece of a**" anymore. What does one do?! It'd take some really dirty goings-on (ala infidelity, abuse) for me to throw in the towel at that point. Even from what I've observed most couples just sleep separately or even live separately but don't get divorced. So if it's really not any of those things then is one of them (or both) really just that annoying?

But I think many of those couples that live/sleep apart and don't divorce only don't divorce because of the stigma against it. Why stay legally and financially entangled with someone you don't love (or love like that) any more? Particularly as a 'famous' couple, they're under far more scrutiny than others to be perfect. Divorcing can take that pressure off. I'd rather people do what they want and not feel stuck/trapped because divorcing just isn't done.

And I don't think you have to 'start over' or be young and attractive to want a divorce outside of infidelity or abuse.

Not that there couldn't be other reasons, mind you, but none we know about.

1) You don't necessarily have to start over again. You may just decide that you don't want to be married at all anymore.
2) The definition of a "hot piece of a**" changes as you get older. There are attractive older people, to other older people. You may not be a hot piece to a 20 or 30 year old, but to another 60+, you could be.
3) If you look at Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, you have two phases to consider (this is long, pasted from Wikipedia):
Care: Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood, 35 to 65 years)

* Psychosocial Crisis: Generativity vs. Stagnation
* Main Question: "Will I produce something of real value?"
* Virtue: Care
* Related Elements in Society: parenting, educating, or other productive social involvement

Generativity is the concern of establishing and guiding the next generation. Socially-valued work and disciplines are expressions of generativity. Simply having or wanting children does not in and of itself achieve generativity.

During middle age the primary developmental task is one of contributing to society and helping to guide future generations. When a person makes a contribution during this period, perhaps by raising a family or working toward the betterment of society, a sense of generativity- a sense of productivity and accomplishment- results. In contrast, a person who is self-centered and unable or unwilling to help society move forward develops a feeling of stagnation- a dissatisfaction with the relative lack of productivity.
[edit] Central tasks of Middle Adulthood

* Express love through more than sexual contacts.
* Maintain healthy life patterns.
* Develop a sense of unity with mate.
* Help growing and grown children to be responsible adults.
* Relinquish central role in lives of grown children.
* Accept children's mates and friends.
* Create a comfortable home.
* Be proud of accomplishments of self and mate/spouse.
* Reverse roles with aging parents.
* Achieve mature, civic and social responsibility.
* Adjust to physical changes of middle age.
* Use leisure time creatively.
* Love for others

Wisdom: Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Seniors, 65 years onwards)

* Psychosocial Crisis: Ego Integrity vs. Despair
* Main Question: "Have I lived a full life?"
* Virtue: Wisdom

As we grow older and become senior citizens we tend to slow down our productivity and explore life as a retired person. It is during this time that we contemplate our accomplishments and are able to develop integrity if we see ourselves as leading a successful life. If we see our life as unproductive, or feel that we did not accomplish our life goals, we become dissatisfied with life and develop despair, often leading to depression and hopelessness.

The final developmental task is retrospection: people look back on their lives and accomplishments. They develop feelings of contentment and integrity if they believe that they have led a happy, productive life. They may instead develop a sense of despair if they look back on a life of disappointments and unachieved goals


I can see it being possible that, as you go through these phases, you realize that you don't have a ton of time left and you really aren't happy with your mate. Given that, you could decide to make drastic changes so that you can end your life on a more happy note for you personally.

I have a sorority chapter sister who was staying married to a real douchebag (to borrow a phrase from Xanthus). She planned to leave him and live her life the way she wanted to when the kids were grown. She died suddenly at age 42, with three kids in high school. She died married to that douchebag. I will always be sad for her that she never escaped until she died.

Sadly, it happens. Best wishes to them both.

Bush's Fault!!!!:confused:

http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/06/...d-tipper-gore/

Tabloids are tabloids. Blogs reporting on tabloids are... well you get the picture.

You know, with everything from Hurricane Katrina to the Gore divorce being blamed on GWB, I had no idea he had so much power!

^^^Power crackles from his jeans. No that was Clinton!

I still think it was because she was tired of only being able to flush the toilet once a week.

I've been married almost that long, and can tell you that you get to a point where you simply will not put up with his/her crap another day!!!

LOL.....good one! Heck yeah, that might have been the final straw!

I thought it was "If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down."??

I think she played Black Sabbath backwards and heard, "Al is Satan, kill him, kill him."