In a sense it was a waste, well shit, IT WAS! But it was also a lot of fun, and zero stress for the most part, at least for me. I gave it away completely and in 20 years had built a decent happy "second" life. A lot of the boozers I knew from back then that weren't as bad are still boozing on once a week or so and their health is terrible, as is the space between their ears. As for finding Miss Right, well that's a crap shoot in this modern world. I have met what I thought were a couple, but then, a few years down the track, a hidden agenda came out.

A man who thinks with traditional values is hard pressed finding a woman of the same ilk, I gave up and to my surprise I discovered that I didn't need a constant companion, and I discovered a lot of men my age who were similarly minded. Now all my time, and MONEY are my own and what a joy that is. Anyway, good luck with it all madcow, I hope you find a path you can live happily with and that you find a way to avoid all the madness coming to pass over there.