60 is the new 18

highlights from susan cheever's article "The Princess and the Terminator" in newsweek last month. (this article, btw, was published before it was revealed why she was leaving him. at the time people just thought they had grown apart)

"Once upon a time men and women in their 50s and 60s didn’t have serious marital problems—this was primarily because they were dead. Even the most irritating behavior is somehow more bearable in blessed memory. With nearly 30 years added to our life expectancy since 1900—it was around 50 and is now over 80—we can make choices and have emotional crises that wouldn’t have seemed worth it when there were only a few more years of unhappiness to soldier through.

"This 30-year bonus has dramatically shifted the marital center of gravity in our lives—at least for the healthy, prosperous citizens of the industrialized world. If 50 is the new 30, 60-ish is in many ways a new kind of 18... This extra time on earth is oddly liberating especially for those of us still energetic and vibrant... If we are not going to speak out and act out at 60, when will we?"

there was another article in newsweek about why will and kate took so long to get married. it said that if their marriage ended, so likely would the british monarchy since most people already don't see the point. another failed royal marriage would put the nail in the coffin, so will and kate had to take marriage seriously. ...well shit, shouldn't everyone?