Best European City for Single Woman in 50's?

[Firefly101]

If I were to move to a European city at fifty, no spouse, no kids, where would you suggest? Aging in America is fast losing its appeal.

By the way, hi everyone. Been awhile.

Firefly

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by Firefly101

If I were to move to a European city at fifty, no spouse, no kids, where would you suggest? Aging in America is fast losing its appeal.

By the way, hi everyone. Been awhile.

Firefly

Try Amsterdam, they don't give a **** here how old you are, whether you are married, have kids, or what the hell you do anyway.

[Firefly101]

Thanks, Manuel! That's what I like to hear.

[javed]

Originally Posted by Firefly101

at fifty, no spouse, no kids...

Firefly

50, no spouse, no kids......... Then what is the problem. You can move anywhere.

By the way, on a serious note, Heyers, France is considered to be one of best cities for aged (and near aged) people.

[Clint Cora]

Amsterdam is a cool city for sure. So is Berlin. The only problem that I find with Europe is that the region is darn expensive compared to North America. I recall when I was in Ireland a few years ago, it cost me about the equivalent of $75 US/Cdn to fill up a tiny Ford Escort rental car.

[C33]

woah! I was in Amsterdam a hundred years ago, but had no idea age didn't matter there!
OP, I'm 45, no kids never married, and I've found it hard almost everywhere I lived,unless mingling with creative people.

I currently live in London. Love it, but it's a very cold place. It's not a place for relationship or fuzzy feelings. If you have a little nest egg, I would say, try Spain. To make a living, one of the best places is London, even though there is a recession. I don't know Scandinavia, but the climate would keep me away as well as the family-centric lifestyle.

I'm originally from France. I don't know the country well, outside of Paris, and my small, uninteresting hometown. I think France is a great country for a woman who wants the traditional life, but as a single 50 years old adventurer... I would say: No! - It's still very chauvinistic, and the lack of ambition will drive you nuts ( especially hailing from the U.S).

If you are pulling a EAT PRAY LOVE adventure, the best way would probably be to sample Europe first, and see where you are most comfortable.

[Firefly101]

Thanks, everyone for your replies.

It's definitely not an Eat, Pray, Love thing. I am thinking about my future and yes, I am "unencumbered" by partner and children, but I am seeking a place where being a single, child-free "woman of a certain age" will feel more enlivening (for lack of a better word). I'm a young 47 right now and am pondering the second half of my life and what I want from it.

I'm a writer, but don't make money from it, and a masseuse, which is a very portable career. I'm independent and pretty adventurous. Not afraid of making a bold move to relocate. Relationships with other individuals who are older, single, hopefully without kids would be important.

The U.S. is wearing on my spirit and I suspect it is *not* ultimately where I will choose to grow old.

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by Firefly101

Thanks, everyone for your replies.
It's definitely not an Eat, Pray, Love thing. I am thinking about my future and yes, I am "unencumbered" by partner and children, but I am seeking a place where being a single, child-free "woman of a certain age" will feel more enlivening (for lack of a better word). I'm a young 47 right now and am pondering the second half of my life and what I want from it.

What DO you want from it then? Don't you need to know this first before you think about which country to go to?

Originally Posted by Firefly101

Relationships with other individuals who are older, single, hopefully without kids would be important.

Seems to me you can have those ANYWHERE. I doubt there are any European countries where you can't find single, older guys without kids.

Originally Posted by Firefly101

The U.S. is wearing on my spirit and I suspect it is *not* ultimately where I will choose to grow old.

Why is it wearing on your spirit? If you can get that clear for yourself, you will also know what you DON'T want to experience anymore in another country. If you are specific about what you want and DON'T want, people here will be better able to suggest suitable countries because they have something concrete to work with.

[Firefly101]

Hi Manuel,
I've already stated what I want.

And, no, I personally don't necessarily believe I can find "those people" and "that life" anywhere. That is why I posed the question to begin with. I wonder how old you are and I wonder if you reside in the U.S. Just curious.

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by Firefly101

Hi Manuel,
I've already stated what I want.

You stated that you want to live somewhere that is "enlivening" but that is pretty vague. You can interpret this in many different ways. If you are more specific, in the sense that you can give concrete examples of things you would like to experience (or things you are experiencing right now in the USA that you would rather NOT experience anymore!), I think you would have more clarity. It's just my perspective, I'm not saying you have to agree with it. If you don't feel it holds any truth for you, I'm fine with that.

As far as the relationships thing is concerned (that, by the way, IS a more concrete, specific example! That's the kind of thing I am talking about), I am curious as to why you don't think you can find that anywhere? Do you really think that there are European countries that have no single older men without kids? Or do you just want to live somewhere where the odds are highly in your favor? It seems to me if you want a relationship, you only need ONE guy, right? Every country you go to should have plenty of men in your category available, a LOT more than you need! If you don't believe this, however, I doubt you would be happier ANYWHERE else than where you are right now. I am just very curious how you see this. Do you think you will have a much better chance of meeting a nice man if you are in a country where there are more eligible men of your age? It may seem like that statistically speaking, but I personally don't believe that statistics play any role in things like this. Statistics are a purely mathematical concept, but things like relationships are PSYCHOLOGICAL in nature, and if you think that your chances are purely based on statistics here I think you are sorely mistaken. Again, just my personal view, so take it anyway you want to.

Originally Posted by Firefly101

I wonder how old you are and I wonder if you reside in the U.S. Just curious.

Lol, why do you wonder this? But fine, I'll indulge you. I am 40 years old and I live in Amsterdam. Never lived in the US but I've been there many times, traveled all over, and have a brother who has lived in LA for over 15 years.

By the way, I also have a good friend, woman about your age, from New Jersey, who also would love to retire in Europe. Let me be clear about this: I am not suggesting you should NOT move to Europe. Not at all! I was just asking for specifics about the reasons you DON't want to retire in the USA and specific things you want to experience for the rest of your life. It would allow for a country suggestion that is more tailored to what you might be looking for, because no country is obviously perfect. But what I think is helpful to ask yourself is "Do I love the great things about this country and can I live with the aspects of it that I DON'T like?" If the answer is yes, it might be a good place to move to.

[danas]

Hi!
I really believe you can have whatever you want despite what the "facts" are.
You can have an enlivening experience even if your next door neighbor is experiencing loneliness.
I remember a few years ago I decided to go to SF to see a spiritual teacher.
At the time I was 20 hours flight away, I decided to book a ticket to spend a month there. yet I knew no one and had never been there. I was very anxious about spending a month all alone in this place I knew no one on earth in.
So I sat with myself and thought of what Id like to experience in my wildest dreams. I pretended to write a letter to my friend saying that Im having an amazing time and I met someone and we decided to hit the road and travel across America in his car. haha. That was pretty far fetched but at the time it seemed like the funnest thing.So I flew there. Checked into a youth hostel. Explored the city for a week. And then I met these guys asking if I wanna join them for 2 weeks on the road. it was amazing! We camped at Yosemite, we went to rodeos in Arizona, we fell in love! I created it even though it was not the likely experience if you asked anyone.

What Im saying is go for it! But decide in advance what you will experience.
If you were there now. (I recommend Berlin BTW), imagine a post you would write to us. Saying how you've met great people, formed real friendships and you are having so much fun etc...Whatever you can imagine can be yours! Go where your heart desires and the rest will manifest itself if you are clear on what you really want
Good luck!