Advice please
I’m looking for some honest advice from people who have been in relationships later in life.
I’m 60 and have been dating a 65-year-old man for two years. One important piece of context is that he’s a widower. His wife passed away about six months before we met. I’ve tried to be understanding that grief can affect how someone approaches a new relationship, so I’ve been patient and haven’t pushed for commitments.
Recently, my circumstances changed, and I may need to sell my house. Financially, I’ll be fine, but the situation made me realize something that’s been bothering me for a while.
At this stage of life, I thought we’d naturally be talking about building a future together—not necessarily getting married tomorrow, but at least discussing living together or making plans as a couple. I rarely bring those conversations up because I don’t want to pressure him.
When the topic of me potentially moving came up, though, he never once suggested that maybe we should think about living together or building a future together. Instead, he talked about things I could do on my own, like buying another house, remodeling this one, or finding another place to live. It all felt like he was thinking about my future, not our future.
When I later told him how that made me feel, he said, “Of course you could stay with me while you figure things out.” While I appreciated the offer, it still felt temporary rather than a vision for us.
When I directly asked him what he sees for our future, he said he hopes we’ll get closer and that maybe someday we’ll live together or maybe get married, but that’s all he can say right now.
The bigger issue is that this isn’t just about the house. Throughout our relationship, I’ve often struggled to feel like a priority. There have been other situations that have left me feeling like we’re living parallel lives instead of building one together. He tells me he loves me and wants to keep trying, but after two years I’m wondering if this is simply who he is.
My question is: At our age, after two years together, is it reasonable to expect a partner to have a clearer vision of a future together? Or am I expecting too much? How would you interpret his response? Is this someone who is moving slowly because of his past, or does it sound like someone who simply isn’t ready—or doesn’t want—the kind of committed future I’m hoping for?
Posted Jul 25, 2026, 11:29 PM UTC