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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think this is more of a finance question than a real estate or midlife one, so posting here.
What are you doing with your real estate options when you get to say 55, or when you are empty nesters? Are you downsizing? Moving to a TH? Aging in place? Keeping a larger home for family gatherings, grandkids? What’s your plan?[/quote]

Is this post from 1975? Empty Nestor at 55 ready to retire?

That was back when my Uncles were cops and Firemen married HS sweethearts young and by 55 a full pension and kids long gone. Kids just went an inexpensive local college.

Today men and women are having kids much later. Their kids are having kids much later and college costs are insane.

When I was 55 I had a 16, 14 and 10 year old at home.

Hence the issue downsizing no longer works

My youngest graduates college when I am 67 and then wants to move home for grad school.

Then until they are married with kids I am still hosting holidays.

I thought I was an old parent but tons and tons parents my age at school.

My friend is 61 with a 13, 11 and 6 year old at home. Had last kid he was 55, wife 45.

55 year olds are still having kids and 25-30 years from retirement.

[/quote]

There are also plenty of people that age who become empty nesters, retire, and downsize.[/quote]

Yup!  Did have kid until almost 30, was done by 35, by 52 last kid was off to college.  
Sold big family home and moved into our 2 bed/2bath condo in the city.  Won't retire until kid is done with college but we could if we really wanted to, the money is ready and waiting

DOn't know about most people, but I don't want to be over 60 and still have kids on my payroll/supporting my kids because they are not yet out of college.  So we chose not to have a kid at 40+[/quote]

Also your body and your circumstances allowed you to “choose” that path. What a smug response that indicates lack of awareness of the realities of other people’s lives. [/quote]

DP here - I think it was more of a response to the poster calling us child brides for having a baby at 30. [/quote]

You are a child bride. When did you marry?

I would hate for my daughters to waste their youth getting knocked up and being a servant to some bum in exchange for when they are 55 can be an empty Nestor. You can’t be 25 at 55.

To be honest if I was a widower at 70 and met a hot 42 year who wanted a kid I have another.

[/quote]

Didn't waste my youth.  Got married at 22, first kid at 30, fully lived life before kids, once kids arrived and now really enjoying empty nesting in my early 50s. But have friends who had kids at 22, done by 24 and living life fully in their 40s without kids around.  Either way, you do what works for you.

Also, my son or daughter are allowed to select what to do in life themselves.  
[/quote]

+1. There are so many insecure people on DCUM. I would never attack someone for having a child at an age they deemed appropriate for them. I find that on DCUM women who had children at older ages seem to need to attack women who had children at younger ages. I never see this flipped unless someone is responding to a rude comment. Everything doesn't need to be endlessly picked over and compared and analyzed. We are all doing our best and because we are different people in different circumstances with different resources our best and how we even determine what our best is will be different but no one should feel superior or inferior to anyone based on the timing of when they had children. [/quote]

Yes, you do what works for you.  There are advantages to every scenario.  I know people who had kids at 20/21.  That is likely the "least attractive" solution to me.  It typically means the woman quit college to raise the kid.  Sometimes it means the guy did as well to have a job to support the family.  The perks are that by time you are 40/42, your kids are out of the house and you are still able to travel and do so much.  But the issue is, typically with that path, you struggled to get started and likely don't make as much as you would if you waited until 28-30 to have first kid.

28-30 for first kid is the "sweet spot" IMO.  You can be done having them by 34/35 and empty nesters by 55.  You were able to start your career (unless doctor or lawyer) and be well established, thus allowing you to stay at home for a bit, work PT, etc.  With careers well established, you can afford to live a better life than someone at 22 having a kid and still retire/be empty nesters while still able to really enjoy life/be healthy.

35-40 for having kids, works just fine, but fact is you run risk of higher possibility for health issues with mom/baby.  You will be 60 or so possibly older when your last kid exits the house after college. So you might need to work until 62/65 just because you have kids still under your care.  At 65+ you might not be able to travel and do same things as if you were empty nesters at 55.

Pick whatever works for you.  Life is too short to worry about others[/quote]

35-40 is very very young to stop having kids. I had my last kid at 45. I am still a very very young Dad next to my friends having kids in their 50s. 
Billy Joel has a six year old
Rod Stewart has a kid at 78 
Al Pacino had a kid at 83

Steve Martin had his first kid at 67

Naomi Campbell naturally had a baby at 53 and Hillary Swank had a kid at 48.  Brigitte Nielsen at 54

And retirement no longer exists. I heard yesterday the oldest muscian still performing started his band as a teen in the 1930s, He is 100 and still doing shows.  
 [/quote]

Sure multimillionaires have kids into their 70s. Normal people do not.

You will be 67 when your last kid finished college (if in a 4 year plan).

I plan to be 56when my last finishes.   We can retire knowing kids are independent at 56/57.  While you spend those next 10 years being a taxi for HS events and working to keep good insurance and pay for college, we will be retired and traveling the world [/quote]

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