[Closed] Early 30s handwringing thread! Should I WANT to get married? Because I don't...

You are still young. Can you imagine life without her?

Ok I do not want ot appear mean, so don't take this the worng way:
Are you sure you ahve the right girl?
I and lots of my mates, have partners who partake and or encourage their men to go out and [s]hunt[/s] have their little adventures. It stops us from feeling all trapped, gives us the release we need, and we can still carry on being fertlizing, cash providing, heros!

Talk to her about it, you might find she is cool with you adventuring as long as you give her what she wants. Don't be pussy whipped, it leads to a life of misery.

Do what your instincts tell you. You'll end up disliking your lifestyle, maybe yourself, and possibly your girl if you do something because it's what's expected of you

There are no rules or set pattern of what you should be doing at a certain age

My thoughts, it's perfectly normal for the female half of the relationship to want marriage more than the male side. However, I agree with toys19, she may not be the one. There are ladies out there who tick all the "normal" boxes, and like to do the stuff you're worried about sacrificing. I know, I married one!

She comes mountain biking with me, we've both decided we don't want kids, we share goals, ideals and aspirations and she's okay with the fact that I turn if the kitchen into a workshop, or for the next 20 weeks, a training room.

My SO has never ridden a bike OP. Sometimes yyou need space- what should you do? Discuss bicycles in bed?

Shes nesting. Dont let her be an old mum. If you are commitment shy let her be with someone else. Harsh? Man up and make woman of her.

I'm not saying she needs to ride a bike, but she needs to understand how important it is to you.

Ask yourselves, does my being with this partner make me a better person?

And vice versa?

Your responses to this might give you both some direction.

Are you and your partners friends as well?

You don't need to tons in common all you need is a little respect for each other - which does involve not being too selfish. You should each have your own interests and goals but you may need to compromise on something's a little.

Tbh your post reads a little like you're scared. Perfectly natural.

I think its fairly normal for both to expect different things, and its not that unusual for a bloke not to want kids - I reckon that that only really changes once they're born, and the responsibility hits you like a sledgehammer!

However, frankly, if you really don't see your future lying in that direction its unfair for you to string her along expecting something - Its a cliche, but you need to remember that her clock is ticking

http://www.relate.org.uk/

Tell her

Otherwise it will be

https://www.gov.uk/child-support-agency

And I guarantee there won't be trips to Nepal and cycle touring in Norway once they get their claws into your wages!

Perfectly normal to not want to get married and have kids and if what you really want is to travel and have some adventures then that's what you should do.

That's the good bit, now the bad bit.

If you do decide that this is the route you want to take then remember that decisions like this are not consequence free. It may well be that you will have to sacrifice your current relationship in order to allow you to have your adventures. Afterall you can't expect your partner to sti around twiddling her thumbs waiting for you to get all this out of your system.

My advice is that you and your partner need to have an open and honest conversation about what you both want out of life.

You only have one life.

For me, I think you've asked the wrong question. It's not "should I want to get married," it's around this:

I'm enjoying a nice dilemma of committing to a beautiful red head or a life of continued messing about in the outdoors.

Why are these mutually exclusive? Is she preventing you from doing things you enjoy, or are you just electing not to because you think it's what she wants? What about your five year plan?

As Gonefishin says, you need to have a frank and honest discussion about what's important for both of you. Have you told her everything that's in your OP? If you haven't then you're doing both of you a disservice.

As a wise man once said, there are many fine looking women in the world, but they don't all bring you lasagne at work.

Or something.

I think hora should have an agony aunt column in a national, I really do.

'Man up and make a woman of her'

Brilliant!.

I was with a gorgeous girl for 5 years up till I was about 27 she started talking marriage etc and I just didn't want to get married and settle down. I liked having few ties, disposable income and moving around.

I'm now engaged to another gorgeous girl and getting married in August. It's obvious now I hadn't met 'the one' (pass the suck bucket) it wasn't about giving up the things I like as I have found I don't need to.

Make a decision soon in fairness to her ticking biological clock.

Good observation at the end of your post - outdoors people = free spirit/attitude problem (depending on your perspective)
= low fertility rate.

How old is your girlfriend? Unfortunately the urge to settle down and procreate comes earlier in most women because the biological clock is ticking. To me, it comes down to loyalty and whether or not you see yourself getting on with her once the first flush of love (or lust) has died away and you are in a humdrum day to day relationship. If you think that can work and you feel loyal to her, then it's time to settle and get the kiddy thing going. FWIW my son was born when I was 42 and my wife was 40 and now, 15 years later, we both agree that earlier would have been better because in your 50s you don't have the energy that you had earlier. You do have a bit more experience though.

If you don't stay with her, don't worry about the longer term because you will know when you are ready to settle down.

If you are having doubts about being with her for life then you have already answered your own question

It'd unfair to her to let her think you want what she wants, if you love her enough you should tell her this so she has time to find someone who wants the same as her

If you love the outdoor lifestyle so much, wouldn't you love to be able to share that with your kids? If you wait too long, your idea of being out and about might be too sedate for your average 12 year old.

FWIW, my eldest is 11, the youngest is 6 and I know that I'm going to be in a world of trouble trying to keep up with her when she's in her teens (I'm 41)

How old is she? If it's the same age as you, then it's pretty natural as a woman at 30 to be planning the next few years if she wants to have kids at all. If you're not willing to give her that, and the stability associated with it (in her view, marriage and living together), or are going to dither and mither over it for another five years, perhaps it will be in her best interests to find another partner sooner rather than later, however much she loves you now.

If the above is true, she wants to be a mum, and not an old one at that. You should be grateful that she's being up front with you, and you should sort your head out quickly and be up front with her, if you love her and want her to be happy.

It's not really about marriage is it? It's about whether you need to change, and want to change, in order to continue your relationship. From what you've written, in your position I'd probably bail. Find someone who shares your life goals, and you might not see marriage as the end of your freedom, but the start of an even bigger adventure.

Echo most of the comments above. If she wants kids and you don't then move on

Is your choice really one or the other? In my 30s I was ridding most weekends going on biking holidays and living a hedonistic night life (late irresponsibility after end of early marriage) I met crankygirl and she essentially just joined in. Our life now is very different with house , child and her at uni training for a new career but it is a point we have grown to together not archived by sacrifice on either side. What I am saying is for me a good relationship has being doing the things I love with someone who respects and encourages them. Perhaps we are helped by the fact neither of us wanted or were looking for a "conventional " relationship but it seems that is what we now have.

My failed marriage was very much the doing it because that was what was expected and the done thing type .

From some of the responses your situations sound totally different to the OP- reading his post he is happy with his girlfriend, I think hes angle is more about marriage and fear of losing lifestyle/way of life with kids.

Its natural to be scared (and its not selfish no matter what oldtimer or others) may say to fear losing your disposable income/eternal 20's/youth.

Another STW'er once said to me 'Ive gone from being Burt to being known as Jane and Julie's Dad'.

There is nothing wrong with having diverse interests IMO. Whats more important is the chemistry, the ability to sit on the sofa for 4hours without saying much but being content and not even noticing the silence etc.

Thats another thing its FIVE YEARS off. In that time you'll have thoroughly rung out your 20's. Your views/wants and desires will have changed.

Make an honest woman of her. Why fear the future? If things werent right in your relationship then I could understand.

Oh and when you have kids, you still get pissed, ride your bikes because children need a destressed and happy Father who is socially interesting and can show his child new tricks, sights and hobbies.

Mrs G told me it was fine for me to go to the alps for THREE weeks in the month before our wedding and return one week before the wedding as long as I didn't break myself. At that point I was certain I was doing the right thing.

some excellent advice and quality comment there. My two penneth is that I have known Guys who are like you....or a Guy anyway. He was never the settling type, loved the outdoors and now works for overseas charitys doing projects. He's mid 50's, no relationship, no kids and seemingly happy enough about it. But I wonder how he will feel in ten years time?

Anyway, I think its all about compromising. Sometimes you do things you'd perhaps rather not do, in the knowledge that it will reap rewards in the fullness of time. You just need to make sure you get your 'own time' along the way.

What I want to know is should a guy actually WANT to get married

What do you mean SHOULD?

There's no script. You do what feels right. There are no external factors. If marriage feels like the right thing then do it. If not don't.

I got married because it was so obviously the right thing for me to do. No questions. If there are questions then perhaps it's not the right thing to do.

Here's another question: Do you want kids? And what age do you want to be when they're 13, 14 and maybe wanting to go out bikepacking or travelling with you?

You may feel this is particularly about marriage, but really it's about kids. Marriage on its own doesn't change an awful lot, kids change everything. And not necessarily in an awful way, but that's my individual perspective obviously, as I wouldn't be without them for the world.

If you pull away now, though, and have adventures for three years, it could be five or six years before you're with someone at the point of trying for kids, so you could be in your 50s by the time they're in their early teens, even assuming no fertility hiccups.

You do need to put yourself in your older shoes, not just thinking about what you'd like to do in the next two years, but what you'd like to have around you in middle-age and beyond.

He was never the settling type, loved the outdoors and now works for overseas charitys doing projects. He's mid 50's, no relationship, no kids and seemingly happy enough about it.

Sort of OT- I've known a guy for years- eternally single. I (and another) have had a suspicion for years that hes gay. Nothing hes ever said, no signs. Just a gut-feel. The sad thing is why he can't come out and say it to us.

Oh and when you have kids, you still get pissed, ride your bikes because children need a destressed and happy Father who is socially interesting and can show his child new tricks, sights and hobbies.

Good sound advice that.

Nobeerinthefridge- I've seen friends who argue, seem to exist as vehicles for their kids. One even said to me 'shouldn't you be spending time on parenting rather than off riding a bicycle'. Almost said with resentment and telling me to grow up.

So having children means worrying that when they are at school you are bad for not being there, try to over-compensate, try to be their friend?

What sort of life is that?

A balance is best. Creates a happy family and a strong couple.

I tentatively agreed to this stuff early on because I thought it was 'what I needed' i.e. something to give my life some focus etc.

Or possibly just what you thought she wanted to hear? I know a few "definitely don't want kids" people who've not wanted to drop that too early for fear of killing the relationship.

Some jewish friends told me about the "marriage classes" they did (I know some other cultures have similar). In some ways they're anachronistic, coming from when people would be living together (and away from their parents) for the first time. What they found really valuable though was structured discussion about what their plans were - rather than continue the arrangements with all kinds of assumptions on both sides, to properly discuss kids, money, how they want their home to run, etc. It gets it all out in the open and any compromises can be discussed then rather than being a surprise later (or too late).

Sounds like you could do with similar. It might not be something you both want to face up to, that you want completely different things, but probably better to do it now, not in a few years. It might be that you can both compromise to something you're both happy with and you have a new, clear course ahead.

Or maybe the Jewish marriages stay together better as Orthodox Jewish women are hot/gorgeous. FACT.

OP I think I've been very much where you are. A number of years ago I was feeling very much like you describe. I'd always been upfront and honest about the marriage and kids thing with my SO (not really into either was the gist) but it was becoming more and more there! and I was feeling a bit trapped/concerned about life changing, I'd not had much adventuring for a year or so at that point. So I buggered of to Thailand for 3-4 weeks (at less than a days notice) to get some space and have a think, no idea what triggered me to do that, fairly out of character tbh. I came back just as confused as I was when I left, until I got home and saw her and we spoke. Yes that was pretty mean, we both agree on that, but both agree it needed to happen at the time. A few more happy years and we got round to the marriage thing (3 month honey moon 🙂 ) and a few years later we had a baby, he's a year and half now and he makes me smile every single day. Most dads are reluctant dads, doesn't mean you wont love it. Last couple of years have been a bit light on the big adventure front with a house renovation and the little one but I'm getting back to it now, I've done a few races and keep active and get out there every week in one form or another (bike, running etc)
She's always supported me in my little adventures and has never said no even when some have been a bit of a financial stretch. I've just signed up to a weeks race away, sailing running and cycling. Financially I should be sensible (it'll not put us on the bread line by any means, but a few things round the house might have the wait a bit, nice to haves) but I want\need to do this stuff and she understands that and always supports me in them.

Yes I do a bit less than I used to, but I love her and our son and our life (Except work which is a bit of a bore at the moment, next year time for a change me thinks).

Hora's right balance is what it's about.

HTH

Coping with a teen in your fifties is perhaps easier, less personal ambition and more enthusiasm for helping out with whatever the kids want to do. A friend copes with a teen in his seventies. They do more together than any other parent and teen I know.

Because I don't...

If this is true, then there's someone else you really need to say this to.

. A friend copes with a teen in his seventies. They do more together than any other parent and teen I know.

33 when we got married. Wasn't completely sure but wouldn't change it now for the world.

BUT

When they want to settle down they want kids. You have to be clear with each other on that. My kids are the best things that happened to me, but not halfway through a part time degree and working full time!

If you foolishly drift into the wrong marriage, you can get out of it. But getting out of it with kids involved is so much worse for everyone.

[b]do the right thing [/b]and let her go and be with someone that really cares for her and wants what she wants...the fact you are asking says it all...don't keep her hanging on she has a maternal clock don't waste that for her...that would be very selfish !

Oh for what its worth having children and sharing the the things you love is a great experience...but if its not for you then hey ho...

It rather sounds to me that you either haven't met the right girl yet, or that you have met the right girl, but you're just not ready for these things yet. There's no set rule as to when you should get married or have children. Some people I know wanted to from an early age, and were married by 25 and having kids, some (like me) didn't and are now in their 30s/40s and either having kids now or not having kids.

I think you need to make sure that you do actually want children, because if deep down you don't, then you should set you both free to follow your own dreams.

Life is about compromise, and you will both need to compromise if you want to make it work. You will need to reign in your adventures a little to be a good husband/dad, she will need to allow you space to follow your heart as much as you can.

We've always said to each other that we would never stand in the way of something we wanted to do within reason, so we never feel the need to seek permission to do things, and never feel restricted in our choices. We trust each other enough to know that we wouldn't make a choice that would be detrimental to the other. It's a good indication that your with the right person, irrespective of different interests.

Wow cbmotorsport- well said.

Most dads are reluctant dads, doesn't mean you wont love it

Yeah. When babies are born you think 'oh, ok' and then it's all a bit of a struggle. But when they are 5 and asking you about everything, you're shopping for a real bike, and you're the coolest person in their world - it's much better 🙂

.. and when you are ill on their birthday and all you can manage for a pirate themed cake is a treasure chest, but they still love it and then they giggle with glee when they find out you managed to stuff it with chocolate coins and jelly bean jewels for treasure 🙂

My 3yr old son suddenly said I was a muppet. I laughed like a drain. I asked who said that to mrshora 'you say it alot/dont you notice/realise'?

Now whenever hora junior disagrees with me he calls me a muppet. Wrong but funny.

chocolate coins and jelly bean jewels for treasure

I'm shocked, a man that gave me death on here for criticising the iDave diet feeds his kids jelly beans. I used to throw the sweets away that were given to my son at kids' parties.

What wasn't right for me at 26 (I recently heard she married someone in Switzerland not long after we split up) was at 36. It was worth waiting.

If your GF is the kind who will be continually happy for you to go out and have your adventures whilst she stays at home and looks after your offspring then you are an exceedingly lucky man and you should propose and get on with the baby making ASAP! If however she expects an equal amount of leisure time and you rate your need for adventure more highly then you have a bit of a problem and might want to look at the possibility of trading her in for a more domesticated model. Or you can just man up and make the most of all the little bits of free time that you get when you have a family life. They become much sweeter when your time is limited. And even better when you can share them with your kids.

I dont think you ever just wake up and gpo you know what today I will get married and have kids
I think some women have more of a biological clock issue as their breeding time is limited and therefore they notice this need earlier than males - of course I generalise

OP you sound like you are still quite selfish and want to do your thing [ not a criticism to be clear] and a relationship with kids is nothign but give and take and sacrifice

Personally I would not advise anyone to have kids who really doe snot want to have kids. Despite mollys Bday party the hard work and effort generally outweighs the cool dad moments

That said no one with kids would ever be without them.

I think you know what to do tbh

I'm shocked, a man that gave me death on here for criticising the iDave diet

a) back under your bridge troll

b) sounds like you completely missed my point anyway 🙂

I watched an episode of CSI the other day (of all places!), and this quote really hit me

Do not marry the person you think you can live WITH,

Marry the person you cannot live WITHOUT.

Upon reflection, I think the words are very true. I couldn't imagine live [i]without[/i] mrs xiphon 🙂

I haven't read any of the replies, but my experience is that by marrying at 39 and having my children at 42 I realise that I was a getting a bit on the old side and (sometimes) wish I did it all a bit earlier.

However, at 35 I couldn't imagine getting married, never mind the thought of having kids which, frankly, terrified me.

BTW, it was with the same person - I met her when I was 27 (she was 18) so it wasn't a new person that changed me, rather my outlook on life. It was helped massively by her supporting me in my dream of setting up my own business, financing my dream through the first few months (and letting me go on a week-long bike riding holiday after jacking my job in but before opening the doors of the new business).

OP, can't imagine you settling down mate! You are under NO obligation/duty to have kids. That's your decision, and don't feel like you're doing the 'right thing' by settling down. What's right for you, only you can decide.

Hope Canada's treating you well, anyway 🙂

I married young (younger than you) because I suppose "it seemed the right thing to do" at the time and it ended horribly, I am still paying the price in some ways. However, I met Mrs O much later in life than you, and I do now know what it means to know for certain. You just do and don't need to ask anyone else.

As some have said above, she would not stand in my way for me to do what I (reasonably!) want, there's no question, just mutual trust. Are you sure you would have that here? Anyway, hope you sort it out for what's best for you.

Will be up Benderloch way in a couple of weeks with the bikes.

My wife is my best friend and was for nearly a decade before we married. She's not very interested in my hobbies and pursuits, we differ on 90% of our music tastes. At face value, you would assume that were are not suitable for each other. We have been together for over 21 years now, with 2 kids that I wasn't keen on but that I love with all my heart.

As has already been said, its about compromise. I don't get to do half as much as I want because of family commitments, but I have a responsibility to my family that I recognise and willingly commit to. The same is true for her.

Perhaps its because we are different and bring something different to the table that it works for us.

I don't get to do half as much as I want because of family commitments

Thanks all! Haven't had a chance to read through completely, stupid of me to post just before I went to bed (Vancouver time, I'm 8 hours behind).

All I'll say right now is that she is well aware of how I'm thinking so the subject is out in the open, and she is not the sort to sit around twiddling her thumbs either.

I'll read through properly at lunch time (so 8pm UK time). Appreciate the volume of replies, can't talk about this to anyone over here!

Here's a thought... how many of us husbands/fathers do you think suddenly woke up one day and thought "[i]that's it - I'm done with having fun, I want something else now[/i]"? I'm guessing gie few. What tends to happen is that we have a desire to be with another, special, person and that desire starts to force us into compromise - and it's not like getting married or being a father means you can't be going off exploring places or taking a less conventional approach to family life. Perhaps if I hadn't got married and had a daughter I'd have done a lot more, perhaps I would have got bored and sat at home.

In essence, if you've met the right person then I don't see why you should be so conflicted. No one has the right to ask you to give up everything that makes you you, and the right person wouldn't.

Can you imagine life without her?

Honestly? Yes. Doesn't mean life [i]with[/i] her is not good though.

My SO has never ridden a bike OP. Sometimes you need space

Its not little things like a quick bike ride at the weekend, its giving up on three week tours or successive weekends away. I don't feel I've done enough of either.

but you may need to compromise on some things a little

Agreed, I'm getting used to that idea, what's scaring me is the amount of compromise, and how that fits in with the idea I had of my future. I also feel like I'm having to make more compromise than she is, although I'm sure she feels the same, she might be sacrificing citizenship in Canada if we move home in July!

its unfair for you to string her along expecting something

Something I'm very aware of and actively trying to avoid, its been almost three years together although almost 1 whole year of that was long distance.

Why are these mutually exclusive? Is she preventing you from doing things you enjoy, or are you just electing not to because you think it's what she wants? What about your five year plan?

'messing about' was a bad choice of phrase, as above, I mean long cycle tours, weekends away, three weeks in Nepal, etc. etc. She is perfectly reasonable, I guess, to ask me to reign these plans in if we have a kid, which is why I'm 'scared' I guess, I started seeing the world a bit later than others and I'm not done!

wouldn't you love to be able to share that with your kids?

Eventually... but not the big stuff, not yet.

Its not just the 'fun' stuff I'm worried about missing out on, its simple things like the opportunity to spend time in other offices in the UK, the employer I might be returning to in Edinburgh asked how I might feel about spending time in the Manchester office where they need me more. I'd be totally open to a year or two in a different city, even 3 or 4 if I knew I could return to Edinburgh eventually. Hence the fear of settling.

I saw a good article which talks about 'self expansion' (and didn't mean 10 big macs for dinner). It said some people 'expand' by exposing themselves to new and different experiences, others 'expand' by opening themselves up to another person, and kids. I guess I feel like I'm one of the former...

To be continued...

[quote=13thfloormonk ]It said some people 'expand' by exposing themselves to new and different experiences, others 'expand' by opening themselves up to another person, and kids. I guess I feel like I'm one of the former...I still don't see that the two are mutually exclusive. You could find a partner that also wanted to move around different cities etc. or look at how folk in the Armed Forces manage?

I've been happily (more or less!) married for 15 years now, and I can still remember being in your place back when I was still legally free and single...

Life doesn't end when you get married - in fact it's pretty much the same. It's just a piece of paper.

Life doesn't end when you have kids, either - it does change, and not in all aspects for the better, but you still have your space, you can still head out on your bike, and you can still go out for a drink with your mates. Maybe not as often or as freely as you can now, but don't for one second think having kids is the end of the world. It's not. (And don't forget that your mates will probably end up having kids, too - stay single and you could quite easily find all your mates have turned "boring" and you're the odd one out...)

Its not just the 'fun' stuff I'm worried about missing out on, its simple things like the opportunity to spend time in other offices in the UK, the employer I might be returning to in Edinburgh asked how I might feel about spending time in the Manchester office where they need me more. I'd be totally open to a year or two in a different city, even 3 or 4 if I knew I could return to Edinburgh eventually. Hence the fear of settling.

That's not actually that difficult - what's a lot harder (IME) on a family is regular travel, various days a week somewhere else. Being posted abroad for a couple of years is relatively easy, assuming your salary is enough to support you all. Kids adapt surprisingly well to changes of school etc., but within limits - and schooling does impose a certain timetable on you.

I saw a good article which talks about 'self expansion' (and didn't mean 10 big macs for dinner). It said some people 'expand' by exposing themselves to new and different experiences, others 'expand' by opening themselves up to another person, and kids. I guess I feel like I'm one of the former...

It's probably the 42 year old cynic in me, but that just sounds like someone desperately trying to justify staying single. There's [b]nothing[/b] that "expands" you like being a parent. Foreign travel and new experiences are wonderful, and you certainly learn a lot, but it's nothing compared to the learning experience that is being a father.

I should also point out that when it comes to learning about a different city or culture that there's nothing quite like trying to sort out where to get nappies or cough medicine at 9 at night in an emergency 😀

I have a couple of friends who both thought they didn't want kids. Then time passed, and it was too late. They are now quite distraught about it, and get quite tearful. For some people, it never seems the right time but really it always is.

Have children as soon as possible, then live life more fully afterwards. You'll still have "me" time in the interval, but some of it will be "we" time, and you'll love that even more.
My children are grown up, Mrs M is often away on her mini-adventures, and I get more-or-less freedom for mine. I'm 60, & wish I'd had children younger so I could have had more travelling in my 40s instead of waiting until now.

He was never the settling type, loved the outdoors and now works for overseas charitys doing projects. He's mid 50's, no relationship, no kids and seemingly happy enough about it. But I wonder how he will feel in ten years time?

I don't PLAN on being single that late into my life, although that is a concern when it comes to potentially throwing away a relationship with someone who wants to settle.

What do you mean SHOULD

I mean: is it a pre-requisite to a happy marriage that I WANT to get married now, or should I just man up and hope that once the sprogs land I'll not miss the stuff I'm so worried about losing right now.

Marriage on its own doesn't change an awful lot, kids change everything.

Good point, its not the marriage I'm worried about, I enjoy the warm glow of a contented girlfriend with a new diamond to show off (I've only enjoyed it once so far and it was a pitifully small diamond on a necklace, but still). Even the thought of kids isn't scaring me as much as the idea of settling, i.e. committing to one lifestyle, one place to live, one job, etc.

Will be up Benderloch way in a couple of weeks with the bikes.

I'm in Vancouver! (who are you anyway, I don't recognize the username?)

selfish

Yeah, I see that word a few times, and by definition I can't really disagree. Giving specific examples of what it is I don't want to lose out on makes it look a bit childish and pathetic at times, its more the concept of being free to do things that I like, regardless of the specific activity/holiday whatever.

This has helped a lot, thanks STW!

It's different for me to help you out as I'm a woman.

However I really don't think you are selfish, just not ready.
It's far more selfish to marry someone, settle down, have children and in the back of your mind you realise you made a mistake. In which you have (maybe) ruined several lives.

Have a few more years with adventures, the honeymoon period will be over and you'll know if she's the right one to have this amazing change of life with.

Women do of course have the 'ticking clock' which is impossible to ignore.
The talk of her knowing what she wants even up to the type of home (nest) is not unusual and can come across as desperation. Maybe some time apart from one another on one of your adventures will give a few more answers.

Even the thought of kids isn't scaring me as much as the idea of settling, i.e. committing to one lifestyle, one place to live, one job, etc

Blimey. You ate under no obligation to become sedentary when you have kids. It can be more difficult to arrange but there are plenty of alternative lifestyles out there including kids.

To OP, you are in love but not in love enough to commit otherwise you would have agreed to settle down. You might love her but not enough as simple as that.

Her biological clock is ticking and if you cannot commit you should let her find someone else that can.

🙂

I'm second time round the block.
I used to be away almost every weekend and was a very enthusiastic and I suppose successful adventure racer.
Been married 5 years, 5 amazing years because nothing like this seems a stress. We had a wee girl a year ago and we just make it work. My wife likes an adventure, so do I and we take the wee one in Demi-adveturlettes now. Frankly all the things that I thought I would miss have barely registered. Decide if this is the person you want to stay with, after that the rest is details. I'm now in Edinburgh so if you do make it back we can go for a ride and have a beer.

I never wanted a kid but now I have one its utterly briliant. Things change but then my priorites have to. Cant comment on getting married I missed that one out. Looks like a proper expensive ball ache.

Decide if this is the person you want to stay with, after that the rest is details.

I think this is the general message I'm taking away from this thread, in which case I have a far more pedestrian decision to make which is if she is the 'right one'.

I'll spare STW those deliberations though...

TBH I think you already know the answer to that. It's just that you're too nice a guy to admit it.

^ what he said

I think its very hard for any of us to fully decide on your fate (if you want to call it that) as 2 people together is such a varied mix of things.

We have been together for 32 years Married for 15. We dug our heels in against all those "oh you should get married" people until they had given up as I guess we were both stubborn.
Our wants were perhaps round the other way as I wanted children but sadly my wife's MS meant it would have been me alone in the parent role.

Yes I have regrets & have missed out on lots due to being her carer over the last 10 years but I made the choice not others?

Yeah. I was there for a while - really liked the GF, had a great laugh together, but she wasn't really the right one. Took a fair few years to do the decent thing though - promted by the arrival of the right one*.

Breakup was of the acrimonious variety, which was a shame because I did really like her as a friend and we got on really well.

* that's only a figure of speech by the way - I don't think there's only one person we can be with - every relationship is unique and there could be many good ones.

A song about the "one"

She is perfectly reasonable, I guess, to ask me to reign these plans in if we have a kid, which is why I'm 'scared' I guess,

Well, there's reigning in, and there's reigning in. Is she asking you not to do it quite so often, or bin it off entirely? One of those is reasonable, the other not so much. And would this be for ever, or just for the first year or two after birth? Does she only want the one?

You've held down a long-distance relationship so presumably being apart for periods isn't the problem; that won't change just because you've signed a bit of paper and had a big party. So "raising a family" is the elephant in the room here.

is it a pre-requisite to a happy marriage that I WANT to get married now, or should I just man up and hope that once the sprogs land I'll not miss the stuff I'm so worried about losing right now.

Moreover, are you going to look back in ten years and decide it's the best thing you've ever one, or resent being tied down?

I'm kinda torn on this. I guess the bottom line is that you can't foresee the future and only you and her know how you both feel. Ultimately, you need to be working towards something that makes you [i]both[/i] happy; strikes me that your compromise here is doing what she wants rather than what you want.

"Traditional" relationships quite often had situations where the woman was the home-maker raising the family whilst the man was often working away earning the family income (or being shot at). Of course, in these modern times the lines are blurred somewhat, and both partners typically share both working and parenting duties; point is, there's no reason at all why that sort of model couldn't work for you if it were something you were both happy with. She gets a marriage and a mortgage and 2.4 kids, and a loving husband who's around "most" of the time, you get a family to enjoy and the freedom to pursue your life goals and advance your career. Maybe.