Was pondering what about elderly who have no children.
For many many people, part of having children is producing a pension, of sorts. I don't think this is a bad thing. Although I do think society benefits when they create an old age system that provides security without children, because it obviates the desire to overpopulate just for age security.
Still given a society that _does_ create the ability to survive aging without children, how do people plan to do it? How many don't make any plans?
I had an aunt who never had children and visited between nieces and friends for most of her adult life. When she needed nursing hiome care, one of her friends took care of things. But I don't think she ever had a plan and this could have backfired horribly. Once in the nursing home, she got few visitors because she had not cultivated second-gen friendships. Maybe this was fine with her for her ten years there, but I'm thinking it was lonelier than she might have wanted.
I also have age-contemporaries who are child-free. It's curious thinking about what their plans are. Or whether there are any plans.
What do you all think?
For many many people, part of having children is producing a pension, of sorts. I don't think this is a bad thing. Although I do think society benefits when they create an old age system that provides security without children, because it obviates the desire to overpopulate just for age security.
Still given a society that _does_ create the ability to survive aging without children, how do people plan to do it? How many don't make any plans?
I had an aunt who never had children and visited between nieces and friends for most of her adult life. When she needed nursing hiome care, one of her friends took care of things. But I don't think she ever had a plan and this could have backfired horribly. Once in the nursing home, she got few visitors because she had not cultivated second-gen friendships. Maybe this was fine with her for her ten years there, but I'm thinking it was lonelier than she might have wanted.
I also have age-contemporaries who are child-free. It's curious thinking about what their plans are. Or whether there are any plans.
What do you all think?