I thought about Mexico and South America, before I was married. I took all the Spanish classes offered at the Junior college level then went to several places in Mexico a few times and Argentina. I had friends in some of the places I went to in Mexico and in Buenos Aires.

I am glad I did that experiment because I don’t have to sit here and seriously wonder if I would really rather be doing that. I would have wanted to have a family there also…I always wanted a family and a place to do yard work/gardening as much as possible.Not necessarily in that order. From the people I spent time with I could see there would be a lot of pressure to come back to the United States with any future family or live in two countries…I really didn’t have a plan for all that and it seemed potentially complicated with no better matrimonial risk factors than staying here.

I can’t say I would trade what I have done for that , or to retire by myself in my 40’s never having a family.

FWIW: I think in the end my financial deal will be a wash or better with marriage…probably better. Lots of single people and lots of married people have more, always have and always will….not something to get vexed about.