To think the Golden Girls had a great living arrangement

[Twinstudy]

And wonder why more people don't do it?

I recently noticed golden girls was on Disney+ and remembered my mum watching it when I was younger so put it on for a bit of nostalgia.

Four older divorced/widowed women living in a house share just seems like a great idea to me. Lots of women in their situation find themselves lonely and struggling financially so this just seems like a perfect solution. Obviously lots of people would hate it and it'd need to be a pretty big house but in a lot of ways it seems ideal to me but it's not something I've come across in real life.

Happily live with mum if I had too as we're very close but a group of other women...ugh, no thanks. Not my thing.

There is something like this in real life- the Women's Co-Housing project in Barnet, north London.

www.owch.org.uk

@ParadiseLaundry

I started watching it the other day and was shocked to see it described them as 'middle aged women' when I was a kid watching it I always thought they were elderly! I suppose watching it now they were probably only meant to be in their 50s, were their exact ages specified?

But yes, I think it would be a great set up! All the midnight chats and cheesecake! Yes please!

I think people looked older then than now. I know it’s partly that as we get older the gap narrows - 55 looks ancient to a small child, but not a 40 year-old! But I do honestly think people look and dress younger for longer these days. In my parents’ wedding picture, my grandmother is 55, but looks like a little old lady. My mother is 70 now and looks younger than that picture!

I remember reading that Susan Harris created the character of Sophia as a deliberate contrast - to show that, while to much of the audience, Dorothy and co would be old woman, to Sophia they were still young.

I love the GGs and my friends and I often joke about doing something similar (and we live in Florida so we're already half way there.)

Sad to think that Betty White is the only one of the actresses still living. And she is 99.

@newnortherner111

There is something like this in real life- the Women's Co-Housing project in Barnet, north London.

www.owch.org.uk

Love the look of this, wish there were more places like this around

@Twinstudy

It seems like a good/neat/cute idea - for a sitcom.

In real life it would be quite different.

I can't think of anything worse than sharing a house with 3 other people when I am 60-65+. (Or even now at middle age.)

It may suit some, and maybe some people would like the company, but it would DEFINTELY not be for me thanks!

I watched this show growing up, and fully planned a similar arrangement with my friends for our retirement.

Although the women's co-housing project looks great, it strikes me it would be very vulnerable to one strong character or group creating problems. You only have to look at the threads on Mumsnet to know that shared living gets more difficult as we get older.

@Bbq1

Happily live with mum if I had too as we're very close but a group of other women...ugh, no thanks. Not my thing.

Thank goodness I'm not the only one who thinks that living in an all-female environment is revolting!

I know a group of golden girls in RL. My friends aunt and her 2 pals all live together, all in their 70's. They are so much fun and have little parties every Friday night, very beautiful and stylish women too.
Personally I'm not a fan of living with other people so it wouldn't suit me but am sure it would be a great set up for some.

I think people looked older then than now. I know it’s partly that as we get older the gap narrows - 55 looks ancient to a small child, but not a 40 year-old! But I do honestly think people look and dress younger for longer these days

This is so true, I recall coming across one of those awful whole-school photos taken in the mid 60s, I would have been maybe 15, I could hardly recognise any of the younger staff, there were a lot of under 30s then, they all looked very middle aged, even the phew English teacher we all lusted after!

Revolting?

I lived with other women from 21 - 30 and loved it. We’re all still friends and have an agreement that we’ll see out out our twilight years together.

Revolting does seem like a strange choice of word 😄

Totally appreciate it wouldn't be for everyone, not entirely sure it'd even be for me, I'd definitely require an ensuite bathroom!

I think it sounds lovely but they really didn't deal with the ugly and undignified parts of old age.

Revolting? Go read the ick thread and come back to me and tell me that women are revolting.

I would never live with another man if I split with DH. Ever. ICK. DH is spotlessly clean, cooks, cleans, brushes his teeth, apologises if he accidentally farts in front of me, is kind, considerate, super smart and articulate. He's basically a unicorn and I know I could never find any man remotely like him.

I have already decided to live with other single women if I am alone when I get old.

@Disfordarkchocolate

I think it sounds lovely but they really didn't deal with the ugly and undignified parts of old age.

What? I'm in my 60s and there's nothing ugly and undignified about my life! do you think all over 60s just sit around pissing themselves and dribbling?

I'd love this set up too - would be great!

I love the Golden Girls. They’re supposed to be in their 50’s, with Blanche being the youngest at 51 I think. The actresses were in their early 60’s IRL apart from Rue McClanahan who was actually 51, with Betty White being the oldest of the cast.

It’s definitely a thing that people looked older back in the day. My Gran at 52 (in 1984 when I was born) looked like the Golden Girls, full head of white hair and wore wee old lady trousers, cardi’s and tops. But she did wear fashionable Reebok and Nike trainers. My mum is now a similar age (54) and looks nothing like a wee old lady. She’s let her hair grow into it’s natural salt and pepper colour but it’s cut in a trendy style. She wears the latest trainer styles. She definitely doesn’t wear any twinsets, although she did buy a full jogging suit during lockdown which I teased her for.

She’s going to be a granny for the first time in a few months and I definitely don’t think she looks like one. Although that might be because it’s me that’s pregnant and I also don’t think I look like a mum 😂

Pressed post too soon.

I would definitely move in with my pals when I’m older. Even my mum, we get on great, plus she’s a great cook and baker so would get fed well.

Even if our husbands are still alive we’ve decided we’re all going to live together and be drunk all the time

I used to love the Golden girls! Funny enough i mentioned this to my sister recently, we agreed that if we are alone at a certain age we will live together or at least in the same building. I have 7 (all very different) sisters so it could be interesting.

@Disfordarkchocolate

I think it sounds lovely but they really didn't deal with the ugly and undignified parts of old age.

Yes they did, there were plenty of episodes (usually Sophia heavy ones) where they dealt with growing older, memory loss, all your friends dying, forgetting things you did in your youth etc etc. The one where Sophia befriends the man who turns out to have dementia is very sad.

Lots of women in their situation find themselves lonely and struggling financially so this just seems like a perfect solution

the size of the property needed to make it work in real life would really make it impossible for anyone financially struggling in the first place.

I’d be up for it. I have no desire to be keeping a big house going in my later years. And I’ve no problem with getting rid of 90% of my possessions. As long as I had a big bedroom, with space for an armchair and desk as well as a bed, an en-suite and nice people to share with, I’d be up for that.

It’s definitely a thing that people looked older back in the day. My Gran at 52 (in 1984 when I was born) looked like the Golden Girls, full head of white hair and wore wee old lady trousers, cardi’s and tops. But she did wear fashionable Reebok and Nike trainers. My mum is now a similar age (54) and looks nothing like a wee old lady. She’s let her hair grow into it’s natural salt and pepper colour but it’s cut in a trendy style. She wears the latest trainer styles. She definitely doesn’t wear any twinsets, although she did buy a full jogging suit during lockdown which I teased her for

Absolutely. I'm 60 and my mother looked matronly at my age.

There's an episode of Frasier where he's thinking of putting his dad in a Sunset Home (slogan: We Care So You Don't Have To) and he was only in his early 60s!