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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

I'm not sure that I want to grow old with DH

228 replies

onthelandtheseathesky · 21/11/2025 22:28

I feel so, so bad writing this, but it's nagging away at me and I need advice from anyone who's ever been through the same.

DH is a kind and loving man. We've been together for 15 years. No kids together but he has been a brilliant stepdad to my now-adult ds (from my first marriage). Our relationship is generally pretty good, we have things in common, we can laugh together, etc. It's not 'bad' by any stretch of the imagination. There's absolutely no abuse of any sort. I know he loves me to bits.

But, god, I think about leaving all the time. I just want to be on my own, in my own space, with absolutely no questions or expectations of me. I'm so completely sick and tired of all the tiny daily compromises and adjustments and irritations of married life. Like the dirty cups left by the dishwasher, not put in it, or the clothes dumped on top of the washbasket. The constant questions - what are you reading, what were you doing upstairs, what time will you be back, what shall we have for dinner, which bin is it this week, where are my XYZs? And the bigger things - his endless complaining about his work, his anxiety and hypochondria, his lack of ambition, his anti-socialness (we have no 'joint friends' at all).

I'm early 50s, he's a little bit younger. He wants to retire early and has all these grand plans for us, travel etc. But it has started to feel stifling - like it would be just me and him forever, not even work to distract us, let alone any sort of social life beyond the two of us.

Sometimes I feel like I could walk tomorrow and never look back. Other times we have a laugh and I think, I must be mad to even think about chucking it all away. It would break his heart. He's really done nothing wrong, it"s just who he is and I knew all this before I married him. But I just want to scream sometimes!

I'm not sure what I'm hoping for from this post. Just want to know that I'm not a bad person for feeling this way?

OP posts:
AlphaApple · 24/11/2025 11:13

Blueskystoday · 24/11/2025 08:59

Men who hadn't hobbies and lots of friends pre retirement rarely suddenly then develop them.
They are indeed often clingy and make their wives feel they are on the clock.

I know of several such women.
They pushed back hard.
Upped their volunteering and time out of the house and forced them to keep themselves busy.

Retirement can be very difficult for couples.
Not every man plays golf.

I also know women like this. It’s exhausting to arrange your life to avoid someone. You should be able to be content to spend time in your own home!

Didimum · 24/11/2025 13:24

onthelandtheseathesky · 21/11/2025 22:35

It's not that easy though, is it? And surely all marriages are a bit like this, petty irritations and annoyances with good bits too? He's a good guy, he's really not doing anything 'wrong'. I don't know why I feel this way.

No, I don't think all marriages are a bit like this where one partner continually thinks about leaving the other. And the ones that are should also break up.

Blueskystoday · 24/11/2025 23:57

AlphaApple · 24/11/2025 11:13

I also know women like this. It’s exhausting to arrange your life to avoid someone. You should be able to be content to spend time in your own home!

Absolutely.
I definitely think for some it was a sanity thing.
Of course its not all men, but definitely those whose career really was their identity.

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