Grandpa Won't Tie the Knot

ear Bitter Single Guy: I have been living with great guy for 3 years. He is 15 years older than I am and does not want to marry or have children, both of which I want very much. My boyfriend is kinder than any man I know but does not want the same things that I do in life. Does this relationship have a lasting chance? I just can't imagine being unmarried and not having a child. -- Are These Irreconcilable Differences?

Dear ATID: The Bitter Single Guy has written here countless times about how different people bring different things to relationships: different pasts, different baggage, and in this case, the experiences of different generation. (The BSG is in no position to judge you…he, himself has crossed generational lines for love.)

ATID, the good news is that the BSG has come across more than one dude (and damsel for that matter) who didn't want to have children until faced with the little bundle of joy. Similarly, there have certainly been sufficient numbers of romantic comedies (mostly starring Meg Ryan) that have dealt with the marriage-averse, only to end with a happy-ever-after wedding scene.

ATID everyone knows that real happiness can only be found in a government sponsored legal co-mingling of assets, but if your beau is in fact dead set against tying the knot and acquiring offspring, you may need to say your teary good-byes. The message here is one that all the BSG's readers should heed. If you and your date (boyfriend, wife, dog, boss, hairdresser) have different expectations for your relationship, then change your expectations or change your date (or boyfriend, wife, dog…you get it).