What “The Golden Bachelor” Reveals About Later-in-Life Relationships
The women will likely have to pay a bigger price for love
When Gerry Turner, a 71-year-old widower and retired grandfather who lives on a lake in Indiana, was revealed as The Golden Bachelor, the latest spinoff of the Bachelor franchise that premieres later this month, I thought to myself, While I’d love to find a life partner, there’s no way in hell I’d move to Indiana to be with any man — especially one whose outdoor activities are more along the lines of golf, pickleball, and four-wheeling than the outdoors activities I prefer, like hiking and cycling.
Mostly, I wouldn’t want to move to Indiana, especially since my children and most of my dearest friends live near me, in Northern California.
So when ABC recently revealed the 22 women, aged 60 to 75 from all over the country, from Florida to California, who are competing for his affection, I couldn’t help wondering — are they really ready to uproot their life for a man who lives states away from them where they likely know no one?
This is the first time the reality TV franchise is featuring older singles and what it reveals is that finding love in your later years comes with complications that past contestants, mostly in their 20s and 30s, don’t have to deal…
