Catnip it was. Divorced for a number of years decided to resume dating several months ago once all the children were successfully launched. When the youngest of my four graduated from college last winter, started to look around. With one personal ad on a Jewish dating site without a photo just saying I was tall, slender, kindhearted financially secure retired professional man I was deluged with responses. Didn’t take very long to meet and click with someone near my age who lived close by.

Sorry, kermie b, my women are not imaginary. Prosperous, well educated, and kindhearted single men in their 60s are catnip for the older women crowd. There’s no shortage of terrific older gals with snazzy figures, warm hearted souls, and financial self reliance to make it paradise on earth for older guys like me. Methinks I’m not protesting too much! I love women. Hence makes sense to make WOWOWOW a regular stop on my browsing routine.

Women over 60 can be indeed yummy! I love ‘em! Nothing like a grownup self supporting sexy lady out of my cultural and educational background to share the delights of life now that the children grown and gone.

It’s no wonder there’s a blessing in the orthodox morning service thanking God for not making me a woman. Couldn’t think of anything worse when older in life than linking self worth to appearance.

Elaine—When it comes to women, male neurons and heart strings should be in perfect alignment. As it’s total buyer’s market for men, there are infinite choices for those with patience and an eye for quality.

Elaine—Re women’s gold beats me why men enter marriage without receiving financial consideration. The dowry ss heart balm for taking on the responsibility of raising a family and the inevitable decline in a woman’s beauty often accompanied by an increasingly bad disposition.

For reasonably healthy men and women with sufficient means and grown successful children the 60s are a wonderful decade. We paid our dues leaving us now free to enjoy life to its fullest. Sex is so much better now decoupled from the strains of keeping the family together for the children’s sake when young by accepting being ball-and-chained to a disagreeable spouse.

Elaine—Why on earth would prosperous seniors with will beneficiary children and grandchildren marry? Marriage for us is a potential financial and perhaps emotional suicide should things go wrong. Did marriage a couple of times. Was worth it for the children but otherwise at least for men marriage generally sucks. It’s a man’s world today for guys with means, smarts, and a skeptical attitude about romantic love claptrap women so worship.

Allow me to reframe the issue. It’s not that men are afraid of women over 50 per se. Rather the issues turn on reality matters like health risks, declining beauty and sexual allure, the successful prior use of the divorce courts to clean out an ex and damage the children, and nowadays women’s hypertrophied sense of self importance and romantic expectations while giving very little in return. Giving the above its due consideration I only date women in their 60s. Takes some doing to find them but there are some fabulous ladies out there. Nothing beats emotional and physical intimacy of a sexually alluring kindred soul out your own generation and cultural background who is financially independent, well educated with a generous and kind heart.

Just sell into any strength!

My posting in today’s NY Times on the bailout. “The administration’s bum’s rush to pass this “rescue” is akin to a Las Vegas wedding chapel marriage between 2 drunks who just met at a party! Any action requires extensive congressional examination in which all sides get heard.” — Posted by MARK KLEIN, M.D.

Should the End Times prophesy happen everything’s kaput! Anything short of that requires to keep a roof over your head and food on the table some careful thought. My dough is on the dividend paying corporations ending up, if that’s not already the case, totally running the show. If I didn’t think McCain wasn’t more than a little bit Alzheimerish, and Palin a dangerous fool, wouldn’t make any difference who won the White House. The lobbyists buy both sides!

James—My problem with gold is it pays no dividends and holding physical gold carries expenses like insurance, storage and sales expenses. Those in the 1970s who bought gold at $800+ and held until now saw the buying power of the original investment wiped out. Check out Gramercy Capital (GKK) which is 90% owned by institutions and is finally showing signs of life. Very likely to announce a big dividend this week.

What’s next to blow? Whatever it is things will be very tough. I’m almost 50% in cash, have no debt, and hold for the excellent dividends just Chevron (CVX), Canadian Oil Sands Trust (COSWF), and Diana Shipping (DSX). If I owned financials, I’d sell into this rally

I recommend selling financials into this tally. Next week when the dust settles will again be obvious what dogs with fleas they remain. The bailout doesn’t come close to dealing with their other radioactive junk credit card and off the books loan defaults.