The Perks of Getting Carded

It was mentioned on another childfree blog I enjoy how much younger childfree people look (the post is here).  It was really funny timing, since my husband and I were just carded at a bar in San Destin on Saturday night.

We're in Florida for a bit to puppy-sit for my husband's folks, and we decided to hit up some beachfront bars.  We found one that had a great selection of mojitos (one of my favorite drinks), and sidled up to the bar.  The bartender took our order (Florida wins for nicest, friendliest bartenders), then asked for ID.  She was fairly sure my husband was around 22, but she was very unsure about me.  I thanked her for stroking my ego and handed over my license.  After a few minutes of gaping, she called her co-tender over and made her look.  Then they gaped for another few minutes.

I'm almost 32.  My husband is 37.

They asked my secret, and I said it was simple:
1.  Good food, and lots of good fats and olive oil.
2.  Lots of good wine.  Lots.
3.  No kids.  Leads to the kind of life where you can get carded well into your 30's.

Totally Unscientific Reporting

I've been trying to be more social lately, and it gets me into some interesting conversations, especially at gay bars.  As you may or may not know, lots of women like to frequent gay bars mostly meant for men.  Why?  For starters, you never have to worry about drunks jerks grabbing your ass.  Secondly, the music is much better.  And thirdly, it gives lots of women an excuse to not dress up, since they won't be in a meat-market setting (which is another rant in and of itself, but we'll leave that for now).

Once a woman is freed from the expectations of a meat-market heterosexual club, they tend to be a lot more relaxed, open, and willing to talk and have a good time.  They talk about their lives, and, of course, if they have children or not.  And no less than three women told me that while they loved their children, if they had the opportunity, they would definitely be childfree.  Every single one said that, given the chance, they would not have their kids.

Maybe it was the vodka talking, but I can't help thinking that if we as a society encouraged women to thoroughly consider their reproductive options from a young age, young mothers wouldn't be flocking to gay bars for an escape.