The Mid Life Dating Files 2025

List five things you do for fun.

The 5 Things I Do for Fun (My Version Looks a Little Different)

Apparently, “fun” means different things to different people. Skydiving? No thank you. Nightclubs? Hard pass. These days, my idea of fun looks a little different—and honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. So here they are: the five things I do for fun, Christy-style.

1. Traveling with Family (and Our Chosen Family)

I love to travel—but not just with anyone. We travel with family and our long-time family friends, many of whom have known us for decades. Most of them are in the same business as my dad, so they’ve gone from coworkers to full-blown family.

We take a lot of cruises and have friends scattered all over the U.S. who travel with us. These trips are less about sightseeing and more about laughing, catching up, and picking up conversations right where we left off—sometimes from a year ago.

We also have a beach condo, and every Thanksgiving we spend a week there with a couple from Georgia we’ve known for over 40 years. It’s tradition. Non-negotiable. They’re family at this point—we talk and text all the time. If that’s not friendship goals, I don’t know what is.

2. Spending Time with Family (Because Time Is the One Thing You Can’t Get Back)

This has become even more important to me over the past year. Priorities change. Life changes. And as our parents age, you realize how valuable time really is.

My parents live on the river, which means summer weekends equal guaranteed good times. Pool swimming, cookouts, drinks, music, boat rides, and friends randomly showing up—by river or road. Everyone knows if you come by my parents’ house, something fun is happening. There is never a dull moment, and there is always entertainment. Always.

3. Shopping with My Mom (AKA: My Second Full-Time Job)

My mom and I are a lot alike—more alike than my brother or sister. I’m the oldest, I have more flexibility, and I think she likes me best because she can boss me around.

Usually, we meet somewhere, I jump in her car, and off we go—wherever she wants. Sometimes we eat first. Sometimes we start drinking mimosas. That’s when the fun really begins.

A few years ago, she fell and hurt her foot and couldn’t drive for almost a year, which meant I became her personal Uber, assistant, and do-everything person. Doctor appointments, grocery runs, errands—you name it. I’d drop her off at the front door and pick her back up like royalty.

Now that her foot is better, she tells me where to park, how to park, and when to turn. I’m like, Mom, I’m not 16—I’m 54. Give me a break.

And when we go out of town, she refuses to drive because she’s afraid she’ll get lost—so of course, I drive everywhere. Personal driver for life. And here’s the icing on the cake: my mom cannot pump gas. If Dad forgets to fill her car up, guess who does it? Me.

To be fair, Dad took very good care of us. I didn’t even know how to pump gas until well after I got married. But I learned. Mom? She will go to her grave never knowing how—and honestly, she’s completely fine with that.

4. Cooking (For Me… and My Very Opinionated Cat)

I’ve grown to love cooking more as I’ve gotten older and started staying home more. I’m a vegetarian, I eat clean, and eating healthy is very important to me, so I enjoy trying new recipes and even making up my own.

Since I live alone, whatever I cook usually lasts about two days. And let’s be real—I’m not really cooking alone. My cat, Blaze (aka my vampire, talking bobcat, cat-stole-my-soul), insists on trying everything.

He loves food. Loves pistachios. And talks nonstop. He’s basically a human in a fur coat and considers himself my official taste tester. So yes, I cook for both of us.

5. Being at Home, Doing Whatever I Want (With Wine, Music, and a One-Woman Dance Party)

This might be my favorite thing of all.

I love being at home—doing what I want, when I want, and how I want. That’s the joy of being single with adult kids. Would I love to have my person someday? Absolutely. If they ever show up. But these days, I love my peace more than I hate the dating game.

Most days at my house include some combination of wine in one hand, something cooking on the stove, music playing way too loud, and me dancing around my kitchen like no one’s watching—because no one is. This is pretty much a daily event and my favorite form of therapy.

My home is my oasis—pool, cookout area, large rock fire pit, and plenty of places to lounge around with coffee, wine, and a good book. I’ve lived here for 34 years. My kids grew up here. My ex-husband and I built this house when we were 21, and after the divorce, changes were necessary to make it truly mine.

In the next year or so, I’m ready to downsize and start a new chapter—building a smaller, one-story home with no stairs (because falling and having to call for help is not on my vision board). But for now, my home is my retreat, my peace, and the place where I’m happiest—wine glass, music, dancing, and all.

The Bottom Line

So no, my idea of fun may not look like everyone else’s—and I’m perfectly okay with that. Give me meaningful trips, family time, shopping with my mom (gas pumping included), good food, a chatty cat, kitchen dance parties, and the peace of my own home, and I’m happy.

Fun doesn’t have to be loud, wild, or exhausting. Sometimes it looks like tradition, laughter, good conversation, and doing life with the people (and pets) you love most. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade my version of fun for anything.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got somewhere to be—probably in my kitchen, dancing with a glass of wine, while Blaze supervises.🍷🐈‍⬛💃🏻🍝🎼