However it is considered, choosing a mate is the most important decision a person makes in their lifetime. While growing up, most of us are lectured on the importance of this decision. We must always keep in mind that the person we choose will be with us for the rest of our days. I have, in error, made this decision on several occasions. Usually I am made aware of this error by a very nice gentleman wearing a black robe.
This gentleman has an exceptional knack of pounding the point home with a little wooden hammer. After a few visits to the domain of this type of person, and mastering an understanding of the word “divorce” along the way, it came to me that I must be doing something wrong. I have decided that if I am ever in the position of making this once in a lifetime decision yet again, I really must try to figure out the proper way to choose a mate.
The first thing that the typical human male notices about a female is usually her appearance. This seems to be a weakness in our species. We, human males, get a special kind of pleasure out of simply looking at an attractive female of our kind. It is a real ego boost to walk into a public place with a good-looking female at our side. When we are seen with an attractive female, the looks of adoration from other males literally seem to add inches to our height. We stand taller, we walk with more assurance, we are proud. There simply can't be a down side to this.
A bit more thought on the subject of appearance may be required. When all of those “buddies” are looking at this attractive woman, a certain number of them simply have to be somewhat jealous. It makes me wonder if they would be plotting to try and sway her attention away from me. If this is so then I will have to spend a lot of time trying to make sure that don't happen. I will have to watch closely. Frequently an attractive female requires a lot of work to achieve that look. This means more expense and then there is the maintenance cost to keep the look. I really must also consider the time factor. If we are to go out in public, there may be quite a loss of time waiting for her to get herself assembled. It really isn't quite as simple as it seems. Just considering the possibilities gives me a headache. I'll consider other issues for a time, now I think I need a snack.
This reminds me, my elders, both male and female, have always advised that when considering a possible mate, I should make sure that she can cook. I do like to eat. It makes a great impression on my family to have a spouse that can prepare a great meal. Holiday feasts could be great gatherings with delicious fare. I should never have to worry about children being fed or a meal for myself when I return home from work. What could possibly be wrong with this? I am almost sorry that I asked what could be wrong with a woman that is a good cook.
I do have to consider that at least some of those relatives that come to visit and to share the delicious feasts may be a bit slow about leaving. I have heard horror stories of the type of people that, once they taste the food, seem to be rooted in place. As long as the groceries hold out they are just like another fixture in the home. If the woman's culinary skills are that good, we could be blessed with obese children. I would have to worry about high cholesterol, excessive weight gain, heart attack, stroke, and who knows what other ailments. Perhaps I should be more worried about having a simple clean home.
Housekeeping, now there is a safe subject to consider. I am not a “neat freak”, but I do like to have a house that is reasonably clean and organized. I do know of women that can keep things looking good even while holding down a full time job. I do have to admire a woman that can do that. I know that some will say that it is equally a male's job to help with domestic chores. I'll be honest, as good as my intentions are and as much as I try, I simply do not have the ability to keep a home properly clean and organized. I do have the ability to stay out of the way while someone that is good at it works. Of course, I could end up living in a museum where I don't dare walk in the front door for fear of tracking in dirt. I could be afraid of removing a pair of clean underwear from a drawer for fear of rumpling the other items neatly stacked inside. I do like a clean and organized home, but it does have to feel lived in.
A wise man once told me that it was just as easy to fall in love with a rich woman as it is an impoverished one. Since money is always an important subject in any household, I should consider whether a female has financial resources. I have never had a lot of money. It would be a nice change to have a spouse that could bring a sense of financial stability into the home. I think I could live without the never-ending worries about paying bills. It would be nice to write a check without having to balance the checkbook twice before doing so. Of course a woman with such resources might not feel comfortable living in the social stratum that I am from. I certainly would not be at home in a more regimented or formal society. Perhaps this one really isn't as good of an idea as I first thought.
I believe I have figured this out. I need to find a woman that is somewhere above ugly and a bit short of being a raving beauty. She should be able to prepare a meal that can be consumed with a minimal amount of choking. If she can run a vacuum cleaner without knocking holes in the walls, that will be good enough. She should at least have the ability to balance a checkbook. If finding a woman that meets all of these requirements proves too difficult, I could always fall back on the method that I have used in the past. I could look for a woman that posses the unique ability to tolerate me, and latch onto her.
