Women over 85 are happier because their partners are dead by then
Women become progressively happier as they age, according to a health survey conducted in England. They have higher rates of poor mental health than men throughout much of their lives, until over the age of 85, when women’s overall happiness increases and men’s decreases.
With the exception of the elderly set, women were more likely than men to have poor mental health at nearly every age. Overall, 21 percent of women reported mental health problems, compared to 16 percent of men. The change that occurred over a lifetime—leading to less mental health concerns among women—was likely due to the specific burden of responsibilities that women often carry, according to the dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Kate Lovett. Further, many women are widowed by then, which psychiatrists say may also be a factor.
Women “are still more likely to bear the brunt of domestic and caring responsibilities,” Lovett told the Times. As women age, that burden may lessen as they are no longer responsible for children and elderly parents.
http://www.newsweek.com/women-over-85-are-happier-because-their-partner-dead-then-psychiatrists-say-748067
LOL! Too funny.
= new reply since forum marked as read
So, if you want a slow death! 
Divorce works very well, too, with the exact same result. The best part is that nobody has to die, it's available at a much younger age, and you get to start over on a better track before you're too old to enjoy it.
I speak from personal experience - with no regrets. 
It hadn't occurred to me that anyone might worry about such a thing! Now that you mention it, people here don't know the "real me" and how I might pursue more radical options, though, do they?
I only lasted 2 years with the first marriage in my 20's, and 3 years with the second at 40ish, interrupted by an 18-month separation. That was almost 30 years ago and I've been very happily single ever since. Like you, there's been no looking back. 
Saw this video in another thread, and I feel the song and the sentiment are entirely appropriate here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=WufjSyE_rK8
We're raised with expectations both given to us (love! romance!) and placed upon us (responsibility! family!), but how many of us have seen what a truly good marriage is like from the inside and know what it takes to achieve the same?
It's no surprise at all that we flounder around when we have to learn to live in the real world. How quickly or slowly we learn is largely determined by our life experiences. The good news is that we did learn. 
I wish I'd done it 10 years ago, too.
Having no regrets confirms that it was the right decision for you.
Grrrrrr..... 
I posted that survey result because I thought it was funny. I think some may read it as insulting, though, which it isn't meant to be.
It's just that some women spend their lives in the service of others...taking care of kids and husband and house, then taking care of ailing parents (both of 'em) and husband, then taking care of ailing husband. Some women never get to spend their lives mainly taking care of themselves, so I think that's what the survey means. But some women probably like taking care of others, so ....
In the case of my father, who is 85...he is 14 years older than his wife. You'd think she takes care of "the old man"? Nope. SHE is the one with failing health big time...HE takes care of her. He is the one with the good health! You never know what will happen.
