I have heard for every five years you are married, you should be single one before you date again. I dated during he divorce process even. I am finally taking a breather. I was with him almost twenty years. Does that me starting now I should be single 4 years? Or is it different for everybody?

One of my boyfriends didn't even date for 5 years after his divorce so as not to give a wrong impression and didn't divorce until his youngest was in college.

Not everyone heals the same. When you are ready to date and feel like doing so, go for it. Some need 5 years, other need 5 decades, and there are those that just need 5 minutes. lol

Just tell me one thing. Regardless of what answer you might get here, are you actually going to live your life by it? Or are you going to do what seems right to Teadipper?

there is no hardfast healing time, in my opinion

a rule of thumb for me (When I was younger) was more about physical intimacy


I did not become intimate with one person before I had remained celibate at least THREE months from the last relationship

cuts down on any chance of wondering 'who' if a pregnancy or disease should occur

luckily , the only pregnancies I had came during marriage,,,

It took me a number of years to find closure after my divorce. Early on, I went out a few times and then (even after that closure took place) didn't date for almost 20 years - by choice. Relationships take work and I was raising two kids alone and barely had the resources to take care of myself, let alone another person/relationship. When I love, I love hard - and when it's over I don't think any prescribed "rules" work. Do whatever feels right and makes you happy and don't worry about it. The rules of romance are silly, IMO.