Some people might find it puzzling that couples who have made it so far down the long and winding marital road would choose to go their separate ways just before or after qualifying for their old age pension, but it doesn’t surprise me.

Many wives in this age bracket have devoted their best years to bringing up a family, running a household and supporting their husband’s career. While plenty of women will welcome their husband’s imminent retirement, some will view it with trepidation: they may be unused to spending a lot of time with their men – especially without the children around – or they may be anxious their role will become even more of a carer as the years go by.

It is no wonder, then, that an increasing number of over-60 wives are deciding that the prospect of spending their twilight years with a husband whose company they no longer enjoy and whose demands they find irksome is unpalatable, and instead are choosing to pursue a comfortable financial settlement and carve out a new life – free from domestic drudgery and with the freedom to be themselves for maybe the first time.

Making the decision to start afresh at a mature age can be daunting, but it can be very exciting too. For example, adventure holiday operators for older, middle class clients have noticed a steep rise in the number of women clients who are game to have a go at white water rafting and the like.

It used to be only “merry widows” who were able to let their hair down and rediscover their joie de vivre, but the prevalence of divorce has extended the opportunity to a new section of “silver” wives.

As more women in their 60s, and older, take the plunge into singledom, there is greater acceptance – both from society in general and from children and other family members. Today’s young wives enjoy the scope to “have it all”, so it’s only fair that more mature ones should have the chance to rediscover some of the things they’ve been missing while they’ve devoted themselves to caring for children and a husband.