Other things you get to miss as a DINK

One thing I'm sure I could not deal well with would be the loss of a child. One of my cats died a few months ago and I'm still greiving. Can you even contemplate the loss of a child? Not me. So we have things that draw us to being a DINK (more free time) and things frankly we're avoiding (loss of child).

Conversations you get to avoid as a DINK

The trophy wife and I had dinner with 2 couples last night. One couple has 1 son, the other has 3 sons. Here are a few conversations you, as a DINK, will never have to have:

1. The drug conversation
2. The pornography conversation (and all potential sub-conversations...)
3. The "stop fighting" conversation
4. The "watch your language" conversation

Admittedly, #3 and #4 are conversations that parents have so often that it becomes second nature, at least it did for my parents. On the other hand, conversations #1 and #2 are apparently so difficult that there are websites and pamphlets to assist parents with them. The most fun part of these conversations is listening to parents recount how effective they are (not very), and knowing that I'll never have to deliver one of these speeches.

There is apparently some evidence that having daughters changes your personality more than having sons. As a man, this isn't surprising because I think my mind would simply snap under the stress of imagining the worst case scenarios.

What DINKs Do...work less

At least that's how I read the chart at the NYTimes found here. Select between "No Children", "One Child", "Two+ Children", then look at the volume of work. It looks like DINKs spend more time on "TV and Movies", which makes sense. What's not surprising is that DINKs spend almost no time on "Family" care, while non-DINKs spend quite a bit.

It would be nice to see the raw data and understand the percentage differences, as well as understand the differences between DINKs without a college education and those with, etc. That's just my inner econometrician coming out I suppose.

Whodathunkit?

Just a quick note on other DINK-related websites:

DINK Finance

and that's about it. I would have imagined that DINKs would have better representation. Clearly this is a niche I can occupy.

How the blog got started...

So my trophy wife found this cartoon in The New Yorker. It basically sums everything up about being a DINK.

The cartoonist is David Sipress, I'll make sure to buy a copy. You should buy a copy as well. Framed copies make great anniversary gifts. BUT - since you don't have any kids - you really should just get your significant other a gift spontaneously!

Listen to Marketplace on NPR!

They have a story about DINK's - basically we're like gay people in that we don't have kids and travel. Kids are $200k a piece, seems a little low to me.

When they post the show, I'll include the link.

Oh, and they think DINKs are "Double Income, No Kids". I'll let that slide, I suppose..

UPDATE: Here's the link