Wow, Wldhair, you and I are so similar - I'm 49, married with two kids myself. My one child is exactly like me, a total misfit and we get along great together.
I'm very happy when everyone is out of the house. I enjoy my alone time. Like I had said in another thread, I'm married to a very pretty woman and on the outside we have a great marriage. But I'm truly unhappy. 22 years together and I'm realizing that maybe we just shouldn't be together. I'm having a hard time this year financially since she lost her job and had to take one half the salary. Now I'm FORCED to work overtime, as opposed to working it because I liked it. I'm $40,000 in debt, both my cars have over 150k miles and break down monthly, my college age daughter gives me guilt trips because I can't afford to pay her college - we have rich relatives that think nothing of giving their kids ipads, iphones, xbox, playstations - and here I am, scraping up enough money to buy my kid a pay-as-you-go phone. I'm living check to check and one slip and I fall off that cliff. I'm one major car repair away from total disaster.
When I think about the life insurance policy, the SS widow benefits my wife will get, and other insurances I have, it all seems so logical now. They stand to get no less than 250k in cash - that would pay off all the bills, college, house, and get everyone nice new cars so there is nothing to worry about. My wife can now afford the house without a mortgage or bill payment. My kid would now be set for college. With me out of the way, she'll be able to find another guy who would be a better providing husband, not the anxious, depressed wreck she's married to now.
Edit to add: Oh yeah, its not getting any easier getting older. I'm 49, and I feel it more and more. I work in a very physically demanding job and the bones and joints hurt more and more each year. I'm going to the doctor more, things hurt easier now, I'm on 3 different meds now to control various ailments and I'll likely be on more in the next 5 years. I work with a lot of seniors and I see how bad it can get. I envision a future of canes, wheelchairs, prostate issues - you name it, I'll get it. I get winded just walking the dog now - seeing those younger than me blazing past me running just adds to my depression.