My mother was 67 when my father died. In Indian culture, a widow will not even think of finding another man. But another way of looking at it is that they've lived a life of servitude that it's their new found freedom.

I have a friend who is 77 years old and she fears living alone after her partner died, and wants to couple again.

You hit the nail on the head on the emotions that drive us to enjoy our freedom or find another partner. I would lean towards being ok with my freedom and live with dogs instead.