At 45, I'm starting to question my "decision" to not have children. I put in the quotation marks because I wasn't even in a position to have kids until my mid-30s when I met my husband. He was clear from the first date that he did not want kids and wouldn't change his mind, and I chose him over the possibility of motherhood. If I'd settled with a partner in my 20s I probably would have children. I've so far never felt any regret about being childless. I love my husband and right now I'm happy with our quiet little life. But I'm starting to think about what could have been... Neither of us has any real family, and I'm starting to fall into a bit of a lonely funk. I would love to have a couple of young-adult sons or daughters now, someone other than just the two of us. I just can't imagine having spent the last 20 years parenting! This also could just be the peri-menopause talking.

For those who made similar choice not to have kids, do you ever question or think about what could have been?

Edit: wow, thanks for all the responses! A lot of you are articulating what I could not: what I regret isn't that I never had kids, but really more that I don't have more people in my life that are like family. I have many friends and participate in clubs and community events, but it would have been nice to have grandchildren, nieces, nephews, the people you spend the holidays with, for better or for worse!