Bob Safford was halfway around the world on a boat when he decided to send an e-mail to his friend, Esther.

Over the course of Bob's four-month cruise around the world, the two exchanged 135 messages, starting out with a recap of what Bob was seeing and eventually moved to "our emotions, and how we felt about the outlook for the rest of our lives," said Safford, who at the time was recovering from his wife's death.

"I wrote and told her how many frequent flyer miles I have on Delta as a result of my wife having passed away, and I just threw her a line, ‘Come fly with me,'' and Esther came back, ‘When and where?"

But what makes relationships like Bob and Esther's special isn't the romantic courtship by steamer ship, it's that their romance began after retirement; Bob was 75 when he sent that first e-mail to Esther, and she was 72. They have been married six years, but got together after their first spouses passed away - plus, both Bob and Esther's first marriages lasted 40 to 50 years.

The Saffords, who live in the Lanier Village Estates development in Gainesville, are one of many couples finding love and companionship after their first spouse of many years has died. In a community such as this, where everyone is retired and many are learning to live without the spouse they loved for decades, finding happiness in a new committed relationship is a growing trend.

The Saffords were the first couple to get married at Lanier Village Estates ("We were the afternoon entertainment," Bob said); John and Ina Mae Pearce were the second couple to get married there. But while Bob and Esther had known each other's spouses before they passed away, John and Ina Mae met only briefly, very much by chance during a meeting with a common friend, when John was still married. The conversation didn't last long, though, and they didn't cross paths again until after his wife died.

"I was on the fifth floor, on the end ... and about two weeks later he moves in . ... And one night walking back from supper with my friends he was behind us and he said, ‘Are you ladies strolling for the evening or for your health?'" Ina Mae said.

Her friend "stopped at her apartment and he and I continued, and as we got to the lobby area he went this way and I went that way," she said. "But as we started he said, ‘Would you like to go to dance class with me?' and I said, ‘I don't dance,' and he said, ‘Well, that's what it is, you take lessons.' And I said, ‘Yeah, I'll do that.'

"I got inside and I said, ‘Yeah, that's exciting. I'll go with him.'"

John and Ina Mae kept their relationship secret from friends until after they were engaged. Instead, they decided to take it slow, go on some day trips and meet family members to get their blessing. And communicating with family about your relationship is key, said Ted Futris, family life specialist for the University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension.

With marriages late in life, Futris said, there are children and grandchildren to consider, along with questions about retirement savings, inheritance and living arrangements.

"Anytime you're developing almost a stepfamily, a blended family type of situation, there's an awful lot of thought put into it," he said. "My best advice would be, start off with talking with family about the transition - who this person is, what they mean to you - and then see what needs to happen next"

Futris said couples shouldn't think twice about consulting with a marriage counselor, pastor or an attorney to iron out any potential issues before they become one.

And it's easy for money to create an issue, he added.

"The financial issues are one thing where you probably should consult with an attorney, and having some discussion about what happens now with the will and inheritance that was passed on from dad to mom, and if mom were to pass on, what happens to the new stepparent?," Futris said. "So it does introduce some issues that could create conflict, so it's probably good to give some thought to that."

For the Saffords and the Pearces, though, it's good to have someone to travel with, someone who enjoys the same music and also has been through the pain of losing a long-term partner.

Even Ina Mae, who spent many years as a caretaker for her son and her husband, said her decision to get married after her husband's death is very different from what her friends back home in Athens had come to believe.

"I've been a caretaker since I was 14 years old, still have my son to go," she said. Although, she acknowledged moving into Lanier Village Estates was the first step toward finding companionship again.

But both couples said they wouldn't have it any other way. And after decades of successful marriages, John and Ina Mae recommended to other singles, of any age, that it helps to just be yourself.

"It takes a lot of patience ... and put your best foot forward," John said. "Opportunities will come; take advantage of those opportunities as they come, in a positive way."

Esther's advice for younger singles? "It can be better as you get older."

But Bob countered, "It's hard to answer that question because it's the kind of thing you don't plan."

"We both had a happy marriage, but it's wonderful to have a companion," Esther added.