Why do people get ridiculously jealous of a woman managing her life without them?

Ha!

I often have noticed when am around jealous women, that they will look at me then look away & get as close as possible to their husband's, which I find mildly amusing as I don't feel overly attractive.

But none the less, you can't control others actions.

Be yourself, be happy & keep that smile :)

I know a lady exactly like you, she is one of the most capable people i have ever met, very self sufficient and personable. The lady lives in a care home with several other widows and a few married couples, they all seem to be good friends and iv never seen any sort of jealous behaviour while iv been in their company. However this lady does is quite a flirt and i can see how some wives might see her has a threat since she also has that spark of life that seems to captivate men when in her company.

If everyone else has a problem ... it's usually you. :/ I know a lot of women in your situation and have no issues with them at all. There is a small segment of women though who interact more with men and tend to ignore women, out of nervousness or disinterest or what have you, but they give off the wrong impression. Most don't realize they are doing it either with makes things more complicated.

I'd make sure that you are paying more attention to the wives you encounter and being impersonal with their husbands. The chances are extremely small that both times you've been without a man in your life, you've attracted the ire of other women for no reason at all.

A lot of people get their entertainment from drama like that. They see a woman with her husband not around, and if they see her talking or associating with another man, then their brain starts wondering as to try to figure out WHY you are talking to this person. They start to talk to other people about it, and then it gets around, and people have this reputation of you when they probably don't even know you to begin with. People do it because they have nothing better to do. That is "fun" to them.

Cause there are small minded people who have no life of their own,,low self esteem , are sociopaths, very jealous , petty have no character and Just cannot stand it when someone else is happy and fulfilled..There are persons like the MEYERS who run businesses harrassing persons who are happy!

Misery loves company and maybe it upsets them that you have been quite successful at being independent, something that they were lacking.

The people that speak negatively about you behind your back really aren't your friends, so don't bother with what they think.

Congratulations! You are one in a million.