If you leave a will the executor can immediately apply for probate, which (unless the estate is very complicated) will only take a few weeks to be granted. Further, the executor can have limited access to your estate, prior to probate being granted, to settle certain urgent matters. (e.g. paying undisputed urgent bills).
If you die intestate someone will have to apply for letters of administration. The process can take longer and nobody will be able to do anything with a single penny of your money until the grant of representation has been made.
I'm also nearly 60 (well, 58 next birthday, anyway) but I drafted my first will around 30 years ago. I've since been managing director of a will-preparation company. Even though I'm no longer 'in the business' I'd still regard it as absolute madness not to have a valid will.
A few thoughts:
1. Choose your executor(s) carefully. It's NOT necessary to use a solicitor and their services can result in unnecessary expense. Name one or two people as your executor(s) who are likely to outlive you. (Your children are the most obvious choices). If they decide that they need professional help they can then use a solicitor if they so choose. (That's better than forcing them to do so).
2. If romance comes your way, remember that marriage automatically invalidates any will (unless the will specifically states that it was written 'in contemplation of marriage'). You'd need to write a new will.
3. Keep your will somewhere safe and (most importantly) tell your executors where it is! (It's likely that the provisions of thousands of wills are ignored every year, simply because nobody can find those wills to execute their provisions).
Chris