What's it really like to be single?
 

This question has been lingering in my mind for a long time but I am not contemplating going this route except if I outlive my wife which is unlikely.

For those guys and gals that are single do you still feel the need to get married or live with someone full time? Are you still looking for that perfect other person or are you happy to be by yourself and dip your feet into the ocean of friendship and love when the mood hits you?

As always signing off curious Guy.:)
PS Have a great day whatever your status.

Recently got "unmarried". That is it was a mutual/friendly parting. Considered the dating sites then realized I am happy being single with dogs. Keeping it simple. 1 year into this I have no desire to complicate my life again.

A friend of mine is single and loving it. He has been married twice. I doubt he will ever be married again. He switches out girlfriends on a regular basis. The amazing thing is he remains friends with all of them. They understand he has moved on to a new main squeeze but they still remain friendly.

Several of his former girlfriends will call him to be a designated man to deal with a car dealer, mechanic or plumber.

He is good at schmoozing with women. It is not something I ever want to do. I see his parade of women and they are all nice looking ladies. I will stick to my wife of 22 years and be thankful I don't have to chase after some strange.

I know a lot of single guys (co-workers) who just can't be single. They jump at anything and everything.

I am the opposite. I was married a long time, I've been single for six years. I prefer being single and living on my own. Yes there are downsides, all in all I am better off and happier.

I've been single and I've been married.

I don't ever want to be single again.

EDIT: I've only been married once tho (goin' on 22 years) so I'm not really an expert like the guys who've been married half a dozen times.

It depends on what stage of your life you are currently living.

I know a few formerly married guys that have families. They wouldn't go back to being married after adjusting to single life.

I was quite young (33) when my first marriage ended. I waited 12 years before getting married again. My wife and I have a son together and a I am pretty happy with the way things are going.

Some people are just not cut out to be married. Others, not able to stay single.

I think Sam Kineson said it best:

"you have two choices...do you want to be alone...or do you want to be bothered?"

I've been married twice. Second time seems to be much more compatible...but I've realized a part of me really just shouldn't be married. When I was single, I loved the autonomy I had in my life. If I wanted to do something, I did it. If I didn't want to do something, nobody was nagging me to do it (current wife doesn't nag--it's beautiful). And sometimes, I really just like to be alone; no external noises around me whatsoever.

If for some reason this current marriage doesn't work out, I won't remarry.

I enjoy the single life but everyone is different and that's just fine with me.

I am owned by 5 incredible fur children, have a TON of friends and many many exotic plants and gardens to tend, a beach 2 blocks away with excellent waves, occasional female humanoids who enter my life from time to time, and a business to run that I love so much.

If I were to ever consider a relationship the criteria would be very similar to how I would consider acquiring a business partner except she would have to be beautiful in my eyes as well. I'd also want a 'collaborator' personality (team player) rather than a 'competitor' personality (self-centered).

That's not too much to ask...is it? :D

I'm a "single type of guy," but I wouldn't give up my wife for anything. She's the best woman I've met and amazingly easy to live with and a pleasure to interact with. Having said that, I wouldn't get married again if something happened to her (of course I'm too old for that now anyway). I spent a lot of younger years rousting around and didn't get married the first time until I was 32. After 10 years of marriage, we parted ways on a friendly basis (still friends), and I didn't get married again until 55. I was completely happy single, and there was never a lack of women. I just had to remember to keep them at arms length since lots of them were looking for a husband - some of them were really obvious about it too. The single life offers a lot of freedom and choice with almost never a need to compromise. I could have happily spent my life single. You have to be one of those guys who is active with lots of activity options or you'll be the male equivalent of an old maid.

I was married for 25 years and lived with my ex 2 years before we were married when it ended. I got married later in life, I thought it would be forever. Got divorced in 2010 and it took some adjustments.

I won't get married again - IMO there is no need to get remarried. I don't want or need to be a part of a blended family. Would I live with someone - probably not. I don't want the drama.

Having said this, we are social creatures and I have female friends. Truth be told, I am afraid to have a serious relationship. I would probably screw it up and fear heart break. I can't go thru that again.

If anything happens to my marriage , I'll finish my journey solo.




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^^^^ what he said

Never married, never will, but my longest relationship was about 9 years...

I'm just MUCH happier "over all" being single...just don't need the bs that "eventually" seems to always come along for (with) the ride :p

Based on the response I am going to provide I guess I'm more traditional than I ever imagined...

Been married for 20 years THIS year! Happily married - we started later, me 31 and wife was 28. Should this marriage not last (divorce or death) I would never marry again. I have zero emotional/physical desire to have more children so what would be the point of getting remarried? But that's about marriage.

My entire life I gravitated to a more loner lifestyle. Sure I enjoyed my friendships and all that but also relished my time alone. That said I have gained and grown so much being with my wife, our kids, inherited family and friends that I can't imagine who I would be today without them. I still seek out alone time but have learned to relish time spent with others as well.

i got married sorta late in life at around 35. I lived the bachelor lifestyle for a long time. I am an expert in take out food, fast food, and area restaurants. I have only been married a few years, but so far I much prefer the lifestyle.

I think I could survive being single and be happy. Not to get too sentimental, but with marriage came a baby, and that was by far the best thing that ever happened to me. My son brings me more joy than anything else in my life past or present.

I'm happier married than I was single but I wasn't unhappy being single, just lonely at times. I tell myself if I get unmarried I won't marry again but that may change as I age and the idea of being alone when I hit 60 or 65 may change my mind.

this is the ideal.

i have pulled this off with a couple of exs ... and a couple did not play out this way.


i like my life. i currently have a girlfriend, but thats going to be ending sometime around this summer, on good terms. we will im sure be friends afterward. when that happens, i'll hit up the dating sites, see whats around at work etc etc, idk, im always on the look out for a future ex-cockerpunk. its fun to meet new people, the sex is great obviously, and its all and all a good way to live.

overall, i'd like to get married someday. have not met the right one yet though. thought i had several times, but well ... lets just say those are both the ones that i am no longer friends with. haha

Damn, I wish I'd written that as well:D

No better sentiment.

I was a well traveled 34 when I met and married my wife, who is nine years younger than I am.

I was content being Hans, I am content being married: The best thing in my life is a kiss on the cheek from my wife, a call from my son, an email from my daughter. Simple expressions of love.

3rd time is/was a charm. My wife is as awesome as they come. I'm done after this marriage - one way or another.

27 years this June, first and only til death at which point I'm would be single, no way would I try and start over at my age..but would be very sad to be alone but a new one aint going to fix that.

I'm pretty sure a person can be very happy or completely miserable in any situation.

Single 13 years. I prefer being alone. Only regret is I have no kids.

I was married and happy.

Happy's better.

Haha. Gonna tell this to my wife!

No?


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Very happily married, I think Beldar said it best:

If, for some reason your life functions ceased, my most precious one, I would collapse, I would draw the shades and I would live in the dark. I would never get out of my slar pad or clean myself. My fluids would coagulate, my cone would shrivel, and I would die, miserable and lonely. The stench would be great.

You do that, vash, and you might be striking out on that solo journey a little sooner than anticipated. :D

Circumstances do not matter. Only perception of the situation does. Well, that is theory anyways...

Single again after 15+ years if marriage. At first I pined for the security and normalcy I'd come to know. Now I realize I'd never go back. My S.O. wants me back in a big way (which I'm fine with) but I'd never be married again. Committed relationship? In love? Sure. Married? No effing way. There's no upside to it. Way too much liability. Think potential loss of income, property, freedom, happiness and the ability to ever retire if you get bit with an onerous alimony payment which I was able to avoid, but it scared the hell out of me realizing that at any time, anyone can - for any reason (or no reason) utterly destroy you and stick you in that situation even though you may have done absolutely nothing wrong. I'd never, ever advise marriage to anyone. No upside, lots of potential downside.

One doesn't need a label and he potential losses to have a happy and fulfilling relationship. It just doesn't matter anymore. I just thank god every day that I didn't get in a situation that cost me as much as it well could have and we were both reasonably amicable. Way too many horror stories out there and remember - men ALWAYS lose, it's just a question of how much.

A No...never
B No
C Yes

What's it really like to be single?
 

Single again after 15+ years of marriage. At first I pined for the security and normalcy I'd come to know. Now I realize it might've been the best thing that ever happened to me and I'd never go back. My S.O. wants me back in a big way (which I'm fine with) but I'll never be married again - not to her and not to anyone else. I'll gladly spend my life with her though. Largely this is due to my belief that the institution of marriage is a failure. It has been corrupted and ruined by two things: our legal system and our culture of instant gratification / hedonism (i.e. "do whatever you feel like doing today and don't worry about the consequences or implications for others").

Do I believe in committed relationships? Absolutely. Being in love with someone? Sure. But "married"? No effing way. There's just no upside to it in our system. There's way too much liability (especially if you have testes and are a wage-earner). Consider the potential loss of income, property, freedom, happiness and even the ability to ever retire if you get hit with an onerous alimony payment (which I was able to avoid, but learning what could potentially happen scared the hell out of me). When one realizes that at any time, anyone can - for any reason (or no reason) utterly destroy you and stick you in that situation even though you may have done absolutely nothing wrong, it should make one question why they'd ever expose themselves to that.

Also, marriage has become so "throwaway" now that it really doesn't matter anyway. It's just a label that's supposed to mean "committed to another person for life", but it no longer does. "Till death do us part" now means "till boredom or inconvenience do us part". When we're encouraged to toss away marriages like old pairs of shoes ("divorce today - only $199!!!"), why bother? What matters isn't the label, but the level of commitment between two people, and one doesn't need a label or a bunch of pointless ceremony or ritual for that. Based on these simple realities, I'd never, ever advise marriage to anyone. There's simply no upside and lots of potential downside. There's no real point to it. When 2/3 of them fail anyway, why do we continue to prop up this institution and equate it with lifetime commitment? In reality and in practice, it means absolutely nothing (other than providing a mechanism to move money to caterers, bad DJs, floral arrangers, foofoo dressmakers and ultimately lawyers).

One doesn't need a label and the potential losses to have a happy and fulfilling relationship. It just doesn't matter anymore. I just thank god every day that I didn't get in a situation that cost me as much as it well could have and that we were both reasonably civil and amicable (we chose to not fight each other or get petty - rare).

There are WAY too many horror stories out there and remember, in our system men ALWAYS lose, it's just a question of how much. If the woman "goes b****" on you one morning and decides to ruin your life and make your it hell, you're dead - she can and the system will reward her for it. You will unquestionably lose your kids, your house, a good portion of your money, at least half of your property and quite possibly the ability to ever retire due to a court order to write her checks for the rest of your life that will likely exceed your SS / pension payouts during your so-called "golden years". This is exactly how my lawyer explained it and told me what to expect unless I was very lucky (thank god I was). Some might say "just get a prenup". Well if you need a pre-nup, I'd ask why you need a "nup" at all.

Had I known a lot of these things when I first got married, I never would have. Better late than never in terms of getting the knowledge to make an informed decision I suppose. At least it'll empower me to avoid making the same mistake twice.

I told her you said it. She likes you less now. Haha. Jk


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Single and enjoy it. I have friends and dating/relationships when I want or not.

Wanna go fly fishing after work? Go drive the Pcar as far or fast as I'd like? Go to the mountains for a few days or a month?

With nobody to ask or say otherwise damn right I can do as I wish when I wish. My friends all think I'm such a catch , which may be, but I'm not a keeper. Catch and release :)

Hmmmm....Is there a way to get the best of both worlds? I sure like the companionship but sometimes I long to be alone and somewhat less tied down feeling.

I was single from the age of 33 till age 42......Then, I realized I needed more supervision and someone to spend my money...........

Filed for divorce today actually, after 15 years. I do envy all of you who have been happily married for so many years. I do like being married, just not to her anymore. Too many fights, etc.. Hope I'm not going to be single for too long but definitely not jumping into anything again!

Married twenty-five years with two kids. First and last one I think.

I love my wife and kids. That said, if tomorrow I had no wife and kids, I'd be sad for a while, then move on. I'd not get married again, nor would I tie myself down in any way.

I'd live simply and be happy keeping all females at arm's length.

I've never been married. It was never planned to be this way, it just ended up this way.

Why are divorces so expensive?

Because they're worth it.