| Thanks, Dan. I think that sometimes us singles tend to overlook
the positive side of being single. And you are right, meeting new
people is fun and interesting -- an end in itself to be enjoyed
for *more than* the moment. After all, I like friends that last
forever. I have some very dear friends that I have kept in contact
with for more than 30+ years. Yes, I was a very little girl when
I met them. The important thing here is that we have remained friends
throughout time.
I do not feel as though married people are limited in their
explorations of forming new relationships. Why should you envy
single people and their freedom to meet new people when you have the
same option at your beck and call?
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| I agree with .1 that being married shouldn't keep you from the
enjoyment of meeting new and interesting people. It never did for
me when I was married anyway.
For me the advantage of being single is more in the area of freedom.
If I have to work late I don't have to call home. If I feel like
going shopping after work I don't have to let anyone know. I can
come home and eat a bowl of Oreo ice cream for dinner if I feel like it
(not that I ever would {;^)! I don't have to ask anyone's opinion
about the clothes I buy, the food I prepare, the car I own, the
house, the furniture, etc. etc. etc.
On the other hand, ...
There's no one at home to care if I have to work late. No one there
when I come home tired after a really rotten day, or even more
important, after two or three exhausting days on the road. No one to
say "That was a good dinner" (or "The Oreo ice cream was delicious,
Dear"). No one who cares what clothes I buy, what car I drive, etc.
No one who cares when I get that raise or promotion or whatever event I
come home all excited about.
And that's where friends come in for the single person. I couldn't
survive totally alone. I don't believe most of us could.
No, life isn't perfect for anyone. It's just a long series of
trade-offs and then you die.
Pat
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| Freedom is something we give ourselves/away. When we give our freedom
away, we can package it in a variety of nice boxes, like marriage,
career, patriotism, etc, but we are *choosing* to give away some of
our freedom, just the same. I have, from time to time, let someone
take my freedom by accepting their definition of a particular nice
box, but I didn't *have to* accept their definition. I choose to
be responsible for giving myself the freedoms I need and giving
away the freedoms I don't need for other things that I value higher.
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