Just ignore those people M. There's nothing wrong with you and there's nothing wrong with not being in a relationship, imo.

good for you! Well, you couldn't expect others to have just like what you have. Perhaps do not be annoyed if people surrounding are kept on asking about it, if you have such relationship. That's what the purpose of having here on earth to have a pair with somebody.

Reply #1 Just ignore those people M. There's nothing wrong with you and there's nothing wrong with not being in a relationship, imo.

Thanks, I agree. It just strikes me as odd that so many people would ask that question.

That's what the purpose of having here on earth to have a pair with somebody.

If you say so.

It just strikes me as odd that so many people would ask that question.

Maybe they are just scouting the field?

Well if I personally had your definition of a relationship...well I wouldn't want one either.

I dislike the talking. Not the casual conversation stuff, but the serious personal talking. I'm just not comfortable with it

I know some people think their significant other has to know "everything" about them. My husband and I don't think so. I am comfortable knowing what he chooses to share, and visa versa. I don't need to know all the names of the neighbors he had as a kid, and how he "felt" about them. And we rarely have any conversation related to "feelings." When I have the need to go there, I have female friends who fill it better than he could. And when something emotional happens like death, we are here for each other, helping shoulder the sorrow. But we don't talk the feeling.

I also greatly dislike the feeling of being responsible for someone else's feelings and happiness

Wow. This makes me wonder what kind of women you dated in the past. My husband isn't responsible for my happiness. I would never burden another human being with something that can change day to day. And I am not responsible for his happiness either. Do I want him to be happy? Sure! But I can't make it happen.

sometimes get the "Don't you get lonely?" question.

~raises hand~
I'm guilty of asking you this. Why? Because I look at the world as part of a couple I guess. My husband is gone a lot, in the last few years over half of the year total each year. I like being on my own, but sometimes I get annoyed because being married is about spending time together right? Heh. But I get over it.

Anyway, I wonder if a single guy gets lonely because your articles seem lonely to me. And I guess I think we all need more than "social" conversation sometimes. Not intense personal stuff, but conversation with a friend who knows you well. But I am female so maybe its a girl thing?

Personally, I wouldn't mind having a relationship...but, to each his own, I guess.

~Zoo

Nothing wrong with being on your own Mason, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

One day someone will sweep you off your feet so fast you won't know what has hit you! You'll be begging her to stay with you 24/7!   

Why would I or anyone else choose to accept some measure of responsibility for the happiness of another person. It's hard enough to attend to one's own happiness.

I don't believe that we areresponsible for another's feelings, whether in or out of a relationship.

People choose how they feel.

It's amazing how many people ask me if I have a wife or girlfriend at home. Why? They almost always seem surprised or something when I say that I don't.

I think the fact that you're nice looking, intelligent, well-spoken, a multi-faceted person ( smart in different things) gives them that "I wonder who the lucky gal is" thought, no I'm not trying to "suck up" to you nor am I "hittin on ya". I just know that people ( especially women) get to thinking like that.
You're fine the way you are, and how you choose to live your life!

Just tell the next person that you're fine on your own since you're in a business that doesn't fit the "couple" lifestyle. Or something like that!

IMHO, it's that whole "my life is this way so why isn't his?" kind of thinking, ya know?!

But I am female so maybe its a girl thing?

I don't know, I've often felt that way, too. Who says the end all and be all has to end up as a couple?

I don't think it's abnormal to want to stay single and don't just feel that marriage is the answer to having lived a happy and successful life.

Hey M, hope you're not headed home anytime today. The weather is antsy today!

There's nothing wrong with being single M.

Sometimes people are just plain rude. Just like when people ask me when I'm going to have kids, then when I tell them I had a hysterectomy, they tell me I can adopt. I get sooo sick of hearing about what I can do. I'm fine without kids - but obviously they're not. You see, it's their problem not yours!

I enjoy spending time with someone, but not all of the time

Me too. For the first two years of our marriage my husband and I lived 140 miles apart. Now we're cramped in my condo and sometimes it gets too close. But we both have home offices we can go hide in. We don't have to be with each other all the time and we don't need to be entertained by the other. I also occasionally go camping alone or with some other friends.

most of the people I know who are in relationships aren't overly happy with them.

This makes me wonder if you are seeing the whole picture. I know for me and my girlfriends lunch out tends to become a husband bashing session. Yes we love our husbands and we aren't going to leave, but we need to vent. Perhaps you've been other peolpe's sounding board a few too many times???

I'm happy with my relationship - and yes I do bitch about it.

I dislike the talking. Not the casual conversation stuff, but the serious personal talking. I'm just not comfortable with it.... Some things I simply prefer not to discuss.

I think this is completely normal in the early stages of relationships. Gradually as intimacy increases those casual conversations turn to more personal matters but they remain casual. If you're uncomfortable talking about personal suff the relationship probably isn't ready for it. But this does not mean that you have to tell anyone things you don't want to talk about. There's a difference between privacy and withholding information.

I also greatly dislike the feeling of being responsible for someone else's feelings and happiness.... It's hard enough to attend to one's own happiness.

I know this one's already been discussed but I have to agree with them. You aren't responsible for anyone's happiness but your own. People who think you control their emotions are not exhibiting adult behavior. They aren't mature enough for a real relationship.

Just my opinions FWTW.

Thanks for all the comments folks. I've been busy on the road and haven't had much online time.

To put this article in perspective, I had just returned from dinner and a couple of brews at Appleby's and I'd had three conversations with three different people. The relationship qustions came up in all three of them so I was a tad annoyed about the topic.

It's really a small non-rant, not a serious treatise. The points I brought up about relationships were more facetious than not.