I agree that you should get married whenever you're ready. The sad thing is, the married/engaged people I know have ended up having huge problems that could have been prevented had they waited. I know being in a relationship is work, but the bad is compounded when you haven't figured out YOU yet.

I got married at 34 years old. And I eloped.

I waited many years--lonely and suffering because I dated some lusers mixed in there...

The reality, is I was NOT ready to dedicate my life to my significant other. When you get married, you have to do that every now and then. I just came off from having to do that and it was very painful for my husband. He supported me financially for nearly 7 months because I had to leave my hellish job. Believe me, without his support, what would I look like moving back in with my parents at nearly 40 years old! :eek: And I know SEVERAL people OLDER than me that have done that after crazy relationships with kids...

From your post-baccalaureate days to your mid/late-30's--PLEASE enjoy all that you are. If you are suppose to be a nuclear physicist making presentations to the UN, learn that and give yourself as much way to make your OWN way. So that when this economy--or your economy worsens, you've got your own "ticket" to succeed... Do not wait until your old, decrepit or too sick to make essential changes.

Good Luck!

EXACLTY. I think that there's nothing wrong with someone who is 23 or even 18 getting married if they truly have found their "one" that they want to marry, but how often does that happen? We are finally able to go/spend/study/move where we please. I can't imagine more than a handful of people who have just started to taste independence in the last 5 years being ready to give that up for someone else, yet about 60% of my class seems married or engaged and our av. age is 24. I'm very happy for those who are happy, but so sad for those who did it just to be able to have a wedding. I find that girls my age are often excited and prepared for a wedding, not a marriage.

Anyway, I wouldn't say I'm lonely and depressed; it's not quite that dire. I just want some male company. Someone to come over and watch a movie on the couch with, maybe call me sometime or go to Dave and Buster's with. SOMEBODY PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!! lol I'm not looking right now, but it's taking all of my self-control not to be.;)

Welp, personally, you are not old enough to be that leacherous, but basicallly are you asking us, the GC, should you pursue a "Fcuk Buddy"? Cuz that's what it sounds that's what you would like... LOL.

I mean, hey, be real. Nothing's wrong with that. The deal is for these kind of ADULT relationships, the person is NEVER there when you need him/her. And they hardly are "satisfying".

Now, if you just want a "friend" who happens to be a male (a real one born with a penis and a scrotum), the ONLY fellas I know willing to be like that are ghey... Most young men and some old one's to ain't gonna to that too long without you puttin' out. Now they may wait for a month at the longest... But that's about it. They can find a chick who will do that an then some where they write home to their mama's telling them he's gonna marry her--or the two get caught up with a pregnancy.

If you enjoy flowers, movies, etc.--hey, get them yourselves. Most men aren't giving those items from the beginning of a situational/relationship. And I'd be worried if I got all these "presents" from jump.

And a note from a former dry seasoned woman: If you want the kind of relationship you described, then fix dinner for a guy friend. Ask what's his favorite meal and attempt to make it. If he's too anal about it, I wouldn't invite him over to your house. And, if you go over there, always be bearing "food gifts"--like cookies, cupcakes, etc.

In a word...almost. ;) Allow me to explain: I have another friend who happens to be one of only 2 male virgins I ever met in college. We developed a new sort of buddy--the "virgin's version" if you will. This "buddy" is so defined as someone of the opposite sex who is the person you dial when it's the middle of the night and you suddenly realize how lonely you are (and feeling pathetic for being so) and just want someone to cuddle with you as you fall asleep so you don't feel so alone in the world. You might kiss, not because you're attracted to each other, but because heck you feel like kissin' someone tonight. There's no sex involved and you don't want there to be. But having someone who comes over in the middle of the night and keeps a toothbrush at your place gives the illusion that you are no longer "missing out" but in reality you spent the night with a friend doing nothing to write home about. I would have enjoyed that a year ago, but now I want to stick to traditional dating. I see now that it was a good concept in theory but...

Well, I realized this is NOT a good idea. It's extremely hard for me to keep my hands to myself. We haven't played with that fire again. :o

Well hunny, a gentleman rarely puts a woman--who might be the object of his affection--into compromising positions...

Corollary: A dog always has flies and let sleeping dogs lie...

You want a "virginal buddy"--most of your "boyfriends" are going to stop playing that mess, right now. Hey, can't buy a dildo or vibrator and a fake warming pillow of a man? It will NEVER cheat on you, and if it stops working, you just change the batteries...

Really, you ain't got no playa cards. And to play this game, there is is a high stakes ante, and you have to ante up. The name of this game is called 5 card stud and the joker is always wild... If you not ready to play this game, don't start and move on...

YOU. ARE. FIRED.http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/24.gif

Lol, touche Monet. Touche. :D

Whut? http://www.pledgepark.com/images/smilies/huh.gif http://www.pledgepark.com/images/smilies/lol.gif

i suppose ill throw my "woe is me, im single" post:

ive been single for... a few years, i guess 6 years now? the last real relationship i had was short and sweet. ive been on a couple dates over the years since then, but they were all lame ducks--dudes who wanted to do the friends thing, dudes who liked dudes, dudes who had girls already, etc.

i've done the "im single and loving it" thing. and the "im single and hating it" thing. and then the "im gonna dress really provocatively and see who will take me home" thing. and then the "im gonna be a total spinster and see who will ask for my number. the "ill be a woman of the new generation and ask HIM out" thing wasnt so empowering.

so now im doing the "welp im almost 25 and ive never felt this much pressure to be in a relationship" thing. of all my friends, one recently got married, another engaged, and the rest are either in committed relationships (im the oldest of 4 and all my siblings are in relationships!) or desperately single like myself.

so now... im just doing me. which is what i shouldve done all along. but dammit, man company is nice you know!

Look at it this way...when you're single you can have tons of no-strings-attached sex, date multiple people even at the same time, and you can flirt with who ever you want.

If you're not getting enough attention, change where you hang out and who you hang out with. This made a HUGE difference for me, within the last year. I think many of you are making the mistake of avoiding bars. That's where you will find MANY MANY other single people...for fucking, for relationships, or just for friendships. Playing sports is another good way to meet single people.

It's not a time for tears :( it's a time for joy :)

Monet, I love you. You are me in ten years.

And, I second the sentiment, btw.

Regarding marriage at 23, I have to comment because I got married at 23. :) But, I never planned to get married at that age. It just worked out that I met my ideal man and there wasn't much point in putting it off.

We've been married 7 years now, and we do not have kids. That's one thing that I knew wasn't going to happen right away. I still don't know when we'll have kid(s), but I know I'm a lot more ready now than I was 7 years ago. And, I'm so happy that we have had all these wonderful years just the two of us.

I would never advise someone to get married young, but if you've found the right person you know it, and there is nothing wrong with changing your plans to accomodate a change in situation. The bottom line is no one has any business being married until the time is right, and 'the time' varies from one individual to another, and completely depends on when you meet the right person to get married to. It doesn't work out for everyone, but I have no regrets at all.

You haven't done the personal ads or internet dating, yet... Be creative and safe when you do that, though... Some ppl are psycho out there. If you meet someone in your city, let GC know what it was like...

bwhahaha, i never went back to edit my post.

ive also done/doing the "hey, maybe 'the one' is on Myspace/Match/Eharmony/Yahoo Personals so ill spend money and sad nights on there."

man i wish i could get that money back. the same people out there are on the internet.

i actually did meet someone on the internet but it was long ago, back when internet hooking up was still new and kinda freaky. being 16 doesnt help that, but the situation was awful, just awful. not that i wouldnt do it again, but im a lot more apprehensive about it.

but i havent done the "get a BOB and call it a night, a good night at that" thing.

in a while, sigh.

Whut's wrong with a BOB? If you need him, then use him... Nuthin's wrong with that till you find a physical man to satisfy your need. Besides, the gentlemen that DESERVES your presence, is being prepared for you... :)