Ever since I passed that age 30+ mark, my friends and family have incessantly asked, “So… why aren’t you married yet?” I keep replying, “Because I don’t want to be;” but for some reason, my answer doesn’t provide the social conformation that they seem to be seeking from me. Here’s my real answer. E=MC2

The Theory of Relativity states: time is dependent on the relative motion of an observer measuring the time. In short, it’s my time when I (and only I) think it is. My bachelor lifestyle doesn’t have a built-in expiration date and I don’t feel like I’m missing out on something while casually dating a variety of amazing, interesting and most of all exciting women. Moreover, the term settle down perfectly describes the reasoning behind most age 30+ marriages. People are getting married because it is “weird” not to be.

I have observed some of my 30+ female friends either overanalyze the “marriageability” of a man after the first date or end an otherwise fulfilling relationship because the guy wasn’t moving towards marriage fast enough. When I asked them why they wanted to get married, their answers were elaborate and eloquent, but simplified down to social status and security.

As we get older, the word “single” becomes increasingly disturbing, causing our insecurities to rise and desperation to set in. This plight reminds me of a quote from Milton’s Paradise Lost, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”

Hey, maybe I’ll find “the one” and feel differently… or maybe some of us are meant for the two, three or four. Your thoughts?