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.

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

If you say so.

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?

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!   

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.

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.