Why aren't you Single?

I'm not sure. I think it's more acceptable these days, especially for women, to be independent and single. However, humans are conditioned to be in partnerships. Women also now have financial and sexual freedom, which they didn't until the advent of the pill

I was single for nearly 20 odd years and was resigned to that and reasonably happy, but met my now DP quite unexpectedly

The best human I ever met no way could I not marry him. He is the best person ever even with his flaws. So patient, caring and very active within the family and household. His hobbies are actually practical and benefit us all. Can fix cars, carpentry and even plumbing and electrics!
Again I stress I never met any one in my 37 years like him.

I was the spider/mouse/rat person in our relationship.

Yes this. Also, I hate to admit it, but really would struggle with DIY and good financial management if I was alone

I love my DH and he grounds me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I also love when he works away and I can spend a couple of days binging a box set (he prefers films) and eating cereals for dinner. But then I look forward to him coming back.

He is a great provider, kind and thoughtful.

I steal the best memes and we laugh at them together at the end of the day.

I am with DH because I love him. He is kind and good company.

I like sitting and watching TV with him in the evenings and chatting about things at the end of the day.

I like that we share the work of parenting our two DDs and have a happy family unit. Plus we're modelling what a respectful and loving relationship looks like to our children.

I loved being free and single. But parenting children alone would be very hard and I think eventually I'd feel lonely. I do love having someone to come home to and to share my life with. If I hadn't met DH perhaps I'd feel differently. My ex from before was awful and I was way happier single than I was with him. But DH is fabulous!

Thank you. We just get along and are grateful for each other.

I met my husband and fell absolutely hook line and sinker for him at age 20! I now realise that was very young but to be honest we were still absolutely crackers for each other until we had the kids 12 years later... it's deffo more challenging with the kids, i had very severe pnd which effected me for a few years and weve certainly had some ups and downs. But when we get quality time together it's awesome and as the kids get older there will be more and more opportunities. Last week we laughed so much he spat his tea out and I had tears streaming down my face... can't remember why now. It's been 20 years... my parents were dead against him and said we would never last 😂. What's better than living with your best friend? Neither of us are perfect but I'm glad I picked him...

I think that it might differ according to level of education. Young people going to university don’t tend to be getting tied into serious relationships at 16/17/18 nor do their parents encourage them to do that, quite the opposite in my social circle for at least 2 generations. It’s not common to form a serious relationship while at university (thought it does happen). The relationships often come later usually around the time of first graduate jobs.

The physical affection every day, regular sex with someone I trust and feel so safe and comfortable with, love seeing him undressing/getting in and out of the shower as he is tall with big shoulders and has a very fit sexy body, sharing the load of everyday life…cooking/cleaning/shopping etc, he does all the admin stuff, we talk loads about everything and I respect his opinions on things, we have fun and laugh a lot, have very different interests which makes conversations interesting and I like learning about new things, we rarely argue but are very tolerant of each others faults. Life is just better with him!

Because when I was single I spent everything I earned every month. I needed to find someone who never spent any money so I could help them out 😁

I was engaged at 22, married at 23. Despite some ups and downs we’ve been together 17 years. It’s not all doom and gloom if you start early.

Also he gives good head.

Because my partner is amazing and lovely and helpful and a brilliant dad. I love our life together.

I was single throughout most of my 20’s though because I loved to travel and do my own thing, and I’m so glad I did all that and waited for a good man.

Oh, and the spider thing.

Wow, stuff of fairy tales. Lucky you!

Lovely to read all these positive experiences of marriage/partnerships. I admit to having a slightly cynical view of marriage (backed up by alot of MN posts) and have been single for most of adult life (painful experience earlier on). Although I have fallen in love at later stage.
Heart warming messages on here

Sex, and he’s good with my dogs! (I love him too, and we are best friends who make each other laugh, lol). Fully intended to stay single after my divorce and then this happened. I could live very happily single, I currently choose not to.

My husband is autistic. He hates all social interaction. We have 3 children, 2 of them have ND issues. I’m freaking hilarious to him. No one gets him like me and I’m adorable

Been with my DH since 19 - now mid-forties. Never really been a single adult.
Because we both get different things from each other.
We can turn around and say do you remember that time 20 years ago when…
I couldn’t imagine being with someone who didn’t love our kids as much as me.
He’s super practical and can fix anything.
We both know each other’s families (the good the bad and the ugly)
When one says ‘can you get the thing from what’s it called’ the other generally knows what we mean.
I hate being on my own too long and get bored
He was super keen on kids, I wasn’t. He helped me make best decision of my life (to have them).
We make each other laugh.
He was super handsome and is still pretty hot.
Sometimes he drives me mad (and vice versa) but it would be like imagining my life in a foreign language without him. It would just feel odd and unreal.

Because he's an amazing father and a decent person. Sad reading that back that this is the reason we are together though.

My boyfriends at 16-20 were absolute arseholes (I see that now hah!)

I was single (but not ‘alone’) for 4 years from 20-24. Had my own house, half decent job etc, and then I met now dh (13 years ago) now I’m not single because I like him a lot and can’t imagine my life without him in it.

I am very glad no one encouraged me to settle down in those years and I got to enjoy myself, while also becoming happy with myself too.

I've been with DP for getting on for 15 years. I'm 34 now. We are like different parts of the same person.

We do stuff together, with the kids, alone. We can just be together, doing our own thing.

I couldn't imagine my life without him

Wow you have found a real gem there. He sounds so lovely

Because my husband is the one I’ve made my family with and shared our joys and pain with. He is the person I want to be with forever, my best friend, my absolute love. Our children are young adults and the way they look at us both being so happy together is worth everything in the world to us and them….to me this is what life is.