Warning - sad post

I'm going to be honest with you. This may be quite a depressing post. Nothing terrible has happened, nothing traumatic or earth-shattering. But the realisation that pretty much the majority of people that I know in my social circles are either a) in a long-term relationship, b) married, c) married & pregnant or finally d) married, with children, has left me feeling surprisingly sad.

The search for a soul mate - because that is what I'm after (are we not?) is a search not for the faint-hearted. I think I've been also been surprised by the number of women that I know who exclaim they don't want to get married and then the next time I speak to them they are sparkling their diamond rock at me with utter glee. What the hell is that all about? Because the depressing truth is that most women, and I use that word lightly because I would actually like to say all women of the hetero vernacular, would like to be married, if not married with kids. Those who doth protest are frankly full of bullshit. And if we can't be honest with ourselves, then what's the point? As much as I want to make a successful career and I kid myself that having that and feeling proud of myself will suffice, I don't think it will.

I genuinely miss coming home to someone and sharing my life with that person, the rough and the smooth. Sure, it wasn't a bed of roses and sometimes being in a relationship was pretty shitty - but what is the alternative? Just because I'm single does not mean I'm going on lots of dates, nor does it mean that I'm even particularly attractive to the opposite sex. It just means that I'm not going out with anyone, have to attend other people's weddings and baby showers, and try and block out the realistic (cynical?) view that none of these events may be part of my life.

I did warn you this might be depressing reading...

PS
I forgot to say that I really wouldn't mind having a pleasurable distraction from work, study, and all my other million commitments - so even a fun date with a vaguely attractive man who can make me laugh would be a good start at the moment