Ugh, yeah I have to say it irks me when almost everyone around me, including my own family, thinks that I'm lonely because I'm alone. My brother has been with his gf for about 5 years now, and at every family event people seem puzzled by my lack of enthusiasm for getting a girlfriend and cohabitating, getting married and or having kids.
I'd certainly say I haven't met anybody that I'd change my current status for, and I'm in no hurry. I guess I'm kinda lucky, as a bloke, that I have this luxury. I could start a family in 15+ years' time and it wouldn't be much of an issue. For a lot of girls around my age (27), they feel like their time is running out, which is kinda true given fertility.
On your last point, it's not so stressful but if there's one thing I have learned for next time, it's that you have to set your principles/ boundaries/ potential friction points early on in a relationship and stick by them. If certain things bother you about someone and vice versa, you have to nip it in the bud.
Example, a friend of mine said he was quitting smoking. Met a girl who hated smoking, and she said "it's me or the f@gs" (warning sign, really, but I digress). He relented, and quit for about a month. Hid it from her for the next two years. So much hassle and numerous white lies for what?
One thing that I will certainly do, should I embark upon another serious relationship, is downplay my feelings for previous girlfriends. I find that if a girl gets the impression you had something special with someone other than her, it will start a cycle of jealousy that will never go away, even if, in my mind, the past is the past.
Still, I'll say to those single pringles looking for love: good luck on your journey. But please, make sure you appreciate and love yourself and your own company before your find someone. I'm no expert by any means, but I see so many people out there who make the mistake of getting to relationships before they've sorted their own heads / lives out.
IMO you should be able to feel a strong sense of contentment / happiness whether you have a partner or not. I have a couple of close friends who're particularly unhappy right now, whose getting into a relationship in an attempt to cover the general insecurities has only exacerbated them and caused toxicity.
Wow, this thread brings out my inner chatterbox. Sorry if anyone feels like I'm chatting too much. Few of those around me are on my wavelength, so it's nice to find this thread!