I'm in my early thirties, so I'm fighting my delusions one day at a time. I can't say what works for me will work for others. Can only describe the hell I escaped and how I prevent that hell from returning until I am freed of this burden.

Happy hours

I used to visit bars to meet women, now I listen to men and their problems with women. It's a constant reminder of what I'm not missing out on, how I have extra money to invest, and why I'm so freaking happy.

Water cooler talk

Making sure to appear normal, I encourage marriage and relationships among my colleagues, ever so often slipping up with a comment. Like that time one guy tried to off load his bad behaving pooch on me, "Hey, do you like dogs? Maybe BeRite wants a dog!" and I responded, "Well, they ARE loyal and won't cheat on you. And if you do lose your job, they'll still be happy to see you." Both married guys cracked up laughing.

Another young LTR colleague is using the money he saved on an expensive wedding ring (different culture, not obligated to expensive diamonds, just extreme familial judgement) to take him and his soon-to-be fiance on an expensive trip to a foreign land just to pop the question. The very next day, he's bitching and moaning to me about how he hates to have to explain himself to his future wife. "Why are you wearing those compression shorts?" "You're going for a 5 mile run, now, why?"

I love these chats because what appears to be greener grass is just astroturf. And I can't help but wince in empathetic pain at all the poor souls falling in love on that artificial playing field. GMOW feels amazing, but oftentimes we can be left so ingratiatingly blissful during idle times, that we forget who's playground we're on. I wonder what it would feel like to...

Boys, while you are on your journey, never forget what brought you here (in the moment) and why. For me, it was the constant bickering, the daily requirements for entertainment, eating out, inability to save or reduce spending, vocal judgement and ridicule of my quirks and idiosyncrasies, hearing her customer service voice used on other men, the fear of losing her. LOL @ that last one.

Personally, I allow married and LTR guys to emotionally dump on me as much as possible. The kids, the ex-wife, the bad dog, the nightmare logistics, the vacations, I want it all. Then I hit them with this the following Monday:

Mr. BP: ...

Me: Last night I decided to reduce my overall spending by 20% so I can better fund my investment account.

Mr. BP: ...

Yeah, yeah I'm eating sardines, rice and beans five days a week. But that seasoning though! And the Omega 3's have me feeling amazing!

Mr. BP: ...