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Perhaps, I am slightly different than most single men my age (36/M), but I've decided to embrace singlehood. Not sure if this will be permanent, but I see no reason to settle down. I believe the Pew Research recently cited the number of single men looking for dates fell from 61% in 2019 to under 50% in 2022. This is a drastic decline in just a few short years and I believe those numbers will continue to decline.

The following is why I am single, and, why to a large degree, am not looking for dates:

I'm Burnt Out from Dating Apps and Taking the Initiative

This is probably the most common reason why (some) people remain single. In my 20's, I dedicated dating as a part time job. I joined all the apps, created numerous profiles and went to many events. I had more time and more drive to get out there and meet people. As I get older, the motivation has waned, largely because I have less time and patience for it. For me, I am exhausted from the endless swiping, thinking of new messages to send, setting up dates and paying for dates to only to start the process all over again when it fizzles out. I am tired of being in the driver's seat and refuse to make this area of my life a part-time job.

I'm on the Ace Spectrum/I'm Child-Free

I would call myself a heteromantic graysexual, which means I am romantically attracted to women, but I have limited sexual attraction. For me, sex is not a big part of my life, so single women have to bring more to the table. Additionally, many women want children. My dating pool is narrower/more limited, and I have accepted that.

I Have More to Lose

I run my own business and make very decent money. People advise to date intentionally (with the ultimate intent on marriage), but I'd have more to potentially lose if I decided to get married and it turns south. As an attorney who once did matrimonial work, I have seen this firsthand.

I have Strong Friendships

There are studies out there that say upwards of 15% of men don't even have one single friend. My father has been married for over 40+ years to my mom, and he would fit into this category of men who don't have one single friend and has not had one friend for years. Being single has forced me to make strong friendships where I can emotionally confide in them, so the need for a romantic relationship is less.

I Don't Care What Society Says

Several years back, there was an article written on how the vast majority of single men face greater pressure from friends, family, the media and even their employers on finding a partner. Far from being a care-free bachelor, many men face more pressure than women to settle down. I believe this is because men are taught that masculinity means having a woman by your side and that having a romantic partner is the only appropriate way for a man to truly express his feelings. We see this constantly in movies, TV shows and even from statistics that show married men generally make more money than single men. Singles are marginalized and discriminated against, but I don't care what society or popular culture says. Even if it doesn't last forever, some people are just single at heart. There's more to life than dating, which can be quite toxic (see #1).