Hi, Thomas. Well, I think it's becoming less likely that I will be "hooked" with every passing year. :>) I was romantic to the very core as a child, as an adolescent, as a young adult, as an older adult...

Have fallen in love many times, and even succeeded in getting involved with the target of my affections on a few! It was always an overwhelming experience when I did.

These experiences have combined to convince me that I don't do well trying to "nest-build" with a female. Just am not made that way, I guess...I prefer a small, private nest of my own. And I never had the yen to have children at all. Not for one moment did I think that was a good idea (in my particular case, I mean).

Everybody's unique in these matters, so I am not proposing that anyone else emulate me in them, needless to say.

But I do find that, although I'm very romantic by nature, I seem to do better as a loner.

I like females and respect them and admire them...I just don't want to live with one full time. It involves too much. The "real thing" is a very big chunk to bite off, but most people simply take if for granted that they MUST have it or they don't have a life! I don't see it that way at all. I think life can be marvelous or miserable in either case, and I've seen plenty of evidence to support either one of those possibilities.

My penchant for being alone may stem partly from the fact that I was an only child, and partly from the fact that my parents' marriage has been an emotional snake pit lasting a lifetime, and I got to watch it all from a front row seat...right to this very day.

Good luck to you in finding whatever makes you happy.

- LH