First, I will thank you for your reply. Second, I feel that I must clarify one item. My friend does not really wish me to be different than I am. She does and has admitted that she does envy me. Not because she has a bad marriage because she honestly has one of the best marriages I have ever seen. She is quite fortunate. She is quite young though--early twenties. God where has the time gone when we consider that to be young.

This though still leaves me with the fact that I am single and I am independent. These are two facts that cannot be denied. You are right, I am not willing to settle. For me to commit my life to another they would have to be able to keep up with me intellectually while still meeting my needs emotionally and psychologically and they would have to meet my standards of morality. All of this is apparently a tall order.

I am not saying I am a paragon of virtue; heaven forbid. I am as flawed as the next person. I am human.

Again thanks for your reply.