i agree, i do get lonely sometimes. especially when the kids have gone out, im in a new area, new house, new job and i find it totally exhausting sometimes...but im never too tired to think, and thats what is exhausting...but i do have my freedom! and with freedom comes choice, i can now go on my laptop when i want, i can wear what i want, talk to who i want..its my choice. and i choose to not be lonely, im a woman, therefore i can talk and talk i will!!! and i will NEVER live with anyone again, i dont need to

I love being single, right now I couldn't think of anything better, there are parts of my life that someone else may try to tell me not to do, and while I would comprimise on some things, other things I wouldn't or couldn't , and I've also got to make my own mistakes, and learn things my way, and if was with someone right now I prob wont be able to do so as much, but I think its my time to be selfish, and also young and dumb, although some people have said to me that if I get to use to being single I wont be able to change, and other things, but Im not gonna go running out looking for someone, if I find someone who comes into my life great, if I don't who cares? I'm more then capable, although that might be of getting myself into trouble but I'm happy, and what will be will be, but it doesn't mean I can't have a bit of fun in the mean time . Tbh though I'd rather learn how to be single now, I know one person whose 28 only been with one guy, and gets treated with less then no respect, and I do hope that learning how to be single now might prevent me from being in a relationship where I live for the man who holds all the cards, and I believe a mentally abusive relationship, tbh I think learning how to cope on your own and being single is as important as learning how to compromise and be in a relationship, although it may not always feel as good, and sometimes there are times when for one reason or another its better for us to be single, even if we don't know it at the time, or I could just be spouting rubbish, who knows .

I had I was in an abusive relationship at 18-22 finally plucked the courage up to walk out - with nothing but my dog Spent the next 14yrs on my own, in that time I got a good job, bought my own house and car . . . I enjoyed it. Lost some 'friends' due to them being loved up and doing things as couples my mum hassled me constantly as 'I'll never be happy until I found the one' then came the hassle of her wanting grandkids all the while I was happily being me I learnt to fix fences, cars and loads of general DIY stuff.
My 'old' friends that dropped me slowly tried to come back around after their relationships failed but I'd made new ones by then who liked me for me - I can honestly say I was happy.

Then at 36 out of the blue I had a message on that site we cannot mention from a guy I met when working and living in kent (got a bar job a couple of evenings a week to socialise a bit on top of my proper job) he was married at the time I met him but we chatted over the bar nothing more - I was back in doncaster and he was living locally and divorced - we chatted online and via text for a while then met - the rest they is history

Am I happier as a couple than I was single ? Honestly don't know but I'm certainly not unhappier It's a different kind of happiness I think The best of it is we are not together because we need to be, I know I can 'make it on my own' so to speak - we're together because we want to be and that makes a big difference I think.