Thank you people, it's good to hear that it's more common than some people might think. To be honest I didn't think it was that peculiar myself either, but I've had to put up with a fair few patronising comments about it of late, and it's getting under my skin a bit. Thus far I've been handling the issue quite diplomatically, but throw a few G&T's into the equation and it might be a different story!
It's just frustrating when certain folks judge you by your relationship status, and seem to feel sorry for you having to live a supposedly miserable, lonely existence. I get pissed off when people assume that a relationship and raising a family is something that you want and desire - something that will complete you as a person. I am an individual, am incredibly independent and value my freedom. I don't want to be tied down, restricted and have a bunch of kids demolishing my wages.
My neighbour, who I mentioned in my original post, is married with a kid. The most exciting thing he's done this year is erect a garden shed - I kid you not, it was like the event of the century. But you know what, that's the life he's chosen and I respect that. I assume that he's happy, and that's ultimately what matters. But I just wish that he, and others, would respect the fact that I don't really want that from life. Perhaps it isn't terribly conventional to not want a partner or have kids, but it's my life, and I'm perfectly content with being a supposedly sad little singleton.
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