Day 351: Settle

Settle
I was reading an article over on the Single Black Male blog entitled Still Single: Maybe You Should Settle. It was about..what else? What everyone talks about...well at least at my age. What is the perfect age to settle down? Everyone wants to be in the game long enough to exhaust all good possibilities, but leave before A. There's no one else left or B. you're seen as damaged, unpicked because you are still in the game. I fully acknowledge that there is no perfect age that is right for everyone, but I venture to say there is at least a good stage. I also know that the window for women is a lot smaller than the window for men and people in metropolitan areas tend to add 5-10 years to stretch out their single life.

I recently started asking people around me about their ideas about marriage and babies. Mind you I live in a metropolitan area, but maintain my country mindset. So at 26, I'm starting to feel the urge, but I'm not anxious. I have the plan in place: grad school, marriage, baby at 30, but I fully realize that this plan may or may not work. When will I get itchy and anxious? 30. When will I become a cat lady or like SBM says Settle for someone who wants to settle down: a number after 30. I realize men and city women say that is young, stay single, be carefree. Nahh, I like my country mindset and I won't fall into those lulls that time creates in your life. The first time right after college, when you join the work force, think you're getting paid (you're not), spending money like crazy, thinking you are ready for adult life. The next time you've been working for about 3 years realize that your life will continue to be like the first 3 years unless you do something, often marriage, baby or master's degree.  Third, well I don't know 3rd, I'm still successfully jumping over the 2nd hurdle.

 Anyone want to tell me what's next?