8 Reasons Guys Prefer to Be Single

You're single -- a heat-seeking bachelor, committed to no one in particular, able to party like John Belushi and sleep until noon with no one underfoot to tell you to do otherwise. It's a great life, and why shouldn't it be? These days, there's no real social pressure to get married right out of high school or college, you can easily get laid without saying "I do," and most people are waiting until much later in life to tie the knot, anyway...... Still, that nagging question keeps popping into your head: Should I settle down? Should I ransom my freedom? Should I embark on the great search for my soul mate and willingly kiss my single days goodbye forever? While only you can answer this question, here are a few reasons for staying single (at least for the time being).

• You can take the time to find the right woman

One of our reasons for staying single is that you can afford to wait for your true soul mate (if one even exists) to pop into the picture. You can take the time to casually wade through the barracuda-infested waters of the dating pool and set your hook for the prize catch. In other words, by holding out for Miss Right (instead of Miss Always Right), you can avoid the mistake of a lifetime and marry for love -- and not out of desperation. It's sad to say, but too many guys get hitched for the wrong reasons, like they've reached a certain age, all of their friends are getting married, and they haven't been successful at dating and this woman is the first to show interest. This reason for staying single allows you to take your time playing the dating game, and increase your odds of beating the divorce statistics.

• You can focus on your career

Our No. 2 reason for staying single is that you can enjoy the opportunity of building your career without draining the tons of energy a permanent relationship entails. You remain free to put in long hours, work on the weekends or do whatever else you have to do to be successful. This is especially true if you're working in any kind of time-demanding field, such as medicine, law or entrepreneurship. The upside is, once your business hits the big time and you're cranking mucho dinero , you'll have hordes of women throwing themselves at you. That being said, you probably still won't even have time to think about marriage.

• You can do what you want, when you want

When you're single, the world is your oyster. You can pick up and go anywhere you want, do anything you want, any time you want. No one is in the background nagging at you to do chores, go shopping, or "grow up." You're absolutely free to hang out with your buddies, party until dawn and find plenty of time for your personal interests and hobbies. Best of all, you have the luxury of being all by yourself, if you feel like it.

• You can enjoy a sexual smorgasbord

One of the best reasons for staying single is that you're not stuck with the same sex partner for the rest of your life. The dating universe is yours to conquer. You can happily sample all the different fare at the sexual buffet, and keep your taste buds primed for the next dish being served. What's more, you never have to wrestle with sexual boredom or lack of variety (and you'll be the envy of all your married friends).

• You can build wealth

Staying single means not being forced into buying a 10,000-megawatt diamond ring (so your fiance can impress her friends with the huge price tag) or any of the other bloodsucking financial drains that marriage entails, for that matter. And you won't be stuck having to regularly shell out for the flowers, more jewelry and the other gifts that a wife demands (it's like paying maintenance fees on a condo). By staying single, you're not legally or financially obligated to anyone but yourself. But once you John Hancock the dotted line on that marriage contract, she has you by the balls forever. Somehow spontaneously becomes "hers" once you get married) and invest it in important things like sex-drenched singles' cruises, buying cool cars or building equity in a house.

• You can enjoy serenity

Another reason for staying single is that being alone means peace and quiet. When you don't live with a woman, you're not subjected to her never-ending mood swings and emotional storms, or her blaming you for everything that she screws up in her life. And, of course, no fights. As long as you keep her as a casual girlfriend and not a wife, if she gets too uppity you can simply walk away, free and clear.

• You can keep your toys

When you're single, you can hang on to all your fun toys -- that classic Mustang, the speedboat, the Harley -- all of which seem to magically disappear overnight once you get married. Your wife won't want you to have these things because they take the focus off her and she feels it's her money that she could be better spending on clothes and shoes.

Being single means you don't have to constantly find a "middle ground" -- meaning, doing what she wants to do (whether you like it or not). This includes being forced to see chick flicks or suffer antique fairs and dinner with her friends. And you'd better toe the line buddy, or you'll have hell to pay and no more sex for you.

• The Single Life

While marriage may provide certain benefits, when you choose to stay single, you're keeping the door open for many more options and opportunities in your life. Your male independence is something you should never surrender lightly, even if you think you've met the girl of your dreams. So think twice (or maybe three times) before you take that long walk down the aisle. If you're still not sure about it, however, here's one last reason for staying single: You don't have to deal with in-laws. Point made.