From a Guy's Perspective: When Should You Settle Down?

As the youngest member of my team in a recent casual business dinner I found myself conversing with wiser, mature women who had a view on settling down. They asked if I planned on settling down with my current girlfriend, who I've dated for nearly 2-years. One announced that I was far too young to even consider it. This woman, in her early to mid 30's spoke of numerous relationships and that it takes many years before finding that someone special. While we all have our own opinions, based on experience, I posed the question: What age should you settle down?

The average age of getting married is increasing

The average age of someone getting married is approaching 25 to 27, according to the U.S. Census. Many of us young 20-somethings are finding it difficult to find a job, we are living longer and don't see the point of settling down early. About 50-years ago my grandparents met and were married before they were 20. The dating scene wasn't eclipsed by the variety and convenience that couples have today. While I believe settling down that young is a bit taboo in today's changing scene, I have yet to understand why we place an age bracket on settling down.

Is settling down early necessarily bad for your relationship?

The people that tell us that we need decades of dating experience before settling down are often the ones that haven't found exactly what they are looking yet. With the divorce rate nearing 50-percent, even with the average marriage age increasing, I don't understand the logic. Almost every man has a story of the one that got away, maybe that was in college, during their early dating life, or perhaps later in adulthood. Settling down should remain an individual choice of both partners. If you're 24 and settling down makes you happy, go for it.

Do you listen to your friends?

When I was in college, I had the friend that was jealous of every relationship I ever had. He was by all accounts the guy that cared more about himself than any potential partner he could have had. When you take advice from your friends, whether single or married, you are asking for trouble. While we gain wisdom with age, the advice we give is not always right for everyone. Listen to how you feel and how your partner feels. If the time is right you will know, not your nosey friends who believe that they know what is best.

Are you too young to settle down?

When you find "the one" you will know it. They are the one that makes you light up when they enter a room, and they are the one that you know will be "the one that got away" when you get older. Settle down when you feel the time is right, not what your friends, or co-workers think.

Sources:

http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/tabMS-2.pdf