Noelle Tannenbaum has alerted our little corner of the blogworld that it's National Singles Week. I would write my own drawn-out post about it, but she makes so many wonderful points that I think you should just read her post. And the article she linked to.
I will be celebrating. Yes, I'm well aware that I'm in a relationship with The Modern Beau, thus making me not single. Really, we are single because if I try to combine my income tax return with his I'm pretty sure the government will put its collective foot down on that. We've been dating for nearly five years now, and I'm completely OK with the fact that we're not married. We're having a hell of a time just being right now. We've seen several friends marry into an unhappy relationship, and the MB will probably be the first to tell you that the MG needs her alone time like Ben needs Jerry. Sure, we'll probably end up getting married at some point and when we do we'll throw a hell of a party. But for now, we've got a wonderful thing and I'd never want for more.
My favorite point in the article is this: Single people are shorted on the 1,136 federal benefits, protections, and privileges that are available only to people who are legally married. Seriously, that sucks. Also, I appreciate the point that "alone doesn't mean lonely."
Now don't take this as judgment of those of you whom are married. I do still want to have my own family at some point, so I'm not rejecting marriage and family. Those of you I keep up with seem to be very happy which means you did marriage the right way. Unfortunately, there are so many of your peers who didn't take the time to make the right decision.
One last thing. I'm going to preempt Vanessa and mention the QuirkyAlone movement, which promotes the notion that individuals shouldn't be in a relationship for the sake of it.
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Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Because I couldn't have said it better myself.
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6 comments:
Oh wow this is really interesting, I didn't know that! Yeah I don't doubt that I'm shorted on stuff for being single benefit-wise and socially at work stuff and personal too. Makes me crazy.
You knew I would be chiming it with it! Being newly single I am celebrating this week as well!
It's really the benefits thing that gets me all angry about being single. I wish we could live in a world where the government has no say in the way we couple.
I think the problem is that not too many people want to take a stand on being single lest they stay that way for the rest of their lives.
Anyway, I hope to and the Modern Beau enjoy your time together and apart!
It's so true. If Chris and I were married I would have way better health and dental insurance and we wouldn't have to file everything twice. In that case, it just seems pointless NOT to get married, when that shouldn't be the point at all.
Word. I have no idea why a person's relationship status is any concern of the government's. Bull honky, I say.
BayJB: Yep. It totally tears at my frugal side.
V: Good timing.
Noelle: That's a very good point. It all goes back to not wanting to be tagged with the stigma of being single.
NPW: If the Modern Beau had had any sense about him, he would have married me while he was in law school to take advantage of my medical benefits. Now he has pretty good ones on his own, so I guess there's no reason for us to get married now :-) Although we do still have the whole paying for two houses thing to encourage marriage.
Mickey: I say I like your use of 'bull honky' and may try to use it in a sentence today.
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