#5, absolutely.

I WANT commitment. I WANT to stay in and dedicate myself to a partnership that continuously grows and evolves according to both of our capabilities and interests.

But marriage to the wrong person, with children etc., is just a lifelong prison sentence. I've seen it happen to my male friends. Once you slip on that ring, or see a positive pregnancy test, that's it, you're locked in. Making the best of permanently dealing with the wrong person is just not how I want to live life.

Some things that have made me take serious pause:

* feeling like I was being viewed largely as a financial security blanket

* Vital interests just don't align. Examples: I want to start a business, my partner wants me to get a job. I want to go on a month-long silent retreat, my partner wants to go to Church on Sundays.

* Working through a partner's deep issues involving more than I know how to give. I am not trained as a therapist, or empowered to teach / perform psychic surgery to resolve another's karma. I can refer someone to others I know who can do these things, but a lot of people (both men and women) want to get these things from their partner.