what makes an aerie different from an apt?

An aerie is a bird's nest in a high place.

That's what I meant about the grass is always greener, though. I "settled down" a long time ago, but I still questions and funny, semi-pitying looks when I say I've never traveled abroad or finished college and we don't own a house. It always goes both ways.

Oh definitely. But I wonder, do people often ask you when you're going to travel so that you can finally fulfill some sort of destiny (the way people ask me when I am going to "land a husband")? It's more the societal stigma that gets to me. I mean, I'd like to have a partner for sure, but on top of that I deal with all of the other messaging from society about coupledom and marriage.

Maybe not with travel, but there's definitely a stigma about not finishing college. Or maybe it's just in my head, and I see it in others.

No, you're right. There're so many stigmas to be had - enough to go around!

so why didn't she just say "bird's nest?"

aerie

Sounds like a real estate agent's way of selling a place that's way too drafty and full of bird shit.

aerie

Garrett didn't have quite the right ring?

And still, when I get together with extended family over the holidays, the very sweet and concerned relatives never hesitate to ask me when I am going to "finally settle down".

Yikes!

Oddly enough, my family has always been really really good about not badgering me about marriage. Nobody gives me a hard time. Thank fuck.

Colorado Springs police cited a man after he falsely reported a burglary at his house early Wednesday morning.

Kevin Gaylor, 24, invited a woman he had met via the online service Craigslist to his home in the 4900 block of Picturesque Circle just after 3 a.m. so they could "get better acquainted," police said.

When Gaylor's girlfriend came home unexpectedly, Gaylor called police to report the other woman as a "burglary in progress," police said.

Gaylor was cited on suspicion of false reporting to authorities.

Can you imagine being the "other woman?"

I also was intrigued by the author's conclusions on the current state of men and women in terms of education, accomplishment, life choices, etc. It was just interesting.

I don't go around thinking I'm some sort of loser by any means, just because I am not married. But I am coming to realize that I made a lot of decisions that directly led to not getting hitched. When I was at Oracle, for instance, my cohort of women, all of us cute and in our late 20's/early 30's, were MAN CRAZY. They wore the cutest outfits, always had on perfect make-up, went out of their way to be exactly what they felt would attract men. And by and large their efforts worked. Really. Three women I met my first year at Oracle were engaged readily. They worked it.

The truth is that I didn't. I was never good at it and actively disliked doing the cute thing to get boys. Always have. But it meant that I wasn't part of the cadre of chicks reading "the Knot" and planning the perfect Napa wedding the next summer.

So it's been interesting to look back on life and accept that I've dated some exceptional men and I always just thought it would happen "in time". Kind of like how the Atlantic author starts off her piece.

It's a complicated mix of feelings.