I'm tired of all the advice and the trite phrases too. Yes, they are true but I don't like hearing them just the same. It's just a reminder that "when I least expect it" hasn't happened yet.

Good luck. I've given up trying to find someone for now. You're right. It's just too tiring.

You never think you'll end up as that "perpetually single friend", but somehow, you're there. Your coupled off friends have a laugh over your sad dating exploits and don't really understand. At leaat when it xomes to solo vacations, you can tell yourself at least I will be at the mercy of my own schedule and chosen activities.
I feel for you, I wish there were an easy solution.

..everything I got for a little peace of mind.

"You need to get out there. You'll meet someone when you least expect it." The next time I hear those words from someone, I am going to punch them in the face.

I'm in my early thirties, and I am tired, too. Tired of hearing the BS from those people who don't bother to understand the difficulties I am facing with meeting women, yet have quickly concluded that there's something wrong with me. Here's what I've been hearing: "There are plenty of women in Vancouver! What do you MEAN you can't find anyone? What is WRONG with you? If you still don't have a girlfriend, then you must be gay."

If such people took the time to understand the complex, personal problems I'm facing (self-esteem and loneliness issues, recently getting out of an abusive, dysfunctional family situation, distrust and problems relating to others), then they wouldn't be dispensing such unwanted, insensitive and thoughtless BS. But in my mind, that is what distinguishes the real friends (for which I've concluded that there is no such thing) from the ones who pretend that they care, but in the end really don't give a fuck.

Dating in your 30's is a nightmare.

Hope it gets better as we get older because it looks like I'm going to be single for a very, very long time.

The hardest thing is the inevitable question you get on dates: Why are you in your late 30's and single? It's like you're marked as flawed or "that guy that will never settle down". For me, I am the guy that will never settle down and I have accepted it ~ happily.

...you all. Thank you for making me feel less alone. I am a female version of you, OP. I already have a full-time job I can barely handle so I don't need or want another one in the form of dating in this city. I, too, have given up due to exhaustion.

Having all your friends in relationships makes you want to have one just so they don't feel so awkward about hanging out with you. Someone should make a 'single ppl with similar interests' site, where one can find someone to see a play with (or insert your preferred activity here).

@Turtle,

They did. It's called Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/cities/ca/bc/vancouver/

I used to have a job where I could skim summaries of lots of people's life stories. A recurring plot is this: get married at age 28-33, have a couple of kids, divorce at age 40+. Maybe we're the ones who dodged that bullet.

At least I know why I'm single: I haven't met a single man who "gets" me (married, yes, but single, no). I've met men who were very happy that I was female, single, and breathing. They didn't understand the rest of me. If I were born in an earlier generation, in a country overseas, maybe that would be enough. But as a product of these modern times, I'm looking for an intellectual/emotional connection, too.