Why are there so many confessions about how happy people are to be single and childless? Is this the kind of city Vancouver is? A city full of people who want to extend their adolescence for a lifetime.
Is it a Vancouver thing or a generational thing? I don't know. I think someone wrote a book about this phenomenon. Her premise was that people like the OP, who is not alone in his or her sentiment, basically want to be 19 forever. They want to go out clubbing with their little friends, have meaningless flings, and have as few responsibilities as possible. Louis C.K. actually has a pretty good take on this. He said, "you are not truly an adult until you have a kid." I think he's right.

It's because all the studies (google it) show having children makes you less happy. People are just starting to get smarter and realize life is about being happy not about crapping out children.

makes me laugh

This is directed to the post above going on about "people are not adults until they have kids" and "serial adolescence."

I am a male in my mid thirties (soon to be 35) I guess I expected to have a wife and kids by now, but it hasn't happened that way. If it comes along, great. It could be a very welcome addition to my life, with the right partner.

Lets get some things strait however- I never go clubbing. The past few years have been more LTR than "flings" I work hard with my own business, and am very mature and responsible, with money etc. Very light social drinker, haven't smoked weed in years. I am definitely past my adolescence, and don't miss it at all.

I have friends who have kids who I believe aren't that great at it- one guy went into rehab because of alcoholism (with a baby at home) swears like a trucker in front of his kid (will be funny when that kid enters kindergarten) and all in all has not done any post secondary education to make an income decent enough where he can provide a really decent life for the kid- Pay for college, etc. I have worked with family men who have been unreliable at showing up for work, to the point where they get fired. I never behaved like that when I worked for someone else. I can't believe someone with kids at home would be so cavalier with their job, but it happens sometimes. Are they more mature than me? nope..

I may not have that child experience, aside from looking after younger siblings growing up, however this does not by any means mean I am "not an adult", what a stupid thing to say.

What could be looked upon is selfish is the thought in our society that everyone who is normal must have kids, etc. A lot of people have kids and get married because that is what society expects them to do, and they want to keep up with their friends, etc. Especially with marriage. Not every case I think, but I have met a lot of unhappy married people with kids. Maybe not every family of course, but they are out there.

Bottom line is- the world actually does not need more population, we actually have too many people. That does not mean I am against marriage and family, but I think the decision or life event of not having any should not be stigmatized or looked down on. I have a fulfilled life, with or without.

As if every single person who has a child suddenly becomes a responsible adult. That's why the worlds so fu**ed up. People have children for the wrong reasons, are irresponsible and not any happier and the children bare the burden of this, often repeating the pattern. The rare people aware of this quite often choose not to have children.

Having children make some people happy. Also, I know many couples with children who are happy and enjoying their lives, and single people who are lonely and aimless in life. It really depends on the people.

there are trade offs for everything. regardless, being happy with your situation and life is important.

Your logic is flawed - it's like saying that anyone who doesn't go into medicine or law isn't in a real career, that entrepreneurs and dreamers like Bill Gates and Richard Branson are aimless and have no plan for the future. People have different paths in life: just because they're not the main path doesn't mean they're lost.

Stop this negative rant on children. We each get something different in life. It is not "Choice". Get real. Life happens when you are busy making plans. Stop pointing fingers and blaming and shaming. I think both sides are missing out on the point of life given their lack of compassion and understanding that we do not all get everything we want in life. Enough. Love each other.

Well, I can't have children. I'm not an adult? Umm.. Grow up.