'the deterioration of promiscuity'

hahaha...okay that's not really what this post is about and i apologize in advance for such a long post.  per the request of my 'wish-to-remain-anonymous' reader, and continuing along the lines of randall's discourse on the re-discovery of singledom, i post this question (almost) verbatim for aforementioned person in hopes of elliciting helpful (and controversial or scandalous) comments:

"not sure if perhaps this is going on with you in your life, but why is it that once you graduate college it seems that the overall population believes that you should be in a serious relationship? or that you shouldn't be single? are single college graduates considered abnormal or leperous creatures?  how long can you actually remain single before you officially become the social outkast, the single girl at the couples' parties?  do i have a right to be independent and pursue something i've always dreamed about without worrying about being in a relationship? according to some yes.  is it possible for me to pursue my dream and be in a relationship? according to some yes because its a part of life."

since when has singledom become a negative thing??  SHAME ON YOU!  have we degenerated to the point where we need to be rushing to find husbands and wives at the tender age of 22??  i guess what i'm trying to say is that at this point i feel that being in a serious relationship is hardly an expectation of me at all.  so where does this pressure stem from? parents? society's definition of a natural amorous progression?  yourself?  why is it that some people feel this burden more than others, when i feel almost none?

perhaps this level of pressure is also dependent on location, location, and LOCATION!  at the risk of sounding like a pantie-chasing hedonist, as a single 20-something-year old living in the city, i find myself less expected (or maybe less desiring?) to maintain a serious relationship, what with all the millions of other people out there that could potentially be perfect for me!!  here's an idea: could this resignment to serious-relationship-dom be something that is indigenous to the 'burbs?  for instance, i was talkin to pete the other day about how he really dreads moving to conneticut and how all the guys there, although might be young, are either married or in serious relationships.  it's just not for him.  not only can i understand that - i can sympathize.

maybe the transition from being in to out of college is such a significant time because we are forced to evaluate the state (and future) of all our current life choices - whether this means 'pursuing your dreams', staying in a long-term relationship or getting out of a long-term relationship.  and especially at a time when one, then two or three of your friends start to peel off into relationship vegetables, one may be tempted to scramble for the remainders!  (characteristically, this type of desperate behavior seems to occur around the end-of-year-holidays, valentine's day, and early spring)  we've all seen this before! (think early spring of 2000)  but ahoy!  i say if anything, NOW is the time for you to discover your friends and your passions before you feel the need to compromise them for any other person.