Hey, Pollsters, Leave my Ring Finger Alone!

http://www.alternet.org/story/58453/

I'm a part of the mysterious swing voters for the 2008 elections!

The article is only too true; I cringe at family events and shoulder my lack of a partner-in-crime with unease and discomfort. Grouped with the youngsters [aged 8-18] my college degree, bill-paying-non-dependent status, or personal projects do nothing to cause my relatives to perceive me as grown-up. I pretend to be over it, but then I come home and mope about Bloomington and my apartment for weeks, over-analyzing everything I said, and everything I did along with everything everyone else said and did.

Particularly this:

In my generation, educated, financially independent women can control most parts of our lives. We choose our professions, invest our own income and buy our own properties. We have the freedom to travel wherever we want. We can participate in most sports. We make our own decisions about our health care. And let's not forget, we can vote. The only thing that we have no control over is who we love. For pollsters to take advantage of the one factor in my life that I have no control over seems incredibly careless.

And this:

Coming across this study at my desk puts me right back at dreaded family reunions: I might have graduated from college, climbed up the corporate ladder, or finished my first 10K race, but all I am ever asked is, "Why aren't you married?"

I'd like to say that my unmarried state is more than the classic waiting for Prince Charming. I'd like to think that finding myself and what makes me happy is more important than learning to be a good wife. Sometimes it's difficult to believe.
If some gentleman in my life had proposed in the past few years, would I have said yes? Would I still think that was the right decision today, in 2007?

I know it's a state of being for which I am spectacularly unready. I wish my relatives, who know me so ill, could be made to realize this without much screaming. Given that I don't plan on screaming and they don't plan on comprehending, I'll just parry it as I come, sounding more bitter and acid each Christmas.

Even though I think it is tactless, I'm proud to be a member of the swing voters circa 2008! [Except that I don't see myself doing too much swinging and I couldn't even begin to tell you who I would vote for...]