Funnily enough I was thinking about this yesterday, but in reverse.
Met a girl yesterday at a little get together in London with some friends. Quite liked her. Clever, thin, laughs at my jokes, eight years younger than me. That's four very big boxes ticked. On my way back last night I thought about seeing her again, and I may well do, but I did think quite a lot about how much being with someone involves compromise. My last relationship started off like a steam train and then fizzled out a few months later, mainly because of her wanting me to change and me implacably refusing to: telling her it simply wasn't an option.
My work entails a lot of time working alone; I also live alone and I now realise I've really grown to enjoy my own company. It's a bit strange because I'm a really social, outgoing person and I've got a lot of friends and contacts, both working and social. I'm certainly not a hermit and I do enjoy the company if others. I like people.
I think I'm quite a selfish person in many respects - and that's why I'm hesitant to enter into anything serious. I reckon I'll see that girl again, but any sign of it getting too serious and I expect I'll start backing off, as that will involve too much compromise with my life and how it operates.
Different proposition when you're older, as Warspite said, but I'll worry about that nearer the time and I'm certainly sad for anyone who feels lonely and isolated.
