Marital Satisfaction or Self-Gratification

According to census.gov (http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/marital-hist/2004/Table3.2004.xls), in 2004, 53.6% of men ages 25-29 had never married; 41.3% of women ages 25-29 had never married. The percentages decreased, of course, between the ages of 30-34 for both men and women, and I questioned that. Is it really because both men and women have developed true self identities, established themselves financially, and are ready to love someone for the rest of their lives and start a family with them, or is it because they feel they are getting too old and need to hurry and find someone?

Is it martial satisfaction young adults are wanting or self-gratification? As I stated in a previous blog, I was proposed to twice this year. To be honest, one of those men asked me to marry him December of 2007. Well, he was married on this past Friday. LOL!!! I talked with him and it seemed he couldn’t tell me anything about his fiancé; nothing but he was excited about getting married. That troubled me, so I prayed for him. He once told me he was “getting older and needed to settle down.” (I don’t take marriage lightly!) My aunt and I discussed it because I believe I went into shock! Was this not the same person who just proposed to me in June (3 months ago) in front of my family!? Okay, so I’m off of my soapbox now. She informed me that he was “simply on a mission, he just wanted a wife.” Is that a self-gratifying reason for marriage…

Public Affection

Does public affection institutes love? Does is displays ownership? (The hand that I'm holding and the body attached to it belongs to me, so back off!!!) Could there possibly be too much public affection, especially when children are around?

These questions all stim from the movie, The Namesake. It seemed to be traditional for Gogol's family to not display affection, not even an "I love you". I'm not for sure if this is an accurate Indian tradition, but it made me think about those couples, both hetero and homosexual, who don't seem to mind "showing off" their love for each other no matter where they are. What do you think...can there be too much or too little public affection?