Do all guys go through the "chase is more fun" stage?

[Jurollo]

So I have been thinking about my future a lot lately, mainly because I purchased a house and am realizing that even though I am still relatively young at 24 I am not a child anymore and have begun to think more about serious relationships and how I basically have always avoided them, even though I have always internally told myself thats what I wanted it has clearly not been my desire as I have essentially, without exception chased girls I liked and just bailed the [censored] out once I got them and new they liked me. I like the challenge of it all I guess and I think I get sick of people quickly as well. So as I see my friends get picked off one by one by the marriage bug I question if something is just fundamentally wrong with me. My question is:

For the older dudes here:
Did you go through this? What snapped you out of it? Was it a conscious decision or just an epiphany when you met someone? Or was it, dare I say, just a logical decision for the easy way out?

For the dudes my age:
Everyone think this way? Am an exception to the rule? Do you also have an interest in maturing a little and moving on a little or are you happy with randomness?

[MatthewRyan]

run-on

and yes

[Jurollo]

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run-on

and yes

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I dont think it was that much of a run on post.

[adsman]

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Just comes down to it being a ton of effort to be a single dude.

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I'm 36 and single and I have to say that i couldn't disagree with this more.

[goodsamaritan]

You're 24, relax.

[Jurollo]

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You're 24, relax.

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I am not like super excitedly anxious about it. I am just curious when people snapped out of this stage essentially. I am doing other super adult things, and still am in my partying stage in other aspects.

[XXXNoahXXX]

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I have a pretty serious girlfriend now and even though I can probably do better, I'm putting some serious thought into just settling in with her out of convenience.

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eww.


FWIW I am 23 and have lived with my girlfriend for two years, since graduating college. I'm not sure whether its her or my maturity, likely a combo of the two, but I really don't feel that great desire to play the field. I mean I do, and I would love to go out and prove that I still got it, and even mix it up for sex, etc. but this thought is now a blip on the screen instead of an all-consuming thing.

Previously, I'd go through the typical wanting a girlfriend until I had one and then craving freedom. Whenever I was with a girl, it was like "ok, i got her....now what?" The thrill of the catch was over, she was in love with me, and I was over it.

Now though, I just realize how lucky I am that I get to spend every night and wake up every morning with a girl who, for me, is a million times better than every other girl. Living together is a HUGE step, because the time you spend together makes one year together the equivalent of like 5 years living apart.

This past weekend I went to visit my friend in NYC, and we went out to some bars. Obviously I was scoping around out of habit, picking out which girl I'd approach if I was single, estimating my odds, etc. I never had any real urge to do it though, because I'm happy where I'm at.

I know I'm just blabbering on, but whatever.

[awful poker analogy] For me, this is like a variation on that thread that gets started once a month. "Would you give up poker for a million dollars?" Basically, how much do you value actually playing the game.

The difference for me is that it seems like the choice between a million dollars or playing a tournament where the top prize is 500k. If I choose to play, not only am I giving up on the sure thing for the thrill of the game, I also know that I could never find anyone so perfect for me. [/awful poker analogy]

[raptor517]

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Previously, I'd go through the typical wanting a girlfriend until I had one and then craving freedom. Whenever I was with a girl, it was like "ok, i got her....now what?" The thrill of the catch was over, she was in love with me, and I was over it.

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perfect.

[suzy89222]

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I'm 27 and starting to hit this stage now. Main reason is I hate the beginning stages of relationships now whereas before they were all the fun. I don't really like going out drinking and meeting people as much as I used to. I have my close circle of friends and I'm content with that. I have a pretty serious girlfriend now and even though I can probably do better, I'm putting some serious thought into just settling in with her out of convenience.

I used to think I'd want to be single until I was 40 and have six girlfriends forever etc. Thats just not practical though unless your whole life is built around chasing tail. If you want to have a normal life and not drink 5 nights a week and be constantly spending loads of your waking hours getting to know women, maintaining relationships with them etc, its just not really possible. Just comes down to it being a ton of effort to be a single dude...and for me thats time better spent making money or traveling or just reading a book. If any of that makes any [censored] sense at all lol

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geez, i hope she never reads this!!