She wasn't ready to settle down, she told her friends. That was one way of putting it. Another was would have been that she had not found anyone to settle down with. There had been several men in her life, but they hadn't been convincing. They'd been somewhat like her table - quickly acquired, brightened up a little, but temporary. The time for that kind of thing was running out, however. She was tired of renting.
She expressed to her friends that she wasn't prepared to settle down, but this was just one perspective. A more accurate reflection of her situation was that she hadn't encountered anyone who truly inspired her to commit. Although she had a few relationships, none of the men had made a lasting impression, resembling her temporary furniture that provided a short-lived joy before being replaced.
As time moved on, she realized that her casual lifestyle was becoming less satisfying. The thrill of temporary connections was fading, and she felt exhausted by the idea of endlessly 'renting' experiences rather than investing in something more permanent. The urgency to find a meaningful relationship was beginning to weigh on her.
