You're single -- a heat-seeking bachelor, committed to no one in particular, able to party like John Belushi and sleep until noon with no one underfoot to tell you to do otherwise. It's a great life, and why shouldn't it be?

假设你是单身——一个热衷艳遇的单身汉，那么你既不需要向谁负责，又可以像John Belushi那样狂欢，还可以一觉睡到自然醒，太阳照到屁股也没人管。多美妙的生活啊，不是么？

These days, there's no real social pressure to get married right out of high school or college, you can easily get laid without saying "I do," and most people are waiting until much later in life to tie the knot, anyway.

当今社会中，并没有太大压力逼迫着你在高中或大学毕业后去结婚。即便不说“我愿意”，你也可以轻易跟女人上床。很多人都选择了晚结婚。

Still, that nagging¹ question keeps popping into your head: Should I settle down? Should I ransom² my freedom? Should I embark³ on the great search for my soul mate and willingly kiss my single days goodbye forever? While only you can answer this question, here are a few reasons for staying single (at least for the time being).

然而，一个闹心的问题始终萦绕脑际：我应该安定下来么？我应该赎回我的自由么？我应该踏上寻找心灵伴侣的旅程、向单身的时光挥别么？以下我们将提供一些坚持（至少是暂时坚持）单身的理由，虽然只有你自己才能回答上面的问题。

1- You can take the time to find the right woman

1.你有足够的时间来寻找合适的女人

One of our reasons for staying single is that you can afford to wait for your true soul mate (if one even exists) to pop into the picture. You can take the time to casually⁴ wade⁵ through the barracuda-infested waters of the dating pool and set your hook for the prize catch.

单身理由之一，你可以等待，直到真正的心灵伴侣出现（如果存在的话）。面对遍布荆棘的婚姻之路，你可以耐下性子，放长线，钓大鱼。

In other words, by holding out for Miss Right (instead of Miss Always Right), you can avoid the mistake of a lifetime and marry for love -- and not out of desperation.

换句话说，耐心等待意中人的出现，可以防止一不小心找上母老虎。你是出于爱情、而不是因为走投无路而结婚。这样便不会留下终生遗憾。

It's sad to say, but too many guys get hitched⁶ for the wrong reasons, like they've reached a certain age, all of their friends are getting married, and they haven't been successful at dating and this woman is the first to show interest.

我们还是很遗憾地看到，有太多人因为错误的原因选择结婚，比如说，到了某个年龄，或是朋友们都结了婚，又或是情场屡屡失意后终于碰上一个对自己表现出兴趣的女人。

This reason for staying single allows you to take your time playing the dating game, and increase your odds⁷ of beating the divorce statistics.

有了这个单身的理由，你大可以慢慢享受情场之欢，降低离婚风险。

2- You can focus on your career

2.你可以更加重视你的事业

Our No. 2 reason for staying single is that you can enjoy the opportunity of building your career without draining the tons of energy a permanent relationship entails⁸. You remain free to put in long hours, work on the weekends or do whatever else you have to do to be successful. This is especially true if you're working in any kind of time-demanding field, such as medicine, law or entrepreneurship.

单身理由之二，你可以尽情打拼事业，无需为婚姻心力交瘁。你可以投入大把时间，在周末工作，或是做那些可以让你有所成就的事情。尤其当你的工作很费时间，例如从医、从事法律工作或是做企业家，这一条就更加重要。

The upside is, once your business hits the big time and you're cranking mucho dinero , you'll have hordes⁹ of women throwing themselves at you. That being said, you probably still won't even have time to think about marriage.

最大的好处是，一旦事业有成，无数女人就会蜂拥而至。到那时，或许你根本无暇考虑结婚的问题。

3- You can do what you want, when you want

3.无论何时，你都可以做你想做的事

When you're single, the world is your oyster¹⁰. You can pick up and go anywhere you want, do anything you want, any time you want. No one is in the background nagging at you to do chores, go shopping, or "grow up."

如果你是单身，那么整个世界尽在掌握。不论何时何地，你可以从心所欲。没人摧着你干家务或去逛街，也没人要你“别耍孩子气”。

You're absolutely free to hang out with your buddies¹¹, party until dawn and find plenty of time for your personal interests and hobbies. Best of all, you have the luxury of being all by yourself, if you feel like it.

你可以尽情和弟兄们出去狂欢至天明，留出足够时间从事兴趣爱好。最妙的是，你可以做你喜欢的自己。

4- You can enjoy a sexual smorgasbord

4.你有更多机会一夜风流

One of the best reasons for staying single is that you're not stuck with the same sex partner for the rest of your life. The dating universe is yours to conquer. You can happily sample all the different fare at the sexual buffet¹², and keep your taste buds primed for the next dish being served.

单身理由中最具吸引力的一条，你无需和某个固定的性伙伴度过下半辈子。情场就躺在你的脚下。你可以遍尝鱼水之欢，时刻性致盎然 。

What's more, you never have to wrestle¹³ with sexual boredom¹⁴ or lack of variety (and you'll be the envy of all your married friends).

此外，你不用担心会对千篇一律的交欢方式索然，并会让有妇之夫们眼红。