Another One Bites the Dust

It seems like every time I turn around another one of my classmates has either gotten married, had a kid, or gotten divorced. AGGHH! Are we really old enough to be doing those things? Don't get me wrong, I definitely feel like I'm 25, but I'm in no way, shape or form ready for all that "heavy" stuff.
My aunt emailed me this morning to tell me that they were inducing my cousin's labor this morning. My cousin is 2 days younger than me and is having her SECOND kid! What's the rush?
I don't feel that need, and maybe that makes me the odd man, but I look at my life and I see time. Tons of it. And there are so many things I want to experience before I get tied down with family.
These people who run off and marry after only a few months or even a year of dating - do you really know that person well enough to say, "I want to commit the rest of my life to you?" I don't see how you could. Being from a generation where "divorce" was as common as the air we breathed I'd think "kids" my age would be more cautious about the relationships they enter. And yet I see and hear of girls constantly getting pregnant by guys they have no intentions of marrying. Or, worse, marrying them because they feel they have to.
I guess that's why it's easy for me to feel that marriage isn't all that important. The whole sanctity of the ritual has lost its meaning. You can order a divorce over the internet just as easily as you order plane tickets. Celebrities jump from one marriage to the next, President's have affairs with their interns, Joe Schmoe down the street is daddy to half the neighborhood. What has our society come to?
And YET! I am the odd man out because I am 25 - I am not married, engaged, or even dating. I actually get odd looks from people when they ask me if I have any kids and I say no. Like how dare I not have babies, man in my life or not. Excuse me!
I am proud of the fact that at 25 I own my house - by MYSELF - no man to help. I am proud that I've paid for my college education - not my parents. I am proud that I work 50 hours a week and make more money than both my parents put together (as well as my siblings and friends). I think that kicks total ass. And the next person that looks down their nose at me because I am not married with kids - let them be damned.
I have never passed judgment on the "family oriented" people that I've come into contact with. I feel that we all have our lives to live and we must do what we feel is right. So, when I hear of a wedding, pregnancy, or divorce - I give the appropriate acknowledgement - whether I agree with it or not. And all I ask is for the same respect in turn.
As for my friend, I am happy for her recent news. She is a sweet girl - and actually one of the last ones I saw getting married and having kids. I don't know her husband - but they appear to love one another - and I hope that things work out for them.
My cousin - I'm not surprised by her decision to have a family quickly. She's always been a mommy in training. When we were little she dreamt of running a house making tons of babies while I dreamt of running my own business making tons of money. There's nothing wrong with that. She doesn't belittle my decision - I don't belittle hers. We understand that while we came from the same gene pool - we have different goals for ourselves. While many of our family members judge me for my "cool" attitude toward "domestication" she usually comes to my defense.
And I guess we both know that once the right guy comes along - I could be swept down that same road she's already traveled.