My ideal timeline is 5 to 7 years of dating. 2-3 years of marriage then kid. But as I'm near 30, I feel I am running out of time. Or hell, I probably ran out of time 4 years ago.

I notice that a lot of relationships that meet in their 30s tend to do all of that. Dating, marriage, and kid really fast and quick. Like in a span of 2 to 3 years.

As a guy with no relationship experience and constantly feels he wasted his youth, I am just not into that whatsoever. My psychiatrist isn't married for example but already had a kid within a year of meeting her current partner.

I just don't find those relationships appealing at all. It makes me think it is more transactional than romantic.

To be honest, I'd rather not have kids at all then having to be left with just those type of relationships.

My biggest regret was not being more outgoing when I was younger. I look at those high school and college sweethearts with absolute envy. They got a lifetime together and their long time buddies they've known for years.

No matter what now, I can't ever have that type of social circle. Those circles are very entrenched now. And friendships and romantic relationships at 29 aren't exactly as enjoyable or as adventurous as they were when we were a lot younger. That is why it is so important to make friends young. Not only do they run dry as you get older, but the few friendships you make in adulthood won't be nearly as fun and close as the ones you make as a younger person. Because of the age you met them, they'll just be inherelently different in nature and in my opinion, there "boring" in comparison. Friendships made during youth have a magic to them that adult friendships just don't have.

But I'm getting off topic. Do you think that timeline I'm looking for is available for me? Or do I need to make some tough choices now on some very serious subjects. Do I actually want kids is an example. This past year I've thought of a vasectonomy. How do I cope knowing that if a relationship hasn't happened at 29, it may never happen and it could be best to not to pursue one. Yeah, I don't want to be a step dad. I'm not into dating single moms.

Is it time to face the music on these important questions as I near 30? In an ideal world, I do have a stereotypical family. But truth is, it wasn't the path I was given. And at this point, I might like the idea of making up for lost time more than those other things.