How you view marriage...

This is pretty much for anyone out there, including those who have gone the traditional route in finding your soul mates. (IE: Got your education first - college, married, then kids, house, car etc, not necessarily in that order).

I'm divorced and I've had a couple of major relationships past that which lasted for 5+ years each. I already have a child who's now grown and I didn't want more. I'm able to get as far as GET the proposals, but apparently there's something that isn't clicking with me and the others that makes us both rethink the outcome... so that's ok. Better now than later, right?

Although this saddens me, I'm thinking that maybe I'm viewing the institution of marriage differently than they are. The first long term relationship (post divorce) was viewed in terms of the more traditional route as listed above, especially when I was still young enough to consider having another child. The second longterm relationship ended recently. I'm older and another child was not an option.

How do YOU, good people view this ...trend...for lack of a better word? Please apply your life's experiences to both scenarios if at all possible as well as your opinions.

Thanks in advance.