Why settle?

I really enjoy when people look to me as an example for how to live single and relationship free and be completely fine with it. This strikes me as funny. I don't know why though. Could it be that I have not been in ONE serious relationship in the last eight years? Could it be that I haven't been on ONE real date in the last eight years? Who knows, but it still makes me laugh. Relationships are a tricky thing, especially when you have a child involved. Children change everything. And when I say everything, I mean everything. No more making those spur of the moment decisions to go out or leave town on a whim. No more going to the bar every night looking for a man of the moment. No more decisions made just for me. Now, by all means that is not everything that changes, but those are a few that are acceptable to mention. Anyways, I have never been one to be in one relationship after another. I have never been one that always needs a guy by my side to make me complete or feel loved and secure. I think even before my daughter came along I wasn't this type of person. I don't understand those people who say they must have a boyfriend or they will just die and cannot go a week without having a boyfriend. In and out of relationships is not that healthy, honestly. Do those girls really know who they are? Do those girls really know what they want? Do those girls really know the meaning of single? It took me a long time to really figure out who I am and what I want out of life and especially in a relationship with another human being. So that is why it was so easy for me to live the past eight years single, independent, and content. I have grown into a better person, a stronger person, and at times, a more cynical person. Yes, that comes with the territory of seeing friends around me living a life in a long term relationship with kids or getting married. But I know who I am and what I want. Now don't get me wrong, there were times when I longed for someone to be there with me and to help me through raising a child, but if I would have given in to that I would have been settling. No one deserves to settle for something less than what they want. I don't plan on settling. If it's written in the stars that I am supposed to spend the rest of my life single, raising my child, and grow old and be known as the "old cat lady" then that's fine. But I don't think that is what God has planned for me. I really do think there is something or someone out there waiting to give me what I deserve. Everyone wants the fairy tale ending where we live happily ever after. I would rather be happy, know who I am, know what I want, than settle for someone that will not make me happy for the rest of my life. I don't ask for a lot in a relationship, but I do want to be happy. And for once in a long time, I can finally say that I am happy. I have my life in order and together and now it's time to let someone else in to add that missing piece of the puzzle.