Here's an article about people who live alone: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3445_16...-youre-not-alone/?tag=contentMain;contentBody It's much more common now than it used to be. I've lived alone since 1983 when I left home at the tender age of 17, (except for the 4 year period I lived aboard a US navy destroyer). Strong and independent people don't need to conform to the societal norms of the nuclear family.