With great humility, at my age of 56, being a lifelong bachelor, I have pondered this many times, while thinking I was missing something. I would be lying if I said that if I allowed myself, I could easily get lonely. My GF of on/off off 9yrs has turned religious and sex is like turning clocks, twice a year. Not kidding. My GF claims she jacks it daily but wont have sex unless I commit, arghhhhh, not gonna under those circumstances. So she is moving at some point 3 hrs away. We'll see.
I have had more than one married buddy stop by unannounced, and say "Gee I cruise by yr street and think Bills just kicked back, chilling watching TV or doing whatever, and I have my old lady with her constant nagging and 2 rugrats who always need something and damn I'm jeolous as hell!" Its then I'm glad I'm unmarried despite unloading in my left hand on a reg basis!!