Of the nation's approximately 90 million single adults, about 3.5 million live in Michigan, with more joining the ranks of singledom all the time. People tend to marry later in life, which means they spend more years as singles. And the older you are, the more difficult it becomes to meet a potential partner; you're no longer surrounded by people your age and in your general circumstance.
"Once you're out of the college/graduate school experience, or high school, depending on how far you went, your social universe does get smaller. It depends on the people you work with and the people you already know," says Joelle Kaufman, a vice president at engage.com, an online matchmaking service.
Between 1990 and 2000, according to census figures, the singles population of Oakland and Macomb counties grew almost 10%.
And yet the holidays seem to be all about being part of a twosome. About walking in a winter wonderland with your sweetie and smooching under the mistletoe and kissing some more at midnight on New Year's Eve and pledging your love with a diamond ring -- Christmas and New Year's are two of the most popular times for couples to get engaged.
"The expectations of the holidays are quite big for pairing up with somebody because the holidays are geared for couples," says Shirley Bavonese of the Relationship Institute in Royal Oak.
"And the expectation is, if you are in a couple, it's warm and cozy and everything should be pleasant and nice, and so that's attractive if you're out alone and you're single. You become, I guess, more motivated to seek companionship."
According to a survey done by It's Just Lunch dating service, 71% of the nation's singles plan to make finding someone new their New Year's resolution.
But how?
The survey says 49% plan to join a dating service in 2007, compared to 25% in 2006.
Locally, Regina Stucco of the Social Connection companies, which organize speed-dating events and other activities for singles, says participation increases by about 30% during January and February. "We definitely see people coming out of the blocks and wanting to go to events," she says. An additional 1,000 people attend events over those two months.
Tonight, Social Connection will host its 6th Annual Resolution Ball at the swanky Royal Park Hotel in Rochester.
About 1,300 guests are expected to attend the black tie-optional event. And while it is open to couples, most of the attendees will be single.
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