No, no children, not married. About patterns, my older brother has never been married and no children. I often wonder if our homelife growing up has something to do with. For me, I had such a negative view of how two people live together and function with children that i suppose I wouldn't go there unless I had a guarantee that it would never be like being at home. Who knows for sure though.

Re conversations that go South, I'm even beyond that because my parents and more recently my siblings take everything you say and turn it into a negative. My monthly emails to my mom glide only on the surface now and only focus on external factual in my life. For example, I'm going to Vermont next week or I did great on my electric bill this month...I can't talk about any person because they all try to create drama where no drama lies or was intended.