To me, the age factor shifts whatever advice I'd give. Some parts can be a maturity factor over certain personality factors.

I'm not certain how, at your age, you could be 'alone for too long'?

I had a chat years ago when I was working with a woman that I had attended high school with. Each, as it turns out, craved what experience the other had in high school. I was the "coupled" one and her the free one who was able to foster her friendships and activities without the distraction of it all. Relationship that is.