Is it the same people asking over and over? If it is, and you are close to them, it may be worth having a chat to them about it.

If it is simply many different acquaintances asking, you may have to shrug it off as one of life's little annoyances. Maybe having a quick standard response would help.

Start telling them about all the things they're missing out on... having the fridge to themselves, going away for the weekend on a moments notice, $$$, casual sex, etc....

Hi Sandra,

The freedom issue is a tricky one. I'm not a person who likes being told no, especially when there's no good reason, so I could never be with someone who felt they had the right to dictate what I can and cannot do in my life. A lot of that comes down to choice of partner, but that's deceptively easy to say. Some people might think that all you need to do is avoid the abusively controlling, but as you might have realised, anyone who needs you ties you down -- unless you're heartless.

Bobby

I have a friend who recently booted her husband out. She talks about the incredible feeling of freedom, being almost intoxicated with all the possibilities that are now open to her. I know that if I going to stay with my partner, that's something I'm not going to experience again. It's a compromise. I do like my freedom but I also think freedom is never an absolute -- I want to be free to drop out and go back to uni if I want, but I also want to be free from loneliness.