I recently heard a "man" convey wonder —no awe at the concept of an independent woman who earns her own money. Considering that this concept hasn’t been new for several decades, it was a bit odd.

What was even weirder was when another man chimed in with his opinion that all women are simply waiting to snare a man so they can get pregnant, stop working and be supported.

I’m positive that is nowhere near true.

I think these men need to get out more. Meet some new and different kind of people. Dare I say, expose themselves to the real world beyond the suffocating confines of their small social circles. (Both men are high-end of upper middle class, where one is possibly a little more likely to spot women shopping and “updating” those imperfections on hubby’s dime instead of contributing to society.)

As far as getting knocked up in order to be supported, I’m sure there are women who operate this way, but if that truly is their main motivation for becoming moms, I can’t help but think of them as lost souls who’ve depleted their other options in life.

So, what’s sadder? That women like this exist, or that some men think all women are this way?

I have a “friend” whose husband once told her he’d be fine with her getting invetro treatments when they were tossing around the idea of conceiving, but that she found herself typing stuff like “fourteen day Caribbean cruise” and “biking adventure France” into “Google search” instead of “fertility treatments.”

I laughed so hard when she told me this, not only because it was just plain funny, but because it was a relief to know I’m not the only one who enjoys adventure over domesticity.

Babies are sweet, but being able to jet off overseas alone, whenever I want, is pretty sweet, too. And oh, by the way, I don’t need a man or a “sugar daddy” to pick up the tab, either.

Now don’t get e wrong. I look forward to getting married and starting my own softball team if it is meant to be. But I won’t force it and I’m definitely not on the hunt for it. I can still remember the cries of desperation from some of my friends that they would never find a man, get married and have children. (this subject is coming up in another blog).

For me right now it’s about freedom. Freedom from diapers and day care, from T-ball and baby spit-up. The freedom to write, read, dance, date, nap, jet off to an exotic location, plan, daydream.

There was a time a woman would have been shunned for wanting these options—a time when she may not even have realized she wanted them. Society has moved on and gotten over itself.

This might shock my male acquaintances who think all women long to be left at home with the kiddies and the credit card.

I really think they need to get out more.