Hah, your stories about dating sound eerily similar to mine. I totally get why things are bumming you out. I think that the problems that you and your friends are experiencing are incredibly common in this city, especially among transplants. This city attracts really driven people who don't ever want to settle...and who are busting their ass in order to make rent and have a bit left over. I know that anecdotal evidence != the truth, but I don't think it's a coincidence that the average age of marriage here is a lot higher than it is in the rest of the country, and our overall marriage rate is much lower than average.

Being single in the summer is lame...but it's more fun than being single in the winter! It's so much easier to meet guys when everyone's out and about and they're in a good mood. I've meet some cool men during the summer just by hanging out in public by myself - reading a book in Prospect Park or waiting in the endless line at Trader Joe's.

It sounds like you dodged a bullet with those last few guys. Being a single woman in the most awesome city in America is way better than being attached to some idiot who tried to hide the fact that he's engaged.

Dating in NYC is a lot like finding a decent apartment. There are so many choices and only a limited number of hours in the day, and there are so many brokers who are willing to feed you lies in order to get you to settle for their shitty apartment. ("it's right near the train! ...and by right near the train, I mean it's a 25 minute walk away!" "this is a 2 bedroom! ...if you put up a wall in the living room and turn half of it into a bedroom!") all you can do is be smart about searching, know what you want, be aware of your rights and be willing to call people on their bullshit.