Question: is it okay to be alone with male friends?

          Something just occurred to me. I spend a lot of time with my male friends, usually it's in groups. I may even be the only girl but that's never really bothered anyone as far as I can tell. Sometimes, though, it's just me and one of them, in public or at a private residence. I'm young and unattached, usually they're similarly unattached.
          I can think of a few instances when I was out with a male friend and the people around us assume we're together. If we're working with a group of people that don't know us, they will ask or or both of us. When it comes to checks while eating out, the waiter will ask "together?" and they won't even add "or separate" to the question.
          I love them all dearly...as friends, brothers even, but is that okay? I'm okay with it. They seem to be okay with it (usually). I keep some physical distance. I'm never alone with a male friend in a private setting for very long. Actually, I can't think of an instance in which it was just me and a guy at my place or his alone for any appreciable length of time. No one's tried to make a pass or anything. As far as I know, no one's interested in me that way. That may be due to the fact (at least in part) that I've made it clear I'm not looking for a relationship in this stage of my life.

          Still, I wonder. What do you think?

I do it for love, love, love, love

Babe, I know that it's your soul but you could you bottle it up and get down to the heart of it. No, it's my heart you're straight out of your luck. Don't make me tell you again, my love, love, love, love...

          This is for family, friends, and those who seek my (romantic) love. I'd been meaning to write this for a while, just to put into writing what has been solidifying and clarifying in my mind. Recent events, though, prompt me to finally post this.

          The short message is: For the foreseeable future I am not looking to date, much less get into a relationship (serious or not) or especially marriage. I may not be "taken" but I am unavailable.

          It'd be easy to get into my views on dating and marriage in general but I'll restrict this to my own relationship status. The longer message stems from "I'm not ready" and "It wouldn't be fair to my partner". So why don't I want to date? Why do I not care about marriage right now?

1. I'm not mature enough to be in a relationship other friendship. I couldn't be the girlfriend who'd deserve the kind of guy I want (and that hopefully God has planned for me). I won't bog you down with details and turn this into a confession of every little thing I can think of that's wrong with me.
   
2. I'm focused on other things right now. I'm still in school and it seems I can barely get that right. I'm focusing on my faith, too. They're both things that require vigilance, diligence and persistence. I can only focus on so many things at once and right now I feel I'm capacity.
   
3. It's irrational and emotions are not to be trusted. I can't think of a good reason to be in a romantic relationship nor do I have any desire for one. There's this wall around me that I cannot penetrate. I've prayed for God to guard my heart, it would seem He's also guarding my mind.

The unforeseeable future
          God may have a husband in mind for me someday. If so, wonderful. If not, well that's fine, too. For now, it's not happening. It would literally take divine intervention for me to change my mind. It's taken divine intervention to get me to this place, it'll take it to move me out.
          Every time I realize that I find someone even remotely attractive, I immediately pray for God to guard my heart and guide my will. I assume the object of interest is unavailable and/or unsuitable (or that I'm unsuitable for them). Basically, I cut off the idea until the whim passes. I assume that if it's meant to be in the more immediate future, it'll last and God will work out.
          Does this mean I'm entirely against it? Not really I just think it's pointless right now. I'm happy being friends, getting to know someone that way. It's very low pressure and lots of room to love. Why would I want to be with someone that I couldn't be friends with? Love of the romantic sort may come in time. When I decide to, I won't hold back and I won't let go. Until then, just leave it alone. Pushing it will only push me away.