Like others have said, I think it all comes down to what makes one happy.
Me? Hate to argue. Like Blonde said, however, arguments are a part of relationships, so I suck it up and don my gloves when I have to (because as much as arguing sucks, ya gotta speak your mind).
But I’d be wildly unhappy in a relationship with constant bickering. Ask SkipMagic if I don’t try to run for the hills almost every time we argue. My thinking is usually along the lines of, “I wasn’t unhappy when I was single, but I sure am unhappy right now!”
I usually get over it pretty quickly.
At any rate, the point is that I live for safety, ease, and comfort. Just as I get a much bigger thrill from watching a really bad movie on my couch at home (BTW, can’t wait for the Stepford Wives sequel!!!) than I do from riding a rollercoaster (hate 'em), I am far happier with a life of warmth and safety (or, as some would call it, boredom) than I would be with a loud, messy life.
That said, I do agree with Maureen about the children. As a former teacher I can tell you that I tend to have a special place in my heart the smart-ass kid. Sure, I always appreciated the ones who did their work, paid attention, and avoided trouble, but I LOVED some of the ones who weren’t afraid to challenge my authority (as long as they could back up their case . . . ).
(I guess it’s because I was always the kid in the first category–I was totally cowed by adults and figures of authority; a shame, really, since I was actually a smart kid, but nobody knew it because I was so painfully shy I barely talked. Making up for it now, though. :D)
This is why I don’t want kids. Because the kind of kids I like when they belong to someone else are a far cry from the ones I’d like if they were my own.
Anyway, point is, I really like cheese.