To begin with, we are witnessing a (31)
explosion of "solos" — people who live (32) ,
outside a family altogether. Between 1970 and 1978, the number of persons aged
fourteen (33) thirty-four who lived alone nearly tripled in
the United State — (34) from 1.5 million to 4.3 million.
Today, (35) fifth of all households in the United States
consists (36) a living solo. (37) are all
these people losers or loners, forced into the solo life. Many deliberately
choose it, at least for a time. Says a legislative aide to a Seattle
councilwoman, "I (38) consider marriage if the right person
came (39) , but I would not give up my career (40)
it." Looking at an older slice of the population, we
find a large number of formerly married people, living on their (41)
and, in many eases, decidedly liking it. The growth of such groups
(42) created a flourishing "singles" culture and a much
publicized proliferation of bars, travel tours, and (43)
services or products de- signed for the independent individual.
Simultaneously, the real estate industry has come (44) with
"singles only" condominia, and has begun to respond to a (45)
for smaller apartments and suburban homes with fewer
bedrooms. We are now experiencing a growth (46)
the number of people living together (47) bothering
about legal formalities. This group has more (48) doubled in
the past decade. The practice has become so common that the US Department of
Housing and Urban Development has overthrown tradition and (49)
its rules to permit such couples to occupy public housing. The courts
are wrestling (50) the legal and property complications that
spring up when such couples "divorce".