Those who say nay to growing up

Quantum has described adultescents as commitment-phobes who live by the adage of "me now". But when it is predicted that today's children and young adults will live as many as 10 years longer than their parents, it seems logical, not decadent, that "30 is the new 20".

Better to spend the bonus time now while your joints are still limber and your liver can hack the pace.

With one in three marriages ending in the extremity of divorce, it can hardly be considered a failing that young people are reluctant to swap matching Tiffany rings to the tune of Pachelbel's Canon.

Everyone can just save the money they would have spent at the David Jones gift registry and put it towards travel, cool technology and Coronas.

And while it is important to continue the human race, perhaps abstaining from reproduction has its benefits, too.

Last month, with news of 400,000 new homes for Sydney, talkback radio and column space turned to our hopelessly overcrowded city (although Tokyo residents may beg to differ on this one).

One Herald headline read: "Unchecked human influx strangles harbour city". A smaller population would not only ease the pressure on the property market but, more importantly, think of all the extra space we'd have to watch the fireworks.

Practicalities aside, when we are told from the time we are little kids that we can be anything we want, can the rest of the population really complain if we decide to be mortgage-free? Many of us already have a five going on six-figured HECS debt, thanks very much.

My friend has come a long way since she was four. Upon leaving school, she re-evaluated her options and enrolled in a law degree. I'm sure people who make jokes about lawyers would have something to say about that.

She still lives with the parents and, true to form, doesn't want babies or a husband before she's 30 - at the very least.

But before you start Peter Panicking, she is saving up to buy a horse.