<human>: Can you give me the gist of the text in a nutshell?

I'm a young professional. I go on dates a few times a year, usually concentrated around the times when I'm feeling like going out. Usually these dates don't work out, sometimes they do but I still don't pursue them for more than say 2 months. I never call any of these girls my girlfriends, or consider these to be relationships. This has been going on for about 5 years now.

Recently I met a really nice girl, we never "dated" but hung out as friends a lot. She met someone else but came to me to ask if I wanted to date her, and I said no, because I didn't feel 100% sure about her. She went on to date this guy for a few months (which hurt me a bit, unexpectedly), and now they've broken up?

So my question is, should I be dating people even if I feel like we'd just break up in a few months? It seems like that's what everyone around me is doing. Sometimes I also feel like I can do better or would be settling, so I don't get in relationships. I do feel like I'm ready to settle down, but I'd rather find the right girl than waste several months on someone I'm not feeling 100% sure about. Is this a bad way to go about things? Should I get in more "throwaway" relationships?
<bot>: I go out with people, sometimes multiple times, but I haven't been in a relationship in 5 years. A bit jealous of others who are in relationships, but just don't see the point in my own case.