Funny since my wife has a couple of advanced degrees and stays at home. I never considered that a flex, but I can see how it could be so perceived.

What's mattered to me is having the freedom to do what we want when we want. Appropriately, these also double as status indicators.

If you want to get married, don't be shy about it. If you want children don't be shy about that either. But ultimately, it's not what other people value that matters, but what you value.