Does Dating Always Have to Lead to Marriage?

A thought, and I'm very curious to hear your perspective too: Does Dating Always Have to Lead to a serious relationship?

As I'm burnt-out like all the firecrackers will be tonight on the relationship game after trying (and failing, yet again I might add) to make something work with an on-again, off-again relationship, I'm curious on if I need to take a break from dating altogether. That seems a little boring I must admit. Dating is such fun! Can't I just date to have fun, and get out of my house?

Do any of you date just to get out and get to know new and different people and have fun? Or are you always dating with the idea that it will lead to a serious relationship, marriage, and the like? How long do you date someone before deciding if it's "going somewhere" as in leading to a more serious relationship, and you introducing them as your girlfriend/boyfriend to the family?

Then if you decide it's going nowhere, do you split up with them or keep going out because you see potential for a beautiful friendship?

Can you be going out on dates with more than one person at once? Or do you just date one person at a time?

At the mid-point of Summer, I'm curious what's going on out there with those Summer romances of yours. Are they in full-bloom, or like the aforementioned fireworks, burnt out?

Have a great holiday!