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Most single-minded independent spirits don’t need to know that we’re in the midst of Unmarried and Single Americans Week to celebrate our status.

But, what the hell, let’s celebrate anyway. There are certainly enough of us to have a party. About 92 million Americans were unmarried as of 2006. That’s a whopping 42 percent of the legal-aged population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Many unmarried and unattached ladies and gents are on the prowl for companionship. In August alone, more than 20 million people in the U.S. logged on to Internet personals, according to comScore Media Metrix.

In this edition of 210SA, we’ve brought you profiles of some of S.A.’s most eligible singles, ways to investigate your date, reviews of classes that might steam up your self-image and your love life, and some of the freaky-fun things folks have started doing online.

Despite all these interesting features, singledom is about a lot more than finding a way to hook up. Sherri Langburt, founder of the SingleEdition Web portal, has made it her job to give singles the skills they need to survive and flourish beyond the dating scene.

“If you look in terms of major portals ..... if it’s singles portals, it’s all about dating, dating, dating,” said Langburt, who lives in New York City. “Nothing was coming up in terms of single living. There are baby-boomer sites. There are scrap booker sites. ..... But (singles) still have things to do, and you need tools to navigate your life.”

And the problem goes beyond Web portals. Langburt noticed the same thing when she was working with food companies for Weight Watchers. She kept coming across single-serve products that weren’t being marketed to single people.

So Langburt decided to fill the single-culture void herself. In addition to creating the SingleEdition Web portal, her operation sends out a weekly newsletter to about 30,000 people. Her latest project has been beefing up the “entertainment and food” portion of the site and recruiting chefs to give tips about home-alone cooking.

But portioning out the perfect plate for one is just a slice of a bigger challenge some singles face.

Finances are another stumbling block for some singles.

“In a couple, what’s nice is hopefully you complement each other,” Langburt said. “When you’re by yourself, everything falls on you. If you don’t make enough money to buy a home, you’re stuck.”

Although, for some, being stuck single is just a frame of mind.

Franz Wisner, author of the New York Times bestseller “Honeymoon With My Brother,” had a home and a job, but he gave it all up when his fiancée dumped him just before the wedding. Instead, he decided to travel the world with his brother for two years. Setting out with no plan, Wisner ended up discovering how eye-opening travel can be.

“I’m obviously a huge fan of the road as healer,” Wisner said, calling us from the New York Catskills. “It doesn’t have to mean two years and 53 countries. It could just be changing your routine ..... maybe shifting apartments. ..... Those extended vacations, if you have any time from work, that’s a great time to go experience a different culture, especially one that loves life.”

Since starting on their ventures, both Langburt and Wisner have gotten hitched. But that doesn’t keep them from seeing the silver lining of being single.

“Don’t play the waiting game,” Langburt said. “Don’t wait to buy the home, to travel ..... don’t wait. You have to embrace your independence.”

Jennifer Lloyd | 210SA