Isn't life grand when modern technology coincides with modern sensibilities? As citizens of the contemporary era, single women enjoy freedoms for which our "women's movement era" mothers strove—not to mention sacrificing a good many bras to flame. In addition to these hard-won essential rights, single gals can also enjoy, thanks to women's lib, a few more frivolous privileges. The one I advocate most staunchly? Registering before marriage.

Stodgy has its upsides, too

Stylish singles, especially those of us with slender pocketbooks, no longer need wait for an engagement ring or even a committed relationship to set up our registry for fine crystal, china, flatware and other housewares. We are, after all, liberated women content to live our lives and set up our own households regardless of whether we see a significant other in our near futures. That, and the explosion of Internet registry opportunities allows us to set up registries at our favorite retailers without having to brave the questioning glares from salespeople at stodgy downtown department stores.

You will find most non-bridal registries listed as "wish lists" on the websites of many major online retailers. These vary greatly in usability and accessibly. Look closely when starting a new wish list because some are just private shopping lists. Waterford.com, for example, offers only a private list and no type of open registry—to register for Waterford items you have to set up a registry at a retailer, like Macy's, that carries Waterford merchandise. Bed, Bath and Beyond offers a private shopping list under the heading "wish list" but also a highly customizable public registry service that allows users to select from a wide variety of event types including bridal, birthday, housewarming and other. I picked other.

Cambridge Chop, my stainless pattern

At this point, you may find yourself saying, "This is all well and good, Sarah, but the point of a bridal registry is to take advantage of the one time in your life when everyone you know is obligated to buy you a gift; and, secondarily, to start off your new household as a married couple. What's the point otherwise? Who's even going to use my single gal registry?" A good question indeed. As to the latter issue, I ask, are there honestly that many betrothed men who care what your china or flatware pattern is? My generous estimate is one in fifty. As to the first issue—while your single gal registry will not reap you a deluge of gifts all at once like a bridal registry, keep in mind that for most of us, there are at least two times a year when most of the people we see every day do feel obligated to buy us gifts. Presuming that every member of your family and all of your closest friends are not the world's most creative gift givers, wouldn't you rather get something you want than whatever your crowd comes up with? In my case, having a registry has been a god-send. I don't know about you, but somewhere along the line I ceased having the ability to produce a useful Christmas or birthday list off the top of my head—I reckon this happened roughly around the time that I lost interest in increasing my vast collection of Barbie and She-ra dolls. Since that time, when family members asked for birthday lists, I was at a loss. I knew, of course, that there were things I wanted and needed, but I'd be damned if I could remember them when questioned. The registry solves that problem. If I think of something I need, I do a little online "window shopping" and add it to my registry. Thanks to my registries, I already have place settings for eight of my stainless flatware pattern and my casual dinnerware pattern.

Corelle Simple Lines, my casual dinnerware pattern

My very favorite wish list registry is Amazon. They carry an amazingly vast selection of merchandise including crystal stemware, some popular china dinnerware patterns and a wide variety of barware and housewares. The wish list allows you to register for Amazon-stocked items (which carry the added bonus of free shipping over $25) as well as those offered by third party sellers, including Macy's and Target. It has, by far, the most diverse options, and it's the closest you'll find to a "one stop shop" for your registry. If you're using it for a birthdays/holidays registry, you can also register for books, music and DVDs alongside your crystal and china. In fact, I challenge anyone to search Amazon for any particular category of item and defy you not to find it. Specific products may vary, but they carry practically every kind of thing you could ask for. I would give some pointed examples, but I am a woman of at least minimal discretion. The only downside of the Amazon wish list registry is that it's mail order only. This is not a problem when placing an order for Amazon-stocked items over $25, but registering for third party seller merchandise means shipping fees for your gift buyers.

Lenox Tuscany, my barware/stemware pattern

While Amazon carries most of the crystal stemware I crave—including the ever popular Lenox Tuscany Classics—they have limitations when it comes to particular china or flatware patterns, and so I also keep a wish list registry at Macy's for the most traditional registry fare, such as sterling flatware and china gravy boats. By far the most challenging registry selection has been the china pattern. This fact may seem counter-intuitive given the plethora of china patterns available. But when you're paying upwards of $150 for a place setting, and $200 for serving pieces, it seems to me that one should get precisely what one desires, and nothing less. I have been weighing the dilemma of selecting a china pattern for over a year now, and have finally settled on a pattern. What has been the fruit of this long deliberation? Which china pattern have I registered and what finally tipped the balance in my decision-making process? I'm afraid you'll just have to remain in suspense until Part II of my single gal registry treatise.