This is something I've spent time on, too. Thank you for the thread.
For myself, I have no idea. I know some things though...that I wouldn't want to drag a potential new guy threw the muck with me, so it seems to make sense to wait to be fully rid of Perv (as I can, haha).
Some examples I can think of I will share, in hopes of helping.
My parents are divorced and I watched, with interest, how both of them handled the lonliness, for it can be fierce, yes?
One parent jumped back in the dating pool, I think they simply could not tolerate being alone after a very long marriage. They proceeded down the altar very soon as well, reminiscent of tv sit coms, within a year of knowing the new person.
Well, this person cheated on them and out they went, back to being alone and trying to sort life out in a big rush. And so it was no surprise when #3 came along, the I.C., which made us kids raise eyebrows and be a little angry, but who are we to judge?
Suffice to say that they are together years later, but I've heard comments from the "partner" that things get rocky.
Then there's my other parent, who in life does everything by the book, was the bigger influence on me, but snails and turtles beat them to the finish line. However, in dating this caution won over hurry, because they finally found someone and years later, are still with the same someone while the other person floundered. They also talk of marriage again, which dumbfounded me and I hope it works, because this is the abandoned parent.
It was the one who left who ran headfirst back into relationships without even being friends first.
I'm not sure if this will help anyone but it helps me.
And the solitude I can trust, though it hurts like a son of a gun knowing the x is not alone.
But I would rather be like the parent who "won" in the dating scene and wait.
I don't know if "true love" is real or something in the story books, but it sure sounds nice...