Settling down...hmm.

I generally associate the term to when one finds that "special someone" and has fully committed to that person, whether by marriage or not...they then find a home of their own (apartment, condo, home, etc.) and have steady jobs.

Essentially, when all the "young person hub-ub" (you know..college, going out with friends all the time, etc) begins to settle away. 

Welp, the way you asked is aimed at more than one direction. What is settling down? My opinion (for me) is when you have worked all your life and you are retired from that job but still want to work. And when you have finally lost the drive to hold a job, settle down. But of course, not everyone gets a retirement package, so in that case you might have to work indefinitely.
(This is of course the scenario if you are unmarried)

The other direction is to settle down with someone...

I can't speak from experience since I've never been married but I suppose the difference in settling down with someone is a plus since you'll have the friendship/companionship, but, what is the point you ask? That to me is answered by my faith, that this life isn't all that there is -- that there is a Creator who wants us to live with Him in the 2nd life... I don't really value this life as all that there is.

The term "settle down" in my mind means to give up the single life, get married and start a family. Been there and tried that unsuccessfully, so no I do not know nor will I anytime in the near future have plans to "settle down". If I never get married again it will be too soon, and I don't care if she turns out to be my soul mate! The act of getting married ruins relationships, and besides that, if there was no such thing as marriage then there would be no such thing as divorce! Think about it for a minute!

You should settle down at age 25-35 if you ask me. I don'r know much about settling down but thats when i think it should happen. After you had your adventure in your life or after you accomplished something and you can now settle down with a balanced budget. 

I think to my point of view, people starts settling down around their 40's/50's mostly because with them getting older, normally that's when they start to slow down and that when they settle down on what that have, all you'll have to go threw is the financials and expenses. 

I think it depends on who you are actually.If you are adventurous than keep going but if you are a bit laidback might as well settle down sooner or later.I say 50-60 is the age people should start to settle down.

austipokedude : Yeah if you mean settle down as in take life easy and relax as in retirement, then I would say 50-60s because that is when they become older and find it hard to get a job and seek employment against those who are more able and younger. So honestly I think the term means to finally retire and take life easy after having a life full of constant working.

It all depends on how you look at the term really because it may come to some as meaning settling down and having a family or retirement or getting into a relationship, everyone is different. But the way I see it is as settling down and planning for retirement. For example my Grandpa is now 65 and he is going to be retired this year. He is not the kind of person who looks forward to it, he is a workaholic, he is always tinkering with things and fixing them. He is the kind of person who can not sit still without having to do something that needs improvement. My grandpa is a very smart man and he builds a lot of stuff with his hands. So really it all depends o how you look at the term and your definition can be drawn from that.

tRIUNE : "That to me is answered by my faith, that this life isn't all that there is -- that there is a Creator who wants us to live with Him in the 2nd life... I don't really value this life as all that there is."  Amen to that! I think you sufficiently beat out anything I could have possibly said on this topic, and I don't even think I would have come up with such an answer myself!  That's why it's such a blessing to see people like you post around.  

As for me, settling down has a meaning.  I wouldn't necessarily say it has anything to do with retirement though, like tRIUNE suggested.  I think that 'settling' down really means that you are completely happy with your life.  You're not interested in changing careers, moving somewhere else, or starting new relationships.  You're content with your life and find little to stress over.  I believe that this usually COMES during retirement age for most people, but I don't think it's defined by retirement.

I am impressed when someone doesn't "settle down", but keeps exploring, keeps trying new things.

I suppose the minute you have children, you need to settle a little to give them a stable environment, but even then, a child who grows up in a stable yet interesting and changing environment may learn to adapt better to the world and gain more experience. I'm not saying a child show move from city to city, but in general, I don't like the idea of "settling down" where you buy a house, get a car, and start a long-term nine-to-five, living each day in a routine.

I knew a couple who ran a business into their late 60s, and they traveled so much, they had started so many businesses, lived in beautiful country homes, and never spot doing new things. They didn't have "typical" jobs, but always did something they loved (ran a cooking show, wrote some cook books, ran and Inn, spa, made decorative fruit, sold health chocolate. etc.), and while they didn't have a ton of money, they really had a life. They were able to do this while raising a child at that. And now he is a very very successful, confident, happy man. It seems they never "settled down", as they had moved a few times, and were always on some kind of adventure, for example, taking a boat through the canals of UK and Europe, taking several weeks.