Freedom is the ability to choose.
Choose to have kids.
Choose not to.
Choose to listen to people who want something for you that you do not.
Choose to smile and think of reloading ammo while nodding.
Choose to leave your life decision offline.
Choose to ask a bunch of opinionated strangers to opinionate at you.
All choices, all a part of your freedom.
Now, since you asked, is my opinion:
1. People who do not want kids should not have them. That is all fine and dandy but understand that your choice will not determine what the rest of us do and since there are more of us - we will have the market win on having kids at the restaurants. Simple market forces and all.
2. Understand that the future will be determined by those who have kids. At the crudest level there are countries who will change in the next 50 years simply people who are educated and western have decided for many reasons to not have kids while immigrants are having tons. Give that 50 years and the math is simple. Italy, Israel, all sorts of nations are looking hard at this reality. It is not a good reason to have a kid, but it is a funny reality.
3. Your family/friends love you and when they bug you about kids you should take it as a compliment. It is something that brings them so much joy that they want you to have the same. They mean well. Just nod and think of running .44 thought a progressive press or whatever your happy place is.
You only get one life. Live it as you will. For some the life journey is enough. For others leaving behind a continuance is important enough to make it happen. For others the wish to not die alone in a room is important. Whatever the reason, it is your reason, your choice.
And each of us should be happy we have the freedom to choose as we wish.
excellent post.