[serf]

>Many of my friends define their lives around having a family, it gives people a deep, and rewarding purpose.

Speaking as bluntly as I can here : if you want to have kids to gain a 'deep and rewarding purpose' because you somehow feel lacking in purpose, please don't have children.

It's analogous to a teenager that joins the military out of high school because "they don't know what they want to do.".

Figure things out, then make a decision. Don't make some big brash decision in order to figure things out. The only 'depth' that might added to your life may actually just be unenjoyable complexity and nuance.