Why not? Having a pet is great!

I won't budge.

I've found they actually do better if you get more than one, but that's just my experience. Go for it, they're pretty affectionate if you train them.

I had one years ago. The are bright and affectionate but also very noisy. If you can handle the noise every day then go for it. At this point in my life I can do without that noise. Also, they need care every day so keep in mind you will need someone to drop in to care for it when you are away.

What I would really like is a dog.... but I want to adopt a child in five years or so and I keep thinking how on earth am I going to manage both the dog and the kid as a single parent. Looking for a lower maintenance pet, a bird seems like the next best choice.

I am worried about the noise though. The walls between my house and the adjoining house are thin.

Birds in cages make me sad.

My brother had one when we were kids. The thing was pretty loud, especially early in the morning. They do enjoy hanging out with you, though, so you're gonna start wearing clothes you don't mind getting bird poop all over.

Budgie?

*cranks "Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman" at peak volume*

They're unbelievably messy. I've had a couple of them over the years and while they're cute and sweet, you would not believe the radius of grossness they can create around their cage. I mean they shit out through the bars, they throw their seed hulls out, they play in their water dish, shit in it and then toss all that out - you have to have a place where those kind of goings on aren't going to significantly impact your living room. Or you have to clean the cage every. single. day. Which might work.

Having had for many years both children and dogs as a single parent I assure you it is doable as long as you the arrival of the puppy and the arrival of the baby are not within the same six month period.

I had a parakeet for many years, and really enjoyed having a little, perky, twittering creature around. But, yes, they do make a good bit of noise and mess (which reminds me of my first favorited AskMetafilter comment).

I had a budgie for a couple years and enjoyed it. And yes, they can be messy. My solution was to use a shower cap around the base of the cage. It covered about two to three inches above the base of the cage and helped keep seeds, etc. from the floor.

I had one for five years, my mom had one for 11 years (!). We adored our birds. I was a kid when I had mine, and I'd let him fly around my room or hang out on my shoulder. I honestly don't remember being covered by poop. I also had one of those covers for the bottom of the cage. My bird could talk, and the fun thing is when he was amusing himself in his mirror and I could pick out phrases I'd taught him - plus a few he picked up himself! He had a great personality.
My mother's bird, while pleasent and cheerful, never finger trained, even though she tried for years. He also learned to talk. I love them. They can be noisy, but not as loud as cockatiels or, heaven forbid, parrots. I'd love to get another one, someday.