Ah Serialized you are not alone -- lots of us here have wanted that "one sweet girl" -- I don't know what to tell you man but life is complex and a lot of our preconceived ideas about things are garbage...I guess it's a natural flow being raised in America, the King of Preconceived Ideas...we're raised with all sorts of understandings and assumptions about the world...which often are incorrect when reality and experience are met -- ie, when rubber meets the road...
It definitely seems like every woman I know has had alternative motives...it's like a war out there man...everyone man/woman for his/herself -- screw, fvck, love, leave, whatever, it's all meaningless in the end -- these are the perspectives I feel from my generation...we are high class, that is certain, and leading this country in a fine direction socially and economically...I'm sure the Americans 50 years in the future will love the place we've built for them! </heavy sarcasm>
Look -- the only way you are going to find a quality lady is by continuing to be a quality man. I'm proud of you leaving that older teacher chick -- I was so hooked on my last LTR I allowed her baggage, crazy sexual past, father issues, etc, to be tolerated -- the fact you recognize those as RED FLAGS is a major accomplishment and surely helping you to avoid at least some of the pitfalls many men make (I got lucky not to get married or have babies with this woman...in some ways I have a 2nd chance...I've been given a very special gift by NOT being with her)...
Everyone wants companionship. Everyone wants to feel loved. These are basic psychological needs. I understand you may feel a quality woman is lacking in your life. Maybe you are ready for a relationship of a different stature and form than what you've known -- but also keep in mind from my direct personal experience -- that having a woman does not = happiness. Jophil said this once, "expect only about 30% of your happiness to come from a woman" and I had remembered thinking what a tragedy of a statement that was...until I had my own first-hand-real-life-experience to say, "Yup. He was right".
In fact, a woman can cause great deals of problems in your life -- she can turn your whole life into disarray -- and try and take everything you've ever known or believed or worked for -- and squeeze and suck it right out of you until there's nothing left. Don't confuse yourself that the addition of a certain woman will escalate your reality to a higher level of happiness -- because this is not necessarily true. Sure, sex and fvcking and romance -- these are great things and part of being human -- but ultimately they should be on the side to life's other pursuits -- and just as quickly as they can raise you up with happiness and love-chemicals, they can drop you too like a stone and you're right back where you started...maybe even IN a hole for what you lost or sacrificed along the way.
Keep pushing your path. Keep allowing women into your life. Use your experiences and what you've learned to make a decision about if you'd rather pursue forwards or not. You've already identified major red flags (albeit I'm not saying a woman with one of these traits is inherently a sinking ship) -- father issues, c0ck-carousel-riding, male&sex issues, etc. From my own experience: DO NOT, and I repeat, DO NOT, majorly alter your life to accommodate the dream woman when you see her. It will backfire. Keep moving yourself forwards. You are 26 -- there will be many women who will want to join the ride in your life to come.
I knew of a guy who didn't get married until he was 42 -- and you know what all of those years got him? A 22 year-old hottie wife and a newborn -- and likely a life of his own where he experienced many different women before he made the decisions to commit. He may have been AFC or gone through several heart-breaks in between. But what I am saying is there is always hope -- keep working, take care of yourself, keep your bodymind strong and work on your financial needs and responsibilities -- you will only continue to gain value, character, and you'll be one of those grey-haired mature men young women swoon over...
This is my goal at least.
I know you're feeling sad/down/lonely/frustrated -- these are normal emotions -- I've had them many times -- don't give up and keep an open mind. There's a lot more in your life to come.