Oh wow! Not what I was expecting, lol. And no worries, most of my friends have been in shoes like yours, it's never as simple as, "Yeah, I just want to have sex with everyone." Although there were one or two....

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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O.o

hahahaha! Okay, I've got to hear this, what makes you say so? All I ever get from people is, "Man...you don't know what you're missing."

Cuuute!

Meh, I'm 26 years old, had full and rich relationships, and I've never had sex. So yes, it's possible.

Lol, and I wouldn't ask that. I wouldn't condemn you for who you are or what you do. T'would be damn hypocritical of me dontcha' think? What infallible being is there on earth that has the ability, much less the right to sit on thrones of judgment and decide with perfect discernment the quality of another person's character and what that character deserves.

Saying 'discerning judgment' isn't that kind of judging. It's just the careful assessment of situations and things that can lead to wiser choices. It's certainly not a method for typical 'judging', although many use it for that very purpose unfortunately.

Now hold it right there Peachy. If I'm going to father your next row of beanstalks then you have to at least allow me the indispensable tool of discerning judgment.

Lol, same here! I love going to bars with my pals. And ordering milk, hehe. The last I was at one I tried opening a tab so I could get my 'usual' and the bartenders just laughed and gave me one for free.

'Tis a fact. Now that I'm just wearing a pair of shorts I can attest to it. There's not really anything else left to peel off to cool down after that. xD

The feelings were...hot and heavy, yes. That's really the only way to describe it, lol. bahaha, and warm days we couldn't sit next to each other because we'd start sweating, hehehe.

And that, I can't deny is true. You're spot on Leigh, there's the core of the matter. The truth in almost any relationship that I've seen is that if both people are willing to make *all* the sacrifices necessary to make it work, it will work in spite of the differences. ALL the differences. It's remarkable what we can do, the bridges we can gap the love that can be established between what seem to some to be the most unlikely pairings.


That said, I went on a date yesterday with a bright lady who recently served in Denmark's army. I began to sense over the course of the discussion that it would be very easy to maintain a good, strong friendship with this person who I quickly realized I had some emotional compatibility with.

Delving into the hypothetical, she brought up some of our more distinct differences and the difficulties they would present in anything long-term. While she didn't mention culture, my strong religious ties came up and the subsequent lifestyle differences, etc.

And it led me to think, as I often have, that relationships are already great challenges by themselves when they're traditional. Dealing with finances, balancing time between family, work, recreation, and other responsibilities can be trying. There's always some chink to sort out, but it has to be done at the right time and in the best way possible so that partners are encouraged to grow and not depressed by their flaws. And that there is a lifetime of work, of effort, no day ought to be wasted when there's someone to be loved.

My next natural thought is- perhaps strong feelings of affection for a person shouldn't be the deciding factor in committing to a person. Perhaps when I'm considering putting my life into someone else's hands and promising to do the same for them, it is wiser to consider if it's in my best interests to date them in the long haul, to see if- in all honesty -I'm really willing to sacrifice as much as it would take on my end to make a relationship work, and to see if I trust the other person to do the same.

Maybe that's selfish, but when I feel so much affection for so many people, it's the only thing that makes sense.

But, you know. I could be TOTALLY wrong and I expect time to reveal all. So we'll see.

Omg, my former was like that. The whole length of that relationship felt like one long, tantalizing, incredible encounter. Lol, it was so hard for both of us to keep clear heads when we were alone that one night we had to set ground rules to prevent things from getting out of control, haha. =)

I think another question would get you to your answer faster-

Is it impossible to find love on here?

There's plenty of success stories, but even those aside let's consider what it takes to find what you're seeking-

Two people who are ready and willing. It's not impossible to find that anywhere as long as you are both of those things and never lose your hope.

Once your hope is gone the possible recedes back into the dark dreamland of impossible.

I could be wrong though, we'll see.

Well I don't think it should ever be the focal point of a relationship, but abuse of funds you and your other rely on for your own security is a violation of trust and diminishes affection, encourages fear, and can lead to a a whole host of other problems that wouldn't have existed in the first place had you or had they been more responsible.

For good or ill, life here can't be supported without money, and it follows then that neither can a successful relationship.

Oh, well certainly, that's true enough. Although the reasons for wanting to are varied (ish. Studies show it's mostly for sex on either side of this particular aisle).

I guess I should've re-formatted the question as follows:

How can it be worth the accompanying stigma, long-term social problems, and implied sacrifices frankly on both sides that would have to be made for the relationship (provided it somehow went that far) to be perpetuated beyond a few months? To be developed beyond more than a curious fling?

I've never heard of a smart, responsible, thoughtful, loving, loyal, cheerful, kind and wise man finishing last. Ever.

Well, as unqualified as I am to talk about this- it seems like anything else you would manage in an equal partnership. You give and take by measuring and taking into account needs, circumstances, wants, etc. And on a regular basis, since potency can change from what I hear.

BUT! But wait wait wait, my friends. There's still hope!

Because, incredibly, there is a young girl, who hasn't aged a day past her infancy. She may never die (though I'm quite certain she will).

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/girl-ages-unravel-secret-eternal-youth/story?id=19974247

The chromosome with the marker causing her peculiar condition has been isolated and is being studied as we speak.


ETERNAL YOUTH IS AT HAND MY FRIENDS!


As long as you don't mind the following conditions-

1. This girl can't think beyond the capacity of her infantile mind
2. Her bones are brittle, easily broken
3. Because of 1. she will never know the bitterness, the joys, the agonies, the greatness, the sadness, the knowledge, the truth that is to be had in a full and complete life.

There's always a trade off in genetic enhancements. Be careful what you wish for. Wish for balance.