True Companion

I have promised myself the same thing - wait for "the one." I'm approaching my decision this way: I'm willing to give it several years. Just take the time to meet lots of people and have fun and look for that one person who I feel is the one for me. But I'm also allowing myself the freedom to change my mind in the future. Maybe in five years or ten years if I haven't found "the one," at that point, then I might consider being with someone who I love and can build a life with even if I don't have that feeling that he is the one I've waited for all my life. I believe that the kind of magical "the one" love that we all dream of does exist. But I'm not sure how common it is. It may be kind of like winning the lottery. It happens, but very rarely and the chances of it happening to me may be quite small. I know so many people who are in relationships with people who are not "the one," and they describe themselves as content. At this point in my life, I'm holding out for unbelievably happy. But as years pass, being content may begin to sound better and better.

My personal philosophy has been that it is okay to date more than one person as long as I am completely up front about it and don't hide anything from anyone involved. I'm currently dating a guy who I like a lot, but he also lives in another city (an hour and a half away). We see each other about once a week. I told him that I'm not ready for a "serious, committed" relationship and that although I don't have any dates planned currently, I want to feel free to do so if the opportunity should arise. He is okay with that as he is also not ready for something very serious. I think that most people presume you are dating more than one person until an agreement is made otherwise. If you think the long-distance guy may think you two are exclusive, a conversation is in order before you do date the other guy.