Love does NOT conquer all.

You don't stop loving someone because they want something different in life than you do.

Sometimes caring for someone means letting them go have the life they deserve, but you just can't share with them.

Be happy for the time you had together and thankful that he wants you to have the life you desire.

I came up with a litmus test when I first joined Mingle. You are welcome to use it if you like.

It goes something like this....

1. I think of myself as a good and honest person.

2. I am on the internet.

3. I have not exploded yet.

Conclusion: It IS possible for good and honest people to be on the internet.

I don't believe strip clubs destroy marriages anymore than I believe guns kill people.

People kill people and people destroy marriages.

It's what they do.

I would love to end up with a man who has some similar qualities of a man I once knew.

But I'm not sure that's a benchmark exactly, because it's not as though I compare other men to him and want them to be just like him or anything. That would seem a little creepy to me actually.

Careful now. If you say that you're fat, you're not being very honest.

When I was 32, I went on a few dates with a guy a friend set me up with. The 4th and last date we had was supposed to be a relaxing roll down the river in a canoe with a picnic basket on a beautiful summer morning.

What ACTUALLY happened...he meets me 45 minutes late at the drop point half hung over and half drunk from an obviously wild night of partying. He threw up three times bumping up the road in the golf cart that took us to the canoe rental hut, passed out on a bench for an hour once there, putting us in the water around 11 am. Yes, he still insisted on going. From the first run of ripples, he was green for the next two hours and spent most of his time bent over the boat, while I rowed alone.

Just before 1 pm, we decided to bank for lunch. Getting out, he tipped the canoe and the lunch pack fell out and floated down the river too fast to catch. We decided to rest a bit anyway, but he fell asleep for another hour under a tree. It's after 2pm and the day is getting really hot. I just want to get him to his car at this point.

At least he's rowing now, so we made pretty good time. We get back to the car park around 3:30, but no one is there. The sign says if there is no attendant to call on the courtesy phone...which had been yanked off it's hook. By now we are both so hungry and we're both out of water, so we decide to just go. He fishes in his pocket to discover his keys are missing. He looks in his locked car to find them on the dashboard.

It's 2.5 miles to the hut and nearest phone. We made it about 1/2 mile from the hut before a golf cart collected us and helped him jimmy his car opened.

Now, I could have just played this date off as a bad turn of events and even felt sorry for his condition...had he not whined like a spoiled child the entire, hungry, thirsty, steaming hot walk back to the hut. OMG...what a baby!

I'm just kidding you Betty. Well, not about living out of a suitcase...that's actually too true.

But I think if I were used to having a lot of comforts and convenience with me, I would consider it harder to give up what I had grown accustomed to. You can't miss what you don't know.

To keep it short and sweet, just nasty attitudes in general are not exactly a turn on for me.

Awww....there's something special about time spent in the kitchen together isn't there? I love to cook with my sweetheart...when I have one. I mean a sweetheart...I have a kitchen.

Wait a minute! Is that the same gum you've washed and dried in your jeans pocket....twice?

I'm afraid that lowers the bar considerably. And you really looked like a keeper for a minute there.

Are you sure it's got nothing to do with your habit of vacuuming in nothing but a low cut t-shirt and lacy panties?

So, you'll be inviting him to join you and your boyfriend in the bedroom, or just see him on your boyfriend's night out with the guys?

Looking back....I actually may have liked my last boyfriends speed boat a little more than him. AND he was really pretty awesome.

I was not aware my life was so miserable...I've been living out of one suitcase for most of my life.

I wasn't as clear as I should have been. "For the good of the relationship" was supposed to mean due to some circumstance...not because he just wants you to. I hadn't thought about that at all, cause I don't see why a guy would ask you to ditch your stuff....but suppose it happens by not only yours, but reactions I got in my similar thread for the fellas.

That's very true. I don't actually DO "stuff" myself. If you plan to make me to shop, you'd better bring the hard liquor.

I have another thread asking the gals if they'd give up their "stuff" too.

I'm getting more responses here though. Curious, that.

You've never heard of motorcycles and boats and sports cars referred to as boys toys before?

In Kansas City we have boys toys conventions. I suppose one day someone will sue.

Only if you're taking it away from her to play by yourself.

Yeah....my bad.

I should have clarified the point better.

By "for the good of your relationship" I meant that it's a good relationship but going through a hardship of some sort.

No one is making any demands. It would be your own choice to give something up for the sake of the relationship....to be able to stay together.