oh no...............

[Triskeliongirl]

I think its really interesting that so many of us on this board have such long term stable marriages. We've been married 21 years, soon to be empty nesters, but still riding bikes together. Is it the free spiritidness that keeps us cycling that keeps our marriages fresh?

[hellosunshine]

im not sure about that last comment,i race mainly with men,and the amount of marriages that have failed as the wives feel several rungs down the ladder to their bike obsession.....anyhow,like you also said,it groovy isnt i!in his world of mushed up marriages,SOME DO WORK

[Geonz]

Yea, I think people are responding in kind... but others are just lurking (and smiling, 'cause it's nice to read good things). The timing was interesting (in a good way ) for me...

[run it, ride it]

Three years ago I cut off a 6-year-long-distance relationship because the guy was getting too possessive. I was happy as a clam all by myself.

...Not a year later, a new long-distance boy comes along. I told myself he didn't know what he was getting into, so it wouldn't last. I carefully distanced myself. Did he ever prove me wrong. We had some rough patches, but in the end we both gave in and stopped holding back, and we've been hopelessly in love for the past year.

I'm not sure he ever learned how to ride a bike, and he's made it quite clear I will never get him on the back of a horse... but hey, he also said he didn't want to go sailing and ended up loving it. We have our own very separate lives (we live three hours apart), and on the surface not much in common, but our base values are the same and we never run out of things to talk about. I'm in love with him a little more each day. We have passion, trust, respect, compassion, sacrifice, compromise, and communication. To me, that's what love means.

My housemate is currently in an exclusive casual relationship. Which, of course, she insists isn't a relationship. She doesn't want to get into anything serious because she's moving back and forth to school and doesn't want to do the long-distance thing. Well, the guy 'cheated' on her with his ex and just doesn't respect her. Sure, they have a good time, but at what expense?

Relationships with us kids these days are endlessly complex... we want our autonomy but loneliness prevails. Distrustful flings ensue. So you know what? I'd rather be with a boy I'm completely in love with and trust with every ounce of my being, even though the stakes are higher, even if it's not the most logical decision, even if I have to make other sacrifices: even if I'll be devestated when it ends. If it doesn't hurt to let go of, it wasn't worth having.

[LBTC]

If it doesn't hurt to let go of, it wasn't worth having.

As with so many things, even more true for love. Well said!

Namaste,
~T~

[Kitsune06]

this is true- but also, I think, that it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. In this life, our finest achievements can't be kept and collected like trophies- in reality, a trophy is just a piece of metal and stone- its only real value is sentimental and attached to the memories it came with- as is anything of real 'value' at the end of our days.

I've done crazy, stupid things for love and believe that love, experimentation and experiences are worth everything. "Do not resist temptation- it may not pass by your way again."

Love, requited or not, passion, romance, excitement and the thrill of seeking or attaining all of these are what life is about. The day you stop seeking excitement, happiness and passion is the day you're ready to die... and that's not youth speaking... but it sure seems easy to forget these things when commitments take presidence in your life.

[ClockworkOrange]

.........................Love, requited or not, passion, romance, excitement and the thrill of seeking or attaining all of these are what life is about. The day you stop seeking excitement, happiness and passion is the day you're ready to die... and that's not youth speaking... but it sure seems easy to forget these things when commitments take presidence in your life.

You have summed it up superbly.

The real excitement, happiness and passion happened to me only six years ago but is continuing, it will do until I am reliant on a Stannah stair lift...........come to think of it, even that could be fun.

You have the right attitude...........I so wish others could take this on board..

Young head on old shoulders eh! Excellent post.

Sally