[Zavien Doombringer]

I have to agree with your analogy. But in my case, I have never been/loved another woman and never looked for one. My wife and I dated all through High School and married 2 years after. I had enlisted in the Air Force to be able to support her and a family. When I saw her in world history in 9th grade, I heard a voice say, "She's the one I have set for you." I believe a true match made in heaven! It wasn't looks (though she is beautiful), It wasn't money and it wasn't about fertility. To me it was about not having to go through life alone.

[Skywalk]

That's a heartwarming story. I wish I could say that my own HS love story resembled yours, but it ended in devastation in college. Of course, long distance college relationships of any kind tend towards failure. And the times being what they are(and expectations) simply staying in the area or getting married after HS were apparently not options(though I'd have jumped on the marriage option.)

You're right, it's about not being alone and being with someone you can TRUST. I'm currently in a relationship where a high-level of trust is involved, and part of that also means being painfully honest when certain issues come up. BUt it's the right way, and certainly preferable to dating yet another female who talks a lot about marriage or committment, but doesn't actually work WITH YOU to build that.

[Under the Radar]

Your story is beautiful.

Please understand that no one is saying that men think to themselves: "I must find myself a fertile woman." They think, "I want to find a woman that has that illusive quality, a glow about her, that sense and attitude that says, "You're the one!" However, biologically speaking, that sense quantitates into: youth and therefore higher fertility.

By the same token, very few women think: "I want to find a man who will have the monetary resources to take care of me." They think, "I like the way he makes me feel when he buys me roses every week." However, the end results are the same.