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So, gentleman, is it better to love a little, with only a small flame than to not experience the fire at all?

Since you asked, allow me to answer.
Yes. Without a doubt.
To quote Saint Augustine, "Better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all."

I've always felt that love and being in love is giving all of yourself and still retaining a sense of who you are. Love is all-consuming and something done with the entire body, mind, heart and soul-

In this you are correct. That is true love. We all long for it. We all seek it. However, not everyone finds or even gets a chance at that kind of love. It doesn't always happen that way. If you find it, grab it and never let go.

Comes a time in most everyone's life when we must force ourselves to choose. It sucks but it is true. Wait for the 100%'er?...or go for the 75%'er and never look back?
That's the important part...never look back. You can live a very full life by giving your all to someone, for it is in giving that we truly receive. I made such a choice. My wife had to figuratively bludgeon me to get me to the altar. We dated for a looong time. At one point I even told her that I simply did not love her enough to marry her. Fortunately for me, she did love me enough and more. It took me a few more years to come to the realization that I had a very good prospect for a happy and productive marriage staring me in the face. I proposed to her 16 years ago and have never regretted it. I look at my wife, who is lovlier now than the day I met her...I look at my two beautiful children and I know that I would not change a single minute of the time that's passed.

Now, I just want to add a personal note here and I hope it doesn't sound too creepy...but...ever since I joined this forum back in 2000, you have been one of the few who stand out. When I first visited your profile page my initial reaction was, "Wow".
Having said that, I have a feeling that you are a person of genuine character with many intriguing things to offer and will not be one of those standing on the sidelines, so to speak, for very long.
If I were single, I'd have asked for your permission to travel to Michigan long ago. However, I chose a different path many, many years ago and I have never looked back. Nor regretted it.

I hope this does not seem too personal or give you discomfort, but you revealed something of yourself in #27 and if you've ever followed any of my postings you'll know me to be someone who speaks his mind. Usually, only when asked.

And besides...I don't think I'm the only guy who finds the scent of Juicy Fruit...strangely alluring.

Aw BSR... thank you so much for your kind words. I'd be lying if I didn't say I was truly touched. My misty eyes are proof of this.

The only part that scares me about your post is the juicy fruit part. ;)

Yes, Sam, she seems like quite a catch, doesn't she? There's got to be a single Freeper out there somewhere who's man enough to pay court to this woman.

In the social circles in which I run, however, all the men who are the marrying kind are, well, married.