While we are alike in many ways, in other ways we are radically different and we both have interests that lie outside of our relationship, therefore we kind of feed off each other's energy, knowledge and growth..we also do projects together which give us a feeling of accomplishment and that brings people closer as well.
We also do not spend every waking moment together. We have a balance between me-time and us-time.

All in all, every person I think enjoys having someone who " gets" you. You can't accomplish that wih part time gigs.

If you PLAN to find a happily ever after relationship. and settle for nothing less than until you acquire it, then happily ever after you will be (have you ever formulated a plan to find Miss Perfect?).

It cannot be underestimated the importance of having had a healthy relationship with your mother in childhood in order to properly treat your preferred other once you have found her.

The closest I came to perfection was in my very first relationship but it went awry. All of my relationships since, whilst an experience I had to have, were a waste of time also.

Now for not putting all of your eggs in one basket, are you suggesting my fault has been I have chosen to chase only one female at a time instead of two, or God forbid, even more than?

Thanks, Aronia. That's true. I've found that, even with friendships, after we've been apart for awhile, it takes us both time to get re-acquainted with each other's communication styles and quirks. Living with someone on more of a regular basis would establish more of a communication short-hand.

Nope, not suggesting that at all, Codger, once again, you've turned my positive into a negative, was asking how to keep one relationship interesting, thanks.

Rarely do relationships prosper if some meetings of the mind fail to occur. Healthy relationships are about like mindedness, and the ability to complement one another from time to time, that's what I think anyway, the sad thing is though, I have never been in that type of relationship, it has always been for me, give and take, I gave, she took.

Please don't cry for me Argentina.

Did I turn you positive into a negative, or was I instead pulling your leg? Touchy touchy, in future I will watch my p's and q's around you given I seem to have made a habit of it, thanks for the heads up.

Yes, this has been the experience for me too, Codger. Or maybe her love language was different from mine, as yours was with you? I gave physical affection. She took my physical affection and could care less about giving physical affection in return, instead gave me gifts, of food, which were nice, she was and is a wonderful cook, but I craved a little more from her than that.

It's easy to see the other's fault in the failure to get a relationship working to our own satisfaction, more difficult to see our own. It's helpful to talk about this stuff I guess...

I won't cry for you, Argentina.

When it comes to shortcomings of mine, I am brutally honest, I have none. My greatest strength is my greatest weakness, and I will never allow it to be exploited again, and happy I am for making such decision.

Never stop laughing and never stop exploring and having new experiences.

If you're having fun with the other person, it will never feel like "work", it will just happen. You'll cherish all the moments and look forward to creating many new ones. Try a new food together, do an activity neither of you have ever done, or visit a new place, all the while you'll be creating memories and sharing laughs together. You'll find things you both love doing, you'll find things you hate and you'll also find things that are just for you, while you may not share the interest together, you're learning new things about yourself, which is a gift in itself.

My husband and I, our relationship feels just as fun and lighthearted as it did from day one. We are constantly looking to gain new experiences and nothing is off limits. From cave diving, to roller coasters, to operas, to art classes, to concerts of music we have never heard, there's always something new to experience. Even if neither of us know anything about it, we try it together. Exploring an abandoned supposedly haunted building, sitting in on a service at a church in a foreign language neither of us speak, there's always something to be gained.

Relationships should never be routine, or boring and nor should life itself. You've only got one chance to live it, always make it interesting and boredom will never appear.

Now THAT;s what I'm talking about, mellow! Cave diving: Hmmm! From how high?

Yes to laughing..... A lot. Some mutual interest alongside some separate ones.... Some distance now and then....retain some mystery... Some old school rules around manners ( trust me, a man will never hear me burp let alone anything else)... Some respect.... But i think laughing is key....nothing beats an intellectual connection in my book...appreciation... A surprise niw and then... Just because....

@mellowamythest, how long have you and your husband been together?

I am so sorry Koolman, that was rude of me to use your post to ask someone else a question!

All of my relationships have been short so I am interested in others responses here.

She seems happy so I wanted to find out how long.

I can suggest 2 things:
We take 2 vacations a year. Somewhere new (or new in that we r going together)
We have a 'fitness challenge' every 12 weeks. Responsibility rotates-
Ie last quarter it was a workout routine I put together for the gym with weights. This qtr its jogging -he picks route and duration
It involves participative interaction before during and after--planning, dreaming, discussing....all conducive to a happy relationship for me

I agree with mellow, i think to keep things exciting in relationship is to see and explore new things. I personally think i can only handle monogamous relationship, any other type of relationship is stressul to me. I think in order to make things work there must be open communication n understanding of each others needs