Yes. I’ve been told since a relatively young age that I was the “marrying type”. I almost always look at potential relationships in terms of the possibility of marriage. Guys that can’t get over commitment seem odd to me. Being committed to the wrong person is awful, and should be avoided, but I don’t see the stigma involved with commitment.
I’m not the guy that hits on every woman he sees, nor am I the guy that wears ugly-ass Madden shoes, faded front jeans, and has hair covered in styling chemicals. I’m the guy that smiles politely when greeted by a person I’ve never met, and will only get fully involved in a conversation once I’m comfortable with most of the people involved.
It sucks that I’m usually only able to really impress my friends’ wives. They have had at least a little time to get to know me, and on several occasions their epiphany has been stated out loud “We need to have dnooman over more often!” I’m one of those “always a bridesmaid, never the bride” type people except I’m a dude. I’ve been a best man three times, but never a bridesmaid.
I’m fully prepared to dedicate unparalleled devotion and attention to the woman that catches my eye. It never occurred to me that the three things I held as most important, were the makings of satire. I’ve seen every episode of Futurama, and one that sticks out to me, is the one where they go to the factory where they print candy hearts. There is a test cell where a robot says “My two favorite things are commitment and changing myself.” The human test subject swoons. I could see how that would be funny to some, after all comedians make their livings using similar jokes. Concerning myself, my three top priorities are fidelity, commitment, and self-improvement. How is that weird? There are a ton of things I would do for my potential mate, as there should be, but I just don’t understand selfishness in a relationship. It seems really counter-productive to me.
I had a GF in high school that I was on and off with for almost three years. We had one real argument. Her Dad’s girlfriend showed us a picture of some guys dick once, it was at least a foot long flaccid. I was not amused. I found a close-up photo of a vagina, and gave it to my GF. She brought it to school, and made sure to let everyone know that it was mine. I called her a bitch. The next day everything was fine. That was the worst argument I’ve ever had with an SO.
I’m no pushover by any means, so it’s not like I’ve been avoiding arguments, or being dominated by them. I just prefer to reason things out. It almost always works.
Am I still talking about myself? Over and out.
Which is probably why so many people don’t care about it–marriage is put up on this fluffy white pedestal, when really, all it is is saying “Yeah, I like you, let’s stick together.”