I.e. different from other people in your dating pool. Things that attracted you right away, things which you only noticed later, things you’ve never seen in any other possible match.
He had (and still has) a well-trimmed van dyke, no longer bright coppery red but still striking. Looked very vulpine. Caught my eye immediately. He is also very communicative about what he is feeling and why, more so than I am. He told me it was to avoid the sort of communication issues he had in earlier relationships. Makes it much easier to navigate stormy waters when there are no hidden unmapped shoals.
She puts up with me.
We met on eHarmony and I’d had some other dates before him. The first thing I thought was “wow, that’s a full grown man”. He was taller, broader, and stronger than any of the others. Very tan, too.
And then there was the rest of the first date. Other guys wanted to be coy and act like we weren’t participating in a dating service etc. My husband wanted to talk about the online dating experience, about his divorce, and what my thoughts were (in general) about marriage, kids, shared finances, and breakfast cereal dibs. It was kind of weird but it was also a breath of fresh air.
Compared to everyone else he was profoundly honest and extremely available, both literally and emotionally.
This.
Pretty much since we met (except for the year we commuted between DC and NYC) we’ve spent about 24 hours a day together, seven days a week. We work from home in the same office often on the same projects. We have a small social life–we do things with other couples–but for the most part we’re together all the time.
That’s a lot of up-putting with.
I am a 22-year-old male who very recently (within the past month) entered a relationship with a 20-year-old female.
What made her special in my eyes is that after just a few days of spending time together, it already began to feel like I had known her for years, and that she had known me for years. Despite the many differences in our personalities, interests, and upbringings, there is a compatibility at the most basic level that makes it so effortless to be with her. It’s like great background music: it adds to the atmosphere without you even noticing that it’s there.
I had to look this up!
He lets me have my way almost all the time, but what attracted me was not that quality but the fact that when his answer was “No” it was always “No” and no amount of whining or pleading by anybody would change it. A man that sticks to his principles. I was always used to rather wishy-washy men, I guess. I find a man that has this quality invariably strikes me as being a “real” man, whatever the hell that means I guess. 
Her ability to communicate with me in an open and honest and frank way. It made us nearly instant friends, it allowed us to quickly become close to one another, and it has been a tremendous aid through our relationship. It is one of the things I treasure most about who she is.
That, and there’s just no squeeze like the squeeze I get from her.
ETA: And her psychic ability to post in the same thread I’ve posted in at nearly the same time with the same basic idea when neither of us knew the other was reading the thread.
He’ll talk about pretty much anything, which means I can feel confident in being who I am and always having the opportunity to explain myself if necessary. I just feel easy and confident and incredibly loved when I’m in his presence.
Plus smart, funny, kind, generous, etc.
ETA: These post were not coordinated in any way. No, we’re independently creepy.
The way he laughs at my jokes, and is as silly and absurd and playful as I am. When I make some stupid joke or poke fun at something, he always gets it, and usually plays along and takes it even further. I have to use a lot of smilies online because my sense of humour is very deadpan and dry, so I really appreciate that.
I love you guys.
He likes people and manages to get along with nearly everybody without being a pushover. He just has a really magnetic and open personality. He shares my love of gourmet food, museums, and reading. He’s not afraid to admit when he’s wrong and with good humor. Also, he’s an artist that has a mind for engineering and is capable of being logical and rational minded.
But mostly it’s just cause he puts the toilet seat back down when he’s done.
We finish each other’s sentences (usually in a way that makes both of us wish WE had said that). That and her basic kindness and dignity, even when I don’t deserve either. I particularly like that she makes mistakes because I make whoppers, and she’s learning from the best.
My husband is one of the kindest and most humble people I’ve ever met, and also one of the most self-confident. It’s a fantastic combination, I hope some of it rubs off on me. It’s probably also why I knew I’d be marrying him from the moment we met.
We have identical interests.
We love the same TV shows, movie, music, and games. We have the exact same religious beliefs. We could basically spend the rest of our lives together without needing other friends.
It just happened that way.
I’d need a separate thread to extol the virtues of my wife. Marrying her was like winning first prize in a lottery. We’ve been married long enough that our kid will soon be off to college, yet still have to hide our affection in public lest friends get jealous. In addition to being a superb person, mother, wife, friend, cook, etc., she is fantastically sexy from head to toe, yet the sexy feature that first attracted me was her voice.
If opposites attract, that’s us. I’m an ex-geek who used to hang out in computer basements for work and fun; and have the social skills of a hermit crab. She’s a country girl, spends much time outdoors with puppies, flowers, etc.; is sought out by troubled friends for counsel/confessions, yet AFAIK has never once even clicked a mouse button! :smack:
He’s very down to Earth and guy-ish. 42, unmarried, hasn’t changed his condo in 10 years, loves football, handsome but needs help in the dressing dept…you get the idea. When I go over there, I have a zebra-striped overnight bag, a pink cosmetic case, and my $100 Hobo International purse. Wait, what was my point again? Oh yeah. He opens the car door for me (even though it’s not his shtick; he does it for me) and grabs a bag or two off my hands as we walk up to his place. Yeah. Hot pink bag in his hand - just to be a gentleman. The first time we dated, he tried to tell me (happily) that chivalry was dead. I didn’t take it that well. 
He still won’t take me to the ballet, but he puts Diet Coke in his fridge so I have it in the morning. And somewhere in the corner of his second bathroom drawer, there’s a toothbrush that belongs to me. My phone charger is by his computer station. So, even though certain things aren’t his style or makes him a little nervous, he does them, anyway.
And when we’re cuddled on the couch watching Wristcutters: A Love Story and he’s in his flannel pj pants from 7 years ago and I’m wearing his ratty Bears t-shirt, we’re just perfect.
He is the only person I can fall asleep next to.
Today, I was 60 miles away from my son for the sixth day because my car was broken down. My son was at my auntie’s house (and Aunt Ann does NOT drive to Denver). When I got the news that my entire ENGINE WAS SHOT, he offered to drive me round trip to grab him. And they don’t even know each other yet. 120 mile round trip. Did I mention he wrecked his back on NYE and sitting in the car for that long was torture?
My SO is my friend. My very, very good friend. And this is our second time around and we’re new still, so I guess I should also mention the obvious: he gave me another chance and he’s trying.
I feel all mushy now.
She touches my penis. Nobody else does that.
He wants the same things out of life that I do. We share some interests, but also have our own seperate interests which we’re both happy to spend our own time pursuing.
And when it’s winter, he goes out and scrapes the ice off my car for me.
OK, it’s corny, but I fell in love with her within about 3 days of meeting her (freshman year in college). When we were introduced I was blown away by her beauty, then that she was actually talking to me and seemed genuinely interested, then that she was unselfconscious and totally unaware of her beauty. She was normal.
Then a couple days later I concocted some reason to be in her dorm building and called her from the lobby; the phone just kept ringing and she didn’t pick up. I hung up and turned to leave and just then saw her stepping out of the elevator to walk to class. I started hyperventilating and couldn’t speak, but managed to pull it together and caught up with her. We walked to class together and I was on a cloud the rest of the day.
Eventually I proposed and she accepted. She gets me, she loves me, she’s an amazing mother, she finds me sexy, she laughs at my jokes, she’s funny and smart and she doesn’t want anyone else in the world but me. She makes me feel important. She makes me proud to be her man.