Nietzsche said, "Marriage as a long conversation. - When entering into a marriage one ought ask oneself: do you believe you are going to enjoy talking with this woman up into your old age? Everything else in marriage is transitory, but most of the time you are together will be devoted to conversation."

This is the most accurate description I've ever found of a long term relationship, a long conversation. We go through so many changes in life we must be willing to submit ourselves to a process of falling in love with each new version of our partner and vice versa. Sometimes that works out and sometimes it doesn't.

The most important things for me are -- a woman who is engaged in the world and has her own aspirations and interests, a good sense of humor, intelligence, optimism, confidence, and kindness. Also it's really important to feel appreciated. They say hate isn't the opposite of love, indifference is, and that certainly seems right to me.