Quite unexpectedly I've found myself in a very serious and wonderful (monogamous) relationship, but I totally get the "CE" or "NRE" that you mentioned. I think it's something that's important for people to have in their lives, but gets marginalized in importance by our belief that once you find "The One" they will be all you need. Fortunately I think there are a lot of ways to get this same/similar feeling.
Totally true. I think what really matters is that, every so often, people should find themselves in situations where they are made to feel special and important. This does not strictly have to be a romantic thing. Heck, I've occasionally found it from a good gaming group. (Though the energy is, ah, slightly different.) >8->
That, I think, is a struggle many people face when starting a relationship. The energy you get from that first long dinner, or intimate session on the couch, is different from a long conversation over coffee, or movie with a friend, and since no thing is a prefect replacement for any other thing, it's something that's easily missed. I see the draw for poly-relationships, and think they can be really healthy, but don't think they're for me. I would have trouble splitting my attentions, I seem to be all or nothing.
Probably as many ways as there are kinds of relationships. My girlfriend and I have a closed relationship, but both emphasize the importance of having lives outside of each other, not romantic or sexual, but still intimate in their own rights.
I stand by what I said in another thread, BTW: that you and your girlfriend make dates to cook together, that your passion for good food is an avenue for affection, is supremely cool. That actually made feel good just reading about it.
You know, I hadn't thought of that: Cooking is one of those ways for me. It's the warmth of being able to create or share something so vital with someone.
If you or your family is ever in VA (our soon to be port-of-call) we'd love to share our culinary skills. : )
Ps. Tom Waits is a god in his own right.
I'll have to listen sometime. Not familiar with his work, but I'll try anything once. >8->
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Ok. I'm retarded.
I downloaded your recording this morning and listened to it on my ipod at work. Just as your piece was fading out, "Waltzing Matilda" by Tom Waits faded in. I thought it an odd choice for closing your piece, but it kind of fit with the bitter-sweet ending. Nope. It was just the next piece on the list.