For all you very independent men… how do you feel about romantic relationships in your life? My partner is very independent and I’m his first ltr (9 month) at 29. Sometimes I just feel like he doesn’t desire a relationship as much as I (just in general), or past partners I’ve been with, in the sense he just doesn’t seem to need/want as much from them as me or other men I’d be used to dating. I do believe he loves me a lot as hes put a lot of effort into the relationship in many ways and I feel prioritised by him. Ive had a lot of anxiety and trauma and hes been amazing and kind. We spend a lot of time together too, more than hes spent with anyone ever. But i just have a sense that he simply doesn’t centre his life around them very much. It’s much more centred around hobbies and interests for him. He’s even been very happy living alone for the last 5 years. Important to note I am absolutely not criticising him here, i am just curious because I dont think im wired this way. For me relationships are foundational to my happiness. Friendships, romantic partnerships, family etc. I feel more like relationships are more optional for him or less important and it seems to be just the way he’s wired. We have mutual friends and I know he doesn’t deeply share much about himself with his friends or anyone else apart from me. And even then, I share a million times more. I’m just really curious as to how this feels from an internal pov. I’ve asked my boyfriend but he always disagrees that relationships aren’t as important to him. But I can feel it in how he’s wired, compared to most other people I know or have dated. And I’m not pushing it because I don’t want him to feel invalidated and he also finds it hard to articulate his internal emotional experience sometimes . So I guess I’m asking here for people who might relate to the description of him? submitted by /u/Low-Moment9950
Originally posted by u/Low-Moment9950 on r/AskMen