I'll be moving on...

When I was about 18, dating was just that. Dating. I know that there are times that I entertained the possibility of marrying the person that I was in a relationship with, but for the most part I focused on dating. As I've grown older dating has become very different. I can't and won't date JUST to date. I can't see myself dating someone just to be in a long term relationship. Dating someone and ending up in this world of perpetual dating.

I understand (very well) that some people are happy just dating. Marriage isn't their thing...and that's absolutely fine. The scenario that I have a hard time comprehending is when two people get together in an attempt to know each other, and then end up dating (exclusively and continuously) for like 7, 8, 9, 10 years and nothing happens. Do they not know each other enough? Do they still have questions? Are they happy?

How long does it take to know whether you can stand to be with someone for a lifetime? My answer will either be,"it doesn't take too long" or "you never really know".

So the question is when do you cut your losses at what point do you accept that this is not the person you are going to end up with? And how do you know?

I'd say within the first month of dating someone, I want to know where the relationship is headed. I want to know what goals we are trying to reach and even if we don't know yet...I know we've had the discussion and we're both on the same page.

Guys, if a girl were to ask you in about the first month of "getting to know each other" where you saw the relationship going, would you think she was on a schedule and get scared away?

[Title taken from song: "I'll be moving on" by Mya featuring Silkk the Shocker]