what Is one personal quality you would really desire in a partner?

I know it can’t be only one, but what is one essential? @SW-User

@LukeTheDuke idk I think understanding

@LukeTheDuke, I do apologize for not answering this question correctly. I had no way of just listing one.

A popular choice that has come up a few times here. @SW-User

@LukeTheDuke Understanding someone is a big deal in all my r'ship this was lacking and I only figured when I met a guy here with whom I could feel a 100% match.

@Peapod no apology necessary there was no right or wrong way to answer. I just wanted to see if a theme emerged amongst the answers.

@SW-User but the other night you said you’d totally given up on relationships. But now it seems you’ve met someone here! Well if that is the case I wish you every success with the person.

@LukeTheDuke, I do see a lot of us stumbling to just name one. 😜

@LukeTheDuke I met him in the past March 2017

Yes true - the heart desires much! @Peapod

@Peapod it is indeed it can't be just one.. r'ships can be very demanding. With diff men diff things came up n when I felt overwhelming I closed the door. Too complicated for me.

@SW-User, after a long tired run and a very unhappy final decade of a long marriage, this girl here was done. I really was. I wasn't bitter, but just had a sense that it wasn't meant to be for me. Then I met a man that also was in the final stages of divorce from a long marriage and wham!...we both fell hard. We married 2 years later and now we have been together for 10 years. I never thought at this age I was going to really live again.

My only regret is that I didn't find him younger in life. My children would have had an amazing father. But I will count my blessings as I have them.

There was one person on EP, that wrote stories that I identified with so strongly. It was so good to feel that someone had travelled the same journey as me and understood the things I’ve been through. It really does help your sanity and lift your soul. I never got to be friends with the person as they never logged into their profile, but all their old stories were still there and I would so have wanted to communicate with them had I gotten the chance. @SW-User

@Peapod you have been very lucky indeed. In my case each time i had a bad one I met a worse one..slowly slowly discouraged me to the point on no one now. I am fully out of space to give anyone any other chance to try my luck. Its just not for me. Like many girls I also wanted a house n a son with my partner but no my sanity/survival is way more important. So given up.

@SW-User, I know people say it all the time, but you never know. I swear when I really "gave up", it happened. He said much the same.

I too had more than one unhappy experience. I think I actually did a little better each time, but that last time around, I just settled in and figured I could ignore the emotional and verbal abuse that gradually crept in over the years. But the moment it turned physical, I made the decision within moments that I would never allow that one and threw him out for good. His unlucky move was doing it in front of the kids too. It was a deal breaker for me after years of misery. I shutter at the thought that I may have hung in there had he not hurt me. We were already living separate lives emotionally and it sure was lonely and frustrating to say the least.

@Peapod how can I not relate to that. I am glad you are happy now.

@SW-User, I wish you much too.

@Peapod aw thank you so much! All I wish for me now is containment within and strength to carry on alone 😊

@Peapod - you seem to be a very kind and supportive soul. You really deserve the happiness you’ve found.

@SW-User I do wish you all the best, whether you remain single or whether, like peapod, you are surprised by an unexpected love despite your guard being up.

@LukeTheDuke hahah thank you!! It most definitely sounds so good.