When I was younger I thought that I'd run into someone and we'd instantly know, we'd have some kind of cute love story, one for the books, and that we would grow old together and live happily ever after! Now I'm really just hoping for a partner who cares for me the way I care for them, that we love each other, and we have a true partnership, I still want to grow old together, I just don't have it romanticized anymore? Now when I envision my future, if I end up getting married I just want the marriage to feel like a warm hug, something that brings me comfort and security. Does anyone else feel this way? Obviously this is just part of maturing. I'm almost 30 and I've also kind of accepted that everyone around me has already had their one that got away or the love of their life, whether they are with them now, or let them slip away, It makes me sad in a way because I always wanted to be loved like that, and now I'm just hoping to find someone I'm overall compatible with. I have never been in love, nor have I had a one that got away, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to feel that way about whoever I end up with, and I'm HOPING of course they are in love with me, but I don't think they will having intense feelings of passion like they would have with a previous partner. Anyway, am I alone in this? Am I a pessimist? I feel like I'm just realistic, still looking for love but accepting that it is not going to be a fairy tale, just hopeful that it is full of love and stability and adding to each others lives.